the Roehl way....yeah right

I went from Swift over to Roehl. Better money, better everything? Just the opposite.

I was placed on the Honor program, since I was a Military Vet. $1590 Bi-weekly. I'd run about 450-650miles a day, 3000+ in 7days. Less in 5% idle. No one single accident or citation. I drive to be a professional.

Then the true colors came out after just four months. My DSR was dishonest most of the time. More of, "Your just a DUMB driver" then anything else. The company turned out to be quite dishonest and unfeeling about a drivers family. Let me explain some fun times with Roehl....

Fun Times #1

My Freightliner had the coolant sensor go out. I was told to jerry rig the wires to the sensor. Not a problem, and off I went. The truck cut off in a one lane construction zone and I almost caused a major wreak. After 7 calls to my DSR and maintenance, and two more rigging of the wires, I was told twice that they would find a vendor to repair the truck. Which never happened. I expressed not only to maintenance, but my DSR, that I did not feel the truck was safe to operate, with the possibility of shutting down again in traffic. I was still told by both my DSR and maint. to drive another 600miles to consignee and then to the Ellenwood terminal for repairs. I then called a Freightliner dealer ship in Texas. They gave me advice on how to get the truck down the road. And that the warranty on the truck was voided, the second, Roehl's maintenance dept told me to rig the wires. I had to stop every 100miles to make sure the truck was safe to operate. After all, Safety is the corner stone value right?

Fun Times #2.

My pay was incorrect. My DSR explained, "Call payroll". So I did. No help. My DSR then told me call the my recruiter. She swore that there was no problem. At this point I was tired of having to drive, and going in circles to fix my check. I informed my DSR, that if my check was not fixed, I would quit. Surprise...it was fixed.


Fun Times #3


My DSR would call my cell phone, and leave massages, that needed to go through the datalink on the truck. Here's one example: I went to the doctor on monday for a injury that happen on Sunday. I received a release to drive for tuesday. And I take off that tuesday morning. 6days later, I was given a drug test at the next terminal. They told me it was random. The next day, my wife informs me I have a voice mail on my phone. I check to find that my DSR left a message 7days ago, that I needed to call someone at the company for a release to drive. Not one message about this on the datalink. My phone never showed the call from him, as T-Mobile tends to not list calls in a no service area. It's happens all the time. But the datalink does not have that problem. It was not a random test, they thought I was stupid enough to drive on pain meds, and wanted to "catch me" doing so. My family travels the road. I drive like their in every car I meet on the road. Drug test away....


Fun Times #4

The salary pay is at the expense of the other drivers. I would get runs before company drivers that were not on the salary. I was once given a run to NY. I expressed that I did not feel safe driving in that state on the qauilcomm' Then like always, I get "Call Me". I call and my DSR tells me that he'll change the run and relay it at Richmond. "This one time". At the relay yard, I find another driver quite disgusted. He was due home and the run I was place on (NY) was the run he takes to go home. They wanted me to take it, as I could have done it cheaper. Disregarding that the other driver wanted to get home to see his family. I typed out a meassage and ask about the run. I expressed to him how I felt the Honor program was taking away from the other driver pay. His reply was simply, "We gotta make money someway"


And the most fun of all times


I call my DSR and explain that my wife is having a hard time. (My wife was badly needing a break from being a single mom and was so disgusted at the time, she offered to divorce me).I typed a meassge on the recorded datalink, to the effect, I needed family leave and expressed I did not want to resign, and I would come of leave as soon as I could make sure my family wasn't falling apart. I also call my DSR directly and explained the same. I needed to take some leave. He seemed to have had no problems with me doing so, as he advised me to take care of my family. But I needed to call a contact he gave me. I call three times that day. No answer, I leave a message. No one called me back.

On the next day, I get a message on the datalink, saying they needed to know where the truck was so they could "recover it". Not a problem, as the company needs to make the money. I give directions to were the truck is at. I cleaned the truck to issue condition. I take the mattress out as federal law requires a company to issue a new one for a new driver. I wouldn't want a nasty bed, and I'm not giving one to another driver. (the mattress in the truck was not new when the truck was issued to me. Unless new ones come with cig burns.)

Then comes the mail. I receive a letter stating my issuance was canceled two days after my discussion with my DSR, even though I already paid for the entire month. The reason stated to the insurance was, "Driver resigned". I never resigned of offered to do so.

Then the next letter. I receive a letter from Roehl, stating that I was being charged to recover the truck, supplies, deposits, and for a mattress. And that the abandonment of the truck could be charged for not taking it to the Garland yard. 2hours away and not a hard drive. I was never told to take the truck to the yard. They never sent a message to that effect either. Simply asked directions to the trucks location.


I was with Swift for three years. Sometimes hard to work for, but they try their best to take care of you and your family. And I make the mistake of going to a such a dishonest company. One that cares more of the bottom line then a drivers family.

I'm employed with another company now. After I explained how Roehl treated a driver, They told me, "We know all about them"