First Truck Driving Job

Can anybody give me some first hand knowledge of this company?

My knowledge may not be considered first hand, as I have never worked for them. I did apply there once, but got rejected!

It is an excellent choice for a place to start your career. Their training is quicker than most, but very thorough. They will also pair you with a special dispatcher at the beginning who is trained to help rookies get their feet wet and gain some valuable knowledge during your first few months there. We've had a lot of folks start with Roehl.

Check out this link to an old Roehl training diary that one of our members put together a little while back.

Thank you to Old School and others for the emphasis on this being a paid for performance job. I'm 54 and was laid off after my work was outsourced to India. I'm considering trucking and getting bogged down a bit in all the comparisons between companies. Narrowing things down to a couple of "must haves" as far as benefits go, and knowing it is a performance based profession, helps a lot.

Stay Safe Out There, Colin K.

So, this may be my final update to this topic. First and foremost, thank you to all who commented and gave input. It was greatly appreciated. I got my CDL and Certificate this past week, and also turned in my 2 week notice from my current job. I decided to go with Roehl. What I didn't like was the lack of a program to match the 401k, but hey do have a profit sharing program. So that helps make up for it. Right now I am slated to check in with them at Gary, IN on January 3rd to start my orientation and flatbed school.

Well, after what I thought would be my last reply, I ran into some issues. I was "medically disqualified" b cause of having to wear a back brace at times due to my VA disability. And of course after 3 weeks of silence and a letter from my attorney, they want to offer me a job in the van division now and get me out of flatbed. And of course they are insisting I was never discriminated against and there was just a "lack of communication". I call bull, but that whole issue isn't what this comment is about. Because of the above paragraph, I am genuinely concerned about fair treatment if I decide to take the job with Roehl still. I am concerned about getting miles to be able to pay bills. I do understand that this industry is performance based, and the only guarantee is "stuff happens". But I am worried that if I go to Roehl, I won't get good miles as punishment, and it will force me to quit, which would only put me in a deeper hole to pay them back for violating the contract.

So I'm looking for a current Roehl driver, who can vouch for actual miles, and actual treatment. I also have a standing offer with Western Express, but I have heard a lot of bad about that company, both online reviews and from friends I know in the business. And of course, any input is appreciated.

If you knew your back was jacked you should of known better about flatbed work. My back is jacked up as well. I got the hint when all the flatbed companies I was drooling over quietly shunned me. They still offered you a job. Roehl is a good company. You can be very successful there. Will you make as much in dry van compared to flatbed. No. Roehl has several specialized divisions. You can always get your foot in the door first. Maybe if you show them you can become an outstanding driver they will take the risk and let you prove to them that you can do flatbed.

Its a lawsuit OSHA Workers comp thing. Even at the post office if we wore braces then got hurt, they denied workmans comp because the employee shouldnhave known his limitations and exceeded them causing the injury to himself.

Prime matches 401k after your first six months (I think, my group had to be one year), allows pets, has a high paying training and good CPM to start.

Personally I thinknthe direct the is a gimmick. Prime has a fleet rate of $22 per week. I make more with my additional CPM and bonuses than some companies that give the DTv free.

Well, after what I thought would be my last reply, I ran into some issues. I was "medically disqualified" b cause of having to wear a back brace at times due to my VA disability. And of course after 3 weeks of silence and a letter from my attorney, they want to offer me a job in the van division now and get me out of flatbed. And of course they are insisting I was never discriminated against and there was just a "lack of communication". I call bull, but that whole issue isn't what this comment is about. Because of the above paragraph, I am genuinely concerned about fair treatment if I decide to take the job with Roehl still. I am concerned about getting miles to be able to pay bills. I do understand that this industry is performance based, and the only guarantee is "stuff happens". But I am worried that if I go to Roehl, I won't get good miles as punishment, and it will force me to quit, which would only put me in a deeper hole to pay them back for violating the contract.

Wow Rookie D, why didn't you come in here looking for advice when you needed it most? You went and got an attorney to write your prospective employer a letter because you think you are being discriminated against because you want to perform a very physically demanding job while knowing full well that you have some physical disability? I actually can't believe you are serious!

It looks to me like the only real "lack of communication" was on your part - as in you didn't want them to know that you had to wear a back brace at times. So now you have these concerns about "fair treatment" and "getting miles." Well, you should be concerned about those things, and here is why...

There is no such thing as "fair treatment" in this business.

The only way a person can ever expect to get miles is to earn them by building a solid track record of performance.

The top performers get the top treatment, that is the way this career takes shape.

Those two hard facts are true at all trucking companies, and you have already set yourself up for a big downfall with your little attorney trick. Attorneys have no power to help you succeed as a trucker - NONE!

Personally I think you should be extremely grateful they even offered you a job at all. They are obviously taking the high road in this situation, even though they probably are already aware that this is not going to go well. You have made one of the biggest blunders that a rookie can make, and that is that you think you can coerce a trucking company into doing what you want them to do. I seriously can't believe you hired an attorney to threaten them. I have witnessed this scenario time and time again - yes it happens often because there are so many Type A personalities drawn to this career. Every time I see someone trying to force their way into this career instead of just rolling with the punches until they have learned how things work - well it never ends well.

I would really like to know exactly how the chain of events took place in which they discovered that you needed that back brace at times. I have a feeling that in that scenario lies where the real problem arose for you.

Maybe I am reading too much into this, and I do wish you would speak up if I am wrong. But so far, the way you have presented this to us indicates that you are in for a hard lesson in how this whole career takes shape.

Ok, here is the sequence of events. As far as a physically demanding job, I have been a full time cop and firefighter for the past 8 years, and help one of my buddies when deer season hits with nagging corn and skinning deer. So I am really not all concerned about the physical demands of the job, I can perform them. But you did hit the nail in the head as far as me being a Type A personality, I can't argue that. But there was no bullying tactics. I got to a point where I had to look out for priority number one, me. And I will continue to do so. If whatever I am dealing with ever gets to the point that I don't feel it is in my best interest, I'm going to find a way to fix it.

I fully disclosed EVERYTHING that is on my medical card, or issues I may have period. I have been diagnosed with depression in the past, I have sleep apnea , I have a herniated disc with sciatica, and after I got my medical card I was pinned between a utility trailer and vehicle door which resulted in a sprained wrist (for which I still wear a wrist brace). This was all upfront knowledge, and I was completely honest about EVERYTHING. I never tried to hide anything. Roehl actually requested a copy of my medical card to proceed with the hiring process. I had obtained documentation from ALL required doctors having to do with any of the above issues. I knew the flatbed division was going to be more physical going in, and that's why I selected it. After being pushed back to the VA multiple times in a very short period (and my fellow vets can understand how difficult that can be sometimes) I had all documentation that was requested. Where I was told the issue was, was in the fact I would occasionally wear a removable back brace for my back. My recuiter actually maintained better contact with me than the safety department. I regularly tried to speak with the representative in the safety department for clarification, but I never could. I was never notified about any other options, just flat out "no". I was consistently calling my recruiter, because the representative with safety kept dodging phone calls, to try and have an update to when I would be starting. I was told why I was disqualified on a phone call I made. I was then told on a return phone call from my recruiter, that the medical directors decision was not being accepted, and they would be in contact with me. Both of those phone calls took place on a Friday. The next phone call I got was from HR approximately 3 weeks later after everything with my attorney had transpired. By this point, I had already quit my job, expecting to have this job (and now I know better). Now, my mindset is, if I had been through the "exercises" the company had expected me to complete, and not been able to do so effectively, then by all means take away the job offer. However, I was never even given that opportunity. That is what set the whole scenario in motion.

The ONLY reason I spoke with an attorney about it, is because I felt I was discriminated against (which the way things transpired is a violation of the ADA). If I had been given an alternative after I was told the medical director's decision was rejected, I would have listened with open ears. I am a person who understands loyalty, and if the conversation would have been "our medical director has concerns about the flatbed division, but we would still like to offer you a job here", I would have felt like that company was trying to work with me, and I would have done everything I could to repay the favor. But there was zero communication after I was told there would be some. I am fully capable of doing the job, and I just want a chance to prove myself. I understand what you're saying in that top performers get taken care of, and I understand that. I also understand from day 1 it will be an uphill battle of proving my abilities, reliability, and worth to whatever company I am working for but how can you get to be one of those top tier drivers without ever being given the opportunity to start? I know I'm starting back over and have to start at the bottom. When I spoke with my attorney originally, I had written off working for Roehl altogether. However, here I am.

The purpose for my post wasn't to necessarily get into all of that, but I don't mind, it helps paint a better overall picture. I was really looking into whether or not it would even be worth it to go with Roehl, or am I just setting myself up for failure. I was overly excited to begin my career with them. But I can say I don't have the same warm fuzzies anymore. Regardless of which company I end up working for, my work ethic and desire to succeed will not change. With a type A personality comes a certain level of pride in being the best possible. And you can't achieve that without hard work and dedication.

Thanks for your response Rookie D.

I'm gonna say that I understand a little better why you did what you did, but man I wish you would have come to us first instead of turning to a lawyer! We could have given you some guidance from a viewpoint that totally gets how the trucking business works, and we could have maybe saved you some problems.

I have never seen an approach like you have taken work out well at all. I have witnessed a lot of Type A people in this business just bust their heads against a brick wall and never understand why they are not getting anywhere.

Had I known about your physical problems I would have highly recommended that you start out in dry van. Spend some time developing a relationship with a company and a dispatcher , proving yourself and your abilities to them, and then start dropping some hints that you would like to try to get into flat-bed work. I can't see Roehl ever being willing to put you into a flat-bed position knowing that you...

have a herniated disc with sciatica

And then add to that your willingness to lawyer up when you don't like the way things are going! Rookie D. I'm sure you can see that you have set a bad precedent in how you are going to be perceived by management as being a high risk employee who is hard to deal with, and brother that is the last thing they need out there with all the physical challenges that come from a flat-bed job.

The newbies in this business seldom make it through their first year, and if you manage to break that trend and go on to be a successful professional driver you will do it only by establishing yourself as a productive member of the team. Talk is real cheap in this business - you'll see what I mean pretty quick if you stay in it for a few months. There are guys out here who can talk the hind leg off of a mule about how great they are at this stuff and yet they can't ever seem to make any money at it. I am one of the three top guys on the fleet that I am in, and those three people are seldom seen or heard from by any of the other drivers. The other day I ran into another driver at the plant we pull loads from, and he said he and one of the other guys were just talking about me. They thought I had quit or something, because they hadn't seen me for a couple of months. But then they saw my name on the list of three star drivers (That is the top earners here) and realized that I was still around. All during the time he was jacking his jaw, I was getting my load ready, and just grunting or nodding my head to acknowledge I heard what he was saying. Next thing he knew I was ready to roll, and he was still standing there talking without having got anything done yet! I'm in there at times like two in the morning, or on Sundays when most normal people are taking it easy. I take care of my business, and my dispatcher knows he can always depend on me to figure out how to work some magic on each load I'm assigned.

I couldn't help notice when you said this...

I got to a point where I had to look out for priority number one, me. And I will continue to do so. If whatever I am dealing with ever gets to the point that I don't feel it is in my best interest, I'm going to find a way to fix it.

That is a pure Type A mindset - look out for "numero uno." I'm here to tell you it will kill you in this business.

You are a driver. That puts you at the bottom of the ladder - you are the low man in the logistics business, a very important player, but low on the totem pole, and immediately replaceable with a simple phone call. As soon as a driver can embrace this he can then figure out how to succeed at this stuff. I spoke earlier about taking care of my business, and that is how you succeed at this career. You handle what ever comes your way and you do it with pride that doesn't require any coddling. A driver is his own best supporting staff, he doesn't need any pats on the back, or recognition. He is accustomed to being asked to do more than is possible, and he still manages to get it done without complaining - it is his personal badge of honor that keeps him going, and he doesn't really care that no one even seems to notice it or acknowledge how good he is. These are the guys that really do well at this, these are the guys who have forgotten about "numero uno" and are doing what ever they can to make the team successful, and they do it without any kind of acknowledgement and very little gratitude, if any. Numero Uno, for the driver, is that he takes care of what he has been given to do, even if that means making considerable sacrifices on his part. If he succeeds at making money for the company, then he is making money for himself. Therefore he puts the needs of the company as his priority. I hope I'm making some sense here, and a cogent argument.

Most drivers take the attitude that they are the most important person out here on the team, and that really works against them. What is in the best interest of any driver is to be 100% dependable, and the only way that ever happens is to build a good solid reputation of "gitt'n er done." If you can do that without a bunch of hype and/or whining you can come out on top. Starting off by patting yourself on the back because you got a lawyer after them because you didn't like the way they were doing things is a recipe for disaster.

Old School, first and foremost, thank you for the honesty in your response. I think you kinda misunderstood exactly what I meant about taking care of me. No matter what the job is, or career, there is alaways some aspect of a team. Period. However, what I was getting at is if I'm not taking care of me, I'm in no position to be of any value to anybody else. At the end of the day, I am the only person I can count on to look out for me. I get the idea of putting the company ahead of you, to an extent. But if drivers truly always put the company ahead of themselves, there would be a whole lot more safety issues I believe. There needs to really be a balance, and I don't mean 50/50. I expect it will always be more favorable to the company, as they are the ones who sign the checks. But regardless of the job, if you don't take time to look out for yourself, I can't see any scenario where it ends well.

As far as my medical "issues", like I said, I'm able to perform the tasks. And I didn't go "lawyer up" just because I wasn't happy with the way things are going. I did so because I was unlawfully discriminated against. With that being said I pose this question, how many companies are going to hold onto drivers who are doing something illegal that puts the company in jeopardy? I imagine not very many, and they would protect themselves. Well, that's what I did. I protected myself against something that was unlawful. But there has to be a mutual respect between both parties, as with any other successful relationship. I am not one of these typical "young kids" that expect everything to be handed to them, far from it. But I do expect an opportunity to prove myself if an offer to do so has been extended. Which was the case before it was retracted. Like I said in the previous post, when the "issue" arose, and what I was told would have been factual, I would have been more than happy to wait and see. I would have been open to options that were presented, if they had been, which I why I'm still considering the job offer which was most recently extended. But this was just not the case. And after having a start date given, and having already left my previous employer, to have my start date pushed back a week, and then my job offer taken from me, is what lead me to make the decision I made. I agree with what you're saying about any perception of me by management if I were to accept the job, and that's the biggest obstacle I'm weighing.

The idea of the career being performance based is one of the main things that drew me to it. Being on my own, doing my thing as long the job is getting done, is exactly what I was looking for. I can't stand the style of supervision that makes me feel like a marionette.

I do respect your opinion, and your input. I know, not even being in this career yet, that I have a lot to learn. And I believe the day I quit learning is the day I die. I understand everything you're saying is probably coming from either first hand experience or what you have actually observed. And with those experiences comes invaluable knowledge. And I honestly can't thank you enough for the input you have provided.