Question for current Roehl drivers

I couldn't agree with you more OneLasTime. I have had the same problems and I make the same effort to be ready for my next load. Its very frustrating to be with a company that you like in a job that you like and feel that they just don't care about your income.

 

The problem with Roehl is the same with any company, it's just a matter of degree. Trincon just came out with the results of a driver survey and the issues we have with Roehl are the same issues most drivers have with most companies. The top issues center around showing respect to the driver and communication. Aside from the miles issue I have a couple of other issues. I think if my fm, dsr or whatever they call themselves these days ever took responsibility for anything I would faint on the spot. Everything is the fault of the driver, broker, shipper, planner, customer service, consignee, but never their fault. The second issue is treat me as a professional and partner, not as just another part of the truck. Let me illustrate with a couple of issues. First they just sent out an edict that even if we know a better rooute than their opti system we have to call in and get permission first. After all the roads their system uses are perfectly safe. (Yea right, as I'm burning up my brakes on two lane mountain roads through the mountains, watching as my wheels hang off the edge of a cliff.) The second illustration just happened. I was told a customer was a first come first served customer and they were open till 17:00. Neither Roehl nor the broker had an address beyond Louisville, so the broker told me to call the customer. When I called I was informed they took delivery by appt. only and the soonest they had was the next day at 11:00 so I took it and they also stopped at 15:30. When I told my dsr what I had found out instead of listening to me, they informed me that the customer was a first come and they were open till 17:00 so I had better get there asap (all while having a flat repaired on a relay load.) Guess what. I got unloaded the next day at 11:00 and they ignored what I told them. I was the only one to actually talk to the customer and my dsr blamed the mixup on the broker. The fault is my dsr's fault for not listening to the person with the most information. If these were isolated incidents that would be one thing, but this is the way they do things.

 

Is it possibly a problem with the DSR? And is there no chain of command to follow if this keeps happening? I am asking because I know how frustrating this can be...we are OUT THERE and the person hundreds of miles away think they know it all and are stubborn too boot!

 

The issues with Roehl are coming downhill from the higher ups. This is a company run by paranoid cheapskates you don't think issues all the way through, but would rather make kneejerk discisions because it sounds good. Let me give you an illustration. It was just handed down that we are to take I-94 through downtown Chicago rather than go I-294 so they can avoid the tolls. If you are a driver you know immediately what is wrong with this picture. Another issue a trailer tire needed to be replaced on a relay load I had just picked up, rather than go to Gateway I had to go downtown Granite City onto a road with a 5ton limit (I was at 35 tons) and blindside back into the drive off of a busy four lane road. All this from the company that claims they never compromise on safety. Would you like me to through in about the routing issues as well?

 

heres a question; Do you do your road test in gary or in marshfield?

 

Both have the ability, I think Gary is more common, but only because it's higher traffic.

 

wonderful...

 

Im having the same prob. guess id better stay quiet