roehl questions. would like to hear from drivers

Hey you can write all of that off. Ive been with Roehl for 6 months and have never had a loaf that required my passport or twic card. I don't have Hazmat. I've never even seen any of our trailers with the placids on them.

 

Brian

I am in a situation simular to yours as far as I am overseas at the present time but looking to go back later this month. I would really like to pick your brain and ask you some questions. I just joined today so cannot PM you because my post count is still low and some questions might be better in private. But if you have the time to talk, drop me a PM. My main question is this When you say that you had to renew your CDL, was it getting ready to expire or was it expired? Spent some time up in Niagara Falls, still have family there but looking to locate in florida whe I return.

Jerry

 

Jerry you may not get home often if you are relocating to Fl or have a job after the relocation. A lot of guys are currently not getting hired from that area RIGHT NOW.Not to say things wont change. Ive have a few over night loads in Niagara Falls beautiful city. I also got snowed in there for an entire weekend.

 

Thanks for the reply Newtrucker83.

I have seen that by talking with different recruiters. One of the things that I did find is if I locate up north around Jacksonville then the number of companies does open up a lot. I did check the Roehl's site and they say they have openings in the Jax area for 7/3 7/4, 7/7, 14/7 and national van. Seems like I might be able to stretch it as far south as tampa (which I would like) but Jax at the I-10 and I-95 might be the best.

I am looking at Fl for a couple reasons, one being that when it comes time to bring family up they are not acustomed to cold weather, 65 is cold and they just don't understand below zero numbers. LOL. also they happen to be spanish so Florida seems to be a better fit for us.

 

I see. I've had a few loads in the Jax/Tampa/Orlando area. Nothing too great they were all short and took up too much of my time. The best load I had to Fl was about a 1200 miles to my home city of Deerfield Beach, FL. That was a nice load, but it took a lot of short one and about 2.5 days to get me out of Fl. I currently live in Ga and am based out the Ellenwood terminal. Tampa has some really nice home for around 100K but the insurance on the home and cars is ridiculous. GA is a lot cheaper.

 

I ned to look into Ga. more. Tampa would be for parents that are getting ready to move there, but I have been told stay North of I-10 (almost south Ga) and the cost of living is cheaper and more jobs for the family. I appreciate the info.

 

I totally agree with that. The closer you are to Ellenwood the more hometime you get. Im National 11/3, however I never work that shift. I like to run hard so I stay out for months at a time.

 

I am guessing maybe a year or so to get family up. So no need to be home much as there will not be anyone there. So OTR and drive as much as possible. Once they are in town then maybe look at the 7/3 7/4 or other options that they might have.

Just popped into my head. Sorry for Hi-jacking the thread.

 

Just remember that getting a CDL does not make you a truck driver; it only means you have the legal right to learn to operate one. What you do in training and testing will be very different from what you do on the road. Your parking spots might or might not look the same, the alleys might or might not be like they are, and you definitely are not going to deal with crotchety shippers or receivers.

The benefit from taking your training from the company you work for (as opposed to getting it on your own) is you probably won't have to pay any money up front, though you won't be "hired" until you finish and there will most likely be an employment agreement of some kind, and best of all, you are learning to drive the way THEY want you to drive. No bad habits, no 'general' skill development. Everything is geared toward the company's policies as well as the FMCSA rules and regulations. It's the best way to go in the long run.

But you are going to be tested just as much on the road as you are in the classroom. Life as a truck driver can be rewarding but it's not like anything you've done before and you won't really know whether it's for you until you've seen all four seasons. Enjoy it, though, because there's nothing else like it. And I say that as one who finished a 30+ year career as a professional pilot flying passengers and cargo all over before I came to trucking.

 

In May 2014, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) will change to allow only specifically-designated medical professionals to perform the DOT medical exam. Until then, all companies now have the local contacts; if you choose to get a DOT medical at your own home base (not advised unless your company says to do it - they'll do another one of their own) make SURE the medical professional has the proper FMCSA paperwork.