Rum's Rants

I'm in western NC, both my trainers were from Roehl's major freight lanes up north, 1st from Wisconsin, 2nd was based from Gary. They picked me up down here in NC going through with the comment: "I don't get down here much".

 

I'm surprised they haven't taken the cars away yet. They are disgusting. Once upon a time the company car was Everitt's old Caddy when he bought a new one. Then drivers tore it up and now we are stuck with junk. Oh well, once upon a time they had a keg a beer every friday night in Marshfield too.

 

MO-
I'm dumber than a re-run of Brittany and K-feds wedding, hope you can explain whats up with the per diem? I'm 6 days out from Roehl, and don't want to make the rookie mistake of "they said it was the best"

 

Rum you are lucky if you missed the turn for Gateway. Not only is there a low clearance on 203, it is also a light road (73280). Since I'm from Illinois and used to drive dump buckets I had to learn about weight limits on Illinois roads, we usually were loaded to a minimum of 78000. I remember when Pilot bought out the Gateway Truck Plaza. It only happened a couple of years ago. Evidently only the truck stop is Pilot because the repair shop and general offices are still named Gateway. Anyone who runs any state routes in Illinois I would advise to stop into any of the "coops" and pickup the truck route map. It shows the low clearances and weight restricted routes. It can save you a few thousand dollars in fines, especially in Chicago.

As for drop yards there are some real nightmares. If going to the West Memphis yard heading east on I-40 you have to get off at the exit for Pilot. Go right up to the frontage road before I-55. Then you go left on the frontage road. Madison has terrible directions our area is hidden off the road and behind a blue building. You have to turn into the only entrance to CET then look over to your 3:00 position and you will see our drop yard hidden back there. Dayton is bad in the day and impossible at night (there are no lights except what you have on your truck.) Roehl has some very poor directions both in their driver's guide and on the quallcom.

 

This is a fun read. I don't recognize anyone except Cheryl who recently left us.

 

Thanks for bumping the thread its funny and pathetic in a way some of these same issues are still going on.

 

I want to also say thanks for bumping this one up. I really liked the part about the survey everybody filled out and what they got for it. Towels for the shower. Lol! It is funny how some of these issues are still going on today.

 

The reason trucking companies specifically and people in general always have the same problems is that they look for affirmation and not information. It is very hard to look inward and ask what can I do better? As a result trucking companies look for a way to blame drivers for the high turnover, that way they don't have to change, or get out of their comfort zone.

 

well said

 

I feel like their are some people in the office who are trying to change and realize that in order to get drivers to the level of skill and experience they're striving for, you first have to retain them as drivers. Got a little insight at Foundations training last week that makes me hopeful, and I hope that I can help to make that happen at least for a few guys. (Though my past 5 students have all but 1 moved on from Roehl, 2 very recently)


Joe