Roehl Flatbed drivers tips

Hey driver speaking about flatbed. Its a good move to start in flatbed. I drove vans around for five years then switched. If you do get into flatbed just pay attention to detail. Its not hard just work. Also you can never over chain/strap. You can can get busted not having enough. Their trainers will teach you Im sure. Cant go wrong with flatbed unless your lazy. Lots more work invovled. Good luck to you.

 

Well, driving to Roehl-standards, and Flatbedding are two different things (Not mutually exclusive, mind you) and outside of taking the Safe-seven seriously, I can't help too much on the schooling-end of advice.

1) when you're finally alone, in Evo III, and given your (s)mothering Dispatcher, ask every question under the sun you can think of. act like this person is actually paid to answer them. your final dispatcher is sort of a crap-shoot.

2) as far as interacting with Fleet Managers, I'd give the same advice for dealing with anyone, Fleet Managers are like people, in that way. Don't say "No." Don't say "No," "Won't," "Can't," or "Don't" these words eliminate options and start a ego-collision. and unless you're willing to go to a scorched-earth policy, understanding that you could end up with your bags packed on the side of the road, try to avoid those contests.

 

Flatbeds are alot of work, not hard just alot of work. Learning load securement is easy, and the other post is right you can never have too much, but too little will get you into trouble. As for the inner working of Roehl... good luck trying to figure that out. I am a trainer with about three and a half years here, 11 years of driving, and I still have not been able to figure these people out. They are trying to make money, and they do pinch every penny, but just when I think I have them pegged... Poof they change direction. All in all they are a pretty good company, good luck.

 

I used to work in flatbed dispatch there. If you want things to go well follow your HOS. Communicate, if you need help ask for it. Don't assume your fleet manager agrees with all the policies that are set. We don't,but on the other hand we have a job to do as well. If you can find a dispatcher that you can work with keep working with them, even if you switch fleets. I had a number of drivers that went O/O, vans, ref, taut, dedicated that would still call me if they had issues.

 

Roehl is a decent company. I worked there for about 1.5 yrs. on flatbed, and here is what I know:
Planners pick your load, FM's send you the details on Qualcomm. some areas are good freight zones, some aren't. you'll learn this as time rolls on.

Flatbed. ALWAYS CHECK FOR DUNNAGE ON YOUR TRAILER!!!! some shippers will charge you for dunnage if you show up without it. some shippers are in and out, some you will wait 6-7 hours (AK Steel in Ohio). most consignees are in and out.
Stay out 30+ days if you can. It's were the money is. When I first started with them i was on 11-3 and would sit quite a bit and have 400- 500 mi loads, then decided to stay out longer and was getting 900-1100 mi. loads,
and they were more constant.
I averaged 600-700 take home for the year and a half I was there. not getting rich, but decent money.
Where you live is a BIG part of your hometime also. if they can bounce you a short distance to a load, or , load you thru the house.

 

Before I left there were getting to be less and less 900-1100 mile loads. Flatbed seemed to be hauling a lot from Saukville, WI to Detroit area. Detroit to Kentucky. Kentucky to Wisconsin or Minneapolis. Back to Saukville. Sometimes you can expect to be kicked up to L'Anse, MI for a load of ceiling tile. It's possible that you'll get a longer run out of here. I'm just saying that sometimes staying out 30 days doesn't help, but the planners do consider that. If you want a long run let your FM know, if you are getting burnt out and want to head for the house just give them an update, they'll change it. there aren't a lot of new people in flatbed dispatch so everyone should be comfortable with asking the planner for a better load if you want one. Doesn't mean you'll get one, but sometimes it works.