starting roehl on Feb 25th

Discussion in 'Discuss Your Favorite Trucking Company Here' started by thundermunky, Feb 20, 2008.

  1. Etch-A-Sketch

    Etch-A-Sketch Light Load Member

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    Sep 9, 2008
    The Peach State
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    I switched to 7/4-7/3 about a month ago. I am based out of Ellenwood I have been out 4 times so far. Three times they have gotten me home on time and the fourth time I was a day late. The good thing is they gave me all my time at home on that trip. So far I am pleased with the program.
     
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  3. Etch-A-Sketch

    Etch-A-Sketch Light Load Member

    83
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    Sep 9, 2008
    The Peach State
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    FOOMANGOO,

    I can't send a answer to you via the PM because I do not have enough post. end me another PM with your email address and I can answer your questions. Based on what you said you needed you should do ok with Roehl.
     
  4. CMoore2004

    CMoore2004 Road Train Member

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    Nov 2, 2007
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    Roehl's kind of forced to honor the 7/3-7-4 because there's another guy waiting for the truck when you're gone.
     
  5. GI-Jeff0

    GI-Jeff0 Light Load Member

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    Apr 6, 2008
    Clarkesville, GA
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    Ok, so you all probably thought I dropped off the face of the Earth. Well not exactly. I have really limited access to the internet. It is a rare thing when they route me through a terminal, and I've not yet took on the expense of wireless air or any other means of net access.

    I have been quite busy. I have successfully completed Evo 3 and moved to the "MainStream," to quote Adam's appraisal of my graduation. I won't lie, they are earning every penny they can out of me. I've been routed right to the point of either running out of hours or nearly being late on several deliveries. When speaking with other Flat-drivers, I've learned that this is sort of fly or die period between my new DSR and I.

    I think he and I are getting along ok. I did get my first big oops however, in the trucking world. I was in Michigan, traveling south on I-75. I was nearing a rest area. There were several signs on the road laying face down. As I reached the exit to the rest area, I saw a sign reading "All Trucks Exit Here." Well at 60MPH, there was little chance of me safely stopping the truck in the 100yrds worth of warning I was given.

    I slowed down and glanced into the rest area, only to lower my head in shame. I blew past my first (and hopefully last) DOT Inspection. I kept watch in my rear view, sure enough the big red light was flashing behind me. I stopped and waited. The DOT Inspector walked up and asked, "Well...what happened?" I told him I was still kind of new to this. I then explained that the only warning I had was that sign right at the entrance to the rest area. He said there were plenty of signs. I told him that it was hard to read them when they were face down.

    I had started my day without a pre-trip and hadn't drawn the line down to the drive line from the sleeper-berth line. He gigged me on that. He also gigged me on missing the sign for the inspection site. My DSR was disappointed but we both chalked it up as a lesson learned. I wasn't ticketed, instead I was given a Letter of Compliance. Basically it is a "Tell your boss you messed up, and don't do it again," kind of thing.

    At least the next time I see an All Trucks Exit sign, I'll know to lock up the breaks and tear into the rest area, pray I don't splatter a DOT guy on my hood, and get my inspection done properly. All kidding aside, the guy was very cordial, and just suggested that next time I just stop as soon as I pass the entrance. He also didn't give me the full inspection, due to Roehl's excellent safety rating.

    As for the where have I been. Well I did take my first load into Canada. I also then delivered from Canada. It really wasn't as difficult as people made it out to be. At least not if you followed the steps correctly. I turned a 15 to 45min border crossing into a 4hr ordeal. I forgot to call the DSR to request the ACE report prior to arriving at the border, when returning to the US. It seems that caused some kind of ruccus because the other parts of the Customs papers were processed without this document. Therefore, Customs did not receive the Entry Code (A number given to your trip). So I ended up having to do a lot of faxing and phoning from the Customs office. Basically I had to reprocess all the paperwork. The guys and gals at Sault Ste Marie were very helpful.

    So...what did we learn boys and girls?
    The answers to many of the whys, and hows of our job can be found in the DRG (driver reference guide). So it doesn't hurt to actually read it. And if you still don't know the correct procedure...then by GOD, don't be afraid to call and ask for instructions. Heh...at least that is what I've learned from that adventure.

