Roehl July 17th

Yeah it gets easier after the first couple days..its nerve wrecking seeing 70 foot trucks at first but you get used to it! Just study hard and concentrate on double clutch shifting a Ten speed while knowing where your trailer is at all times and you will be fine. Definitely gets easier as time goes on even if it dont seem like it will. I got along with my roomate very well so that helped as well. Its been rainy off and on here in Wisconsin but also hott and muggy so no dont only pack pants! lol. They want you to bring that stuff to be prepared but its definitely not a requirement for training. If you already haven't click my name, or go to the forums page and go to "Trucking and CDL training schools forum" and click my thread named "Roehl CDL training" I gave a quick over view of it.

I read they ask for money up front as well but I dont think they do this anymore. My class and all the next week classes after me were never asked. I dont think they will ever ask a dime from you as long as you finish out the contract with them.

Here is a link of the 10 speed shift pattern you will be using at the Tech and what all manual Roehl trucks use, Memorize it before coming to class it with will help.

 

Can't say for Appleton, but here in Grand Prairie they don't collect any money from students. The only money you'll pay is for your skills tests/licensing fees and food/incidentals while you're there.

For coping with leaving family, it's never easy but can be made easier by talking with your family about what you'll be doing, why you're doing it, and assuring them that you'll remain in contact with them. Also, ensure that you tell them and that they understand that no news is good news. While you should have ample opportunity to communicate with family while in training and over the road, there may be certain circumstances where they won't hear from you or be able to answer their calls right away. My family and I had to learn that while I was/they were (my father served as well) in the military. Even if it's just for a few minutes, communicate with them when you can. With cell phones, texting, Facebook/Twitter/other forms of social media, Skype, FaceTime, etc... this should be fairly easy. Now this will contradict what I just said, but if there comes a time where you're communicating with your family all the time and the homesickness, missing family, etc... becomes too much for you or your family, try not communicating AS MUCH (but still communicate). Sometimes communicating too much can have similar effects to not communicating enough. Try to find the right balance for you and your family. Finding the right balance for you and your family, and getting you and your family used to you being gone most of the time will be difficult and take time.

For you...Concentrating on your work and keeping yourself busy with work and hobbies (TV, movies, games, building models, playing music, studying for something for your future, etc...) will help you with it. Trust that your family will take care of things while you're gone. A strong relationship with your family is key for a lifestyle like this to work.

For your family...Have them find ways to stay busy as well. Keep up with the housework, find a hobby or hobbies, take a job, spend time with friends, do volunteer work, or any combination of these things. Make sure that your family has a support network of other family and friends while you're gone. That one thing alone is one of the most important to have in place prior to leaving. Additionally, many trucking companies (I think Roehl is one of them) have spouse pages/groups on Facebook so they can connect with other spouses as part of their support network. Military veterans could relate these to an FRG (Family Readiness Group), for better or for worse .

Other advice is to ensure that you have plans in place before you leave so your family is taken care of while you're gone (bills paid, groceries in the kitchen, gas in the car, etc...).

 

hows class going??

 

Sorry to hear and good luck!