Rum's Rants

Upon your employment with Roehl, you signed a statement for your DRG stateing if you did not return it you will be charged $50.00. Signed, printed name, social security number, and dated. All but 1 paragraph begins with "I understand". Looks like a pretty important company document to me. So lets take a moment to look at this a little closer.

Lets look at the 3rd paragraph.

I am not required to provide anything in return beyond my services.

Sounds simple enough to me, I am hired to drive the truck, but wait this is my rant. How can I rant about such a simple statement. Time to point out the fuel filter wrench scam.

So we have established that you are NOT REQUIRED to provide anything other then your services. So now lets look at how soon they violate there own policy.

1) Page 8-7 You are required to check opti against your Motor Carriers Road Atlas

2) Page 8-13 You are required to remove nails from floor. But not given any tools for this job.

3) page 8-13 You are required to sweep the trailer, but again you have no means to do this job either

4) page 9-13 You are required to check your exit guide (National Truckstop Directory) for stops.

5) page 9-13 You are required to check City or local maps for the area you wil be operating in.

6) page 9-17 A small fan to help you stay cool is suggested to help you reduce idle time.

7) page 9-39 Use a Hammer if the pins will not come loose prior to sliding the tandems.

8) page 9-39 An inexpensive Pin puller, to release the 5th wheel pin.

9) page 9-39 An inexpensive pair of Scissors to break seals.

10) page 9-39 Proper Footwear, to guard against ankle injuries.

11) page 10-4 If you need a Ladder, make sure it is the tri fold type.

12) page 11-7 When you call, have accurate measurements ready. Get out the Tape Measure. Note: for van drivers if stickers are missing simply measure from the dot bumper (page 11-10)

13) page 18-6 Use a Pryrod or Screwdriver to move slack adjusters

14) page 18-7,8 Use a 7/16", 1/2", 5/16", or 9/16" Wrench, to adjust brakes.

15) page 18-9 To change the Daveco fuel filter you need a Filter wrench, which is available at the maint dept.

Ok just so everybody doesn't rush the maint dept. There is a cost for this filter wrench. Just doesn't say so in the book.

16) page 9-31 Verify the locking jaws are closed around kingpin. You will need a Flashlight for this. (this is even in bold print)

I agree that every driver should have theese items plus other tools to assist them in doing the job. Why are we haveing to sign a statement saying that all that is required is our services? That is clearly a fasle statement. Each truck should be outfitted with the basic tools that are needed, and the tools should be provided by the company. The company should be embarrased by the fact that they charge for a fuel filter wrench. Whats next are they going to charge us for the little notepads that we receive at the safety meetings? Oh wait they used to.

So to all you newbies getting your $300.00 sign on bonus. Don't waste it on food, or other living expenses. Save your $15.00 per day to buy all the items that are "suggested" you have with you at all times.

 

2 drivers, van national, 1 year at Roehl, Solo,

Driver P = .36 per mile
Driver P+ = .325 per mile

Both drivers drive 120,000 miles

Driver P = $43,200.00 mileage wages
Driver P+ = $39,000.00 mileage wages

Both receive full bonus based on 30,000 miles per quarter

Driver P = 500 miles x .03 = $15.00 x 4 (quarters) = $60.00
Driver P+ = 30,000 miles x .015 = $450.00 x 4 (quarters) = $1,800.00

New wages:

Driver P = $43,260.00
Driver P+ = $40,800.00

End of year Bonus

Driver P = 120,000 miles x .01 = $1,200.00
Driver P+ = 120,000 miles x .02 = $2,400.00

New wages:

Driver P = $44,460.00
Driver P+ = $43,200.00

** I am unclear on what they call an operating bonus in the premium plus package. If I am reading it right this is a sepperate bonus to be earned and is different then the annual mileage bonus and I am calculating it as such.

Driver P = no operating bonus
Driver P+ = 10,000 miles x .02 = $200.00 x 12 months = $2,400.00

New wages:

Driver P = $44,460.00
Driver P+ = $45,600.00

** Pick up and drop pay. I can't seem to be able to figure a close figure to match with so am going to add a random figure of 15 paid items per month and level out the pay at $12.00 + $7.00 = $19.00 / 2 = $9.50

Driver P = No pick up / drop pay
Driver P+ = 15 pick/ drop x $9.50 = $142.50 x 12 months = $1710.00

New wages:
Driver P = $44,460.00
Driver P+ = $47,310.00

So after a perfect year the Premium Plus driver has earned an additional $2850.00 more then the Premium driver.

So that is the gambling money, approximately $3,000.00

Now speaking for myself I have never missed a bonus criteria, however there are a few things that you are not in control of:

#1 Miles: you are not chooseing what you will run it is being dictated

#2 Cargo claims: this is a very grey area which can be exploited at almost anytime

#3 Accidents: Although we hear about a few hear and there we are not privy to the ammounts that have been proven "preventable". From some of the stories I have heard over the years it is almost an impossible task to prove that you did the right thing. This is not just a Roehl problem, this is industry wide.

#4 Lost Time Injury: see accidents: example: you pull the pin on the fifth wheel, comes out easier then expected, you lose your grip, you fall on your tail bone, can't walk, go to hospital, doctor gives you some pills says see me next week, lost time injury. Preventable?

#5 This is my favorite: Not involved in a preformance improvement process beyond a verbal warning. There are so many of theese that I don't even feel like typing them up. Basically you can be written up for not brushing your teeth like it says on page 4-10. I know it sounds silly but hey they wrote the book not me!!!

About the only thing you are in control of is your idle time. If you have a TriPak this problem is solved. If not be prepared to roast in the heat during the summer months.

Rums suggestion: If you can earn four bonuses in a row I would reccomend moving to the plus program.

 

Well, I spent this last week prepareing my rant over the messages we were being sent 30 minutes or so after we fueled up regaurding our MPG.

I was however side stepped and thrown of course when I received the message that this will no longer happen.

Hmm is this a step in the right direction? Is the senior leadership starting to open there eyes and there ears? My rant was going to based on how much fuel they are forceing me to waste, How many messages were going to be ignored, and how much of my time they were wasteing.

Congratulations to the senior manangement team for avoiding a much deserved Rum Rant

 

This rant makes my blood boil. I knew this rant was comming, should have posted this sooner so I wouldn't look like a monday morning quarterback ranter.

Last week I was in the Dallas / Fort Worth area and was emptying out next to another Roehl driver. I looked up on the side of his truck and saw a prior military service sticker.

We engaged in conversation, as to I am always curious to see what drivers think of the honors program.

Our conversation was brief. I asked him if he was in the honors program. His response was no. I then asked him how he liked the navy. His response was "I was never in the navy or any other branch of the military". We engaged in small talk till I was empty and I moved on to my next load.

Is this how we honor our veterans, are we so lazy that when a vet quits that we can not remove the sticker that was placed there with pride of service?

To thoose who have served deserve to have that decal placed on there vehicle. I wonder how many other drivers are driving under false pretense?