Roehl Drivers
Topic 5379 | Page 1
There is PJ that use to, Andy C. and Wine Taster that still are. Both have diary's, Andy is on the trainers truck at the moment and Wine Tasters Diary is Legendary. 
I obtained my CDLA at a local community college, so can't comment on their school, but my first job as a driver was with Roehl. I resigned earlier this year after 15 months due to relocation and wanting to try a local gig.
Newly minted drivers go through an 8 day Orientation (paid $300 plus room and board) that includes lots of driving and backing. You must double clutch at all times and show yourself to be a safe, proficient driver (experienced drivers have a 4 day Orientation). If you are hired at the end of the Orientation (and most are, but not all), new drivers go OTR with a Trainer for 9 to 13 days to learn about life OTR (experienced drivers get their truck immediately after Orientation). During OTR training, you are paid $90 a day. OTR training is NOT team driving. The Trainer and Trainee work at the same times and sleep at the times. At the end of OTR training, you must "test out" at one of their terminals. After that, you are assigned your truck and a Fleet manager and are dispatched according to the home-time and fleet that you have chosen. They have numerous home-time options.
Their pay is competitive and toward the higher end of the average in the industry. I was at 37 cpm at the time of separation with the potential to go to 44 cpm eventually in the dry van division. Overall, my time with Roehl was a good experience. The negatives, in the view of some, are that you are micro-managed. Dispatches are no-refusal (assuming you have the hours available), you must re-fuel when and where you are told, routing is pretty ridgid (you will be rebuked for going off route - don't ask me how I know this!). Roehl has their own shops and it can be a pain to get routed to one in order to get needed repairs and wait while the work is done. Your mileage might be on the low side of what you are told to expect, at least mine were, but I drove a lot of regional dispatches which tend to be shorter routes. Your Fleet Manager is King (or Queen). You do have some recourse if things are not going well with you and your FM , but that's beyond the scope of this reply.
Roehl is a good choice to start your driving career and many find it a good place to stay as a driver. Their benefit package is good. They do have a large number of drivers who have been with them a long time. Under the right set of circumstances, I could see myself driving for them again.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
Regional:
Regional Route
Usually refers to a driver hauling freight within one particular region of the country. You might be in the "Southeast Regional Division" or "Midwest Regional". Regional route drivers often get home on the weekends which is one of the main appeals for this type of route.
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
Double Clutch:
To engage and then disengage the clutch twice for every gear change.
When double clutching you will push in the clutch, take the gearshift out of gear, release the clutch, press the clutch in again, shift the gearshift into the next gear, then release the clutch.
This is done on standard transmissions which do not have synchronizers in them, like those found in almost all Class A trucks.
Fm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.Fleet Manager:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.Dry Van:
A trailer or truck that that requires no special attention, such as refrigeration, that hauls regular palletted, boxed, or floor-loaded freight. The most common type of trailer in trucking.CPM:
Cents Per Mile
Drivers are often paid by the mile and it's given in cents per mile, or cpm.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
There is PJ that use to, Andy C. and Wine Taster that still are. Both have diary's, Andy is on the trainers truck at the moment and Wine Tasters Diary is Legendary.
I started reading Wine Taster's diary and literally could not stop until I found out if he got in a truck!! lol
Thank you ... I will start asking around
Hi AJ, I have applied to an been accepted in to Roehl's CDL school but don't have a start date yet. They really do seem to be a good organization for a newbie. The only thing I can tell you for sure is that if your BMI is over 35 they will make you take a sleep study at their expense no matter what type of Med card you have. I got a 2 year card and had to have it down graded to a 6 month because of BMI. I understand the need to have safe drivers on the road but I know of people with sleep apnea who are thin and would never be tested in the same situation. Oh well, it is their dime and not mine so I am having it done. I have been single for 14 years and my kids are grown and out of the house so there is no one around to tell me I stop breathing when I sleep, but I don't think I do. Oh well, we shall see! Good luck with whoever you decide to drive for!
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Sleep Apnea:
A physical disorder in which you have pauses in your breathing, or take shallow breaths, during sleep. These pauses can last anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. Normal breathing will usually resume, sometimes with a loud choking sound or snort.
In obstructive sleep apnea, your airways become blocked or collapse during sleep, causing the pauses and shallow breathing.
