The Good, The Bad, The Honest Truth of a New Roehl Lease Operator

Sorry to hear that Michael my last few weeks have been light too but that's how it goes sometimes

 

Same here, Slow mostly just for weekend runs, did overall about 2700 avg last month, but i took a good amount of time off too.

 

FYI- Roehl has always had a reputation for weak miles, even before the recession. I'm another one that is staying to get title on the truck and then it's time to move on.

 

Not alot to report, got a load from edwardsville,il to johnstown,ny for 0600 monday morning then over to lewiston,me monday afternoon, not to bad i guess, some extra time to take off on sunday i suppose... Gonna have to get the truck checked before too long, dang starter/solinoid is "clicking" when trying to crank it, used to only do it once then crank every now and then, but recently its 2 to 4 times then cranks.. no telling. checked all the connections on the starter/solinoid, all tight, and batts. are holding a decent charge it seems, so i guess it will be my first replacement of something that i have to pay for lol.

 

Eric- If you get into Wisconsin try and hit truck country freightliner for parts instead of Marshfield or Gary, I know they are in Kaukauna, Wausau ,Madison and Oak creek they give Roehl a good break on parts so you get them at cost. If I remember parts thru Roehl are cost + 5%. I use the Kaukauna one alot and always get good info on how to fix any number of things. outside of Wi. no one seems to know Roehl so its full cost. also I use them to check on the price of say a starter before you go in to have it fixed so you know how much lube you will need to go with. I have went to the L+N by the Ellenwood term and I know the hourly rate was good but not sure you get a discount on parts there.

 

I have to be honest, with the problem's the Blue Lemon is giving me I'm really wondering if I should contact Lone Mountain and find out about a third party lease through them. I love the quiet ride in this truck, but I need a truck that stays on the road. Lower payments and a chance to go somewhere I can get the miles I'm looking for is also a consideration.

The other side is that toughing it out helps the resume when the day comes to move on. Other than the Radiator issue the truck has been pretty dependable. The apu has been the real issue. I've had to replace the alternator, starter and main buss fuse and holder. The shop in Springfield really screwed it up on the main fuse, the kid who worked on the truck wouldn't listen to anyone else about the problem so what should have cost me about $200 ended up costing me about $500 and a second trip to ThermoKing. Of course all this is while I am waiting for official diagnoses on what is wrong with the truck. I am expecting the worse. Maybe it won't be that bad.

 

Well lone mtn is an option, I personally have talked to landstar quite a bit and have seen their load boards and I was impressed. I'm not leaving here but I am looking at a 2000 379 to put my dad in and lease it to them. I feel really secure here and I won't leave unless they make me or I build my own little company outside of here. Which is my plan that way worst case scenario food is still on the table and bills still paid.

 

Preacher. I don't blame u due to all the troubles u have had over the months. I can't say I wouldn't be thinking along the same lines as you are. My ultimate goal is along the same as roehl929 is thinking. Try to get this paid off, run it a yr afterwards, then trade in with some cash on something I want and then lease back to roehl if still my best option or start looking at landstar if not roehl.

 

Or maybe by that time the mother-in-law will have croked and I can afford to buy a brand new one with some inheiratance money hahaha. Sorry that cruel but she's a evil woman rotf!

 

In my case if either my parents or Dana's mom move into the next life all we'll be left with are bills, so that won't work for me. I'm fortunate, my mother-in-law is a great Christian lady who raised her daughter right. I just have to live with the "The light at the end of the tunnel is an on coming freight train" attitude towards life.

Dana has the same idea of starting a small company. Not only would that secure our retirement, but leave something for our daughter as well. I do know the goal of every small business owner should be to work yourself out of a job. I think I read somewhere that three trucks is the point you should be making enough that you don't have to drive anymore. That is the point you have a business that doesn't depend on you working in it anymore. My concern is finding the right drivers, funny thing is then I'm on the other side of the follicle testing thread debate.