Question:
I have a few questions for ya. I have two weeks until I'm out of the Army. I will be starting school around the end of Feb or early March. As of right know I think I'm going with Roehl.
1. Does Roehl issue a King-pin lock?
2. Can you use the Drivers Daily Log Book?
3. Whats the total training time until I would start earning mileage pay in van division?
4. Its only been two weeks, but has the new HOS reduced your mileage/pay yet? And do you think it might?
5. Do the OC's have a Doctor you can use if feeling sick while out on the road? I'm not planning on buying insureance with Roehl.
6. Are you allowed or to or can you hook up the following in your truck all at the same time:
Walmart cooler?
Laptop?
C-Phone antenna?
T.V.?
7. Do you have to alternate items between the Cig plug or are there other plug-ins?
8. What is most you can plug into the truck at one time without running down the batteries?
9. If just the cooler is pluged in 24/7 will it run down the batteries?
10. I know your allowed to put in an inverter? But whats the largest size without the company installing it?
11. Is it large enough for a laptop or TV?
12. If the company installs the inverter and you change trucks will they take it out for you?
Thanks again and be safe.

Answer:
Originally posted by mandrtrucking:
I have a few questions for ya. I have two weeks until I'm out of the Army. I will be starting school around the end of Feb or early March. As of right know I think I'm going with Roehl.
Answers in bold............
1. Does Roehl issue a King-pin lock?
Yes, and steering wheel lock and trailer lock. Taken out $10.00 per week. When you turn them back in, money is given back to you.
2. Can you use the Drivers Daily Log Book?
They furnish logbooks.
3. Whats the total training time until I would start earning mileage pay in van division?
Not sure if you mean going to school at Roehl or just the training. Training will last approximately 1 month, depending how many times your trainer and or you go home. They are planning on changing the way they do training. Last I knew it was 20 days with a trainer (Phase 1) then 20 days with another student (Phase 2)
4. Its only been two weeks, but has the new HOS reduced your mileage/pay yet? And do you think it might?
Verdicts still out on this, like you said it's only 2 weeks old!
5. Do the OC's have a Doctor you can use if feeling sick while out on the road? I'm not planning on buying insureance with Roehl.
Not sure. I have medical thru wife, only have dental with Roehl.
6. Are you allowed or to or can you hook up the following in your truck all at the same time:
Walmart cooler? Yes
Laptop? Yes, see some of Buzzdogs posts on this he is the Guru, and also drives for Roehl.
C-Phone antenna? Yes
T.V.? Yes, myself I have a 110v TV and use a 400w plug in invertor, seldom watch it though, but nice to have!
7. Do you have to alternate items between the Cig plug or are there other plug-ins?
Most trucks have 2-3 plug ins, my Eagle has 3
8. What is most you can plug into the truck at one time without running down the batteries?
Never tried, reccomend some common sense though.
9. If just the cooler is pluged in 24/7 will it run down the batteries?
Mine hasn't, but see answer to number 8
10. I know your allowed to put in an inverter? But whats the largest size without the company installing it?
Any invertor that has to hard wired company has to install. I think the biggest plug in type is 400w
11. Is it large enough for a laptop or TV?
400w is what I have, it will power my laptop and TV
12. If the company installs the inverter and you change trucks will they take it out for you?
Not only will they take it out, but they will charge you "again" to reinstall it!
Thanks again and be safe.
Hope this helps, all and all Roehl is not a bad company to drive for!
Drive on! bandit58....

Answer:
1. Does Roehl issue a King-pin lock?
Yeah, you get a kingpin lock, a trailer lock, and a steering shaft lock. Word of advice, go find your truck before you take them. My truck wasn't where it was supposed to be, on the yard map, so we wandered the very frozen landscape of the marshfield yard laden with heavy *** locks. It was not fun.
2. Can you use the Drivers Daily Log Book?
Roehl has their own. It's a computer scannable sort of thing.
3. Whats the total training time until I would start earning mileage pay in van division?
Starting now, I would say you'll end up with the new training scheme. They're doing away with phase II, and putting you out with three different trainers for ten days each. Penguin can tell ya more when he gets in.
4. Its only been two weeks, but has the new HOS reduced your mileage/pay yet? And do you think it might?
Not on mileage pay for another week, but it hasn't affected the miles I was able to turn last week. I ran every one that they gave me, and then some!
5. Do the OC's have a Doctor you can use if feeling sick while out on the road? I'm not planning on buying insureance with Roehl.
No, but there are plenty of fellas on hand that think they know everything about everything, and I am sure you can get at least 10 different cures for whatever ails ya at a terminal. I doubt they'll work, but you'll be entertained.
6. Are you allowed or to or can you hook up the following in your truck all at the same time:
Walmart cooler?
Laptop?
C-Phone antenna?
T.V.?
I don't see why not
7. Do you have to alternate items between the Cig plug or are there other plug-ins?
The condo I am in has four cig type plugs that I have found.
8. What is most you can plug into the truck at one time without running down the batteries?
Nothing. Everything you plug in puts a drain on the batteries. The three trucks I have been in to date have all had a warning device to let you know that your batteries were getting down there.
9. If just the cooler is pluged in 24/7 will it run down the batteries?
Yes
10. I know your allowed to put in an inverter? But whats the largest size without the company installing it?
The largest that you can find with a plug on the end of it. If you can't plug it into the existing outlets then you better let them do it.
11. Is it large enough for a laptop or TV?
Penguin runs his laptop on one. I haven't tried mine yet, so all I can say is that I have seen it done.
12. If the company installs the inverter and you change trucks will they take it out for you?
$$$

