Profile For Matt H.

I bet they’d work good. I bought two pair of these:

https://www.amazon.com/Hopkins-12501-SubZero-GripTrax-Traction/dp/B001FXIOCC/ref=mp_s_a_1_17?keywords=traction+mats&qid=1580416165&sr=8-17

They’ve worked to get me unstuck 4 times so far. I’ve had to put one at each drive position every time.

I bought two pair of these. They work great so far. One for each drive position. Once I roll out I get to better ground then walk back and pick them up. They fit right in the side box.

SubZero 12501 GripTrax Traction Tool.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001FXIOCC?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

I <3 my gps. I store every customer in it, by state, via longitude & latitude coordinates right to their driveway. Also it makes parking way easier, rest areas, truck stops, scales, weigh stations, walmarts, etc. I've also started a separate folder for "off grid" parking locations. ( places I can park for a 10 hour break that don't show up in any searches). I have every terminal & drop yard stored as well. Basically it's not just for navigation.

Roehl Transport uses both 10 speed manuals and automatics. Freightliner cascadia's and international LT's, the older international's are prostars.

My OTR trainer had a freightliner with a 12 speed auto. I drove a loaner freightliner with a 10 seed auto. All training for their CDL program is done with 10 spd manuals. My first truck was a 2015 freightliner, 10 spd manual. Now I've got a 2018 international LT, also manual. I've told my fm that I prefer manual transmissions for any truck I'm permanently assigned. They seem accommodating of driver's preferences.

Crossing traffic is no joke. You're the professional driver if someone drives under your trailer while you're crossing their travel lanes it's your fault. I never rush because of the people behind me. They can wait. You've got a greater responsibility to safely get that truck down the road. @40,200 people died in car accidents in 2016. Forty thousand two hundred people....never got where they were going.

I see now. The stacks of dunnage chained down in between. I've never noticed anything like that before. I haul dry van. Also for Roehl. In my previous career as an Ironworker I unloaded many trailers of structural steel, rebar, precast, etc. I might try flatbed with Roehl someday.

I haven't heard the term "bulkhead" used with regard to securing flatbed loads. I'm assuming it's something in between the separate piles so they can't shift front to back?

I have a little 12v frying pan that I use to heat up stews or soup and make hot sandwiches. Big cooler that'll hold a case of water. I usually buy sliced turkey for sandwiches, canned stuff, tuna. I try not to buy much junk food. It's pretty easy to avoid eating junk food when you don't have any. I haven't had any real need for a microwave or any other fancier ways to make things. It's just me here. If I wasn't traveling alone I might put more effort into actually making more interesting stuff. I do enjoy BBQ. So any BBQ with truck parking I'll usually give it a shot.

There's are lots of details I never manage to get into text. I studied this forum before I chose to make the jump into trucking. I'm grateful for all the people that take the time to share their experiences here. You all have profound effect and you're helping the industry by helping people make informed decisions. Thank you.

My simple reasons for choosing Roehl over Prime was the hometime options and the duration of training. I need the flexibility Roehl offers in hometime and I didn't want to drive with another person for 40,000 miles. That being said, if your circumstances are different then mine Prime might be a better fit. I have no doubt that 40,000 miles with a trainer would leave you exceptionally prepared to go solo. I'm not trying to get rich. I had an opportunity to try something new and I took it. I'm here for the experience as much as the pay. I intend to complete my contract and then assess what I want to do. My worst case scenario was if I didn't want to continue driving and I broke my contract I would still have a class A CDL and I would only be out the $5,000 a private school would've cost anyway. Roehl does commit you to a 120,000 mile contract. If you break that contract you will get a bill for $5,000.