Roehl selects ALK CoPilot Truck Navigation system

I am the same way Driver.

 

Although I'm a newb to truck driving, I am by no means new to giving directions. Working at a gas & go, you get the call for directions all the time. For those that are lost, they have the following in common; Map Quest, GPS, or Gross Negligence. Trust me, when I say the most common are the GPS and Map Quest drivers. They end up in the exact opposite place when they get to me for help. What do I do?

Break out the city map or state map, depending on where they're heading. Get the location of their destination, even looking up the street on the city map using the map tools. Then I write down their directions on a scrap piece of paper and show them on the map... and I'm still puzzled why, some immediately go the wrong way right out of my lot.

I'm new, but old school. Give me the Altas. I'll just use the GPS to see where it says I am in the dark at a glance.

 

Every once in awhile you will get a road in your routing that is truck restricted. A simple call to Jim or Jolene will get that taken care of.
Know that the routing software was written by a human, and we all make mistakes.

 

I will use my Rand as a tool in combination with my atlas and customer directions.

 

And my smartphone or iPad to get a satellite view of the roads and layout if its a new stop to me.

 

Just another in a long list of anti driver moves by Roehl. Now if you're a mile out of route they're going to know it. Good luck if you've got one of the more insufferable FM's who react to pressure from above.

If you think they are not going to use this tool to punish drivers for out of route, you don't know the "Mother Ship" mind set and the culture of fear that upper level management uses to intimidate the masses in the offices. If you don't like the culture of fear in the office, what are you going to do? Office personnel in Gary or Ellenwood might have more options available to them but where are Marshfield employees going to go in a small town?

it took Roehl decades to build up a solid reputation amongst the driving community and about 2 years to destroy said reputation. They'll be decades getting it back if they ever care to. They can be like Swift and CR England anytime they want to be and they appear to be going down that path. As drivers with other options bale out they'll be left with newer, less experienced drivers who don't know how things used to be when Roehl was a good company to hire on to and stay with. They are still a good company to hire on to. Get your year in and move on.

For what it's worth I use my large scale Rand McNally road map to trip plan along with the largest GPS Rand McNally makes. I also use a PC Miler and my IPhone with maps and satellite view.

All drivers should use every tool they can afford!

I have not one moment regretted spending money on maps, GPS's or IPhones ( I'm on my third one)!

Only a fool would not use every tool they can afford. Drivers who refuse to use maps because they are old school or Smartphone/GPS because they are not the way they were trained are going to someday find themselves lost without a clue. Hopefully it's not after dark in NYC.

ROEHL, if you're reading this, it's not too late to turn from the dark side of the force.

 

You are completely correct. I think that is the path they are on their entire business plan rests on a steady stream of cheap labor walking thru the door. They have to have the young and dumb. Even then 85% are bailing in the first year. It does not take a genius to see what they are doing. The advertise nat otr freight but are nothing more than a regional carrier. Work 7 days a week for 2500 miles and 6 dispatches to do it. Throw in live load and unload practically everyday it does not take long to see all your drive time being eaten up on the bottom line with no compensation to boot. Thats the only part they do as a national otr carrier they only pay when the wheels turn. Only thing that will hold them up is either the steady stream of FNG s stop walking thru the door or they have a hard time finding people to train them. There they already have newbees training newbees

 

Just sitting here smiling, just more verification that I made a great move getting out of there. I was starting to think I was a little paranoid, apparently not.

 

I'm starting to believe the "only get paid when the wheels are turning" stuff. I've been shorted detention time a few times, and recently over 6 hours. Been waiting on my FM to come up with an answer as to why for two weeks now. Look, if I bail on this company after a year at least I got free training for my CDL which will jump start this career. I'm an incredibly loyal guy when it comes to jobs and I'd love to stay with Roehl, but I'd be foolish not to keep my options open too, especially if certain things continue. That and I'd love to find something that gets me home weekends. I love driving and the open roads, but being out for 2+ weeks is tough. I knew this would be the case going into this, so I'll suck it up, but that doesn't mean I won't be actively searching for something that gets me home more whether that be with Roehl or someone else.