Roehl CDL Training

Wisconsinguy · Jul 16, 2017

86mechanic said: ↑

What Fleet are you gonna be in ?
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National Reefer! Lower 48 and canada

Wisconsinguy · Jul 16, 2017

Kyle G. said: ↑

Sadly, I did not like my trainer. He was a loud, vulgar, dirty sob who only cared about about running hard and making money. For that reason he had a tendency to rush everything. I was only with him for 8 days. I never complained about him to management until after I was done with him. I wish I had said something sooner, but I didn't want to cause a scene at the time. My advice to you is, if you are at all unhappy with your trainer, do not be afraid to speak up. I can't stress that enough. They can and will put you with a different trainer if you request it. Don't sit there and be miserable like I did. I am not trying to scare you or anything, many of their trainers are top notch and I just got one of the few bad ones. It happens.

As far as being crammed in the truck together, yeah it's pretty cozy, that's for sure lol. But it was a short enough time that it didn't bother me too much. i never had a problem sleeping. The good thing about roehl compared to other companies is, you and your trainer drive and sleep at the same time, they don't alternate like many other companies do. If your trainer tries to make you drive while he sleeps, refuse and let your fm know. That is just not the proper way to train.

As far as what to bring, that kind of depends on the trainer and how much room he has. You will want to pack as light as possible. I brought a week worth of clothes, a shower bag and a pillow and blanket. He already had clean sheets on the top bunk for me. Also brought along all my school Books and papers just to have them as a reference. You should get a call from your trainer to arrange a meeting time and place. Best thing to do is ask him what you should bring. When you are done with your trainer, you will be dumped at a terminal to take the final test and be issued your truck. Your truck may be at a different terminal though, so this is another good reason to pack light, so you don't have to lug all your crap from terminal to terminal to hotel, etc.

once you are handed the keys to your truck, you should get routed home right away and you can use this time to fully stock it with all your gear.
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Thank you for the input! I should be heading out with my trainer monday or tuesday and I am a little nervous about it because I dont know what to expect. Is it hard to figure out the computer system and how was the driver test with roehl?

LakeLife80 · Jul 16, 2017

Wisconsinguy said: ↑

National Reefer! Lower 48 and canada
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Be prepared to do a lot of sitting with the reefer division. I was with Roehl a long time ago doing dry van, solid company.

Kyle G. · Jul 16, 2017

Wisconsinguy said: ↑

Thank you for the input! I should be heading out with my trainer monday or tuesday and I am a little nervous about it because I dont know what to expect. Is it hard to figure out the computer system and how was the driver test with roehl?
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They were mostly using Qualcomm when I started, and just starting to try truck pc in a few trucks, so not sure what system they are using now. It's not too difficult, just a lot of repetition. I am a computer idiot and I still figured it out lol.

Road test was basically just a mock cdl test.

mydartswinger · Jul 16, 2017

They're on TruckPC now. At least that's what they're teaching us in the GYCDL program.

Lone Gunman · Jul 16, 2017

Wisconsinguy said: ↑

I just wanted to share my experiences with Roehl GYCDL program since there aren't many on here from recent months. I attended the program in Appleton, WI and over all my experience was exciting and I had fun.
Monday - Friday you will be at fox valley tech about 9.5 hours and Saturday you will be at the Roehl terminal about 4.5 hours.
The hotel is very nice with friendly staff and a large breakfast. For lunch you will be served Erberts and Gerberts which consists of a nice variety of sandwiches, chips, soups, cookies, and even a pickle. Each morning during dispatch you will order what you want.
Guys remember you dont get paid till your third week at roehl. (third thursday) so if you are broke dont sweat it too much. You will have a way to school and back and the lunch is big enough to hold you over till breakfast the next day if need be.

Week 1:
The first day consists of paper work and safety talk for the first half of the day and the second half you will be sent to the Fox valley tech to check it out and be put on the simulators (these dont give the real experience but they teach concept so dont let them scare you)
Day 2 you will be put in a bob tail and out on the Keller track at the school learning shifting. By the end of the day dont be surprised if you have a trailer attached to you out on the track and either out in traffic day 2 or for sure day 3.
The best way to learn is to be thrown in hot water and this is what they do. Dont be nervous everyone sucks in the beginning and it was exciting.

Week 1 and week 2 will consist of backing and driving out in the real world. Highway, downtown, Road trips, maybe up to green bay to see the packer stadium or even out to marsh field to see the other facility it all depends on the trainer.

Week 3 they will get more serious with working out your kinks in driving and backing. The 3 backing maneuvers consist of straight back, offset backing, and alley dock (90 degree) ....I did not have the 90 down till 3 days before my test but it will click in your head eventually.

