Roehls RDTC review

[dennis in se pa]

I arrived in Marshfield Sat. evening, having permission to arrive a day early to account for possible issues on the road. I live about 1000 miles from here. I am staying in a motel that is setup as housing for Roehl student drivers. The accomodations are acceptable. The room is large. I met 2 students who have already completed the first week. They are doing well and enjoying it. They said out of 9 students only 2 are having a hard time "getting it". Can't say too much about Roehl's physical facilities yet, it was dark when I got to the offices to pick up my keys.
Today is Sunday so I am going to scope out the area today and do some shopping. The apartment has everything but pots and pans and a stove. It has dishes and bowls and glasses and silverware, a refrigerator and a microwave. I am staying at Old Dutch Apartments. Internet access is via ethernet in a room they have setup. You do not have internet access from your room, nor does my AT&T air card work in my room.
Every other vehicle in the lot is a pickup truck. I am driving an old Volvo 850 wagon. Hmmmm....
I will post updates as time allows. School does run from 7 AM until 5 PM 6 days a week. You test out for your CDL on the Wed. of the third week, or so I have been told. If you pass the next 2 days are spent signing up with Roehl and orientation. If you fail you get to go home early. I will do the best I can to provide info that I would want to be reading on this board as a newbie considering this profession.

respects,
Dennis in se pa

[coalregion]

Good luck from a fellow PA'er. :wink:

[dennis in se pa]

Thanks coalregion. My family is from Tamaqua originally. So we have even more in common.
respects,
Dennis in se pa

[PA]

You are going to do fine.
Hang in there and learn lots.

[Graymist]

I arrived in Marshfield Sat. evening

Is Marshfield in PA ? Anywhere close to Pittsburgh / New Castle / West Middlesex ?

[TomB985]

Marshfield is in Wisconsin!

Dennis, I think you're gonna have a great time there, I know I did! two months after I started at the RDTC, I was into my own truck.

BTW, I may be through Marshfield tomorrow to get a windshield replaced... might stop in and say hi

[Graymist]

Marshfield is in Wisconsin!

Dennis, I think you're gonna have a great time there, I know I did! two months after I started at the RDTC, I was into my own truck.

BTW, I may be through Marshfield tomorrow to get a windshield replaced... might stop in and say hi

Thanks for the clarification. Where are you based out of, and what routes do you run ? Are you on the 7/3-7/4 programme ? If not, what kind of hometime do you get ? Also, what are your average weekly miles ? Thanks.

[TomB985]

Well, I'm still kind of new at this, so my answers may not be typical of a driver who has been with Roehl for longer....

I drive out of Columbus, OH. I'm nowhere near a Roehl terminal but you can live most places in the eastern US and drive for Roehl. When I was with my two trainers, and now, I've run all over the eastern half of the US. I was in the northeast the past few days before thanksgiving, but I've been down to Florida, all the way up to the michigan UP, and through canada.

I am not in one of the 7/3, 7/4 or 7/7 plans but I have looked into it. The 7-7 and 7-3/7-4 guys have to live within 150 miles of a terminal or drop yard, but typically they get better miles than us lowly national guys. I just saw a 7-3/7-4 driver out near Port Huron, MI thi s morning who mentioned he ran over 3,000 miles a week. The reason Roehl offers this is because they can run their drivers for almost 11 hours a day for their entire week without having them run out of hours on the 70 hour, 8 day rule. The truck runs all day, every day, and by the time the driver runs out of hours, he goes home and the other drive gets in.

I think it's a great program, because the drivers are running miles the time they are out, not sitting as much as the rest of us. I personally don't want to share a truck or take the slight pay cut, but it's a great program.

I get home every 10-14 days, and I get 3 days off. This can be flexible, depending on where you want to go home to(i.e. take time off away from home), specific dates you need off, etc. So far they seem good at getting me home when I want to. Just last wednesday they deadheaded me 200 miles to get a load home for thanksgiving.

I hope this answers your questions, let me know if you have any more

[Graymist]

Well, I'm still kind of new at this, so my answers may not be typical of a driver who has been with Roehl for longer....

I drive out of Columbus, OH. I'm nowhere near a Roehl terminal but you can live most places in the eastern US and drive for Roehl. When I was with my two trainers, and now, I've run all over the eastern half of the US. I was in the northeast the past few days before thanksgiving, but I've been down to Florida, all the way up to the michigan UP, and through canada.

I am not in one of the 7/3, 7/4 or 7/7 plans but I have looked into it. The 7-7 and 7-3/7-4 guys have to live within 150 miles of a terminal or drop yard, but typically they get better miles than us lowly national guys. I just saw a 7-3/7-4 driver out near Port Huron, MI thi s morning who mentioned he ran over 3,000 miles a week. The reason Roehl offers this is because they can run their drivers for almost 11 hours a day for their entire week without having them run out of hours on the 70 hour, 8 day rule. The truck runs all day, every day, and by the time the driver runs out of hours, he goes home and the other drive gets in.

I think it's a great program, because the drivers are running miles the time they are out, not sitting as much as the rest of us. I personally don't want to share a truck or take the slight pay cut, but it's a great program.

