Roehl So far, so good

Sweet my truck doesn't have an apu but it wont idle either. Hopefully it will be fixed soon. Going to WI tomorrow.

 

Hey buddy, I'm still here. I actually turned in my notice because I'm scheduled to have surgery in may and will need 6 weeks off to recover. Ill be back after surgery! I'll bee working right up until a few days before surgery which will be my 6 months anniversary with Roehl! Im going to miss my truck which has become my home! Lol

 

Things are ok here. I just try my hardest to avoid relay loads since I seem to always get screwed on them. I've had a total of three bad mile weeks. By bad I mean I had hours to run and my time was wasted by bad planner planning. The miles for the bad miles were less than 2500.

Now 3 bad weeks out of close to 6 months isnt bad at all. Granted I dont go home, so make more and get more miles. I also don't take 34 hour resets. Ive took one 34 hour reset and that was during my phrase 3 training solo and that was only because I was exhausted. Havent needed one. I advice to you is to MAXIMIZE your hours, stay out a little longer than everyone else. Thats the only way you will stand out and be an individual. Everyone goes home every 11 days. I don't see how they make money. Or maybe what they make affords their lifestyle, going home every 11 days for 3 days doesn't afford my lifestyle.

Set a goal for yourself. My daily goal everyday is to drive enough to make 150 dollars a day. Thats roughly 480 miles.

Also get to consignees early. You never know when they might take you early. Of course, the earlier you get unloaded the sooner you get your next load. If you get unloaded before everyone else that increases your chances of getting a higher mile load. Because they take longer to delivery and instead of waiting for another driver to get unloaded, they will give it to who's available even if that driver is at the pick up location. Seen it done before.

You will get what you put into this career. If you give 110% more than likely you everyone else around will also. Dont be afraid to speak to your FM in a respective manner. Let them know what you like, when you want to bw home. The more they know the better off youll be.

Start early, finish early. The earlier you start your day the sooner you can end your day. The benefits of starting early are you avoid most traffic, plus you get better parking. Theres nothing worst than pulling into a truck stop at 7 or 8 pm and its full. Theres one spot and it would normally not be a problem, but since you have 50 drivers looking at you it takes you 15 minutes to park lol. Get there before them. You also minimize the risk of hitting someone elses truck.

Dont be afraid to ask your FM for better loads. A planner gave me something ridiculous one day like drive 30 MT and 200 loaded but I didn't have to pick it up for a two days. Ridiculous. I had plenty of hours because I dont run out. Called my FM and he found me a 1000 milers for the weekend. Ask before you accept the load.

Dont be afraid to learn more. Seat in the drivers lounge at the terminal and listen to what the guys and ladies are talking about. You might learn something your trainer forgot to tell you. Most drivers at Roehl are friendly and will help you if they can. Ive learned a little about tarpping loads. Learned how program this reefer that im hauling for the very first time today.

Ask you trainer questions, even after you are out on your own. Most care, the longer you stay the more they make off of you.

Double check your routing with the map. Routing have routed me thru low bridges, weight restricted street. Always look. Better than safe then sorry.

Scale your loads. Better safe than sorry.

Keep a small amount of cash in the truck for tolls. $60

 

Unless you can sleep there. I usually only arrive early if I know from the noted that theres over night parking. Like this place I'm at now. The directions said over night parking so I got here today at noon for my nine a.m appointment that's at 9. So I will wake up at 6 am to check in and hopefully get unloaded before the planners come in.