Any Questions about Roehl??

You're paid based the kind of trailer you're pulling on a given load. I'm in flatbed fleet but pull a curtain occasionally, especially when flatbed freight slows down in the winter. Those times I am paid at the curtainside rate, which is $0.01 less per mile than the flatbed rate. Same operating areas as far as I know. As to cargo, the only limitation with a curtainside is that chains can't be used to secure the load (as far as I know); you are limited to straps only. This effectively rules out hauling the really large, heavy coils of sheet steel and the like. Since a curtainside trailer is heavier than a flatbed, you have a lower cargo weight capacity before hitting the 80,000 lb gross limit, and since most of the curtainside trailers have tandem rear wheels rather than spread-axle wheels, you're limited to 34,000 lbs. on the rear rather than 40,000 lbs. Sliding the tandems to get the weight legalized can be a hassle at times, whereas with a spread-axle flatbed there's much less worry about the rear weight.

That would suck mightily.

 

Even with an EPU my truck idles a lot with the auto start. Especially since they don't know how to program it properly.

 

So what? I'd rather it keep itself warm and me, better chance of start

 

Agree. But it does cut into MPG, that's all. When I had an APU, idling was almost never necessary.

 

I will be renting space from the local CDL school I attended to park the trailer on my home time. I live in a rural area and can fit both the tractor and trailer in my driveway but I don't think my neighbors would appreciate it even 6 days a month. I will be driving a flatbed 11 days out 3 days home. I know the days out and home time can vary. The cost is 75 dollars a month flat fee , doesn't matter if your there 1 day or all month. My question is do you just save the receipts and then at the end of the year write it off as a business expense. I would also like to know if other items can be written off as well. Refrigerator , microwave , gloves , flashlights and any other equipment you buy. I will be a company driver.

 

Yeah you can deduct all that, even pens, notepad, stapler, etc...

 

Does anyone know if alot of other trucking companies accept grads from RDTC? Assuming I do go there, it would be nice to have some other options besides the prehire from Roehl. More specifically, I've been taking a good look at Gordon (APUs on the trucks is the main reason). Also, from what I've read Gordon tends to run west of the Mississippi alot. I find this a little more appealing than Roehl, after hanging out on this board it seems like you guys are usually east of the Mississippi more often than not.

 

No big deal, not sure what the west appeal is other than being farther away from the northeast. Personally I'd be happy staying Midwest.

 

Yeah I would hate getting routed up to NY and the other crazy NE states all the time. Does flatbed go up there much?

 

You might want to check into Midwest Regional Flatbed, assuming they still offer that.