Impression of Roehl so far

Ok, I appreciate the info. Do you keep the truck at home or the drop yard. The nearest drop yard is in TPA for me or JAX depending on thee division. Are the bunk heaters diesel or electric? Also, which version of the international do they run?

Hunter

 

As you will find, your "bonus" is tied to several different factors: One is how much you actually idle your truck. The second factor is whether or not you have any accidents, speeding tickets, percent of overspeed on quall com, and another factor is whether or not you got enough miles for the quarter to qualify for a bonus. If any of the above mentioned factors pertain to you then you are not eligible for a bonus. There may be more "hooks" but I can't remember. Oh yeah, it seems as if" Percentage of out of route miles" was another factor. I never got a bonus there, but others tell me that people get them. I didn't get any bonuses during my time there because twice I was over idle (could not get weekend dispatch to load me in the summer) and I only received enough miles to qualify once, and that was nullified by too much idle time (summer heat, night sleep) I also didn't receive an end of year raise because my annual mileage was under the minimum standard set by the company to achieve a raise. Hmm, I guess it was my fault that I could not get a dispatch and miles, so I did not get a raise. Oh well. You will all find out in time. There are lots of ways you won't earn what you are told that you will earn.

 

"There are lots of ways you won't earn what you are told that you will earn."

Well, if that is the case it would be time to move on. I see some outfits pay in the mid 40 cents per mile range with 1 year experience (Heartland Express). No sense working for 36 and foolishly chasing for a few more cents.

 

what do I pay for? Tolls, truck washes etc. I should be starting w/ Roehl in Feb. so I was just wondering.

 

They have wash bays for free at some terminals. YOu have ez-pass with Roehl. And my trainer should be here within an hour for my Evo 1, so I can't elaborate much. Good luck.

 

is that pass for all hwy tolls. or you need different ones for certain hywys.

 

also would like to know whether the truck comes home with you or what.
I live in FL. would like to know nearest drop yard. Thanks

 

Making your idle time all depends on where you are running. If you're running the south and south-east, yeah, no big deal. If you run mostly north, like I do, it is quite a bit harder to make it. My truck doesn't have a bunk heater. After repeated requests (7 to be exact) I keep getting the same answers. Either they don't have any in stock, or we have freight we need you to run and don't have the time to put it in. So I decided to idle as much as I have to, to be comfortable. This month it's 45% for non-heater trucks and mine is at 47%. Not too bad, but they don't count close.
This is one of many piddly little things I don't like about Roehl. There are several, so don't think I am 100% in love with the company. I gripe and moan about some of the stupid stuff just like most of the other drivers that have been here awhile.
That said, I don't cut and run either. I am making about $700 a week right now, so it could be better, but it could be a lot worse too.
I would be very interested to see how many of the problems the people on here have with Roehl were fixed at their next company. Maybe some, but all companies have problems, both in the industry and others as well.
Suck it up and do your job. You knew what you were getting into.

 

I did not get my bonus for the following reasons: over idle percentage during the 2nd and 3rd quarter (remember the heat and drought last season)
and the 1st and 4th quarter (I did not have enough miles to qualify for a bonus). (You know, you have to have over 26,000 "dispatched" miles for the quarter to qualify). As far as you working on 4,000 miles for seven days, congratulations. You, sir, are having a wonderful week. That is over 571 miles per day average. You are very blessed. I did not have such fortune at any time during my tenure with Roehl. As posted earlier, my gross pay for the year was just over $30,000. Not hard to do the math on that and figure I didn't have any weeks like yours. My problem with Roehl is that I was lied to about everything! I stayed out over 280 days, asked how to get more miles, no tickets, one late delivery (11 minutes) no time off for anything, and could not make what Roehl promised in their advertisements. I was lied to about pay, hometime and bonuses. As far as being a "lunatic" with idle time, I sat in truck stops all weekend many times this summer. I was located from Florida to Virginia and Texas to Georgia, up to Kentucky and Ohio. It was hot. That ever popular message of "You will be dispatched by weekend shift" kept popping up and so I sat. Hour after hour in 100 degree heat. Yes sir, I idled that truck. Perhaps you think I should have sweated it out. I may not be as tough as you are, but we idled all weekend.

Finally, I couldn't even get a raise at the end of the year because I didn't get enough dispatches to make the annual mileage quota. Don't say that I turned down loads either. I ran from Maine to California and from Washington to Florida. I also had 5 dispatchers in 6 months. They kept quitting for some reason. Do you think they quit because they liked working for Roehl? The only ones that I noticed staying there were the owners, managers, recruiters and trainers. They benefit from fools like me that go there looking for a new career. I fell for the ads. I was trying to get into and industry with someone that was good. I have since learned that you pay your dues and then find a good company. Yes, I have a bad taste of Roehl in my mouth, and you trainers and recruiters keep making this place sound sweeter than it is. Well, I gave it 14 months and I can assure all of you new people that Roehl is nothing like it advertises. But this person has twenty people that will dispute anything negative that I say.(I bet they are not other trainers or recruiters though). And twenty? How many people work for Roehl? Seems like you could find more than twenty to refute my statements. And during my time there I couldn't FIND twenty that would say anything good about Roehl. I have nothing to gain by spending my time here and telling you the truth. I am still driving, but for another trucking company. I can't believe the difference between the two. I love my current job. I just want people to know that there is good work out there, and it is NOT at Roehl.
I would be interested to know how long you have been there, dcodd. It seems that I read somewhere that you and a few others just got out of Roehl school or orientation or something. At least give it some time before you attack me. I gave it 14 months. That is a lot longer than some, and I am just relaying my experience.
Respectfully, Homeboy