My Roehl CDL Training Journal Day 1

Woke up promtly to the alarm at 5am. Only in the low 20s day started out brisk with heavy frost. Breakfast at the hotel is at 6am Monday to Thursday. Its offerings are cold cereal fruit donuts toast and juices and a coffee to go. A van driver met us in the lobby at 640 and it was then I realized there were 10 of us in CDL and 6 experienced in a week of training. So after deciding to elect carpooling for CDL guys we followed van to the terminal. On the way I was trying to remember all of the questions I had still and was ready to get started. Were welcomed into class room and greeted by the trainers that we would spend the next month working with us. Coffee and restrooms right outside of classroom. We promptly started at 7am. Had names in front of our seats and a Roehl lanyard and a ruler and a Roehl ball cap , a 2016 Rand Mcnally Motor Carriers Atlas a really big book like you got back in collage that was about trucking, a haz mat compliance book, a driver reference book , 2012 ERG book, driver log book, Federal Motor Carriers regulation book and a 415 page load securement book for those of us in flatbed fleet. We quickly went over and had to do a stress test. Crouch under and carry 35 lbs and lift 15 and climb a ladder and walk a beam and push pull. Basic stuff a 5 year old can do. Next we spent all morning filling out paper work I-9 payroll blah blah blah. Took a picture and were givin our id and key cards for lanyards. Lunch is 1130 to 1230 taking a 15 min break in morning and afternoon. We filled out log books and went ended up in the simulator to finish out the day. The simulator is cool and helpful but nothing like driving the real deal. Its used to introduce you next skill before the range. Carpooled back to hotel and used voucher in resturant and then got ready for next day. My overall impression is Roehl is wrking hard to set the standard. It was obvious they have invested alot of time in money into thier training program and people there all are genuine and have a sense of humor. The atmosphere is upbeat and welcoming. So I end my first day glad I chose Roehl as they are everything they said they were.

Day 2 Tuesday Dec 1st. Well woke up to alot of ice and and an inch of snow. Welcome to Wisconsin. Remembering the question asked by my intrsuctor from yrsterday to find out how many no texting and driving signs we could find on our way in I could only muster up 1. Today started out in the class room with filling out our log books and a brief overview of of the days agenda and went over pretrip. After that we split up into our teams (3 students to 1 instuctor ratio as one of the guys transfered to the Appleton terminal as it was closer to his house) and each group givin a key and told to go to our trucks. Once at our assigned trucks that we will use the same truck and trailer for the next 4 weeks and to pass our state test. Our instructor went over our pretrip. Then we as a team went over it a few times the Roehl way until lunch. After lunch We went back to our trucks and drove it over to our assigned trailers and learned how to connect them and finished our pretrip and then started out on the range and just made left hand turns. Using low gears and just shifting up and down. The day eneded up warming to a balmy 40 degrees and made to range a muddy mess with slush. I kinda liked that as it added a touch of a challenge to the driving. As the day started to come to a close we parked the trailer did pretrip and disconnected and parked tractor. All in all I was impressed with the trainers as they never micro managed and made for a comfortable training atmospere with light hearted jokes amungst the team. After never driving a tractor before I was quite surprised at how well I did. Never stalled the truck with very little grinding. I also liked that this is the same truck we will use the whole time and really get to know it making test day even better. Im already loving my new career choice. Back to the hotel for dinner and to call it a night. Along the way home I did notice another cell phone sign. That makes 2!

Day 3 Wed Dec 2nd started off with low 20s and some snow over night. I carpool with my room mate now and arrived at class at 645. Started in class and did log books . We were givin keys to our trucks and told to go start our pretrips and instructors would meet us there. My group decided to not use the pretrip sheet and go by memory. I realized just how easy it was although I missed a few items not bad for first try. After hooking up and going to range we spent the morning doing more left hand turns and working on shifting. Broke for lunch went to the simulator after lunch and did right hand turns till break time. After break we put that to use by doing all right hand turns while continuing to work on shifting. Ive got shifting down pretty good now and turns are pretty straight forward. The 2 guys im with are also doing well. Ended day back in class to finish up log books for day and told to give a weather report tommarrow morning. Another great day at Roehl CDL training!

Day 4 Thursday Dec 3rd. Day started out as usual but warmer at 30 degrees and heavy frost. There was a weather advisory for black ice till mid morning. Day started out in class room updating log book. By now the 9 of us have gotten closer to each other and bonded lots of team work going on. We all have familes missing us back in our home towns and that part is taking some getting used too for all of us. So got the keys and headed down to do pretrip and instructor met up with us there. We worked on right hand turns till lunch. During lunch I went out to the truck and practiced pretrip and then after lunch we were met with cones and worked on staright line backing up. At first I was abit worried how ever the instructors had some good pointers and were more than patient and walked along side our first try walking us through it step by step. Most of us did well a couple guys were all over the place but by end of the day all had it down pat. Finished up log books and headed back to hotel. Im impressed at the pace things are going. Roehl has a well thought out training schedule that allows for ability to learn and retain info progressivly. So far zero complaints and exceeds my expectations.

