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

I've been listening to the economic news as much as possible. It seems the recession was a lot worse than everyone initially thought. Now they are thinking it may be 2015 before we get back where we were before it all began. The trucking industry is the one industry that is doing pretty well, but that is because after the bloodletting during the recession companies have held off on expanding their fleets. Most of the new equipment is to replace old stuff that is past it's trade-in cycle. While fleets aren't necessarily expanding, they are having a hard time replacing drivers that are leaving the industry, I heard about one company that is offering a $10,000 sign on bonus.

With all this going on it seems to me that once again Roehl is the little brother who's nickname is runt. They always seem to be a step behind everyone else and just a bit less informed than the next guy. I know that typically August through about mid to late September is a slow period, but from my end it can also be about keeping my schedule to have the hours when a load comes up. With take it or leave it dispatching it's always a gamble to turn down a load, but if you take something just to get moving it can end up biting you in the behind later. I really wish I could find a way to post my monthly summaries for the year so far. I've been as low as 5600 miles and had a few 10000 mile months. Overall my average week is a tad over 2100 miles. In the end I'm close to my goal, but not quite there. August wasn't bad and September is o.k. so far. Just finishing up a reset and turned down one of those driver unfriendly loads. I'm not a night driver and the thing delivered at 3:00 central time. The miles were fine, but delivering that early really screws up the schedule so that you end up losing at least half a day. If I could handle night driving I would have taken it in a skinny minute, but I can't see all that well at night and I can't sleep much past 8:00 in the morning without sleeping pills.

 

That is a big part of the reason I am going back to curtain side. I like to sleep at night, and drive during the day (I am solar powered). I know from experience that I cannot drive from 3am til daylight, if I have had to run all night... I can get up at 3am and go all day okay, and usually do start my day around 0400 most days if I can. I am really hopefull that the economy holds up, I hate to see things go back the wrong way. I know that some local factories around me are starting to hire to replace people that have retired over the last couple of years. I guess that is a good sign. I also know that I have a friend that sells cars, and he said this has been one of the worst summers that he has ever had, even as the news is saying that new car sales were great in August, go figure. I think some areas are making a come back, and others are still laging behind. It is going to be a long slow recovery this time around.

 

How bad do miles drop off during the winter months in all divisions?

 

I've never even noticed it, I'm always too busy running Wyoming and west to see! That's all I do in winter seems like

 

Hey guys. I haven't been really active in these forums in a while. I've been a company national van driver, solo since April. TheLastRebel, I actually met you and talked with you at the Gary terminal once, and even saw the 975 going by the other day down in AR, or TN, or one of those places... lol.

I'll cut to the chase. I got a quote for a truck from Jeff up in Marshfield today, and think I'm going to lease it come October. That's when I hit the 6 month mark. I'm just wondering what your guys' thoughts are about entering a lease now. I'm most likely going to do it, just looking for some feedback. Thanks.

 

Do it u have nothing to lose. I signed my first contract the day I turned 6 months. You will not lose money. Roehl won't let ya

 

Just FYI, don't know where anyone is at, but major flooding in central Pennsylvania, I-80 is closed in both directions between exit 232 and 236 in Bloomsburg, PA. There is no way around the closing on I-80 due to the flooding. Local rivers are not expected to crest until late Thursday 9/8 or early Friday 9/9. Just trying to get the word out.

 

That's what I gathered. There doesn't seem to be a whole lot of risk involved with signing the lease. Of course, luck with the truck in terms of maintenance is another thing, but that's a chance I'm willing to take. I was quoted a truck that I actually trained on, and know my trainer put the first miles on it. He (and his students) were the only drivers so I've got some insight to what it's been through. I took that as a good omen and he said if I'm serious he'd put my name on it. I said "Do it."

 

Thanks for the flooding update PA as I am due to head that way in a couple of hours. Hope I78 is better.