Roehl Transport, Inc. - Marshfield, Wi.

Road Dog, I wasn't referring to the company having unrealistic expectations of me, but of me (or others in the Honors Program) having unrealistic expectations of the number of miles they can expect to get after completing the 2 year Honors Program.

As a brand new first time out of the house driver for Roehl, I logged 3000+ miles my very first week. Based on everything I read here, this is not normal. I hear old timers admonishing newbees to be patient and not to expect so many miles right out of the gate....and yet...here I am.

The only conclusion I can come to is that since Roehl is not paying me by the mile, it only makes sense for them to run me as many miles as humanly possible. After getting used to running this kind of milage, it becomes an expectation, and after the 2 year Honors Program is over, and I start getting paid per mile, I am guessing that the miles are going to drop off, and hence, the unrealistic expectations for the number of miles one can expect when getting paid by the mile.

 

Macmarlin,3000 miles does sound like a lot for a new driver on a training program. 2000 would be more like the norm. One thing is with Roehl you will be getting paid practical miles which is much closer to your actual miles run. Evidently your first week was in a period where they had an awful lot of freight to be delivered.When I was with them I was on the 7-7 program,and my average was right around 3000 per week.And a lot of weeks were up around 3500,which meant that by the time my 7 days were up I was just about out of hours.Course ther were a couple opf 2500 mile weeks in there too.I dont know a thing about their honor program,but I imagine that after you get to running on you own, that 2500 to 2700 miles per week will probably be the norm.Which in all reality should get you a decent paycheck. After all we are all humans and you do need a little time for yourself. Best of luck to you in your new career.

 

Thanks Road Dog.

The most important feature of the Honor Program is that we are paid a salary, not cents per mile. This point is key to to my previous posts.

 

Hey Mac what you are saying makes sense, I think something is getting lost in the translation. I would be curious to see your ave weekly over the two year span though. Lord knows I have weeks where the stars and planets (Even the ones with extra O2 and large whale creatures) line up and I get great miles. Then again I also have the weeks where I can't buy a decent run. Be interesting to see if the salary crowd is more stable.

 

Getting paid a salary in the trucking industry is pretty rare, so I was having a little trouble making my point there.

My second trip out of the house was a little less intense. I only logged around 3500 for the whole 11 days, and only around 2500 the first week. I just came out of the house yesterday, and it's starting pretty slow. This is the second time in a row they have sent me west to pick up a load going east, which makes my house the perfect place to spend my first night out. That's a nice little benefit in itself. Hope it keeps happening on a regular basis!


That fictitious world you're referring to is National Geographic's "Extraterrestrial". Here's a link, if you want to check it out:

Oh well, thetruckersreport won't let me insert a link, but you can google it easily enough.

 

When does a new driver go to "experienced" status with insurance? I'm sure it's different if you went to a private school or not too.....

 

I've receive a pre-hire letter from Roehl, and I'm aiming at joining this company as soon as I earn my cdl.

Tell me what you can about Roehl Dress Code, hair, and beard policy.

I could have asked for this info. in other ways like

1. What do their drivers wear, typically, while on the job?
2. Is short hair required on men?
3. Are beards / mustaches allowed.

I've come across some companies that are very strict about these matters, and others who are not. But, I've not found anything (yet) about Roehl, so I'll thank you (in advance) very much for your inputs.

 

I think you will like Roehl. I hired on with them in January (first driving job) and I like working for them and hope that you will if you choose to join us.

1- I usually wear a pair of jeans and a pocket T-Shirt or Sweatshirt while driving and at the customers I might put on a polo shirt that is more presentable than a T-shirt. I am careful not to wear anything with any type of message or logo because if I remember correctly Roehl's manual forbids anything "offensive" and the only way to absolutely insure being non-offensive is to wear no message at all. However, that is just my discretionary choice and often our drivers wear some type of college or professional team or military logo apparel, etc.. Roehl does seem to want us to be clean and presentable at the customer. Believe it or not, customers tend (perhaps subconsciously) to treat drivers better when they are presentable.

2- I don't remember anything in the manual about short hair but I personally think it makes a better impression on company office personnel and at customers. I do know some Roehl drivers with long (but neat and clean) hair and they seem to be doing all right.

3- Roehl allows us to have beards and mustaches, again, the key word and attitude at Roehl seems to be "NEAT". I understand from some of our older drivers that there was a time when this was not allowed at all.

I know it is off the topic of your question, but Roehl is a good place to start driving and is one of the most positive work environments I have been in. If you commit yourself to the right attitude which is necessary for success in trucking, Roehl will probably work out well for you. When I chose a company, I asked myself, "Who seems to be the most likely to develop me into a professional truck driver?" above any other concern about money, hometime, equipment, etc.. My impression was Roehl and the past few months have only confirmed it. They want you to do things right, but they will go out of their way to help you learn the right way. There are many good things about Roehl, but to me the best thing is its driver comraderie that I don't see among other companies.

Welcome to the industry and I hope to see you on the road.

 

I talked to one of the Recruiter/ Planners at Roehl about a month ago with the same question. Roehl is one of my top 5 list companies to apply with after school. I like alot of the things I hear about them. I have a pony tail and a Van Dyke Beard (Moustache w/ Goatee) I keep both neat, clean and trimmed. She said that was fine, the key here is neat appearance. She said my selection of clothing would be fine. I mentioned Pocket Polo shirts and cargo pocket shorts in warm weather and cargo pants ( I like the extra pockets) and jeans in Winter. No Problem. Again the word is neat appearance. You can be comfortable and still look professional. I like The black leather hi-top coaching shoes and in colder weather, padded nylon and leather Hi-Tech Boots. I hate steel toe boots, but will have a pair to wear if I need them. I think a good pair of cover-alls to slip on if I have to crawl under a trailer or truck and maybe a set of Cajun Reeboks (rubber boots) for wet and muddy.
My deal is, I hate to look like a slob. I've seen some guys in the sweat pants and dirty t-shirts and I just couldn't handle it. I guess a nice nylon jogging suit is OK; I've seen some of those, but I still like polos and nice shorts or jeans.

As for some companies, like Averitt Express I believe, you have to have short hair, no Facial hair, and wear a Uniform and a cap. Sorry, But I did 8 years as a Paramedic, 17 years as a cop. I wore a Uniform everyday, short hair, no facial hair (except for the official cop mustache, not past the ends of the mouth). Everybody told me for most of my adult life, how to wear my hair, how to shave and what to wear. Personally, I've had enough of that. I can still be neat and professional with MY hair and My beard and NO uniform.

I've said it and heard it said here before, that attitude is 90% of what your first year will be. If your attitude is good, and you go with the flow, try to work with those folks in the office, take a punch every now and then and come up smiling, you'll do well. I personally believe that how you dress and keep yourself is a BIG part of the attitude and Morale. Just ask the Weenie Dawg!!!

 

Thanks! This is the sort of info. I'm seeking. I know the common sense hygiene stuff, and am very good about that, but I hate the thought of uniforms, and I like my beard and stache. So, thanks a bunch!