Roehl – Bad News for Veterans; Part 2

Don't forget, an HP driver can opt to stop his salary at anytime. You are then simply switched to the mileage pay for your particular experience level. So if it comes to the point you would make more on mileage, you can switch.

 

You lose me here, honestly. There are certainly days on which I drive out my full 11, but more often than not I run up against my 14-hour clock first.

I can't imagine that my experience (relatively scant as it is) is too much different from most other truckers', in that sense. The kind of long hauls that allow you to focus almost entirely on driving on a given day are highly prized - and, from what I've seen, increasingly hard to find.

And then there are some (thankfully few) days when I end up earning very few paid miles. Shag runs, load/unload wait times, traffic, maintenance, searches for empty trailers -- all of these can contribute to some very disappointing days for one's wallet.

A solid 8 hours of driving time per day probably isn't, in other words, all that divergent from what most people entering the trucking industry should reasonably expect. An 8-hour-per-day estimate may even be a little too optimistic.

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Unfortunately, the hourly-wage thing is a problem for most every trucker. I happen to think it's a valid complaint -- that a hefty chunk, if not often the majority, of a trucker's working time doesn't appear on his paycheck -- but for good or ill, you can't argue that it's a problem unique to Roehl drivers.

The Honor Program, from what little I've read on it, seems to be a decent alternative in an industry which is dominated by what I view as unfair payroll policy -- likely still unfair if taken in vacuum, but no less fair than the industry standard. As a veteran, you're given the option to trade a very slight amount in terms of your maximum earning potential for a consistent paycheck.

Frankly, it's the same at any other job. Years back, I used to be a Teamster. No, I wasn't a driver, and I'll keep the details of the job to myself given the character of this forum, and the possibility that my current employer might see some of my comments here -- but the point is that, after I spent a short time in the Union, I was promoted to Supervisor. Accepting that job was a huge mistake, because I ended up working twice as hard, for twice as many hours, and if you averaged my salary out on a per-hour basis, the result was somewhere between abysmal and pathetic.

At least Roehl isn't asking you to drive twice as many miles in return for the stability of a salary. As far as salaried gigs go, this one actually seems better (relative to the alternative) than most of which I've heard.

After reading your post, though, I'm honestly curious about the Honor Program. The notion of basing a salary on the requirement that you drive 400 miles per day, when your assigned mileage isn't up to you, seems kind of iffy. Over how long a period do they take the average to determine that you're meeting the requirements? On a weekly, bi-weekly, monthly basis? At what point do they take away the salary, and revert to paid miles?

It's certainly an interesting program. And now that I think about it, there is potential there for abuse if the company were unscrupulous, but it doesn't necessarily follow that the program is bad.

 

I really enjoyed being on salary. I didn't worry myself over sitting or breaking down. If I didn't run, I didn't run. I hear the complaint, "They're going to run me to death" way to much. Well guess what, you are going to run legally. Period. If you work your full hours, then so what? That's your job.

This is a great program for somebody coming out of the military. Especially if you don't plan on using your GI Bill for college. Roehl in no way pressures drivers into the Honor Program. If you do accept the salary, you aren't required to use your GI Bill. Granted your pay will be about $800 less if you opt out of the GI Bill. If you do use it, that $800 is tax free. If I could go back to salary, I would. Honestly. And remember, you can stop driving salary and go to mileage pay at anytime.

 

I am on the honor program. Just passed a year with Roehl. Switched from national to 7/4-7/3 back in August. Last week out was my worst ever with Roehl as far as mileage goes. 1050 miles was all I got. Thank God I am honor program because I still got $700 for the week. My normal mileage is anywhere from 2800-3100.

 

How has business been since the economy tanked.

I am getting ready to retire and am thinking about the honor program. Does the HP money come from the GI Bill or does Roehl pay you salary because you are a military vet?

 

Both. Roehl offers a salary for two years. Think of it what you will, but I believe they are making a sincere gesture of goodwill towards veterans to make the transition easier. Then you can opt to use you GI Bill as an apprentice. As your monthly GI Bill payment goes down, the salary goes up.

 

so how much do you make if you don't use your GI Bill? I came in before the GI Bill, i will be eligible for the post 9-11 GI bill but that doesn't start until Aug of next year.

 

As a flatbed driver my starting biweekly pay was just over $1600. Van drivers start at just over $1400. You don't receive any extra pay for New York, Canada or tarping but you do qualify for bonuses. You salary increases every six months if I remember correctly.

 

And if you get the GI Bill money it is like an extra amount correct?

 

Correct, the GI Bill Starts out paying $825 a month, and decreases over the following two years. Basically as your GI Bill goes down, your salary goes up. I think the gross yearly pay for the first year is around $46k and the second year is $44K. You do have to choose to use it when you first hire on, you can't opt in later. Also, if you complete the apprenticeship program you receive the Journeyman rating from the Department of Labor, for what it's worth.

Salary can be a blessing or a curse. If you are retiring and will have the extra income, I'd recommend taking mileage pay.