Considering Roehl. Got some questions

I am from MI and went thru the baker program as well. you will be more advanced than most guys at orientation who got about three weeks training and you will feel more comfortable in class and behind the well. just speaking from experience. as far as transferring your cdl just go to the SOS and presto its done.

 

cheflee: thanks!! that helps. Was it the Flint program?

I am planning to go through the complete RDTC. RDTC's schedule is 10 hours/day for 18 days. The Baker program is 11.5 hours/week for 10 weeks, including driving time. In my schedule for next quarter, I have 35 hours of driving time scheduled. That's not enough for me. I've already got the pre-trip and range training behind me from Baker. So, in some ways, I am ahead of the game before I start at RDTC. To give credit where credit's due, I'm pretty competent on pre-trip. Range: I'm adequate but need some time to 'polish'.

My concern with finishing Baker is that, almost every time I've been behind the wheel, there have been serious issues with the equipment; for example: inaccurate or inactive gauges, very slow air brake compressors causing pressures to fall to the point that the warning system is activated, leaking air lines, driver's mirror out of adjustment [ can't see anything but the front 3rd of the trailer ] not being allowed to adjust it because students aren't supposed to touch it, and being told by the instructor that it's my fault for not being lined up with the trailer, having missing mirrors [driver's side door convex missing, passenger side fender convex missing ] during range test, and a host of other challenges. Then, it's switch tractor/trailer which subtracts from actual driving time. At least I have coupling and uncoupling down.

On top of that, Baker Flint tractors are almost all city cabs. I'm going to be driving a sleeper. While the physics are the same, the dimensions on a sleeper make a difference. It's a great help to be able to look out the back window of the tractor while coupling. Can't do that with a sleeper. A huge difference? Probably not but different none-the-less. At the RDTC school [ and with most company schools ], what I'd be training with is what I would be driving when employed.

My point is: Baker's program is good, for what it is. It's also very long and very expensive [ 6 months, $7000 ]. I'm not sure taking 3 more months and $4000 more dollars is going to get me any further ahead than completing RDTC [ with trainer time: 6 weeks, $3500 ]. RTDC will put me on the road, earning a pay check by March 1 as opposed to starting orientation at Roehl on April 8 with Baker.

Would welcome anyone's thoughts.

Have a happy, prosperous, and safe new year.

 

Hey guys...

Roehl is on my short list for a start in the new year. (Would be going through RDTC if I do go Roehl.) Couple of questions:

1. I've heard that Roehl has a 1000W limit for inverters. Can anyone confirm this? I've asked my recruiter who hadn't heard that. She's checking on it, but I don't expect an answer for a few days, at least. I need an honest 1500W for cooking (good 2000W inverter) due to dietary issues, and this could be a deal breaker.

2. How is Roehl for allowing customizing trucks (company driver, national OTR)? Say I wanted a deer guard ("Bambi smasher"), or an additional storage box added to the rig. Is Roehl good at putting these on?

More questions coming, but these are the big ones.

 

Roehl will only install their inverter, which is 150 bucks plus another 150 to install it. the inverter they install is 1200 watts. Plus it only has a 2 hour running limit on it. But hey you own it once you pay for it. You dont have to pay for it all at once they will spread it out across several paychecks.

Your second question i have never seen a deer gaurd on any of their trucks that i have seen. If you lease i am pretty sure you can do whatever you want to the truck. Company driver iam pretty sure its their way or the highway.

 

Does Roehl hire from the Oklahoma area?

 

No.
and other words to meet the posting minimum.

 

I think it depends on where you live, I'm from Guthrie. Roehl hired me in November.

 

THX for the reply. I'm in McLoud...might as well say OKC....about the same.

 

Talk to a recruiter. I am really happy with my choice to go with Roehl.

 

THX for the input. I will give the a shout in Monday.