Roehl Driver Check In

yep. they were short at least one, because i've been out training 8 days past my 11 and i said no to another one before i go home.

 

At the J in Granite City, IL getting ready to head over to P & G to pick up for the good old run to Eau Claire.

 

He's in Indiana at a service plaza on the toll road. What started out as a 'get your safety meeting in then we'll get you a load home' turned into 'you need to take this load over to Battle Creek MI and it's already 15 minutes late'. From Battle Creek, he loaded in Wasbash IN and is heading to Iron Mountain today.

 

I'm just going to post at a bunch of stuff I've read to comment on. Seems like everyone's complaining. I waited for 18 hrs for a load in j-ville last time out. Was it roehls fault? I don't think so. Did I get compensated? I didn't care I just wanted to leave and get the hell out. My compensation is that I wont be going there again. It was Kraft Maxwell house so just the word Kraft should mean u wait long times. Just not that long. Also my trainer just quit. He was van. He quit not BC of the pay or anything roehl did. He was tired of otr for 10 years. He went local. Another trainer that's his buddy I've met and chilled with. A flatbed lease op. He has a house, a couple cars including a viper and other luxeries that I'm sure being a trainer paid for. I know roehl has cut their pay but it hasn't lead to my trainer quitting, or his buddy quitting. I have a load that delivers Tuesday 500 miles away. I doubt the relay driver made it here on time. But its ok I have time. And will get there and get layover. Big deal. I had rough couple months but now going pretty gravy. I don't sweat the small stuff. Or flip out what's not my control. And yes you should get a van rate if your flatbed pulling a van load. If u want strictly flatbed go to a strictly flatbed carrier period. I being van, my buddy a van driver hate seeing flatbed trucks pulling van loads just as much as you hate the pay or pulling them. Some of the hardcore flatbedders probably go straight flatbed after roehl im sure. The list goes on and on I just haven't commented and kept my fingers at bay. Newbies do some reasearch onto other roehl threads like I did when I started, its there asked months if not weeks ago. Trying not to vent or complain myself but jeez get a grip or a new job. Be safe and enjoy the holiday if your at home.

 

Well, first thing I'd do, is call Mitch, see if he has any interest in adding another local guy to the St. Paul yard. I'm assuming that Raph is still there, don't know if they've added any more. But it's a pretty solid gig.

 

Enjoying the beautiful weather at the Schofield dropyard. I dropped my relay load here and there are no empty trailers here. Oh well. I guess I'll be playing "find a trailer" if I'm not lucky enough to catch a relay out of here.

 

HEY LANTERN, that was me! Heard you got out of there with about 40 minutes to drive before having to shut down for the weekend. Gonna be a nice pay day with that OD layover!!

 

2 local guys right now, one for van/reefers and one for flats and loading in Owatonna.

 

Coopnp, I think you may be misinterpreting some of what those of us are "complaining" about. Trucking has its ups and downs. Roehl is just like any other trucking company when it comes to loads. What I am, and I assume others, complaining about are not the normal ups and downs it's the Roehl specific BS. In my case, when you have 5 potential loads, you send 5 drivers. If one of those loads falls through have a fall back plan for the driver who gets no load, or at least compensate him for the time waiting.

I help out whenever I can, other drivers, newbees, relays or whatever Roehl needs, but Roehl needs to THANK the driver when WE go out of our way. OTR drivers are not paid by the hour we are paid by the mile! When I sit for hours to help you out at least have another load with miles ready or compensate me for my time! In my case, I lost out on at least two days of driving. Do the math! I average nearly 500 miles a day when given a load. 1000 miles X .36 = $360 of lost wages that I can never get back. All you give me is $30. That is BS!

Now, for you sitting 18 hours for a load, that is ROEHL's fault! If the planner sends you somewhere with no plan to get you moving once you are empty, that planner failed you! Roehl and you make no money when you sit for 18 hours. That "TIME" can never be recouped. That is lost pay and "profit!" Last week I sat for 18 hours in western MN (3rd time it has happened in that neck of the woods to me) because a planner didn't have a load. They knew I was heading out there and had nothing ready to keep me moving. I b!tched about it, but I will say that Roehl made it good and kept me running the rest of the week after that. +1 for Roehl. Then they planned me wrong when I only had 3 1/2 hours to run. They gave me a 500+ mile run to Canada. Would have been a great run except for I could have never completed the run without running out of time. -1 for planner/Roehl. Then of course the two days of lost time. -1 Roehl Oh, and if you are ever told there are no loads, sorry not true. There are no loads that Roehl is willing to take! Every time I am out in West MN I look at the load boards. Plenty of loads, just none that Roehl will take so I sit not getting paid!

I am complaining because Roehl is better than its been lately. I think others would agree. Also, you may be getting what you need miles and money wise, but for me it's slowly going the other way. 2000 mile weeks followed by 1500 mile weeks doesn't pay my bills. That is becoming more common than it should be. I am paid to drive, not sit. Planners are paid to keep us moving, not sit. When we sit, someone is not doing their job, but unfortunately who gets hurt? MY back pocket!

Sorry for my rant, but I am not a person that just sits back and goes with the flow. I challenge everything. I want things to be better and I don't accept mediocrity.