New driver going to rohel on the 30th

What specifically do you want to know about? Are you going to the CDL School?

 

I would like to know a few things as well about the pre work screening. Im a big guy 6ft 4in and 350lbs. i am just alittle worried about it because I really need this job and also im driving up from GA. Thanks

 

Hey littlebill, sounds like you got my place in that class! I was set up for the 30th but got pushed back because of the local DOT medical examiner. He screwed up his report so I got pushed back to Feb 6th. If you and BIGLEE want some insight, there's an extremely inspirational thread started by Majestyk called "Should be starting Roehl late February" Its an older thread with the last posting on 6/22/11 so you'll have to scroll through a couple of pages to find it, but its well worth it. Its a huge thread with over 600 posts, and Majestyk chronicles his entire first year driving with Roehl in very strong detail. He also demonstrates the type of attitude that I think is needed in this industry..very fair, tolerant and non-judgemental. I read his thread from start to finish and it kind of cemented my decision to go to Roehl. He is evidence that the opportunity is there as long as you produce...
Good luck...

 

Hi Biglee,

Just a thought, they have a school down in Ellenwood, GA. Did they tell you about that at all? It might make sense to go to that one since it's so close to home.

Regarding the prework screen, that was a big worry for me too. I'm about the same height as you are, and I probably tipped the scales at about 450 lbs. when I went through it. I have two key pieces of advice regarding the prework screen.

1) Do a lot of deep knee bends/squats before you get down there. They only require that you do 10 squats for the test, but it seemed like you need to squat at least a little in just about all the other tests too, so my legs ended up getting pretty tired by the time the screen was over.

2) For big guys, correct breathing is what will make you or break you in this thing. They will be testing your heart rate after each set of tests, so you will want to breathe correctly while you do them, AND in between each test. What you want to do is take deep breaths and also exhale sharply too. I always knew about taking deep breaths to give your body enough oxygen. What I didn't know was that it's just as important to exhale sharply because, when you exercise, your body turns the oxygen to carbon dioxide. You have to force the carbon dioxide out of your lungs because it causes your heart rate to go up. My sister is a nurse and she was the one who told me this.

While you are doing the pre-work screen, make sure you are taking deep breaths, and blowing it out between breaths. Do this while you do the exercises, and also during the 1 minute rest periods they give you. Had I not done this, I would have ended up failing. As it turned out, my heart rate got up almost high enough to disqualify me, but not quite. The breathing saved me.

If I was able to pass (and I weighed about 100 lbs more than you do), you should be ok. I'd just make sure you do a lot of squats and practice your deep breathing (inhaling and exhaling) before you go to Marshfield.

I hope this helps. Good luck!

 

Hey Zangief, thanks for all the info, that helps out alot, i will deff. be working on all that for the next couple weeks, I did ask about ellenwood but they said i had to come to marshfield, kinda crazy but i guess there aint nothing i can do. Again thanks alot for all the info.

Lee

 

Hey Biglee, when are you in Marshfield?

 

Im not sure yet when i will be in marshfield, i should be hearing back monday to schedule, but im hoping the 6th.

 

Biglee...FYI...I was told I had the last seat in the 6th, and the 13th and 20th were full...of course there's always the possibility of a cancellation...