The Good, The Bad, The Honest Truth of a New Roehl Lease Operator

Take it home empty preacher, yes it will sting a Lil, but sounds like you have the same dispatcher I do, he has to be reminded that its your business not his

 

I know what my problem is and Roehl is not a long term solution for me. I'm not very trusting, so when I constantly hear the lack of freight excuse I believe it about as a politician promising to not raise taxes. I'm going to need to get into a system like Landstar or Schneider choice. Let me see the load board and then I'll believe there's no freight. More to the point I won't go into an area that I can't get out of. I'm very independent and the more I control things the happier and less stressed I get. I have never been more stressed than I was as a company driver.

 

That's what I always hear on Friday, going to be a rough weekend for freight, got who I could planned the rest, weekend support will do there best.....and it always comes right at 1600 right before he walks out the door so as to run away and noone can question it, i'm getting the same emails from Schneider to, all my stuff is filled out and waiting for my go, just hard to walk when I only have 9 months left and this truck is paid for

 

I think I need to put everything together and start looking at buying this truck out. My wife and I have talked about our options and turning the truck in is the worst option. First we have spent a lot of money getting this truck where we want it. Second I know I would lose my security deposit and maintenance fund, so that would be at least four grand out of my pocket just to get out of this truck. Last I still need a truck, so I have to start all over in a different truck. In short I would be going backwards and have to repeat the last year and half. It just doesn't make a lot of business sense. I am considering looking at changing to Midwest regional. If I'm going to sit every weekend, may as well do it at home. No decision has been made, just considering my options.

 

Preacher you might be off running kraft dedicated out of granite city, they run pretty hard and keep ya busy. the only catch is your home only when you are out of hours or for a 34 hour reset. Good luck and I hope they get ya rolling soon.

 

My miles have been coming up the last few weeks. Haven't been getting the excuse of "no freight". Managing my fuel purchases a bit wiser and it is paying off in the take home check. Another O/O here at R spoke with a broker he knows. Was told that manufacturing is increasing, loads are paying higher and there is a shortage of trucks. Hopefully the winter slump is over and freight will pick up.

 

It sound as though Roehl has stacked the deck against you and made your sucess a challenge. If you were starting from scrathch as a L/O or O/O would a company that over charges for it trucks and pays amoung the industries lowest for O/O's even be a legitimate choice? Would you choose a company that has a weak freight base that hauls alot of brokered loads? It has been admitted here that you don't really have a choice on loads because the DSR and planner will make you pay for turning down a load. Part of being a smart business man is knowing when to say enough is enough and shutting it down. Being a O/O should be a team thing with the company you haul for. With Roehl it is not. If you had your own authority would you tolerate a broker that treated you gave you loads like Roehl does? I must ask if you really want to be a O/O why would Roehl be your choice? Low payrate, horrible fuel program and cheap brokered freight. Why do they pay you less the farther the load travels? Does that sound fair? Seems like Roehl is the only winner here.

 

Its sad that these company's. Get to keep your maint fund. If the trk is turned in and is in good
Condition then all maint funds and any other credits should be returned.

 

Thats messed up.

 

Since it seems I'm the only one left I guess I'll resurrect this thread. I'm beginning to get a complex. I've run another dispatcher off. In less than two years I've run off four dispatchers. I don't mean I've gone to a different dispatcher, they have left for other boards or other positions. I'm also able to compare year to year and I'm finding the trends are the same between last year and this year. That includes a change in dispatch as well. I wonder if my May's are so lousy because the current fm is concentrating on his new position instead of taking care of his drivers?