Week 4 you will either test on Tuesday or wens day and then graduate on Thursday. Your free to head home and get your CDL in your home state Thursday night or Friday. I left immediately after passing my test and headed to the DMV since I am a Wisconsin native.

The CDL exam consists of a pre-trip (with LAB and break in cab) with you much score a 35 or higher... backing which you cant receive more than 12 points, and a road test which consists of 30 obtainable points any more than 30 is a fail.

Impeding traffic is a automatic fail on the drive test along with hitting a curb with your trailer so be careful with that. Appleton is FULL of roundabouts and their are 2 on the test as soon as you leave the school but they are easier than they seem in a truck. The CDL test routes are easier than the routes you will practice in (you also practice on the test routes) and you are only on the interstate like 2 minutes for the test.

When backing you get 2 get out and looks for the offset and 90 degree backing and 2 free pull-ups. Every pull up after 2 is one point and if you hit a cone or cross the yellow boundary line it is 2 points. Each menouver has its own get out and look and pull up system but (2 for each) but the 12 point of less pass system is combined for all of them.

I went in with 0 experience grinding every gear and came out with 8 on my driving (mostly for grinding gears and was marked for each one) 0 on my backing and 47/48 on my pretrip which i was told by the state examiner was outstanding. Never even backed a boat trailer before so if I can do it remember you can too.

If you come with your CDL already and have experience, expect to progress faster and probably not stay the whole 4 weeks.

You will be paid 500 a week to learn which is Great! and it really is a great program out in Appleton! Many people coming from other companies say it is the best program at the tech. Dont listen to other sour heads on this forum or other forums who tell you otherwise. You get out what you put into it and it is a rewarding experience!
Take ALL the practice they hand you and give 100% and if you do this and fail your first time on your CDL test, I can give my word they will keep you another week to practice more and try again (although its not garenteed) but if you are trying your best they will keep you.

Roehl really is a great company and have treated me with respect and helped me Succeed. I have been out of the program 3 days and will head out with my driver trainer on Monday for 19 days and will post my experience for that as well. If you want to make money guys, take their advice on Saturdays and use it. When people tell you they arent getting miles at Roehl, there is a reason for that. Take things into your own hands, trip plan to be early and get the load their early if possible, contact your Fleet manager, and get another load.

Thanks for reading!
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Hey, thanks for the great post !
Just let me ask.. if your skills aren't up to snuff ( I'm talking backing here)
Are they willing to work extra with you ?
And how many backing skills do you have to do for the state exam, I THINK here in PA it's only ONE of three.

Wisconsinguy · Jul 16, 2017

Lone Gunman said: ↑

Hey, thanks for the great post !
Just let me ask.. if your skills aren't up to snuff ( I'm talking backing here)
Are they willing to work extra with you ?
And how many backing skills do you have to do for the state exam, I THINK here in PA it's only ONE of three.
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Well ill tell you what... Like i said I went into the program with no experience even backing something small. I sucked so much.But after a while you get used to it and will do some practice on the Simulator too. By the end of the program I was down to 0 points most of the times I did the mock testing. You do all 3 backing skills... straight line, off set, and 90 degree and they all come to you with time so dont give up. Take your time, go slow. It isnt timed at all. Remember to turn into the danger or the "correction". For example if you look into your left mirror and that side of the trailer is moving too close to the boundary line then turn your steering wheel left towards it to move it away. Same for the right side, and dont over steer and use your get out and looks. You'll see what I mean when you get out there but that piece of advise really helped me. and I know it is completely different backing a car than a trailer, but even for the bob tail sake, maybe practice backing your car here and there in a safe area with only using your side mirrors... you will get it just remember it comes in time and will click. I didnt get it completely till a day or 2 before my test and still have a lot to learn in the real world... should have my first real docking this week sometime.

Wisconsinguy · Jul 16, 2017

You will spend at least half of most your days working on backing, as far as extra help, if you think you need it then ask for it! Im sure they will work with you especially if its getting close to test day

tommymonza · Jul 19, 2017

So you don't get paid for training until the 3rd Thursday which the pay cycle ended the Saturday of your second week?

So do they lump sum pay you for those First 2 weeks?

The amount you owe for training and how many miles or months to settle it?

Pay scale?

mydartswinger · Jul 19, 2017

Yes, your 1st check is for 1 week paid on the 3rd week. Then you will get weekly checks paid to you. Your first 2 weeks solo you will get your last 2 weeks of training pay on top of your mileage pay.

Dry van starts out at $0.33 per mile, reaching $0.36 per mile after 6 months solo. Flatbed starts out at $0.39 per mile, reaching $0.41 per mile after 6 months. Reefer is somewhere in between.

If you complete 120,000 miles with Roehl, you owe nothing for the training. Leave before then and it's $5,000.

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