Changing careers and looking at Roehl

I live in central Florida, they don't hire flatbed where I live either. Although I switched to flatbed because I pulled van for 6 months for roehl then went to their flatbed division. If you put in 3-6 months with them then they will put you in any division you wanna be in.

In savannah your about an hour or so from claxton, ga right? I delivered steel tube to a place there. That could be a possible load for them to get you home. Then coming out of the house you would most likely go over to Madison, ga to gp and get plywood.

Exactly, I told them I wanted an assigned truck. That is a huge deal breaker for me for any company really. I wanna take my truck home cuz that's when I clean and detail the inside and out. Although while on the road I do keep it clean inside lol.



Ethan

 

I couldnt tell you anything about tankers other than I hear they pay good, especially in the petroleum industry. There are several smaller companies in my area, at least one pays $70,000 the first year but you have to have two years experience....may try that when the time comes just depends on how things are going at the time.

 

Or relocate as a student with SNI in the tanker program to Texas oilfields maybe. If relocating to Savannah then why not to Texas and start tanker right off the bat? If not then do some good research on here to where and what you want as far as your needs. If not Texas then run flatbed or van with a company that fits your needs for hometime, equipment, pay, etc.

 

Unfortunately, Roehl won't bring a student in from this far west (Reno). So I'm training with a local school, Nevada Truck Driving School. It's only 10 minutes away, only costs $1450 ($750 up front to start the class) ($1625 if you want to take advantage of their on-staff DMV examiners, so you son't have to wait to schedule your driving tests with the DMV. That's what I'm doing), and the owners and instructors are super nice and supportive. There's like 100 years or so of truck driving experience between them all. They put you in the driver's seat the first day.

Anyway, Roehl has already started processing my application. As soon as I take their paid company physical later today, they will schedule me for my orientation date and Phase 1 training down in Phoenix. They'll pay to get me there, to stay for 9 days, and 2 meals/day, as well as pay me my $600 hiring bonus over 2 weeks. Then I'll start Phase 2 with a driver trainer and get paid $90/day for between 10-13 days, before I come back to Phoenix to get my own truck. Then they'll set me up with my 1st load heading to Reno and I'll get 3 days off before I start hauling regular.

 

Definitely better to get paid for most of your training, as I understand it I wont get paid anything for the first three weeks. My first pay will come from getting $150 for completing the 2 days of securement training for flatbeds, then same as you $90.00 per day with a trainer for 13/14 days.

 

And I just found out: The Orientation/Phase 1 training starts on a Monday, ends on the next Monday. If I make it thru that 8 days, they hire me. I get a rest and hours re-set day on Tuesday (that makes 9 days). Only THEN do I get paid the first $300 installment that Wednesday. (apparently their pay periods are 12:01pm Friday to noon Friday, paid the following Wednesday) So the Phase 1 training is not paid, either.

 

Just so you know, if you wait to get your TWIC until after you're on the road with Roehl, they'll advance you the required fee on a pre-paid VISA card. Then they'll take out a few $ a week until it's paid back.... My recruiter told me to expect a talk from my fleet manager about it about 5 months down the road. But I'll bring it up as soon as I've completed 1 week. More opportunities = more loads = more miles = more $$!

 

Oh... And I just got my temp learner's permit yesterday! Blew through the tests!! They were very easy after taking all the Crist CDL online practice tests, and all the online practice tests here on TTR!

 

Before anyone jumps the gun and relocates to Texas, especially the oilfield, be aware of the high cost of living in the oil patch. Because of the oil boom, there isn't anyplace to live that doesn't have sky high rent to go with it.

And don't assume that you are going to jump right into a HazMat tanker job fresh out of CDL school. Particularly if your CDL school didn't even have a tanker trailer to practice with. Tankers are trickier than other trailers. Good luck finding a company willing to risk a HazMat accident on rookie driver. You may have to work your way into it by driving non-HazMat tankers, such as water, milk, etc.

 

I will probably just pay for my TWIC in full myself....Im not a big fan of people deducting money from my paycheck....the federal and state governments take enough out already!