roehl drivers on the road.

I'm currently on my 4th one in about a 8-9 month period. Honestly, I think it's a very stressful job. They are our communication link between the trip planners and CSR. Which means, they always have xx amount of drivers calling up with all of their problems and are left dealing with them. Definitely something I wouldn't want to do. I'm starting to think they have a fairly high turn-over rate.

 

Is that where you live? I've only been up there a handful of times. Coming in, it's usually a load to the Target D/C in Amsterdam. Only problem, once empty, I've always had to wait 1-2 days and deadhead 300+ miles for another load. When I finally did receive a load, it was always paper. It seems to me that Roehl doesn't have a lot of freight up there. I could be wrong, I'm just speaking from my experience.

 

I personally don't care for NY at all because they're too stupid to properly number their exits, but I've been through there a few times. And I think you're more likely to move in that area if you're a flatbedder. They've deadheaded me 360 miles to Canada to pick up a load, a pretty regular one it seems, so maybe that'd work out for you.

As a flatbedder, I've never had to wait 1-2 days for any load. The problem with the northeast is you're going to have to deal with the ports. They're one of the few places we're treated as bad as the van drivers.

 

Where you live doesn't really come into play until it's time to go home. Being so far from a terminal or drop yard, you'll need a local place to park the rig on weekends.

 

Cmoore,

i am leaning toward Roehl and would like to get into the flatbed fleet. what are your average miles per week? i am from SC and wonder what the hometime opportunities would be? how are the Roehl trucks? what kind of driver comforts do they have? if i go through the Roehl school is there more training for the flatbed fleet?

thanks

 

I couldn't give you my weekly average, but my odometer reading jumps about 10,000/month if that gives you an idea. I know we have the national flatbedders in SC, and the southeast regional, but I'm not sure what they are--the website would say.

The trucks are good enough to get the job done. There aren't any fancy options, but at least there's the wrap-around curtains. Some of our trucks are equipped with an APU. If not, you have the bunk heater. A/C, of course.

If you want to flatbed you need the cargo securement class. 3 days, paid at $60/day I believe.