Day 5 Friday Dec 4th Day started out low 30s started out at the usual 7am filling our log books. Did the usual pretrip. Im still a little rusty but the other 2 guys can do it now by memory. Our instructor met us and said we were going to get a tour of town and drove us around Marshfield. Next we got to drive around the block that is several miles. As excited as I was once I got behind the wheel I was overwhelmed by how differnt it was from the safety of the range. Besides all the usual driving things like traffic signs stop lights people etc. I mean life is happening. I had no problem with turns but down shifting was all of the sudden was like ive never done it. Its only a 10 speed but after one round I said I needed a break. So I drove us back to our terminal and my instructor had some good advice and helped me with some questions I had. I realized after that I kept loosing my gears and was pushing the clutch to deep. He did say dispite that Ive never stalled yet and still way ahead of where most people are at the end of thier fisrt week. So I needed to hear that. Gave me the reassurance I needed. Went to lunch and after lunch everyone went out to range and started ally docking at 45 degrees between 2 trailers . Again didnt have any problems and after this morning drive it made me feel way better about stuff. We ended the day finishing log books and ready for the hotel. By now long days and week is starting to catch up. On a side note I can say that im looking forward to getting back out and doing more driving around town on Monday. Practice practice practice. Roehl has many training videos for drivers online that are helpful tools in being new and another reason why im glad i chose Roehl.

Day 6 Saturday December 5 mid 30s damp and classroom only arrived on time to class at 7am was a relaxed atmosphere with lots of breaks. Started out with an instructor we havent seen yet. He had us watch alot of movies on haz mat it was followed with the required federal test and basic common sense stuff if the movie didnt put you to sleep easily passed. Finally we finished out the day learning about the truck pcs and shippers etc. Gave us our lunch to go and was ready for a day off. Laundry to do and looking forward to sleepng in tommarrow. I can say after my first week this isnt rocket science and I am looking forward to Monday morning and getting back behind the seat.....

Liking this. Thanks for posting it!

Day 7 Dec 7 . Thank you Dan. Im glad you are able to get something from it. I havent seen a recent Roehl diary since earlier this year so I figured it would help someone. After a lazy Sunday I remembered someone saying last week about the terminal having laundry machine and dryer for free and soap for drivers. So I opted to go with my roomate and save a few dollars and start a load of laundy and check it out. After all no one wants to be the stinky kid in the truck. So after arriving the drivers lounge was slow and made some small talk with the janitor after starting the washing machine and he was very friendly as if we were all old chums who worked together for 20 years so we got a tour and was pretty awsome. After that my roomate and I decided to go out to the yard and practice our pretrip while waiting on our cloths. After all we are here to get our CDL and are employees of Roehl and wanted to use our time wisely. So as the sun set we waited for the dryer we were able to get online and did some online training that is available to us. Just another reason Im happy with my choice. They are progressive in that they are investing in tech and offer aot of online training to those who want to further the knowledge of there job and all ties in to more pay when we are solo. So that aside I decided to shower night before cuz 530 arrives fast and just wanted that extra 30 mims of sleep. Ugh! Rolled over to the terminal by 630 and did our logs and about 7 went out and pretripped the truck and connected to trailer. One of the guys has his cdl and is testing out tommarrow Im excited for him. I want to see the smile after he gets back and the happiness of going home to his family with a good honest job and paycheck. Best of luck to him. So we went through town and went through roud abouts rr tracks and moderate traffic. I was last today as last Friday I all of the sudden started grinding gears and it kinda bummed me out as I found myself in a rut. So my instructor said I got the pretrip down and backing so all I need is some more time in the drivers seat. Glad hes optamistic. We broke for lunch and after lunch we had the simulatior on backing then had a quick break before going back out on the road. So he said I would be driving and would be going out to the country and all I needed to do was get to 10th gear and back down to 4th then repeat over and over. After 40 miles or so with straight away backroads with little to no traffic I realized the guys in the back were asleep and my instucter bored as he had nothing to say because I finally got it and was doing it all on my own!!! My confidence is back and majorly boosted. So after Fridays lost gears and grinding and and down right horrid downshifts he had me head back to the terminial to call it a day. He had me drive through town that involved a swithback intersection and 2 sets of rr tracks with 5oclock traffic begining to put this new found confidence to work. Other that a tight left turn I rocked it. Well as much as one can on day 7. What a night and day diffrence today vs Friday made and having an instructor thats passionate about trucking and experienced enough to see how to find a solution to helping a student. So ended up back at hotel to do it all agin tommarrow.

Thank for writing this it help keep me motivated I'm about to try to get my cdl. This is one company I was looking at. Good luck to you

Solo - keep up the optimism and positive work!