    Just to be quick...(as if that is possible after this lengthy post)
    I have been as far south as Pharr, TX. I have been north all the way to Perth, Ontario. I have delivered east at Virginia Beach, and made it west to Kansas. I am sure I will get further west in time. If nothing else, I sure have had an opportunity to see a lot of beautiful countryside. Or as much as is visible from the highway or interstate.

    All Right...that is enough of my rambling for now.
     
  6. CMoore2004

    CMoore2004 Road Train Member

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    Ah... Perth, Ontario. Bagged talc, perfect size for steel tarps, but requires lumber tarps. Did you have trouble finding it? How about that nice ride down TCH-17? I hate that load--but glad to see you didn't drop off the face of the earth.

    BTW, what terminal you at? I'm stuck in Gary, heading to Marshfield in the AM.
     
  7. notarps4me

    notarps4me Road Train Member

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    NASA HQ
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    We learned that you blew a scale and wasn't current on your last change of duty status....:biggrin_2554: You got off very cheap. Blowing the scale could have been about 1500 bucks.
     
  8. GI-Jeff0

    GI-Jeff0 Light Load Member

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    Apr 6, 2008
    Clarkesville, GA
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    Didn't have any trouble finding it, but I did drive right past it. Luckily the weigh station is just beyond the entrace. In fact, that was where I did my 10hr break after picking up.

    Not at a terminal. I was told to head home after delivering in Clarksville, IN. I was ready for a break. Dave is really running me. I hope I can keep up the pace. Heh...awe...its not as bad as I let on. I know I'm still learning. The tarping and strapping will get faster in time. I have managed to at least speed up the time it takes to put the gear away.

    The load I delivered today was on a step deck trailer. Not sure what I can haul around here on that, besides maybe lumber again. I know that there is a heavy equipment manufacturing facility close by. I remember one of the trainers mentioning it. Maybe I'll get my first equipment load. I head back out Tuesday in the AM.
     
  9. GI-Jeff0

    GI-Jeff0 Light Load Member

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    Apr 6, 2008
    Clarkesville, GA
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    ~wipes his brow~
    Whew...

    And I thought I was the only one that noticed.

    Heh...
     
  10. CMoore2004

    CMoore2004 Road Train Member

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    I took my break right there at the shipper with the ridiculous name. Not because I wanted to, but because after the wind repeatedly blew off my lumbers for 3 hours, I had no time to run left. Good to see you found it, though. I came from the east and kept doing circles trying to find it. I'd get as far west as the scalehouse and turn around. Then, once I got about to the Mississippi River, I'd turn around. Eventually I used the phone in the scalehouse and realized I wasted 2 hours for something I was 2 miles away from. At least the scalehouse has the display outside so you can weigh yourself if it's closed.
     
  11. milestogo

    milestogo Light Load Member

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    Dec 13, 2006
    Downeast
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    Hometime
    I'm looking at moving on from Swift--mainly because of so little hometime. Does Roehl really honor their 7/4, 7/3 road and hometime option? I read one former Roehl driver complaining about how difficult it was to get home when working for Roehl, so I'd really appreciate some straight talk on just how Roehl approaches this. Thank you.


    Metawolf,

    A great deal of what you are concerned about depends on proximity to freight lanes. If your home terminal is within busy freight lanes, getting you in and out of the truck on schedule should be pretty good.
    My personal experience with Roehl's "Hometime" fleet was in an area located at the end of freight lanes, Groveton, NH, and I found that their 7/7 was usually 8/6, or 9/5. Location had everything to do with not getting home on time, there was never any intent to foul up my schedule.
    As for the assertion that another driver is waiting for the truck, at Groveton there were always extra tractors, presumably due to turnover.
    In concept 7/7 was perfect for me, however, the reality was skewed by location. I left Roehl at the end of '07, as I suspected that the closure of Wausau Paper in Groveton would adversely impact the company. As it turned out Roehl shut down in Groveton. Launch loads were dependant on Wausau, and Fraser Paper in Gorham, NH (hanging by a thread) was the backhaul.
     
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