Any Questions about Roehl??

It tells you where to fuel, name of place, where it's etc... And if to fill or get X amount of gallons. It's really not that bad. On occasion if time is short for whatever reason, I've skipped a fuel stop, usually let fm know what plans are. For the most part it's ok. Big reason for fuel stops etc, most of it has to do with taxes.

 

The places they want you to fuel are in the fuel/routing plan. The only fuel stops in the plan are the ones they want you to fuel at; i.e. you stop at each fuel stop in the plan and either fill up if specified, or take on the number of gallons specified. Sometimes they have you put in just 51 gallons or so, just to get you to the next stop that has a better price for example. So yes it is all decided by dispatch (actually the computer software that generates the fuel/routing plan). They have it all optimized very well, and if you find yourself running low on fuel due to strong headwinds, etc. you can always request an updated fuel/routing plan by sending in a macro on the QC.

 

As far as the actual time behind the wheel with a trainer, are these trainers assigned to the fleet you are destined for? My plans are in the inter-modal fleet, so will my trainer be from this fleet and will we be in and out of the rail yards during the training? Any and all information you experienced drivers can contribute is greatly appreciated! Curious minds need to know

 

usually you train with fleet you will be in. However, since it's a weekly gig for intermodal I doubt it. I don't even think any are trainers.

 

My friend did van but trained reefer. Intermodal uses vans from what I heard instead of containers so assume you won't be with a flatbed trainer.

 

Vans and reefer trailers.

 

No trained just reefer then did mostly van but pulled reefers too after training. At that time the reefer trainer was only one avail, not too much of a difference plus better experience off the bat to get

 

Thanks for the info guy's! I can see the benefit of training with a reefer. I'm sure that quite a bit of the freight coming off the rails can be in reefers. It would be nice to have a trainer that knows the rail yards and the ins/outs of Chicago and is willing to share that knowledge. Bayle, do you have any insider info that you can share from your time with the Inter-modal fleet?

 

I hated the Bedford Park train yard. Biggest one. First time in to any of them get a map, so you know the tracks and parking areas. Bedford Park and Willow Springs have fingerprinting so ID is quicker once you do that. South Western Ave does too I think. Didn't go to that one often. Most often you go to the one off 63d Street. They are currently building new entrances. Even though that one is in a crap area, it's not bad actually. I preferred it over Bedford Park. When you get plans, ask ahead of time where you get an mt, or if you got another load coming out, or bob tailing to next shipper. Also and this one is important. If you get a plan that says it's a live load, then turns out to be a drop n hook, or vice versa, make sure you let fm know. Because they have the trailers billed at the train yard and if you show up with a different number they won't take it. Then you have to sit and wait. Also get plenty of trailer seals. Some shippers don't seal the trailer, and train yard will not take an unsealed trailer. Roehl supplies them, just get them at any terminal.

 

Back in 2009 I trained with a flatbed but was going into the reefer division. I'm not sure how much different it is currently, but you start learning the nuances of your particular division pretty fast once you are cut loose and sent out on your own.

My first solo load had to be relayed in Gary because I didn't calculate the time change from central to eastern. Then I sat for a while waiting for a load. I started figuring things out the hard way pretty fast when there was no longer a trainer to remind me.