Roehl Trucking For New Drivers

I just got accepted as a new driver to start getting my CDL. I was just wondering is this a good company to get on with?

I am 59 years old so I doubt I am somebody people are going to be beating my door down to hire.

Don't sell yourself short sir. You are exactly the type driver trucking companies want. Your comment illustrates your lack of understanding about this career. You are right there in the average age of successful productive truck drivers.

I am 64 years old. My driver manager recently complimented me while offering me my choice of loads. He said, "I'm starting at the top of the pecking order. Which one of these loads would you prefer?"

Don't you dare think less of yourself because of your age. I started trucking for a second career at age 53. That same week the company hired another man who was 73! I've actually met several drivers in their eighties!

If you are responsible, motivated, and eager to excel at this, you will make an excellent truck driver. Roll on!

Hello Paul, and welcome to our forum!

It's a fair question you ask, and we understand how you might be concerned. The internet is a wonderful source of information, but most of the time when it comes to trucking, it's filled with a lot of misleading drivel and nonsense.

Let's take for example your concerns about whether a company wanting to hire you is "a good company to get on with." To understand why there is so much negative information concerning trucking companies, you have to understand the source of that information.

There is an inordinate amount of people who try trucking while having no understanding of what it requires of them. Trucking is a job that demands a lot of commitment and sacrifice. We do odd things like working very erratic hours, and sometimes never seeing anyone we know for weeks at a time. It's a bizarre lifestyle to some, and they blame this brutal interruption of their lives on the company employing them.

It's also a lifestyle with endless variety and adventure. If that appeals to you, there's hope you could thrive in this business. You have to get past the constantly nagging idea that the company is what makes you miserable in trucking. I know people who've been switching companies for years because they are dissatisfied with "the way they're being treated." The truth is, they'd be happier doing something else.

I really should be retired if you measured me by most people's standards. I keep trucking because I absolutely wake up everyday anxious and ready to get out here and accomplish the day's goals and needs. It's a most rewarding experience for me.

I loved it from the very beginning when Western Express was the only company to give me a shot at it. The overwhelmingly alarming internet reviews said to "don't just walk away from this company, RUN!" It was all bogus information from foolish people who didn't have a clue about this career. They tried it, got their arse handed to them, and then had the audacity to declare how unfair the company was to them. Does that sound familiar?

Many people start their first struggles with trucking during the fast paced training. Don't let it trip you up. Roehl is a great place to get started. They know what they're doing and they have a lot of different opportunities for their drivers. You're in good hands.

We have a great series of podcasts here on our website. Take the time to listen to some of them. You'll learn a lot that way. Here's a link to one of them about training at a company like Roehl. I hope you learn a thing or two from it, and I hope you do really well as you get into trucking.

The Fast Pace Of Training In Trucking

Paul I wonder how your situation occurred. You have been accepted to Roehl, which tells me you applied to them and possibly others.

Did you not research them before applying?? Did you just send out app’s then figured you would look into them if accepted?? Did you give any thought what type of freight you want to haul? They are all different.

I’m not trying to be critical, just to understand your choice and how you got there.

I went through Roehl many years ago in Marshfield WI. They only had that one school site back then, 2013. They have expanded since then. I felt their school was top notch and I got my career going with them. They have dry van , reefer and flatbed. The school is fast pace, but they are very methodical and experienced at it and have graduated alot of drivers. They want students to succeed.

They will layout their expecations of you and expect you to follow through. They are a second generation family run company. Go in with a great attitude, learn, and follow the rules and they will bend over backwards to help you be successful.

If you go in with a attitude and break any of the rules you will be on they way home very quickly.

Best wishes for you!!

You've already gotten some great advice. I'd recommend going through the CDL diaries here, specifically for the carrier you're with, but also, pay attention to the diaries from those of us that are still in the industry, it gives you a pathway of what we did to be successful in this industry.

Most of us follow a similar pattern in our behavior and thinking that leads to success irrelevant of what company were at. The biggest things you can do for yourself is to be safe, productive, reliable and easy to work with.

The first career driver I ever personally knew drove flatbed for Roehl. Looking back, I think he was probably an excellent driver and knew how to pick a company. I’ve come to hold Roehl in high regard and I believe they are a very solid company that trains their drivers well.

That sounds excellent I am glad somebody is willing to give me a chance. I appreciate all the feed back I got here. As far the freight I want to haul I am willing to haul whatever needs to be hauled. I will update this once I get going with them.

Paul you may want to give it some thought before you arrive at school.

Not sure how they do it today, but back in my time you signed up for a fleet in the beginning. Available fleets also depended where you lived.

If you were going dry van/reefer you trained in school with a dry van. If you were going flatbed then you trained with them. The trailer types are very different. Plus an extra week for flatbed on load securement and tarping.

They are the only company that got back with me I am 59 years old so I doubt I am somebody people are going to be beating my door down to hire. Sometimes a person has to just take what they can get and go with it. A person has to get started somewhere!

I am 59 years old so I doubt I am somebody people are going to be beating my door down to hire.

Don't sell yourself short sir. You are exactly the type driver trucking companies want. Your comment illustrates your lack of understanding about this career. You are right there in the average age of successful productive truck drivers.

I am 64 years old. My driver manager recently complimented me while offering me my choice of loads. He said, "I'm starting at the top of the pecking order. Which one of these loads would you prefer?"

Don't you dare think less of yourself because of your age. I started trucking for a second career at age 53. That same week the company hired another man who was 73! I've actually met several drivers in their eighties!

If you are responsible, motivated, and eager to excel at this, you will make an excellent truck driver. Roll on!

Welcome!! Roehl has a very good reputation and should be a great place to start your career (and possibly keep it there). To echo what OS said, age is irrelevant as is every other distinguishing factor of a person IF they perform at a high level. This is a 100% performance based industry. Listen to Brett's podcast series for some additional insight.

Just remember to take your time learning and be patient with the process and yourself, and you will be fine!