Profile For Donnie AZ

Hey everyone! Sorry for not updating as consistently as I had hoped. Broke my phone a few weeks back and a new one wasn't in the budget yet.

Quick update is the biggest, I passed my CDL test and I am now a licensed driver and start my OTR training next week. I will update the diary tomorrow night when I am back at home with a computer.

Donnie AZ

I was impressed with what I have read about their training department but instead elected to get my cdl locally through an 8 week community college program. Logistically it seemed to make more sense. From what you know, would the company RATHER train you from scratch as a new hire or are they or the most part indifferent provided your initial training came from a respectable school?

From what I've seen, they're indifferent. There was a class with three guys who had gotten their CDL from a school here in Phoenix that went through a week just so they knew how Roehl works and does certain things, using the e-logs, and all those things that they do differently.

Thanks for the time you've put into the update. Roehl is one of the companies that really interests me and your account so far affirms that. I look forward to engaging them regarding possible employment in the coming weeks as training progresses.

Like I said, I'm only in my first weel here, but I absolutely love the atmosphere and environment they create here for us trainees. You start Day One as an employee and with the same respect as any of the upper management. I applied to a few different companies that pay you to go to school, and Roehl called me the next day and answered the questions I had. My recruiter was Meghan Force and not once did she blow me off or not call me or not answer even the stupid questions I asked. You'll enjoy it here. Classes are small and they cater to each individuals skill level and progression.

The training pay is $500 per week for the first four weeks, lunch and room provided. (I opted of the hotel because I have a friend I'm staying with.) Worst thing I have to say about the pay is that we won't get paid until the third week because of direct deposit and banking information, which hurts me a lot but I'm stretching every last cent.

If anyone has questions, ask and I'll answer the best I can.

Alright, I'm on my off day and drove the 2 hours back home yesterday to see my fiancée and family, so here's my second half of week one recap.

Day 4 Thursday July 30th, 2015 Only two of us agin today, but the opposite two. Our classmate threw his back out the other day and looks likes he's dropping out.

We worked for two hours on the pre-trip inspection and brake test, I'm getting it down thanks to The High Road here and others posts that keep it simple. Made a couple of acronyms that have helped me out to, since it really is just saying the same basic information for every part.

PMS= Properly Mounted And Secured

For tires: ABC= Abrasions, Bulges, and Cuts ICD= Inflation, Condition, and Depth

Keep things simple and learn what the part looks like and I've gotten down.

Drove another 40 miles today and my downshifting has gotten better. Getting really used to the double-clutch.

Day 5: Friday July 31st, 2015

Today I completed my first "solo" pre-trip and only missed three things so I'll consider that a victory. Another 30 miles logged for driving and I'm finally getting downshifting and turning almost perfected. Not bad for my first week haha. We're still only doing back roads out by the raceway, few traffic lights but mostly stop signs. There is one intersection that people keep trying to turn in front of me as I'm making a left, but a quick pull of the air horn (as per Guillermo) makes them realize what they're doing. Freeway drive time starts sometime this coming week.

So here's a quick story about the day, because nothing really changed since yesterday. At about 4pm local time, we backed the truck up for the day, and it was starting to rain, so Guillermo told us to go put our log books in the classroom before it got worse. I dropped my log book, wallet and phone in the classroom and came back out and it just hit hard. Hard wind and thicker rain.

Got back to the trucks, and there were guys trying to get a tarp on a load, but the wind kept whipping under the tarp. Now, I've tarped loads on a pickup, but never something this big or with that large of tarp, but if someone didn't hold it down, those guys on the trailer were coming off. So I rushed over and did all I could to help, and then every driver who was in the terminal came out to help.

When we started, we were told how much help we would get from our fellow drivers, but I didn't expect something like that. I mean, these guys came running out with phones on their hip and Bluetooths around their neck, potentially ruining their equipment, just to make sure this load got covered before the storm got worse.

Now I won't make a full entry for Saturday because it was a half day and we only did our company HazMat training and worked on our J.J. Keller handbook, so there isn't much to tell.

But I will say this, I made the perfect choice in companies. They care, and not just trainer to trainee, dispatch, fleet managers, other drivers all ask about us and who we are as people. There hasn't been a day go by that I haven't met someone new who asked about who I was and why I'm doing this. These people care. I may only be in my first week, but I know I've chosen the right path.

I'll try to keep updates daily from here on out now that I'm not so nervous about the first week and how things would go.

Thanks again for reading this and following my training journey.

Nice writeup, thanks! Are the trailers you're getting to practice with dry vans and are they loaded or completely empty?

I'm actually going into the flatbed division so I can't tell you what the dry van guys are using. We've got a flatbed with approximately 7,000 lbs loaded on it. First day of driving we were hooked up to a 30,000 lb load because they were a little unprepared for us haha.

Alright my friends, time for the beginning of the Roehl Transport School diary. I forst want to apologize for being a few days behind in posting, it's been a crazy few days and very busy. So, here we go!