It is a chronic condition that will require ongoing management. It affects about 18 million people in the U.S.
BMI:
Body mass index (BMI)
BMI is a formula that uses weight and height to estimate body fat. For most people, BMI provides a reasonable estimate of body fat. The BMI's biggest weakness is that it doesn't consider individual factors such as bone or muscle mass. BMI may:
- Underestimate body fat for older adults or other people with low muscle mass
- Overestimate body fat for people who are very muscular and physically fit
It's quite common, especially for men, to fall into the "overweight" category if you happen to be stronger than average. If you're pretty strong but in good shape then pay no attention.
Hi AJ, I have applied to an been accepted in to Roehl's CDL school but don't have a start date yet. They really do seem to be a good organization for a newbie. The only thing I can tell you for sure is that if your BMI is over 35 they will make you take a sleep study at their expense no matter what type of Med card you have. I got a 2 year card and had to have it down graded to a 6 month because of BMI. I understand the need to have safe drivers on the road but I know of people with sleep apnea who are thin and would never be tested in the same situation. Oh well, it is their dime and not mine so I am having it done. I have been single for 14 years and my kids are grown and out of the house so there is no one around to tell me I stop breathing when I sleep, but I don't think I do. Oh well, we shall see! Good luck with whoever you decide to drive for!
Thank you, and best of luck on your journey :)
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Sleep Apnea:
A physical disorder in which you have pauses in your breathing, or take shallow breaths, during sleep. These pauses can last anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. Normal breathing will usually resume, sometimes with a loud choking sound or snort.
In obstructive sleep apnea, your airways become blocked or collapse during sleep, causing the pauses and shallow breathing.
It is a chronic condition that will require ongoing management. It affects about 18 million people in the U.S.
BMI:
Body mass index (BMI)
BMI is a formula that uses weight and height to estimate body fat. For most people, BMI provides a reasonable estimate of body fat. The BMI's biggest weakness is that it doesn't consider individual factors such as bone or muscle mass. BMI may:
- Underestimate body fat for older adults or other people with low muscle mass
- Overestimate body fat for people who are very muscular and physically fit
It's quite common, especially for men, to fall into the "overweight" category if you happen to be stronger than average. If you're pretty strong but in good shape then pay no attention.
Hi there I am currently going through the three week cdl school with Roehl. I just finished up week one and am excited to start week two. All of the staff that I have dealt with is very friendly and helpful if you have questions they can't immediately answer they will make sure they find someone who can answer your question. You mainly do all of the classroom or book work on your own which is great because that leaves alot of time to work on your driving skills and the backing maneuvers they have you do for the test. I am hoping to pass this test and become a company driver for roehl in the flatbed division.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Hi there I am currently going through the three week cdl school with Roehl. I just finished up week one and am excited to start week two. All of the staff that I have dealt with is very friendly and helpful if you have questions they can't immediately answer they will make sure they find someone who can answer your question. You mainly do all of the classroom or book work on your own which is great because that leaves alot of time to work on your driving skills and the backing maneuvers they have you do for the test. I am hoping to pass this test and become a company driver for roehl in the flatbed division.
Good to hear from a current student! I am still waiting on a start date but am hopeful we will get this settled this week. I am so glad I have not given notice to my current employer because the delay would have been awful if I had! Good luck!
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Jeffrey are you in marshfield or appleton??? If your in marshfield tell Bob and Mo hi for me please. Those 2 guys are awesome. Have fun with it. The examiners you will get next week are great people in marshfield
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.New Reply:
New! Check out our help videos for a better understanding of our forum features
Preview:
This topic has the following tags:
Roehl Transport Attending Truck Driving School Choosing A Trucking Company Getting Your CDL
Why Join Trucking Truth?
- The High Road Training Program
- The High Road Article Series
- The Friendliest Trucker's Forum Ever!
- Email Updates When New Articles Are Posted
Apply For Paid CDL Training Through TruckingTruth
Did you know you can fill out one quick form here on TruckingTruth and apply to several companies at once for paid CDL training? Seriously! The application only takes one minute. You will speak with recruiters today. There is no obligation whatsoever. Learn more and apply here:
TT On Facebook
Would anyone who knows a Roehl Transport driver chime in here, please. I'm trying to gauge the company a bit.
Although I realize they are close to the "awesome" category ;)
...just want to chat with some employee's .
Grazie
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles: