My training at Roehl

From the guys that I'm friends with on Facebook that are trainers they seem to be to or through a terminal every few days. Shouldn't be more than week to get back and get some solid practice.

 

Kinda curious here...you did phase one at a terminal which is eight days with terminal trainers, lot of driving/backing and then eight days with a phase two trainer? Or did you go to Roehl's cdl course?
Reads to me like "someone" couldn't cut the mustard and it's everyone elses fault...

 

I think he has to hit something first in order to qualify for Close Quarters Training. In Phase 1 Training, they taught me a basic set-up for backing that works. The maneuver had to be completed in 10 minutes or less in order to be cleared for Phase 2 (OTR with Trainer). You also tested out after Phase 2, which included backing, but with no time limit imposed. My first solo dispatch was a tight back and I was unable to complete it as trained. Another Roehl driver on site tried to back my trailer in without success. Finally, a little Mexican who pulled a Pup trailer, jackknifed my trailer into the dock for me. Later that same week with all kinds of room, I had trouble getting the trailer lined up; took me 30 minutes to the dock. Luckily, it was after hours for most deliveries and no other trucks were held up by my backing attempts. Finally, at a tightly packed grocery DC, a FFE (frozen food express) driver showed me how to manage backing in tight quarters. After that, my backing improved rapidly, but not by using the maneuver taught at Roehl at that time. Their system works, but does require more room than you sometimes have in real working conditions. I don't know if their training has changed since early 2013; it probably has.

 

Sceeered maybe? I know I was in Chicago exiting into the surface roads just wide enough for a bicycle.

 

I was with Roehl over 3 years when I first started driving. The training was solid, but far from perfect. The company is decent, but far from the best. They were typically fair and honest though, if you aren't getting your way talk to management about a change.

 

I currently work for Roehl, i came here from"Stupid" Service. It's an ok company.

 

I worked there for 3 years also. It's a sink or swim company training. Tons of people did it before you and after you. The "suck it up," comments in my opinion is bc if you can't hack it with a trainer then you won't when your on your own. And why they didn't give you additional training if you didn't feel comfortable is beyond me. They hold hands with a lot of drivers there and were safety conscious when I was there. But that was 8 months ago. Swift and Werner have long extensive training programs, hit em up. And by no means am I a roehl cheerleader, I hated the place hence my moving on.

 

I'm sry, just thinking about coming back to trucking from a 20 yr hiatus...coulda sworn that a person needs to know how to back to get a cdl?

 

Yes it's true you do need to know how to back to get a CDL. But remember it's a learned skill not an innate ability. Kinda like algebra or geometry, the more you practice it the better you understand it. I'm betting after 20 years even you might be a little rusty.