If you got accepted at Roehl....

[dennis in se pa]

Would you stop looking/researching and just go?
They are 1000 miles away from me and it is going to be cold for December training.
Schneider is only 2 hours away but I have bad feelings about them.
Would you go with Roehl if you had the chance?

[Uturn2001]

If I had it to do over again Roehl would have been at the top of my list just coming out of school.

[dennis in se pa]

Thanks uturn.
Actually I might be going to their school also.
3 weeks school = cdl
2 weeks evo 1 getting paid $60/day
2 weeks evo 2 getting paid $65/day
get your own truck. Full mileage.
Many places put you with a trainer for 8 weeks after everything is done.
Not that you stop learning.
I just don't want to be cooped up in a truck for 8 weeks with ANYONE!
When I go camping I want my own tent.
I like to be alone alot.

[harleypiper]

Well Dennis- I almost wish I went to their school after looking at their web. I haven't read any bad posts on here so I guess thats a plus. Great place to start it seems. BOL with your decision.

[ntachdrhd]

I start Roehl on Nov 5th in there training school. I chose Roehl due to what I read on this site and talking to drivers. Plus I am only 175 miles from the school. I was also looking at SNI but I did not want to be stuck with a Co. for 18 months with Roehl it is 12 months which is a little easier for me to handle. I chose there midwest flatbed fleet to start off on. I am looking forward to starting there, I have been a stay at home dad for 1.5 years and am ready to get back to work.
All I can tell you if you are going to come to Wisconsin in Dec make sure you have warm winter clothes. The winters are a lot different then in se PA. I grew up in sw PA. just oustide the steel city.
BOL to you in your decision.

[Trucker4Life]

They are 1000 miles away from me and it is going to be cold for December training.

If you are afraid of the cold, then you need to look for another job! BOL

[dennis in se pa]

Thanks for your reply ntachdrhd,
I have been thinking about the clothing issue. Warm Clothes are a must for Wisconsin in December I am sure.
I will have to buy an insulated jacket with a hood and wear a knitted hat besides. Insulated underwear also.
I did basic training in the Army in January, but that was long ago, far away, and further south than Marshfield.
All of the Roehl drivers who met here should find a way to keep in touch.
respects,
Dennis in SE PA

[ntachdrhd]

Dennis have you talked to Roehl about there Honor program for vets? If you are recently discharged from the Army You may qualify for there training free of charge with no obligation time on your part. I was a 6 year navy vet got out in 93 and was not Qualified for this part but was qualified for there salary for 2 years. Just something you may want to look in to!

[ibamars]

I started with Roehl in Nov 2005. I did not go thru their school. I paid cash for my license here in NY (didnt want any ties to a company in case something happened). I chose them over the other big companies, such as Swift,SNI,Werner etcc, due to their safety philosophies.

I did not want to get wrapped up in all the other BS that comes along with trucking to start with. I just wanted to focus on driving and get my feet wet and get some kind of understanding of the industry.

I stuck it out with them for 14 months. I had a split in between that time due to a bad dispatcher I had out of Gary. I posted my story long ago so if you want to research my posts you will find it.

I would say Roehl would be one of the top notch companies to get started with. They will keep you moving for the most part and you will be safe.

you make a good decision going with them. Make sure you learn the safe seven and follow it. It will keep you out of trouble for the most part. I still follow it and remember it even after being away from them for 8 months. It makes sense.

SO all in all I would say good choice. Even though you live so far away from them, they have a lot of freight up in that area. Getting you home when you want should not be a problem either. Well good luck. If you have any other questions feel free to PM me.

[dennis in se pa]

Dennis have you talked to Roehl about there Honor program for vets? If you are recently discharged from the Army You may qualify for there training free of charge with no obligation time on your part. I was a 6 year navy vet got out in 93 and was not Qualified for this part but was qualified for there salary for 2 years. Just something you may want to look in to!

Recently discharged? I am a child of the 60's man. This was 1972. Basic and AIT for Army Reserves.
If I had to do it again I would just do the active thing. 6 years of weekends got old real fast. And I have no benefits.
I appreciate your thoughts and response.

Are you with Roehl now?

respects,
Dennis in SE PA

[dennis in se pa]

And thanks to ibamars,

Looks like you have a nice gig going for you now.

