Roehl Transport, Inc. - Marshfield, Wi.

I dont know how they(Roehl) determines where you will be dispatched from. I went to orientation in Gary, IN. I was dispatched out of Marshfield, WI. and I live in NE OH. I was on the 7 on 7 off program and operated out of the Akron, OH. drop yard. If your looking to make top dollar,the 7 on 7 off program aint for you. You will only be working every other week. It was fine for me being of retirement age, and just driving due to things that come up in life. I averaged about 3000 miles each 7 days out,so they keep you moving pretty good. Many weeks I was out of hours, by the time I got back to the drop lot. I was at the Gary term. many times,and also the Ellenwood Term. At both places everyone was friendly and helpful.
If you go national you will be out 1 or 2 wks. at a time, longer if you request it. But just remember,they keep a close eye on your logs,and you can only run so many hours. Not like the old days when I used to do a lot of creative logging. So if you are running steady you are bound to run out of hours somewhere. That means ya gotta take a 34 hr. break. So in the long run a 7 on 7 off driver will probably make about 2/3 as much as a natuional fleet driver. In my case as an experienced driver I grossed anywhere from $1100. to $1500. on a 7 day trip.

 

Congratulations and good luck! The Swifts and JB Hunts of the world need to take notes from companies like Roehl.

 

I don't think too many people have recommended the 7/7 program for rookies. You are right about that someone will go broke trying to that unless they do something on the side. I know some guys that have farms, do real estate, tend bar or have wives that make good money. I usually recommend the 7/4 7/3 for a rookie that is looking for a little more home time than the out 14 days take three days off. I did that national crap for a couple of years. When they say 10-14 days out that means 14 days out. Then come home and sleep away most of the first day and do chores, have one decent day off, and get ready to roll again on the third day. What kind of life is that? Well, I guess driving a truck for most people. Not for me, I have made between 48-50k for the last three years doing 7/7 flatbed and being a trainer. My wife works as well and makes decent money. It is possible to be a trucker and have a life too. I work for a week and vacation for a week. I actually look forward to going to work after my break. There are not too many truckers that can say that. Will you make more money driving national at the end of the year? Of course, but per day worked you will make more on the hometime fleets. After seven days running hard you will be low on hours. I'd rather be at home hunting or fishing than doing a reset in a dang truckstop.

 

I'll be doing orientation at Glennwood, GA, and I think I'll be dispatched from there as well.

I live in south Louisiana, so the only fleet option available to me is the national fleet. I don't have a problem with that...it seems that most trucking companies want you to have OTR experience before considering you for local work anyway. I figure I'll just go ahead and get it out of the way for the first couple of years. As a Navy vet, I'm no stranger to being away from home.

Cheryl, the student recruiter, said something about Roehl expanding their flatbed fleet to include a southern fleet, at some point in the future. I wouldn't mind giving that a try if the opportunity arises. I don't mind doing a little physical work, and I was a rigger on offshore supply vessels for awhile, so I'm familiar with chain binders and cargo straps (mostly chain and binders). The flatbed operations look to me to have customers with shipping/receiving operations that are a little more palatable to drivers, as well as (mostly) better locations to deliver to/from. Any flatbed drivers care to comment, especially Roehl drivers?

 

That's where this forum has been invaluable!! The school I'm attending don't actually push these companies, or even mention them in class, but everywhere you look there are posters on the wall making their outrageous claims. The school has you fill out three applications right off the bat, from one of these companies. For me it was Werner, U.S. Xpress, and USA Truck. They tell you that this just to show you that you are employable in the industry. Well, Werner called me the NEXT day. That was before this forum, and at first I was impressed, but the more I thought about it, it just didn't seem right. After reading about them in here, I found out why they are trying to get you to commit early....before you learn the truth about them. I'm sure these companies compensate these driving schools for sending them students. They congratulated me when I told them I was hired by Roehl, but they were less than enthusiastic

 

Actually, I run 11 days and then get 3 days off. That is my two week schedule and has been since I started there.

 

that is how I have been running too. I have been going out on Tuesday and coming home the next friday. I just got home today and have to check my qualcom Tuesday at 8am.

 

been with roehl for 1 mo and considering going over to flatbed. can you give me the good and bad of the flatbed side? i does the southern reg flatbed run the same way as the van se reg?

 

I guess I wont be joining Roehl anytime soon. My application was denied for reasons unknown. Their response was that other applicants were chosen. He just rephrased it. Oh well, I guess its time to call Crete.

 

Hello all. I just joined this forum last week after having been a member of the (Schneider) forum for a few months.

I start Roehl training on September 10 in Gary. I'm in CDL school here in Springfield, IL right now and am supposed to take my road test on August 29. (Passed all my permit/endorsement tests by the way with flying colors.) I had also applied and was pre-approved with Schneider, but decided to go with Roehl due to the fact that I can't find much bad about them online and the fact that they pay practical miles.

Anyone who can tell me what I can look forward to while in Gary? I used to live in the Chicago area, so I'm not so much concerned about that. I'm curious as to what takes place during those 3 days?

Also, if there are any other central IL (Springfield specifically) drivers on this forum, where do you park your truck during time at home? I know I can't park at home and have been told that some truck stops "rent" a space to keep the truck at.

Any thoughts or replies would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks and looking forward to seeing you on the road.