Rum's Rants

So, you're cool with giving the gubmint an interest-free loan every year? Screw dat, Doc. Scream and holler until payroll fixes their software. Also, do the math and work it so that you owe less than $100 at tax time. That's much better for you in the long run. Although, I will still be a gubmint employee for a while longer, so by all means help inflate the budget numbers so I can keep getting raises! Just kidding, bro!

(And, sorry Rum for continuing the HiJack...)

 

Well, the word is getting about the glitch, so they'll have to start looking at fixing it soon. I'd rather be giving an interest free loan for now than have then IRS looks and see six exemptions at the end of the year. Besides, I'm horrible at saving, so even though it's interest free, it's still saving.

 

Great, now we can't leave voice mail messages for our DSRs and FMs at night anymore. We are transfered over to the after hours goof troop manning the phones. Why does this make sense?

 

You leave all the thinkin' to the ever knowledgeable office staff. The nerve of some drivers, offering opinions and such.

 

I apologize. If you need me I'll be busy humbling myself before the load board gods. I am not worthy.

 

OK, how about some info on the per diem plan?? I have been told Roehl is a good company by one of the recruiters at the CDL school I am about to attend. And they wouldn't lie, would they..... LOL!!!! OK, I was just funnin' But I would like more info on Roehl per diem, and anything else you think would be helpfull.

 

As I sit here in Spartanburg SC unloading, late again getting home, it is so great to read about others experiences with Roehl. On some of these rants I thought I was the only one who had experienced such things .... glad to see others share the misery.

Here is my rant. I am on the 7/3-7/4 plan out of Ellenwood. Since I came off of evo 3 in late March, I have been home on time (by 7:00 AM on 8th day) a total number of 3 times. 3 times home on time on 7/3-7/4! They have excess trucks at Ellenwood, so they just send every guy out in his own truck or another truck if they don't get his driving partner home.

I am switching to national now because fuel is so much getting to the terminal each week. I am just getting my year with Roehl and then hoping for something local up my way.

I am very, very, very disappointed in Roehl thus far.

 

It seems you don't know about it either. You should probably do a little research before you add something to your rants.

From http://commerce.wi.gov/BD/BD-CA-Diesel-Grant-Program.html

From http://commerce.wi.gov/BDdocs/BD-CA-DieselGrantProgramFactsheet_2008.pdf

From http://commerce.wi.gov/BDdocs/BD-CA-DTIRGPgovAnnouncement.pdf​

For 2006 ~1st year of the program​

​

For 2007~2nd year

 

I have been with Roehl for three months now and my wife has noticed that my stress level is significantly lower than it has been with other companies that I worked for. I may have actually found a place I can stay at for awhile. I am not saying that Roehl is perfect, just more honest and better than anyone else I have either talked to or worked for. Having said that I would like to add my two cents.

I am on the 7/4 and get home late more than on time, but I cause the dsr grief because I made it clear before I ever started that my only reason for going to Roehl was the guarenteed hometime. If I get home late, my next launch will be late also. I have been out as long as ten days and you know that the next driver and the dsr were not happy. I have told my dsrs (I have two) that "poor planning on Roehl's part does not constitute an emergency on my part" and I am not driving at night. My dsr also told me that she had to wait to solve a schedule problem because the planner was out to lunch, my come back was, "In more ways than one." (I just couldn't help myself it was an automatic smartalek response.) This last trip on the first three days I only had 600 miles, but had burned half of my seventy hours. I let my dsr know about it and that we needed to up the miles, my next dispatch was 900 miles, and a preloaded drop and hook. I got home on time and a lot of miles by the time I finished. I would like to see more miles, but I realize they are still figuring out what I can handle, it doesn't hurt that a lot of the time I'm delivering hours early and sometimes almost a day ahead. (Yes I drive legal, I even make the extra stops Roehl wants us to make.) I also agree that they need to get apu's on our trucks, my comfort comes ahead of their fuel economy. I have a feeling the only drivers that are meeting the idling goals are the butt kissers that sweat the night away in a sweatbox.

In the end I would recommend Roehl, but they are not perfect. If you want something to complain about, you will find it. No company is any better than the dispatcher you get. I'm fortunate, I have two dispatchers that I get along with and understand my goals.