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

As long as momma is happy, that is what is important. Thats why we do what we do...

 

Hopefully their boyfriends that are there when you are away appreciate it too.

 

I don't worry about that... Mine never wants me to leave...

 

Has anyone noticed Roehl is sending smaller loads out on the trains more? I picked a load up from Rockford,il this week that was going to Hanover,Pa (Allentown area), would of been an 800 mile trip and put it on the CSX in Chicago for a total of 96 miles. I also picked one up in KC for Medicine Lodge,KS 2-3 months back, that ones a 943 load if you take it all the way from Manitowoc to there but from Kc its 277.
I Know Roehl is trying to save $'s but with all the drivers desperate for miles I cant see it being much cheaper on rails I think out to CA or west coast yes but smaller loads? I guess it could explain the missing miles

 

You use intermodal when it originates and terminates close to rail yards. Then it makes good sense, if you have to unload it from the train then haul it 300 miles, then I don't understand that...

 

It's the way the hub system is laid out. Many major metro areas don't have a rail yard equipped to handle intermodal transfers (yet). As those are developed, you're going to see more and more freight moved by rail and long-haul trucking is going to slowly disappear except for certain types of "niche freight."
At the Great American Truck show this week, there were several companies recruiting for regional (nodal) carriers. One company I talked to was recruiting for the Dallas area with loads averaging 250-350 miles out and then back into Dallas.Home every night....
Wave of the future....

 

Let's hope they improve the chassis for those containers at some point.

 

I was in ogden and they wanted me to drop my mpt in slc go back to ogden pick up a new reefer take it to Logan load it then drop it at a train yard back in slc to get it to WI, then wait for a load on my dry van! Long story short they really needed that new trailer so i said yes but I'm pulling the reefer to wisconsin. Either that or find me a dry load and your reefer will stay at utility. I told troy when I leased on a long time ago to NEVER ask me to pick up or drop a load at a rail yard. If I wanted to do intermodal I would be home every day and get paid hourly.

 

I've done a little bit of that. Picked up a load in the Dallas yard, ran it to Haslett, dropped in the rail yard, picked up an empty there and loaded out of Haslett heading out of Texas.....

What I don't like is taking a load out of the Dallas yard, delivering in Dallas, and getting only 1 mile loaded and short haul pay, then going out to load a longer trip... I would rather take the .50 per mile coming out.

We'll see if they have anything for me when I get to the truck tomorrow.