See you out there soon!

respects,
Dennis in SE PA

[ntachdrhd]

I will be starting with Roehl on the 5th of Nov and should be wrapped up with school and evo's 1 and 2 by Christmas.
Have you decided on what fleet you would want to go with yet?

[ibamars]

Hey if you guys are smokers I can give you a name to ask for to get you into a trainers truck faster possibly. Let me know. oh BTW, hes a lease operator with Roehl

[dennis in se pa]

I told them NE regional or national. I'll take whatever is best for them as a starting point. I am interested in the van division. I am in my 50's and tarps are too much work for me at this point.

respects,
Dennis in SE PA

[dennis in se pa]

Actually I quit smoking on June 17, 2004 at 11 AM. But I have no problem with smokers. I enjoy the smell of tobacco, but I know better than to imbibe.
I am training from the get go with Roehl.
I am looking for good, appropriate training, with little "down time".
Having been in management most of my life I hope to be a good asset for Roehl. Do what you are asked to do. Give 110%. Shut up. Keep your head down. Keep on pushing. Reap the benefits of a good employee with a good attitude.
That's the plan.
respects,
Dennis in SE PA

[inmate1577]

Just what is the "bad feeling" about Schneider????

Most people who post here about other trucking companies swallow the "I hate my job" BS about other trucking companies but actually have no experience WORKING with that trucking company.


Dont buy into the "slamming the other company" nonsense. These people have nothing to do all day except bitch and moan.


Schneider is a good company , as is Roehl. SNI stresses safety BIG TIME and there is no log book fudging or any other stupidity allowed.

[dennis in se pa]

inmate1577 I appreciate your input.
I hope I have not offended you. The info and advise I have been receiving have me leaning towards Roehl.

[dieselgrl]

I had the pleasure of working for Roehl for a while in 2005. They are one of the best companies I've worked for, I would definitely take the opportunity to train with them. I was in the van division, but I had the most consistent miles and hometime than with any other place I've worked.

[TomB985]

For what it's worth, I started Roehl's school back on September 17th. Got my CDL on Oct 4th, and I'm currently finishing my EVO 1 training right now.

So far, I am nothing short of impressed with everything I've seen out of this company. Their school is great, and you will spend much more time behind the wheel of the truck than you will in the classroom, which I think is a good thing. I started on a Monday, and by Thursday, I was driving with an instructor on public roads. On Friday, we went through downtown marshfield. It IS a very fast paced program, but they seem to focus on safety above everything else, and I really enjoyed the program.

I started with my trainer Wednesday the 17th of this month, and it has been a really great time. I have had no difficulty handling the truck in any of the situations I've been in, and I've actually run very close to 4,000 miles so far in that week. Bill, my trainer, is nothing short of excellent. He is very patient, knows his stuff, and sits there patiently letting me learn, instead of jumping on me constantly. He lets me figure things out for myself, and always asks me how I would like to do things, really pushing me to figure it out instead of leaning on him for everything. He said that students coming from Roehl's school are consistently better than many of the other CDL school graduates he has seen in his truck.

I came into Roehl through their Honor program, since I just got out of the military 2 months ago. So far I have no regrets.

BTW...for those who think they're too old to flatbed... Tim, an instructor at the school is 66 years old. Went through the school at age 60 and drove flatbed for a year until he had a bad accident. He fell off a load and badly injured himself, shattering his hip and his right elbow. Affter 4 years and 11 surgeries, he wants to go back on the road as soon as they'll let him, potentially early next year. He has NO TRICEP left after the surgeries on his arm, and he cannot even straighten it all the way. When I asked him what he wanted to do, he looked me straight in the eye and said he'll run flatbed again if they'll let him. :shock: :shock: :shock: .

Seriously, all of the instructors at the school were very patient, knowledgable, and laid back. I recommend this school to anyone who can handle a fast paced school, as well as anyone looking for a good company.

[dennis in se pa]

Thanks Tom,

Good info. Now if I can find someone in SouthEast PA to give me a test ride in a modern tractor trailer I just might be able to make up my mind. Can someone help me out there? Doesn't Roehl run around here? They better because this is where one of there drop lots is (Bensalem, PA). I can't believe someone at Roehl corporate cannot arrange for one of their drivers to give me a 1/2 test ride so I can make up my mind. If I do do this I will be coming to Roehl. I am shooting for starting the Monday after Thanksgiving. I have been working with their recruiter Rob R. and he says we are good to go. Can you talk to someone Tom and get me this test ride?