Phase 2 Driver Training With Roehl Transport

Hey all Dingo here.

Phase 2 training has started with Roehl Transport, but first a little report about my time home

Got home from the GYCDL program on Wednesday night. Came home to an amazing reception from the fur babies and the wife. Was told that it took up to 5 days for the data base to update in Pennsylvania so I knew I was gonna be home a few extra days. Monday rolled around, and I got my full blown CDL license in the mail from PennDOT. Was not expecting that at all. Tuesday called my Training Fleet Manager and we set up a zoom call. I told my FM that I would be ready to go on Thursday. Talked to my FM on Friday and she said it looked like Monday at the earliest. Later that day got the call. Monday with a regional trainer!!!

My trainer lives 2 hours away from me and he is home on the weekends!!! Needless to say my wife was thrilled. Connected over the weekend with my trainer Earl.

Met Earl yesterday (monday) at o'dark 30 by his house and we hit the road. He had to finish delivering a load about 50 miles away so he drove that and we talked about ground rules and expections. Follow your trainer's rules. This is his house. No shoes in the sleeper area and don't hit anything!!! Things like that.

After the drop it was my turn. Got in the driver's seat and we were off to Hinckley OH. What a rush!!! Actually doing the job. They are gonna pay me to do this!!!

Speaking of pay. 1 to 5.9 hours worked is a half day so you get half pay after 6 it is a full day with full pay $113 a day.

Got to Hinckley, drop yard, dropped our empty and loaded up. Headed to Shippingburg PA. Driving was good. Little things from Training came back and the pieces fell into place. Earl said I did very well. After about 4 hours total I was exhausted. Earl took over at our fuel stop.

Heading to Shippingburg Earl was getting close on his 14 hour clock so we planned our stop for the night. Plans changed. We already had our next preplan by the time we left Hinckley and were gonna go from Shippingburg to NJ. We got rerouted to Mechanicsburg for a relay. I drove a it 90 miles to Mechanicsburg on 70/76. Got some tunnels amd some good hills.

Copilot, our GPS worked great till Mechanicsburg. We ended up at the side gate of the Nestlé plant not the drop yard, with barely anyeoom to turn around and a no truck route sign facing us. Uh oh.

With some fine backing work we got out of that. Found the drop yard and called it a day. Was I tired. Top bunk set up, I ate a quick meal and hit the sack. 330 am comes awful early.

Dingo

Totally AWESOME!! Thank you SO much for sharing.

Wow, the luck of the DRAW is on your SIDE, with your trainer that conveniently close; how cool.

GORGEOUS pix, man. What a crew! Love the puppers; are you taking any when you go solo???

I first looked at the photos ... and THEN read the post; ooops I thought that was your daugher at 1st, haha!

Best TO ya, man. You got this!!!! Quite the support crew!

~ Anne ~

Way to go! Best of luck. Have fun out there.

Jails? 2 was really good. Got in about 6 hours of driving and bumper to bumper traffic in Connecticut. Trying to find a place to park was ridiculous. Lucky we had a fuel stop at a TA and shut down there. Get up at 4am I had to go roust an old boy who was playing Captain Make-a-spot. He was not happy when I asked him to move so we could get on our way.

Day 3 made our morning delivery and headed to the new pickup location. We loaded up and I started driving. Pulled out and needed to North on 1. To do that had to go down to thr next ramp and back up to North 1.

The ramp was super tight. On top of thst there were snow piles. I missed my setup and scrapped a little road sign. It fell over.

I thought my career was done right there. We couldn't safely and legally pull over so we called Safety. They took all the information and said to keep going. Send pictures of the trailer at the next stop. We did . No damage to the trailer.

Later in the day I talked to my FM told her what happened. I owned up to told it was my fault and what I did wrong and how I was gonna do better. She was pleased thst I owned up a said at Roehl honesty goes a long way. Glad I still have a job.

Day 4. Stuck in Syracuse NY due to weather. Again Roehl is huge on safety. They sent out emails that said if you do not feel safe do not drive. We **** down at 7 am called our FM and she said no problem they would take care of everything. So we are watching it snow in Syracuse.

Dingo

Great update Dingo. Glad to hear that honesty does pay. Thanks for sharing the lesson with all of us.

Awesome update! Much more continued success.

Way to go Dingo. I've watched your entire journey through training. Mine begins Monday, February 7. Good luck with your career, and stay safe.

Way to go Dingo. I've watched your entire journey through training. Mine begins Monday, February 7. Good luck with your career, and stay safe.

Good luck Bill!!! You are gonna love it!!!

Good luck Bill!!! You are gonna love it!!!

Thanks. I think I will.