Have you tried calling your FM to advise of a better route? I have, and my suggestion was approved and off I went. About more drop and hooks, are you pulling a reefer? I think it has more to do with the division your in. I am in a dedicated fleet and 98% of my assignments are drop and hook. I admit I do get a few live load/unloads that seem to take forever! What division do you pull for? are you in the Dairyland fleet? That would make sense with your complaint of nowhere to stop. I think a lot of our problems stem from our assigned FM's, in my case the back up FM's. It is my opinion that if your FM doesn't have the mindset of having your back you're screwed! Whenever my FM is away my pre-plans, load assignments and answers are extremely slow. I wish they would realize and appreciate that my clock is ticking down and costing me valuable earning potential. I don't hesitate in letting them know how I feel and what I expect! You don't need to be disrespectful but you do need to be assertive with them, after all, it is your earning's that are at stake. The other problem, in my opinion, is the fleet we choose to drive for. For example; The Reefer Division has the highest likelihood of live load/unloads. It's the nature of the business. Dairyland has the highest likelihood of running the back roads of Wisconsin, that's where the products are coming from. The division I am in has me running thru Chicago an awful lot, but that's the way it is as our warehouses are in Chicago. My point is this, each fleet will have its ups and downs. Do yourself a favor an ask questions of other drivers, your FM and the recruiters. It has always been expressed by Roehl that we can change fleets if we are not satisfied with our current role. But then again, there are many people in this business that just cannot be satisfied, they are in the wrong line of work.
I am scheduled to be in Appleton for training. I have gone to a school already and have my cdl with all my endorsements. Im looking to get the experience under my belt for the first year. Roehl seemed to be the top prospect out of a lot of other companies. I understandit will be rough for my first year. So with that all said, are there any suggestions. Im lookingto do dry van, 11-14 days out and 3 home.
You'll love the Appleton terminal. My favorite. I also started on that fleet and love it. Stay focused throughout the training as it will be fast paced and before you know it you'll be on the road with a trainer. Good luck and have fun!
I am heading to Appleton on Sunday, and I am very excited for this new adventure. I am curious on the hire bonus pay...it says upon hire that half will be deposited the next Thursday. Is that the first week I am in Appleton, or will that be the 2nd week? I am just trying to understand how that part works. Thanks so much!
They will never let a driver decide crap. But in general their routes do not suck. Sometimes they do but overall they are good.
After reading this thread, I can't understand how Roehl is promising 55k in their latest recruitment blitz
Because it is very possible to get that. You have to remember that is gross. If you start at .35 and average 3000 a week. That is 55 a year. Not everyone will make that but it is possible.
I'm doing an analysis of SNI versus Roehl... Bottom line and serious questions: 1) Why should a driver pick Roehl over SNI (given SNI's 3 weeks out and 5 days home time vs. Roehl's 11 to 14 w/3 days home time)? 2) Is there an upside to Roehl that's not obvious on the surface that would make having one day less at home worth driving for them? It's a cage match between SNI or Roehl. Which way, drivers?
11-14, 3 days, 18-20, 4 days, 21-I forget 5 days. Something like that. It's essentially the same. I don't know if SNI offers the variety under 21 so I can't speak for that. EDIT: I should qualify with my information may be dated, I haven't been with Roehl in over a year.
Yeah, the times off are essentially the same. I was just wondering if there are other, less visible reasons for going with one over the other. Does the Roehl corporate culture function generally better? Does Roehl do the silly empty trailer hunt kabuki dances like SNI (that we've read so much about here)? It's hard(er) to find driver's kvetching about Roehl so much... Do they just screen out the complainers? lol...