Day One: Monday July, 27th, 2015: Our first day was pretty simple, we went through all our hiring paperwork and tax forms, took photos for ID's and took our drug tests (urine and hair folicle which goes back about 90 days). There's three of us in our group and all first time drivers.

That's all I'm going to say about Dat One because our actual trainer wasn't in yet and we really didn't discuss anything to do with trucking.

Day Two: Tuesday July 28th, 2015 So for Day Two, we actually started. We began by going over the Log Books and how important they are, well, for now because we don't have E-Logs yet. After an hiur or so on that, we went out to our temporary truck, a 2007 Freightliner Columbia. Our actual trainer truck is going to be an International ProStar Plus, but for some reason we don't have it yet.

Went over a basic pre-trip inspection. Seems like so much to learn in four weeks, but it gets easier everyday he assures us. We were told we wouldn't be driving until our drug tests were cleared, but lo and behold our trainer (Guillermo) had us in it and showing us how to double clutch and up/down shift while managing RPM's and our load.

We got to practice going up to 5th, back down to first and turning the truck in the yard. It was surprisingly easier than I was afraid of, but I need a lot more down shift practice.

After awhile, he had us do straight line backing. Now I don't want to spund arrogant or ****y or any of that, but I nailed it fairly easily. I've had a lot of trailer backing with pickups and car trailers, so anticipatimg and correcting drift is something I consider myself fairly proficient at. Unfortunately for me I did so well, I had to park the truck for the day between to van trailers.

Little nervous but I got it in in the second try, I missed the pull up pretty bad haha.

Day Three: Wednesday July 29th, 2015

So, today only two of us were there, no idea where the third guy was. So we started the day updating our log, then out to the truck to do a pre-trip inspection. He's going easy on us so far, using our packets and helping us along the way. Split it in half, each doing one side of the engine bay. I lucked out and got the driver side which was much easier.

We did the whole inspection, but we each had a chance to do the brake check. Then came offset backing. I am having a terribly hard time with it so far. Failed two out of three times, finally managed it on my third try.

After lunch came the part I was completely unprepared for; we got to drive on the real road. We did a quick 15 mile loop, left and right turns, up to 50 MPH, straight runs and some curves. I had a hard time downshifting the entire time because of my nerves. But, I made it through the whole trip with no accidents and no curb hits, so I'll consider that a victory.

We switched drivers and the other guy drove the loop and did very good. We're all improving everyday and learning more and getting more confident; well until we get to the beginning of our loop and I get told to drive back to the terminal. Made it there with no issues and no curb hits, so I'm feeling better about my driving ability.

Sorry about how short this wound up being, but I'm on my phone. I forgot my laptop down at home. Feel free to ask any questions and I'll answer as best I can and I'll keep posting as I go.

Thank you all for taking the time to read my progress and I hope you're enjoying it.

Donnie, Hope your training is not near the SWIFT teminal in Phoenix. I worked across the street for Maricopa Parks and Rec. Dept. back in 2007. There is a dog food factory near by as well a landfill. Ahh enjoy the scent and brown cloud of Phoenix. Hope to meet up some time. See you in the Flatbed division sometime.

I appear to be about 3.5 miles away from the Swift Academy. I'm lucky I don't have a weal stomach then I guess haha. Then again, landfill baking in 110+ degrees probably won't help at all.

Have you started a training journal yet? I'll be sure to follow it and here's hoping to meet up at some point on the road. Good luck with your journey and school.

Physical yesterday went great. Apart from noting I am overweight, which I knew, I am pretty healthy.

All that's left is to get my CDL permit and head to Phoenix.

Arizona in the middle of summer?!! EEK! I'm feeling more fortunate heading for Salt Lake City.

Good luck at school and on the road! See you out there!

Renae (Angel)

From what I've seen, it appears that they have some sort of indoor warehouse type structure where we'd do most of the flatbed (that's the division I'm entering) training.

At least that's what I'm hoping. But, I've been in AZ all of my life and I'm at that point where the summers aren't a bother anymore.

Found ya...looking forward to updates. Question...we're you required to obtain your permit up front or did you decide to get a leg up on that? I'm wondering if I should get my permit, or see what state I'm going to first?????

They had me get my permit before anything. I would assume it depends on the state you're going to and coming from, based on the training locations.

Go to their site and fill out an interest card. They'll call you usually next day with information and to answer any questions you may have.

Call a Roehl recruiter. Don't read the review things have changed. They pay you, feed you, house you, you in exchange drive 120 k miles for them.

Awesome! Thanks! Are you with Roehl?

I am starting with Roehl Transport out of their Arizona terminal and have had a great experience so far with them. Recruiter is very helpful and has answered even some of my dumb questions and is always there to help. But as Todd M. said, they pay your transport to the nearest facility, pay for your lodging while at training, and pay you while you're learning how to drive. 120k miles sounds like a lot, but if they can be consistent with the miles and pay I was offered and plan to work, it's about a year contract. I have started a Training Diary in that section of the forums if you're interested in keeping up with my progress. I start on July 27th and will be updating everyday.