I get home every 10-14 days, and I get 3 days off. This can be flexible, depending on where you want to go home to(i.e. take time off away from home), specific dates you need off, etc. So far they seem good at getting me home when I want to. Just last wednesday they deadheaded me 200 miles to get a load home for thanksgiving.

I hope this answers your questions, let me know if you have any more

Thanks most kindly, for your detailed and thoughtful response. Roehl is one of the companies that I plan to look at, when I start job-hunting in the third quarter of next year...and I shall certainly look you up from time to time, with queries .

Do you happen to know if Roehl has a terminal / drop-yard in the Pittsburgh area ? How often have you gone through this area ? Is this a busy freight lane for Roehl ? How do you like your truck ? Thanks again.

[dennis in se pa]

Made it through the first day. IT IS COLD AND WINDY! So I went to Walmart and got a better jacket and gloves. The pre-trip thing is done outside and takes awhile. We sort of got slightly introduced to it late this afternoon.
We got the "We're serious about safety" speech today. They mean it. There are 6 people in our class. I like that small number. I now some people from this board.
Marshfield is a very nice town. In fact I really like it around here. The people from Roehl I've met so far seem like good decent people.
Tomorrow or the next day we should actually be starting to drive the trucks!
This whole thing is quite a challenge to me. It might not be to some, but it is to me. I hope I make it.
respects,
Dennis

[WOLF RIVER]

Hey hows Marshfield today besides COLD and Windy? Im in Fremont about 1 hour east of you. Keep me posted on Roehl Im considering them so I am watching this post with alot of interest.
Stay warm -

[dennis in se pa]

Yes, it was cold and windy today. We actually got to drive today on their range. Idle speed shifting at first, and left turns. Eventually regular speed up shifting. As in many things, that which seems very difficult is doable if taught in baby steps.
There were 3 per truck, which is FINE because you do alot of shifting and your leg gets tired real quickly.
I am very impressed with the quality of the staff at Roehl. The instructors we have, Brian and Jason, are fantastic. Tremendously patient, and no yelling....yet anyway!!!!
At this point I would certainly recommend this school.
Tomorrow it will be more shifting then learning to downshift and backing.
I am beginning to believe I may actually be able to do this.
respects,
Dennis in se pa

[dennis in se pa]

Yes, it was cold and windy today. We actually got to drive today on their range. Idle speed shifting at first, and left turns. Eventually regular speed up shifting. As in many things, that which seems very difficult is doable if taught in baby steps.
There were 3 per truck, which is FINE because you do alot of shifting and your leg gets tired real quickly.
I am very impressed with the quality of the staff at Roehl. The instructors we have, Brian and Jason, are fantastic. Tremendously patient, and no yelling....yet anyway!!!!
At this point I would certainly recommend this school.
Tomorrow it will be more shifting then learning to downshift and backing.
I am beginning to believe I may actually be able to do this.
respects,
Dennis in se pa

[TomB985]

Never did get up there yesterday, they sent me to Kaukauna instead.

When in RDTC Jason went with my truck once when Joe, my normal instructor had something come up. I doubt you'll ever hear any yelling from him or anyone else at that school, they all seemed great to me.

Graymist,

I think the closest drop yard to Pittsburgh is their Mogadore, OH drop yard. Don't have much time now, but I can elaborate more on your questions later tonight.

[WOLF RIVER]

Hey Dennis -

Hows Roehl today? I got your message yesterday thanks but Sunday wont work. I will try and get over to Marshfield while your in town, it would be interesting to check out the school with a current student.

[dennis in se pa]

Week 1 Wednesday - More power on shifting and right turns on the range. Tomorrow backing and then out on the road! Everyday starts out with 2 hours in the classroom. Everyone we talk to speaks well of this place. Drivers are here that left and came back. It seems well organized, clean and well run.
At the end of the day I am worn out. Back to the room, dinner, study for tomorrow and then to bed.
I am having fun.

[dennis in se pa]

Wolf River unless it is a Sunday I would not have anytime to spend with you. We are at it from 7AM until dark Mon-Sat.
respects,
Dennis in se pa

[dennis in se pa]

They had us driving on country roads today, and through town this afternoon. It sounds like a far way from never sitting in a truck, but you take a step at a time and it is not so bad. Just got to keep in mind you have a long trailer back there.
I am having fun.

[PA]

They have you pulling boxes or flatbed.
In Gary we did flatbed for some reason.

[dennis in se pa]

I can only log onto this board now when I have a "hardwired" connection. It seems the IP address my aircard gets is banned, because I cannot get on via that. I am guessing a Roehl recruiter uses the local net and had an address range that the classadrivers bosses have chosen to block. I wish they would fix this. I have sent them several messages with no result.
Anyway it is Tuesday evening week 2. I am getting the straight line and 45 degree backing down pretty well. We do mostly backing and road runs now, and a full Pre trip everyday.
One thing I always have to remind myself is how long that trailer is when making turns.
I still think this place is GREAT - the people and the facility. I would choose this again if I had to and would recommend Roehl's RDTC to anyone who wanted to start out right and get good training at a clean, organized, caring place of business with a great big training range.