Roehl So far, so good

Hello all, I received an invite to Roehl's orientation. They flew me out to orientation which was great, I was extremely happy I didn't have to take a greyhound. Well the first day went well we did our physical and drug test. I was really surprised about the amount of hair needed for the test, but it was all good. Luckily I had enough hair to hide the bald spot for the hair test. The rest of the week was driving, backing, eating, homework, eating, classwork, driving, backing, eating and homework. I had to relearn downshifting. I was taught in school to downshift by clutch out to neutral and gas it up into lower gear, however Roehl wants us to clutch out gas it and clutch into gear. I found that a lot easier than the way I was taught in school. The driving instructor were wonderful very helpful with any and all question. Today was my last day of Phase 1 trainer and tomorrow I will be fill out my new hire paperwork.

Did I mention we ate a lot. Well they took really good care of us in the food department. We ate at the hotel for breakfast, lunch was ordered for us and after class when went and ate dinner. I haven't eaten that good in a while.

I'm looking forward to Phase 2 training and I'm hoping I learn a lot and get it done quick. Any question just let me know!

 

Well Phase 2 is going great. I finished orientation on the 12. My trainer picked me up on the 16th. So far I have learnt more at Roehl than I did the two months I was with Prime. I have three more days with my trainer then I will be getting another trainer. My current one will be heading home for the holiday. I'm super stoked. Just one more week or so and I can test out!

 

The agility test was extremely easy. I'm 5'4 200 pounds and out of shape. If I can do it anyone can. You lift a 50 pound duffle bag up over your head. Pull and Push test of 100 pounds. The guy tells you how to stand and where to push from, if you listen you will pass. You have to get under a table the height of a trailer and squat there for a few seconds. You have to be able to climb into the trailer, which is just climbing on table of their table. Its all easy stuff and your recruiter will send you pictures of the exercises so you can practice them before you get there. I didn't practice, some may need to.

 

Well just an update. My trainer dropped me off at the Gary terminal today, because he was going on home-time. I have roughly 4 days of training to go before I can test. My new trainer said he will be here Saturday and I will be testing out in Ellenwood since I live in Ga!

 

Wow it has been awhile since I updated this. Well my second trainer ended up getting me four days after the first trainer dropped me off. Second trainer was just as awesome as the first. I was completely surprised at how professional and knowledgeable they both were. I was totally comparing it to my horrible experience at Prime. The 8 days I was in phase 2 trainer I learnt more than my whole 2 months at Prime.

Well I ended up testing in Gary and sat and waited a couple more days for a truck. So some random driver ended up bobtailing me to a drop yard 3 hours away to pick up someone else truck. It was a old beat up 2007 freightliner Columbia. Worst truck ever. It had so many things wrong with it. Too much to list. My biggest obstacle was getting my fm to route me to a terminal so it could be fixed. Every time I found something else wrong they would try to route me home as if that was going to make me happy or shut me up. It didnt. I stayed out and im still out. A few days ago i did get a newer truck. Theres 14 brand spanky new trucks on the lot and of course I get another one someone has played in and abused. Its a 2012 with 180,000 miles on it. I dont consider that new. I think it was a trainers truck. It has a top bunk.

I feel 100 times better with this truck even though its not brand new. My miles are great and my fm is the best.

Oh yeah im on my second fm. I graduated from phase three it took me about 2.5 to 3 weeks to complete that.

Im extremely impressed with 99% of the people I come into contact with at Roehl.

I'm glad I don't have to do paper logs anymore that was a headache.