Hrmmm.... I don't think a test ride is going to happen, if nothing else than for insurance reasons.

The way it works is the company has to pay to insure a passenger in a truck. In order for me to have someone ride with me when I have my own truck, there are a very specific set of requirements. First of all, they have to be immediate family, and new drivers are not eligible for 6 months, AND you have to pay the insurance premium. Otherwise, if I took a passenger in my truck, got in a wreck, and the passenger was injured, said passenger could sue Roehl for millions.

My wife came with me to the school in Wisconsin, and I asked if she could ride along with us, as we had an extra seat in the truck. I was told no because of insurance reasons.

SE PA, huh? That's pretty ironic, we just left PA. Right now we're in VA on I-64 going down to Big Island with a load of scrap paper from Pittsburgh!

As far as the test ride...what specifically are you looking for? I can tell you anything you want to know about the truck.....

 

How loud is the cabin? How much bouncing around on the interstate? What do they look like? I can't remember ever even having been in a tractor. Do you get used to how wide they are when you drive them down the road? The biggest thing I ever drove was a 5 ton dump in the service 30 years ago. I will be running down to Daytona next week (Wed and Thurs) via 81, 77, 26 and 95 and then back Sun and Mon. You gonna be anywhere around that corridor? I understand the company rules. And I respect the need to adhere to them. There must be an O/O who can help me out here. Does not have to be from Roehl.
I am ready to sign up. I just need a little help here.

 

Dennis most road trucks are fairly civilized. Considering the work and the load they are doing they ride pretty well and are fairly quiet. Obviously they are not like a car. If this helps, Ive also driven 5 ton army trucks of the 70's and 80's and it would be like comparing the noise and ride of a school bus to a motor coach, even though they both do the same job.

yes you get used to it and its as easy to drive as your car

If its a smooth road they dont bounce. depends alot on how your loaded too.

 

Oookay, here goes....(keep in mind, these are just my observations.....)

The cabin is as quiet as a passenger car when you're not on the accelerator...at full power climbing a grade it gets a bit loud, but not overly so. I frequently have conversations with my trainer, going up and down hills with no real problem. This truck is louder than the truck I learned on, I think because it has a Detroit Diesel series 60, instead of the Cummins ISX the school truck had.

As for bouncing around, it doesn't bother me much. Now, I'm also 22 years old, BUT I did have major lower back surgery back in June, and it doesn't bother me any. Consider, the truck has an air ride suspension, front and back, and an air ride seat. The suspension is automatic, the seat is adjustable, and will be as firm or as squishy as you want it. I LOVE the air ride seats, even the nastiest bumps on the freeway that would scramble my brain in my F150 are not bad in this thing.

What do they look like? You should find some here: http://www.freightlinertrucks.com/tr...odel/columbia/

The majority of Roehl's trucks are mid-roof Freightliner Columbia tractors with a 70" sleeper. I'm right now in a 2005 Columbia high roof, because all training trucks have two bunks. There is plenty of room to stand up in, and we have plenty of space for the two of us, which really surprised me, as I thought I'd be really cramped. I think a mid-roof tractor with just me in it would be pretty spacious for just one person. They say ALL of Roehl's tractors are 3 years old or less, and from what I've seen their equipment is very well maintained. They are almost all straight 10 speed trannies, with engines in the 4-500 HP range.

Do you get used to the extra width? There's not much to get used to! They're really not that much wider than some passenger cars, and the steering is tight enough to easily keep it wherever you want it. The biggest thing you have to get used to is the length and the trailer off-tracking. For instance, when you're taking a tight right corner, you have to drive the tractor almost on, or even over the centerline to keep your trailer tandems from hitting the curb or running off the road. Roehl's school left me pretty well prepared to handle this, and I've had no problem with this at all. Backing, I thought, was relatively easy, as the long trailers react much slower than any trailer you've ever pulled with a car or light truck.

To be honest, after going through their school, I wouldn't worry so much about learning to manage the truck, I thought the school was that good.[/url]

 

Okay I'm not trying to hijack dennis' thread here, I just have to say all this good talk has me fired up to get to marshfield and start my training!

Ibamars I am a smoker and would appriciate the name of the trainer you asked about! Thanks ahead of time.

Tndieslgrl I like your sticks and stones saying I may have to borrow that sometime :shock:

Inmate Sorry if my thoughts offended you was not my intent just saying my thoughts

This is the end of my hi-jack. Carry on..

 

NT shoot me an email at smoore04atnycapdotrrdotcom. i will shoot you the name. I changed the email address so the bots cant sniff it out. read between the ats and dots.

 

ibamars sent you an e-mail

 

Good luck, gentlemen in your schooling with Roehl. Will have 2 years with them at the end of December. They are a good company to get your training with. Safety is a big thing. I have plenty of time to get loads pick up and delivered. Every company has a few things that a driver can be irritated with. I have my irritation points too but I am not in any hurry to leave in hopes that things will be greener on the other side of the road. Freight is running slower for all companies right now so don't judge the company totally by miles/week. You can look up my prior posts on Roehl on this site.
December in Wisconsin isn't all that cold. Jan 17, 2005 when I did my Evol training we were in Green Bay and it was 40 degrees and there was no snow on the ground. :shock: Just pack a warm jacket and warm shoes with a hat and gloves. You will be standing around out on the training ground and the wind can blow. I just moved to Texas from Marshfield after living up there 25 years and there hasn't been snow for Xmas in I can remember how many years.

Soladad #5437

 

Thanks for the update soladad,

I will keep you posted.

respects,
Dennis in SE PA

 

I drove for Roehl for just short of a year.
Live in Reading,PA too.
I may go back to them.
What else can I say?
You will haul lots of paper.