Roehl Transport

Thats almost guaranteed. They pretty much hire nationwide, but occasionally have to exclude some of the areas that have slower freight lanes. i.e. Florida, or maybe extreme NE.

 

One of the few negatives about Roehl is that they turn their trucks way down to save fuel. They're all generally governed out around 64/65 mph, which gives you just enough oomph to stay in 10th gear when loaded and climbing a gentle uphill grade (think fuel economy — time in top gear matters). They run a pretty good range of engines and body styles and none of them is about to attain any new land speed records.

But you really can't blame them — this is an industry where you get about 2 cents of profit for every dollar of revenue (on average). I run really heavy loads with Roehl (mostly paper, mostly all 45,000+ gross) and have no problem getting it there a few minutes later than the next guy so long as they keep paying me the medium-sized bucks (I'm a company driver and netted over $1,000 last week after taxes ). Heck, even if you run off route a little they won't castrate you. Half the time they won't even say anything so long as you're not screwing the pooch on all your other driver performance stats.

Only other complaint I might have with Roehl (I've been here a little over a year) is that they're one of these outfits that doesn't pay your full cost of health insurance. In fact, I'm skeptical that they even pay any driver health insurance costs, as I found it was cheaper to get comprehensive coverage (Anthem/Blue Cross Blue Shield) through the private marketplace than through their group plan. Their "benefits" department amounts to having an in-house insurance salesman trying to cram as many different insurance policies down your throat as possible before you have any opportunity to get away and make an informed decision with all the relevant data points in front of you. I balked and walked away as fast as I could; it just didn't pass the smell test. Oh yeah, and if you happen to get sick while working here, you get thrown under the bus (tandem fodder!). I've seen it happen twice. But I guess that's truckin' fer ya — you can't drive, you get dropped. The Roehl family isn't in the giving away free money biz, after all, and the DOT man isn't in the compassion-for-unfit-steering-wheel-holders biz.

That aside, no major complaints here. Roehl runs a really tight, impressive ship. Their facilities are really, really REALLY well organized. Internal control procedures can be annoying at times, and there's a fair amount of red tape, but it all has a purpose for the success of the business (if you're unable to comprehend that, you don't belong here anyway). Yes, there is a bureaucratic element to everything, but for a company with this many drivers and trucks, it's admirably executed. Also, most of the other drivers I talk to seem pretty intelligent, for the most part, and morale is generally high. And maintenance is generally pretty good about getting on top of stuff before it becomes a problem (so long as they're the ones doing the work!).

Basically, I don't know too much, but I'm certain you could do a whole lot worse than Roehl. The only guys who I know who don't like it around here are either (1.) unhinged morons (fortunately, O Lord, they are few) or (2.) guys who think obeying the law is somehow an affront to their masculinity (see 1.)

 

Thanks for the post. I think what they are doing at Roehl they are starting to do everywhere now. Its Lean trucking.
http://www.dcvelocity.com/articles/20130528-lean-your-warehouse-workforce/

 

For the most part, I agree with Ivy League.

But is it too much trouble to provide toilet paper in the new Phoenix shower room? Or at Fontana at all?!

And there seems to be a severe mis-allocation of securement equipment, lately. Last time thru Phoenix, they had no lumber tarps. This time, no straps. Never any bungees. WTH?

 

Yeah I was just in the Appleton terminal and the TP situation there was getting bad. Luckily the shower rooms were well stocked with it though...

 

How's your MVR looking? hahahahaha

 

About a month ago I had a 2-stop delivery in Manhattan, for places that usually don't need flatbeds. After the first stop, I had to turn around because up ahead was a 'NO TRUCKS' sign. I had to make a 3-point turn at an intersection in Harlem! I told myself, screw this! and called NYPD traffic enforcement. It took them 1.5 hrs to show up, but they cleared the intersection for me. Don't hesitate to contact the local po-po! They want to keep everyone safe, including us!

 

chauffeuring

 

Looking for expert opinions here. Best to drive with Roehl - Dry Van or Reefer? Those are your only two choices. Which do you chose and why?

 

I'm thinking of going with Roehl as well. Go dry, with reefer you can wait HOURS to get loaded/unloaded.