Roehl Transport, Inc. - Marshfield, Wi.

Well,
I have only been with Roehl since the first week of June, but I am actually impressed with them so far. I like the fact that they preach safety and actually mean it. I want to run legal and stay that way. I have talked to two Roehl flat bedders since getting my own truck that worked for TMC prior to Roehl. They both told the same story and I talked to one in Gary Indiana and the other in Ellenwood, GA. They both said that they were tired of running illegal and being expected to do it. They both said that they (company) would preach safety out of one side of the mouth and then give them loads that could not possibly be run legal and expect them to get it there. I know this is not Maverick or the other one that you mentioned, but I only mention this because of Roehl. Roehl says to run legal or else you will leave. I am fairly sure they mean it from my limited experience. I thought of going flat bedding prior to going with Roehl. I almost went with Boyd Bros. When you walk into a truck stop, you can tell who is driving a flatbed and who isn’t. Not knocking them, because I know we need them and they must like it or they wouldn’t do it, but they really get dirty. Those tarps get filthy and you have to work them. After pulling a van for the limited time that I have, I am glad that I decided not to go to the flatbeds. To me the extra .02 cents is not worth it.

Roehl says to drive safe and legal and they mean it. For example, if you drive 75 mph, you will be looking for a new employer. You would think that when the truck is governed at 65, there would be no way to get to 75, but while going down a hill with 41,000 pounds in the truck, you will be there in no time if you are not paying attention.

I know that this didn’t exactly answer your question, but I figured I would give you my .02 cents worth.

 

OneLastTime,

I'd like to hear the van vs flat argument too. Flat seems easier driving, more physical hassle esp in Winter, and easier schedules. Van seems better road demand, harder to drive, and easier unloading if have a straight pallet load.

Although flat is good loading experience at first some say, I've a long time ago loaded trailers/rail cars and think the van driving experience would be more valuable at first.

I'm not an expert driver and Winter, mountain, wind, day/night, and city/road factors are complicated variables when numerous interaction effects are considered. If I could get a good van company or a good flat company with unlimited/routine demand, I'd be happy either way (and THAT ALONE will be my main criteria). If you have a good Roehl job lined up, I wouldn't stumble because you have more banana's than two hands can hold. I'd say figure out how to be as efficient as you can for your new employer. But that's just an old lumpers opinion, so...

 

I have been at Roehl over nine years and pulled all three of their trailers. I would choose flat or curtainside over a van. If you are just starting out I suggest training on a flat then you can switch too anything want you later without going through more training. If you start on a van and want to go flat or curtainside down the road you have to jump thru some hoops. The pros of flatbedding are more more money (higher mileage pay and tarp pay), no grocery warehouses or lumpers, a little exercise that you get paid for, normal hours (no middle of the night appointments), less east coast, less backing up, more interesting freight, no getting flipped over on a windy day, basically a lot less b.s. for doing a little more labor. The cons are that the tarps do suck when its cold and windy outside. There are not too many days where it is real bad though and its usually only for an hour or two.
Van would be cool if it was all drop and hook. But it is not and I cannot stand dealing with grocery warehouses where they treat truck drivers like dirt.
Also, if flatbed freight is slow you can still pull a curtain or a van. If you are a van driver and freight is slow, there you sit. There are some variables involved though. Depending on where you live and what hometime option you want comes into play. In some areas it might be hard to get home with flat, others with a van.
Even though there are van drivers on here that disagree with me, flatbedders get more respect. Skateboarders are willing to do more work than the door slammers and thus are harder to replace. Flatbedding isn't rocket surgery but it does involve more than opening and closing doors. If a van driver screws something up he is usually shown the door, a flatbedder might get another chance depending on the offense.
Just my opinion, but if your under fifty give flats a try, you can always pull a tuna can later.

 

Anyone out there on the Van Hometime Plus program? Specifically, what type of miles are you getting and what type of freight are you hauling.

I have spoken to a few Roehl drivers and keep getting conflicting information. 4 or 5 National Fleet Drivers told me that the HT+ are getting good miles (actually stated HT+ drivers were getting more miles than the OTR guys). The one HT+ driver I spoke to said he wasn't getting squat for miles.

The HT+ driver seemed like a bit of whiner. But a lot of new drivers come off as whiners because they don't fully understand the game(s).

I'd like to hear from drivers with experience out of the Mogadore, OH yard. But welcome comments from ANY HomeTime Plus drivers.

Thanks a bunch.

 

bucksandducks,

Excellent written piece.

>> How does the average demand miles/week of flats compare to vans?

>> And isn't night driving about 25% more efficient miles per hour on the road?

 

That is exactly what I've been looking for. Nicely written too. Helped me decide. I do think I'm going to try flats still (even though I'm an old fart @ 54) LOL. Don't look it or feel it and I'm in half way decent shape, so I should fool most people.
I do hope that more of you out there will kick in your 2 cents too. I welcome all answers and thank everyone who replies (Pedy6pack).

Hope to see you down the road someday.
You'll know me; I'll be the white knuckled, wide eyed flat bed rookie with a big grin on his face driving the Roehl truck.

Keep On Truckin'

 

Some weeks flat freight is better some weeks van is better. At the end of the year they end up about the same.
Yes night driving probably is more efficient because of less traffic. The problem with that is that most flatbed customers are open from 7- 3 or 7- 5. So I tend to get stuck on that schedule. I get up and deliver in the morning and unload then hustle somewhere get reloaded before they close. There are some guys that make that night shift deal work. They are usually van drivers though because are more 24hr a day operations for van freight. It is just more natural for a body to be up during the day and to sleep at night. It is also a heckava lot easier to find places and read street signs in the daylight.

 

Well I think for some companies (not sure a percentage or whatever), but if you have a day or two off...you can park the truck at the local truck stop and it will be ok there. I think I saw soemwhere on here that that's ok with some companies.

Well, I think HT drivers get the same amount of pay as regular drivers. However, you are home more so you make less. I forgot what the numbers were, but they actually post it saying "keep in mind, HT drivers since they are home more...typically earn X% less then regular national or regional drivers" With the HT+ thing...you are basically working 2 out of three weeks....or 9 months out of the year. Also...you don't keep the truck...you have to drop it off at the terminal. I was going to live somewhere in MN that let me live as far north as possible, but then I would have to drive 150 miles to the terminal to get in a truck that Im sharing with two other guys..not a big fan of that.

 

I have spent the last week pulling all across your area. Just went through Memphis last night and now am sitting waiting on an appointment tonight (grocery whse, yuck)
I live up in Southern Illinois and I noticed not a lot of Roehl trucks in my area, but they seem to get me home when I want without a bunch of deadhead, so I would think that being in this area, you would be able to get in and out just fine.

 

Does Roehl pay you if you are unloaded as well? Same pay? I Just called a few minutes ago and the gal said since I was in WY....my application was denied but I talked to her and reminded her of a conversation we had last week about my moving to MN in her area and she remembered...so she started the process of going through my stuff.

What questions should I ask? lol...Im trying to come up with a list
From what it sounds like...Id be working Blume Refrigerated on their regional route.