Roehl Transport makes it into the BAD company forum

Hey Nero
I retired in 2004 from the USAF and plan on paying for my training. I'm going to the community college in my state this month that has been training truckers since 1949 and is sponsored and endorsed by the NC Trucking Association and its members, and is also accredited by the American Trucking Association. The cost is $622. It is an 8 week course 5 days a week from 7am-6pm 380 hours. You don't need to go through the $4,000-$6,000 school. You might decide not to use your GI Bill or whatever you fall under to go to school in case you change your mind on driving. Also I you use your GI Bill make sure the company doesn't pay you less per mile. You earned your GI Bill to get paid while in training so why should the company give you less per mile just because you use it. They are making out better not you. Just look and do the math before. With the college thing the $622 the company will pay me back any way for that in just a few months of driving. All I'm out is time and gas.

 

I keep hearing about this shift to the railroads, it will not happen unless the railroads (or their backers) pony up about 165 mil to add new track. They are already at 110% capacity. Only freight moving by rail right now is stuff that either does not have a delivery time set or has at least 6 days on it. That is how long it takes to get a container or trailer from L A to Memphis or Atlanta. We have been tracking trailers for various companies on a 8 hour shift ( every 8 hours we ping the sat rec'vr on the trailer to see where it is at) The back log and jam ups on the rail systems make rush hour L A or Chicago look like a walk in the park. God help them if there is a derailment somewhere that tears up the track then your talking about several hundred if not thousand mile reroutes on lines that are already overworked. At this time there is no fear of losing freight to the trains. In fact for three of the companies we track for the railroads are giving them price breaks if they take the trailers off in New Mexico or AZ just so they will not be so backlogged inbound to Calif. I drive OTR but have a logistics sideline company also. Helps with the bills sometimes.

 

I have been here a little over 5 years.

 

I wanna know what are the names of these "awsome" companies these people are going to and getting "great" pay. I was getting low miles my first two weeks until I said something to my DSR. Now i get between 2500-3000 my last two weeks on the midwest regional (that may get lower though). I run hard and stuff the load down the recievers throat. If I have a 1:30 pm apt time I get it there @ 8am, some times if I have a load that delivers @ 8am I deliver @ 3-4pm the previous day.

I only been with Roehl for 3 months and I know already that they dispatch you loads as a rookie they know you cant screw up. I walked into this company knowing I only wanted the experience and I will be moving on this coming summer to a local job.

BTW, in my time driving I see lots of dead animals on the side of the road. How does that happen? Does someone pull them off the road or do the animals have enough energy after being hit to limp to the side and die?

 

I'm a newbie driver - trained by bucksandducks, in fact! - and I'm in the Roehl Honor Program. I drive the Northeast Flat region. I get paid a salary for the first 2 years, regardless of the miles I drive. I'm in Evo III right now, and have been getting 2200+ miles per week for the past 4 weeks. I'll be moving into regular dispatch in another 2 weeks or so.

The Honor Program is great for us new drivers that really want to learn the business of trucking without the worry of getting the miles. I figure that 2 years of driving experience - without any problems, of course - will put me in a pretty good position to look for another company if needed.

I would suggest looking into this Honor Program. I'm not a recruiter, so I have nothing to gain. So far Roehl has been honest with me, and everything they promised in the Honor Program has been delivered.

 

Im glad to hear that the honor program is working out. I will be doing exactly what your doing as soon as i retire from the military. If you wouldn't mind how is the pay. I don't have the GI bill so wanted to know how much i would be bringing home. What type of truck do they have you in and do you like it. Where are you based out of. Talk to you later

NeroK9

 

Midwestroller-A lot of them probably died of shock or laughing at the Swift trucks passing.

 

I went thru the whole Roehl CDL program. I "financed" the $2,400 tuition, which will be paid off during my employment. The total tuition will be forgiven when I have driven 120,000 miles, or in about 15 months. I know some folks don't like that idea - "being married to a company" - but it works well for me.

The trainee pay (Evo III) is $870 bi-weekly, and I take home $690 (married with two dependents, and Michigan state income taxes). After 6 weeks, the pay goes to $1,600 bi-weekly (1.5 months - 6 months), then to $1,680 bi-weekly from 6 months - 12 months, $1,780 bi-weekly from 12 - 18 months, and then $1,880 bi-weekly from 18 - 24 months. I don't have any GI bill remaining either, so all I get is the Roehl pay. Also, I'm not counting on earning any bonuses my first year. If it happens, then it truly will be a bonus! But I'm concentrating on learning all I can about trucking during this 2 years, and, after earning $34k/year as a social worker with a graduate degree, the pay is not too bad from my point of view.

If you attend the Roehl CDL school within 12 months of your military separation, then there is no tuition - and no strings attached either. That's a pretty good deal. I left the AF in 1991, so I had to pay for my school. You do have to pay for your lodging in Marshfield for the 3 weeks, and that is $350.00. They put you up in a mini-apartment by yourself, so at least you have privacy. There is a fridge and microwave, but no stove. They also have on-site laundry and internet hookups in the little "conference room." (At the Dutch Apartments anyway).

I'm living in Michigan, and my Evo III dispatcher is out of Marshfield. I'll probably be assigned a dispatcher out of Gary since it's closer to my home. I haven't heard too many good things about the Gary dispatchers, so I'll have to see how that pans out.

I was assigned a 2006 Freightliner Columbia with 174,000 miles on her. She has a 14 litre Detroit Diesel engine and the "super singles" drive tires. The truck, affectionately called "The Man-Cave" is in really good shape. I know some of my class mates didn't fare as well as I did - they got 3-4 year old trucks with 500,000+ miles. I don't know how Roehl determines who gets what truck, but somebody was definately looking out for me when I got Truck #2101.

You can check out the program by visiting ******** and get all the facts. Like I said, I'm pretty happy with it so far, and don't have any real complaints. I'll be glad to answer any other questions. Like I said, I'm not a recruiter (although I was accused of being a "spy" by my psycho Evo II trainer though) so I have nothing to gain/lose by sharing my opinions and experiences.

 

A Spy, LOL, did he see spaceships to. Thanks for the info. Im definately going to RDTC before 1 yr out of the military. In fact i will go during my terminal leave and have my military pay still comming while in there. I will have enough leave that i will be able to go to CDL schoo, drive thru EVO I and II while im still getting my full military pay. In EVO III my retirement pay will kick inm so at least i don't have to worry about the pay. I am also going to to the apprentice program for 2 yrs. I utilamly (SP) want to buy my own rig and go O/O. So i'll have 2 years experience and learn the business during that time. Thanks Again

Nero

 

"Evolution III

Now you’re on full mileage pay. You’re on your own in your own truck—but you’re not alone."

Is this true or are you on salary, as was stated earlier in this thread? I am about to pull the trigger to start training the Monday after Thanksgiving. Rob R. called today and said we were good to go, pick a date.