Student Driver Wants to Work at Roehl!

Roehl isn't the worst out there.
They are more fussy than some others (like Millis for example) as they won't take anyone with 2 DUIs since they enter Canada.
You don't need a TWIC (they don't do much port work - at least no one I know that runs with Roehl ever mentioned a big need for it) and same with FAST.

You likely need your passport and/or passport card.
Don't waste your money on a TWIC/FAST unless they tell you they need it.

FYI:
Having Hazmat is nice but the loads don't typically pay much better to justify the hassle and now expense of fingerprinting/background checks ($125-150).

Best bet? -> Talk to Roehl recruiting...
I did, and spoke with Beth back in 2009 and found her to be rather straight up. Who knows if she is still there though...

 

The TWIC is still an application (not a walk in technically) and still another fingerprint/background check.

Oddly, they still do not have any link to Hazmat but for a co-expiration which saves you a few dollars. My TWIC was $135.
My Hazmat was the DMV costs plus $40 for fingerprinting. The two are not related even though they certainly ought to be.

I actually have a TWIC/FAST/NEXUS/GLOBAL ENTRY set of cards.
I think the FAST/NEXUS were like $50 and required a face to face meeting with the CBP officers.
That was a bit intimidating as they wanted to know exactly what/why I wanted these cards and how often I planned on using them.

I probably detailed the entire thing on this site somewhere. I had to drive to Detroit
as that was the closet place to me. Oh boy, was that fun.

Since you went to a school, don't they have placement and/or recruiters that stop in?
Honestly, the few friends I have that work at Roehl are satisfied.
The pay is a bit lower than they would like but they told me they are treated fairly.

I don't think there is anything wrong with Roehl as a starter company.
They offer several 'home time' programs if that's important to you but consider that if you opt for the 7/3-4 program for example,
that's essentially running PART TIME and your pay will be probably close to the
$30k range. Just something to consider...

If flatbed appeals to you, my friend started with Maverick and he too has been there 2yrs and they have got him home anytime
it was needed and have treated him rather well.
Many people think those 2 companies are 'bottom feeders' but I still think they are a solid place to get experience.

Get 6months (or ideally a year) and then do what you want and go where you want to go...

 

Hey Gryphon, your chances should be fairly well. That one ticket is definitely an ouch though! Lucky for you though its dropping off soon. 15mph over is a serious ticket. If what you say about the rest of your record is true then you look pretty good. Employment history good? Ever been fired? Workmans comp ever?

Keep in mind if you do get the ok to come to orientation by no means does this mean that you are hired. So while you are at orientation there are things you can do to improve your chances. Dress nice! You don't have to wear a tie but a nice clean pair of jeans without holes, some nice boots, maybe collared shirt, no hat etc... Another thing you can do is prepare a resume. A lot of companies look at your grades from trucking school too. So make sure to do well in school. While at orientation you also want to come across as willing to do anything or go anywhere anytime! This is a professional driver. Also the less of a problem you are the more they will like you. In other words, don't go in there with a list of wants and needs, like you have to be home a certain day or you need a day to prepare etc... Be ready to jump when they say jump! You maybe asked to do something crazy that you aren't expecting. After orientation they may ask if you will fly to AZ to repo a truck or rent a car and drive to MA to pick up a truck or driver etc... Be open to do anything asked of you. Companies love drivers who do what they say without question. Also, don't be bothersome.

During orientation keep your mouth shut and nobody will know how dumb you are! My dad told me this all the time.

One other thing, no coffee or soda morning of orientation. You will be asked to take your blood pressure on day one first thing in the morning. So many drivers get sent home for this so make sure you are eating fiber and exercising till then.

If I can think of any other good tips I'll shoot em' at you! Till then don't get too worked up, you should be fine as far as employable.

 

Most of the new trucks already have plugs for refrigerators nowadays. A simple plug in inverter should run a microwave but it would have to be by itself. You can live very cheaply out there, you just need to plan ahead and stay out of the truckstops! Another thing that really burns up your money in which you don't realize is DVD's and CD's! Its pretty much the only form of entertainment in the truck and can get way out of hand without you really noticing. We added up our entertainment expenses one year and just for DVD's and CD's we spent well over $5000, 00!!!

Also buy stuff at Wally World not the truck stops. Don't buy water! Keep a couple nice big thermos muggs and a few gallons of water in which you can refill whenever you stop. Water is very costly if you are buying it bottled! Use your rewards cards for coffee's and fountain drinks. Keep yourself limited to only your rewards cards and you won't spend any money.

There's a lot of other things you can do. You'll find a good path to follow once you get out there and see how things are done.

 

The tanker and hazmat will help . I've seen Roehl pulling tankers . It looks like they're doing like Schneider and JB and going to companies with private fleets and showing how much less it would cost to have a dedicated account rather than their own trucks and drivers .
I hate seeing that . Great for newbies but experienced drivers that thought they had a good career with a good company get shafted .
That happened to Emerson Electric drivers when Schneider took their distribution and Broyhill Furniture drivers when Watkins Shepard took over their distribution . I heard Broyhill leased from Ryder and Ryder mechanics lost jobs when they lost the Broyhill account .

 

This is all great advice and I'm gonna both endorse and add to it.

While in orientation and training, you're basically on a 24/7 interview. KEEP THIS IN MIND! Roehl is still a family owned company with small town family values.

That means no drinking at all, even on your own time back that the hotel. Believe me, they'll know and the last thing you want is to be popped for a random drug test while on orientation. If you fail or refuse due to having a beer, you'll be hard pressed to find another opportunity somewhere else.

Roehl is very clear on this no drinking during orientation and training and one guy in my orientation class didn't believe them. He was sent home the day of truck assignments because he refused to take another pee test. He had been drinking in his room every night after class and knew he'd fail. Last I heard, he was still looking for work and its been almost a year.