Roehl Transport, Inc. - Marshfield, Wi.

I am getting ready to start my second week at Roehl. The first week was on the whole pretty good....I like Roehl even though they are by no means perfect. The main thing I ask of them is that they keep me moving and get me home on time....so far no complaints about that!! I like my DSR out of Gary and the Term. Manager I like also. I do have to say that this message thread was a big factor in me joining Roehl from a dedicated account at JB.

The good so far...
1. Being kept moving (so far!)
2. Home right on time
3. My DSR (again, so far!!)
4. Last and by no means least SAFETY!!! Too many companies pay lip service to safety but Roehl's is borne out in their numbers!
The bad so far....
1. ZERO communication between Orientation and DSR!!! - When I finished my orientation I was assigned a school truck to take down to Gary and switch into my first rotation truck....my DSR was surprised to even hear from me....she thought I was going home!!! Arrived at Gary late and stayed the night in one of the bunks there, luckily there was one still available!! And eventually worked out with my DSR that I should go home and take an extra day too!! However my wife was sick and couldnt make it, nobody going my way and no rental cars available! Eventually they found someone headed to MA and asked him to take me home!!
2. Fuel stops....hate the 25gal here 30gal there, last week only filled up one time where I was able to earn a shower!!

That is about it for now I think.... does anyone working for Roehl have any suggestions on the fuel stop thing....are they very strict on it or are there ways around it??? Thanks all and stay safe!!!

 

The fuel stops was one of the quirks I had with Roehl.It seems like the longer I was there they got better,or perhaps I just got used to the way their fuel program was set up. The truck I was driving was evidently using more fuel than they had planned on. So a msg.to the DSR,would change things.Another issue on the showers ,ck. with your DSR,most of their fuel stops are set up for a free shower,no matter how much fuel you take on.At least it was that way a year ago. My advice,hang in there with Roehl,in my opoinion they are head and shoulders above the rest of the OTR outfits out there.And I have driven for a few of them.And yes they are very good about getting you home on time.Talking about fuel When I was with good old Swift,I left from the Laredo ,TX.term.bound for OH. They had fuel at the term. but I had to go to the Pilot truck stop about 1/2 mile away and fuel. Had to wait about 2 hrs. in line at the Pilot.Sure didnt make much sense to me.If I could have fueled at the term. I could have been in San Antonio by the time I got fueled up,at the Pilot.

 

If I need a shower I put on the 50 gal minimum. There are also showers available in Marshfield, Gary, and the service plazas on the OH turnpike. The only good thing about OH is these showers, nicer than most truck stops but you will need a towel. Another trick is to get two cards from the Flying J. Put one in your name and one in your wives or whoever name. Have them link these cards together. Now when ever you get fuel you will get two showers instead of one.

 

I have been with Roehl since 11/07 and what i have seen is a lack of communication. Every time Ihave been out for my 7day run I have had to set at least 2 and a half days.And I have talked many other drivers with the company and they are complaining about the same problems. Even drivers that have been there for years an ones that have quit an came say they can't believe things have gotten with dispatch. I done alot of research on this company an thought i made the right decision but now I have to wonder.

 

SO how long after school and the training "evo's" before you get a normal paycheck?

 

After you are done with Evo II and you test out and get assigned your truck, you start making your regular mileage pay. IE....when you start Evo III.

 

Bassman, when you say "had to set at least 2 and a half days" what do you mean? Stuck at a truck stop with out a load or sitting at home for your 36+ hour reset? Also No communication? what did you want? they disptach loads to the qualcom don't they? as soon as your done with one your get the next one? My real question does Roehl keep you rolling I plan to go out 11 days at a time, I read some treads that roehl since they are not a "large" company you might sit in a truck stop (in the middle of nowhere) for longer than your 10 hour break waiting for a load

 

Tom T I run 3 to 6 weeks at a time. For the most part I am kept busy. This is entirly my own opinion/observations but it seems sometimes that Roehl refuses to let me have a great week. I figure my weeks from fri-thurs to go with pay periods. It seems I can be movin' along makin great money then tues or weds or thurs will fall apart for me. I might end up with a 100 mile bs run or an all day load or my favorite del in the morning but be assigned a nearby pick up that's not ready till evening. It can drive me nuts but it has become something of a joke for me.

 

I run 11 out and 3 home. Honestly I rarely sit more than a couple hours. I used to go out on Sundays but that is a really slow day to get freight so I changed it to Monday and all is fine.

 

I have been with Roehl since Sept. 2007 (flatbed division) and have never had to wait more than 90 minutes for a dispatch. The average wait time has been about 10 minutes. I have found that the best way to communicate with my DSR is through the Qualcomm. He usually responds within minutes.

I know that a driver's job can be made or broken by a DSR. I'm very fortunate to have a good DSR (Dave B. out of the Marshfield terminal) who listens to me, and goes out of his way for me. I, of course, return the favor by never turning down (or complaining about) a load, even if it's a 40 mile relay that has to be tarped. I did 3 loads on Wednesday this week, and the temp was in the -20's range and my total mileage for the day was less than 275. Everything always works out favorable in the long run. I'm sitting at home right now - got home early today (Friday) and don't have to be out of the house until 0800 hours on Monday.