Answer:
They have eliminated Phase II now. You now spend 4 weeks or so with one or more trainers. Never have understood the Phase II anyway . Always considered it as the blind leading the blind. Invertors: If you can buy one that plugs into the cig lighter socket, use them. Forget the fancy schmancy crap that they have to hardwire. If you're a newbie just starting out, you won't want one of them. Also, I would'nt reccomment too many accessories. They put a drain on batteries. ALWAYS TURN OFF YOUR REFRIGERATOR WHEN LEAVING THE TRUCK SHUT OFF FOR MORE THAT A COUPLE HOURS!!!
You are responsible for a service call if you have to be jump-started, or batteries replaced because of it. Again, just a little common sense.
I have a 13" color TV/VCR combo with it's own plug-in. Also have a fridge with it's own plug. IMHO, that's all you need.
PS: Don't forget to bring some basic tools with ya.
Better to have it and not need it as need it and not have it!Just remember:If the world did'nt suck, you'd fall off!
The more I see and read about Republicans and Democrats, the more I wish we had an Independent Party.
IMPEACH BUSH!!!!!!!!!!

Answer:
Thanks for all the help with my questions. I'm looking forward to starting my new career. All I have to do know is make a choice between Van or Flatbed. I keep leaning towards Flatbed because it will allow me to move up to hauling OD loads and heavy equipment after a year or two if I decide to go that direction. But I'm thinking Van will get me more miles each week. Tough decision. Anyway thanks again.

Answer:
Unless you are thinking about another co., you won't see that much machinery hauling or OD hauling as a newbie. You'll probably start out hauling coil steel and lumber around the country. Vans are hauling anything and everything--mostly roll paper, grocery loads, (P&G, Quaker,Nestles, etc.) Curtainsides are hauling warehouse racking, doors, prefab bldgs, lumber, bricks, shingles, etc. Much more driver friendly freight. In answer to your question on the other post, I've been here since July '01. Ran Midwest regional for a year, then switched to curtainsides. Only thing good about Midwest regional is that you are guarnteed home on weekends. Bad thing is you do a lot of short hauling delivering and p/u loads to relay to others. Tough time getting miles. I was averaging less than 1500 mi./week when I switched. I now average around 2400-3000 per week depending on HOS. I've been home since Tues. nite, and am leaving Fri. morn. Fresh 34 hr restart . Hoping to go long and make a buck or two. Probably see ya around Gary. #3381
Better to have it and not need it as need it and not have it!Just remember:If the world did'nt suck, you'd fall off!
The more I see and read about Republicans and Democrats, the more I wish we had an Independent Party.
IMPEACH BUSH!!!!!!!!!!

Answer:
Hi guys... I talked to Roehl today after my first post-school job fizzled out after 5 weeks (no fault of my own). What's the best place for orientation, as far as getting out quickly and getting assigned a good truck -- WI or their place near Atlanta?
It's about the same distance either way from my residence, and I can tolerate the cold in WI if it works to my advantage in either getting thru the training process quickly or getting assigned a 'better' truck (I'd be in the dry van division)
Tks

Answer:
In response to the question of the cooler running down the batteries, yes it will but you can get a device you plug in between the cooler and the cig plug in the truck. It automatically sense the battery voltage and when it drops to a certain level (mine is 10.7 volts) it shuts off power to the cooler, allowing you to have enough OOMPH to start the truck.
I've always been crazy, but it's kept me from going insane.
Waylon Jennings

Answer:
Roehl charges $150 to install an inverter, then $95 to move it to another truck.

Answer:
Thanks for all the anwsers to my questions. I faxed in my App on Friday. Looking forward to a change.
Would a person have a better chance being hired on by Roehl if they attended their school or is an out side school ok as long as it meets the required hours?
Idle question. If your not sapost to idle at night, what prevents your truck from starting in the morning when your up north?
Or if your park your truck at a truck stop for your 36 hours to go home? How are you going to make sure it starts when you get back to it?
Be safe.

Answer:
They have different percentages for idle time each month, January is 50%. The other winter months are also really high. My truck has always started after sitting for 1 night but if you are going to leave it for several you need to plug in the block/fuel heater. Who told you we're not supposed to run the truck at night?
I went to an outside school and had no problem getting hired.

Answer:
Thanks every one for all the info.
parrothead, No one told me your not supposed to run the truck at night? I have read that in order to make your feul bonus the truck should not be running all night.

Answer:
Parrothead
50% of what? Drive time or real time(24hrs).
Steve
It's nice to be important, but, it's more important to be nice.

Answer:
50% of real time. Don't freeze your *** off worrying about the damned bonus. It damned sure won't pay for frostbit feet/hands or a damned good cold! Just run the truck enough for comfort. A lot of the trucks have the Cummins ICON system for that. Quite a few are getting setup with a heater that works quite well. Another driver who just had one installed suggests that you set your alarm for 3-4 hrs, and then getting up and start the truck for a while to charge batteries. The big advantage to the ICON is that the computer does all of this for you. Hope this helps.
Better to have it and not need it as need it and not have it!Just remember:If the world did'nt suck, you'd fall off!
The more I see and read about Republicans and Democrats, the more I wish we had an Independent Party.
IMPEACH BUSH!!!!!!!!!!

Answer:
I spent the last 11 days running in snow, ice, and bitter cold. They sent me WAY up north into the occupied territory for some paper, and let me tell ya there was no way I was shutting that truck off. I over idled as a result. 51%
Oh well.