Roehl pros and cons

Who did you work for before?

 

Thanks, just curious.

 

I was with them for my first 2 years of driving. I went to JB shortly afterwards, then had to take time off the road.

Roehl wasn't horrible, but they like to treat drivers like they're brand new, even after 2 years. I had 5 dispatchers in that time, and it seemed like everytime I switched I had to re-prove myself to them. There's lots of handholding and babysitting that they do, which didn't sit well with me after more than a few months.

Mileage was fine when I was new, but the higher I went in CPM, the less miles I'd be getting. My paychecks were even across the entire two years. I started at .29 & 2800 miles, and ended at .42 @ 1800 mi. Lots of 200-400 mi runs, even though I was on their national fleet. I spent a lot of time around Chicago, St Louis, and New England. Went west of the Mississippi maybe 10 times.

They were good about hometime. National is 11 out, 3 home, but sometimes I had to remind them that getting home at 9pm on Friday means my hometime doesn't start until SATURDAY. They'd keep trying to tell me that Friday counted towards my hometime, giving me 2 actual days home, instead of 3, and wanting me to come back out 7am Monday.

There are a few dedicated accounts they have, which seem to come out of Georgia Pacific in green bay. You could be home every few days (even though you're in Marshfield).

Equipment is newer, but they like buying pro stars. I had an 2011 prostar for about 8 months, and a 2007 Columbia. No APUs, but they do give you the EPU for climate comfort. They wanted less than 4% idle time, which wasn't really obtainable, since it counts backing as idle time, unless you want to race into the spot. I came close, but in the end I said #### it on trying to make it. They have an MPG fuel bonus, but I heard it's up to 7.7 now. Don't expect to get that bonus. 60% of the loads in the company are paper and 40-45k.

The mechanics are hit or miss. 4 shops in the company, and the only one that ever seem to be good was Appleton/Neenah. The rest would either not be able to find the problem, or would take DAYS to get to you. No breakdown pay if you're sitting in any terminal. Plan your maintenance around hometime, and you'll be doing alright.

See this thread for more info. It's kinda long, but the complaints are 99% accurate on how they treat drivers. http://www.thetruckersreport.com/truckingindustryforum/roehl/180723-life-after-roehl.html

 

I spent 7 days in Marshfield having a truck repaired. $0.00 paycheck that week. Was sent on a drop and hook. Got to the shipper, was told the trailer hasn't even been moved to the dock yet. Called my DM and was told, well I guess you are going to have to wait. 26 hours later I finally got out of there. Put in for detention time and never got a dime. I was told I didn't fill the paper work out properly. This seemed to be SOP. Or the other answer I got was that the shipper didn't want to pay it. If you live in Wisconsin you'll be alright. They seem to appreciate them more then the long distance drivers. I drove national for them for 6 months and then bailed. Very happy and busy now. Brake down pay, auto detention pay, after 2 or 3 hours. Hand holding will drive you crazy.

 

I have been with ROEHL for 5 years and am happy with them. From 2010 to 2012 I made just under 72k each year. I drove a little over 120k miles each of those years as a flatbed driver trainer. My first year with ROEHL I made high 40k for the year.
They do micro manage to a point, such as giving you the specific driving route they want you to take, but that is plainly stated up front.
Trucks are governed pretty slow (63 mph) and are slow climbing hills.
But they are an honest company that has not given me any surprises or hit me with anything that the recruiter or orientation did not plainly tell me about before I was hired.
For the last 13 months, I have been a lease operator for them, and am making slightly more than I did as company driver.
It is a good company for any driver, and by far the best company (in my opinion) for a new driver.