Question:
(aww - they're adorable!) After completing six months as a flatbed driver with Roehl, I have transferred to the curtainside (tautliner) division. My first six months as a solo driver has been fairly rewarding, but it was my intention from the start to pull curtains. When I came onbord with UnkaD in February, Roehl still wanted six months experience before you could pull them - I don't know if that is still true or not. I chose to start on flats because I knew I would have to learn securement to pull a curtain anyway, so it seemed like the best option. Along the way, I discovered (as I thought I would) that flats was just a little too difficult for me - specifically handling lumber tarps. Although I got faster at tarping and untarping a load, it never seemed to get any easier, and that convinced me that my original plan was best.
My flatbed FM was a terrific guy - I know I am gonna miss him. I felt he always treated me right, and didn't second-guess me when I had to make a decision without talking to him. So far, my curtain FM seems the same way, which is more than I can say for the training FM I had when I first went solo.
I am still happy driving for Roehl. I read these boards regularly, and I talk to other drivers, so I have heard most of the standard complaints about the company. While I am not going to debate other's point of view, I feel that I am being treated well, and none of my regular FMs have ever pressured me to do anything that I didn't agree with. I couldn't say offhand what my weekly mileage is - I don't keep track of it, but I am making decent money, and that's all that counts to me.
I did some local work (for Roehl) for a while, on a temporary basis, although I knew the job was mine if I wanted it. I was home almost every night, but it was too much of the parts I didn't like (waiting, tarping) and not enough of the stuff I did like (driving, seeing different parts of the country).
So far, I have had four tractors - kind of unusual for a rookie, but I A) broke the first one - it was an autoshift, and the tranny had a neat habit of getting stuck between gears and leaving me to coast to a stop and restart the engine. B) number two I had a load shift with - I had to either slam hard on the brakes or have a head-on collision on a two lane highway (illegal pass being made by oncoming driver). When I slammed on the brakes, my load shifted forward, sheared off the header board on the trailer, sheared off the headache rack, and pushed the back of the sleeper in about 4 inches - pretty exciting at the time, but no charged accident!. C) My third tractor was a very nice flatbed puller - it was a strong puller, had a decent jake and tranny, and I really liked it (thanks Joker!). D) I am now in a van tractor - an International 9400, and it is also very nice. It has ICON and a Webasto heater, so my idle percentage is well down from before and I am staying comfortable.
All things considered, I am still enjoying this career and working for Roehl.
PP
Answer:
Glad you found something that fits right where you want it to!

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I've only pulled vans for the 2 years I've been driving. I've always *wanted* to know how to strap 'n' tarp, but I don't actually want to do that job. I'm just concerned that one day I'll be thrown a flatbed load and be told to just deal with it without the proper background.
I've pulled a loaded fb once, and delivered it. Had to untarp and remove the whole strapped down mess, then figure out for myself the best way to store everything. My main concern was that I made it as "user friendly" for the next driver who had to use the tarp, etc. Needless to say, I was a mess after I was done. And I had the easy part - the other guy who picked up the load had all the "real" work to do!
We've also got a couple curtainsides, and I've had to bring an empty one back across the border. Thankfully, Canada Customs didn't ask me to open it up for them to look inside - I saw a maze of cord that I couldn't figure out.

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I've got a question Mr. P Pig. Saw a Roehl Cabinover yesterday
Was I in a time warp or how many do they actually have?
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Rabelam - I couldn't tell you how many cabovers Roehl has, but there are a few. To the best of my knowledge, they are not used as normal, over-the-road tractors, but rather they are used primarily for pulling certain types of loads or trailers. I have seen one or two pulling over-length loads in the area of a Roehl terminal. The only one I have looked inside of had no mattress in the sleeper and was far too beat up inside to be a daily driver. Sorry I can't tell you anything more for sure on them. I seem to recall seeing one that had a liftable axle in front of the drives - like a heavy-haul tractor.
PP
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I see a 'convoy' of them cabinovers every time I run down I-35 out of the Twin Cities. I presume they are coming from Des Moines, Waterloo or Kansas City. I usually pass 5-8 of them at a time.
Threw me for a loop the first couple times I seen them.

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I hadn't seen one in years around Chicago, this one had an empty flatbed,
heading back to Cheeseland.
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Hey Rab, the Roehl Cabovers are guys that are on the "Beam Team". They are a specialized unit that carries bridge beams all over the US. When there aren't any beams to haul they can usually be spotted hauling general flatbed freight. I spotted 4 of them the other night in Chicago where they are rebuilding a few of the bridges.
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Preston, I did flats for years and also pulled quite a few curtainsides.
Curtainsides are nice when the weather is warm. Different story altogether when the temp gets down near zero or below. If you think tarps are hard to roll up when it's cold, wait till you try to yank open a curtainside.

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Yeah always wanted to pull a curtain side to. Never really got up close to one to see excatly how it is you strap a load down in there. But the idea I like is if its raining or windy u dont need to fight a stubborn frozen tarp.
My boss is in the process of transfering my truck to a flatbed company here in a week or two. One of the guys in the company pulls flats now but he wants to get out and run, So boss is gettin him to a company that has reefers. As soon as hes signed on his headache rack will come off and hell drop the flatbed. then boss calls the flatbed company signs me up I go flatbeddin once again.
I cant wait. It is a bad time of year to try to get back in the swing of it all. But I would much rather do flat beds then swing doors twice a day. I feel at 26 I should be throwin tarps.
Well guess I have to wiat and see when it all comes down.
As for the preston pig glad you stayed to your plan to see it out. Have fun with the curtains

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Good on ya!!!! Glad to hear you finally let your plan work for you..... Now I guess I have to start looking closer at the curtain-sides I see rolling down the highway.
I'm staying with vans though.... Enjoying not having to throw straps and wrestle curtains..... (Besides, as an official "Old Man" now, I'm getting lazy) I ride for those who can't! POW/MIA - You are NOT forgotten!!
Lead, Follow or get out of my way!!!

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Hey Rab, the Roehl Cabovers are guys that are on the "Beam Team". They are a specialized unit that carries bridge beams all over the US. When there aren't any beams to haul they can usually be spotted hauling general flatbed freight. I spotted 4 of them the other night in Chicago where they are rebuilding a few of the bridges.
I had four of them pass me going south on rt. 39 out of Rockford.
a couple weeks ago. They were some very large beams that had the tandems attached to the beam and a coupler at the front and the beam was the trailer.

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Welp, Preston, retraction time. Going into Curtainside fleet myself when I come out of the house this time.
Just want to add a little spice to my life, don't ya know?
Cheers!!!I ride for those who can't! POW/MIA - You are NOT forgotten!!
Lead, Follow or get out of my way!!!

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"Spice up your life".......RIGHT!!!
I thought you were going into the new Curtainside Reefer Division, Unka??

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Yeppers!!! The 4 foot curtainside hanging shrimp hauler behind the harley club.... I ride for those who can't! POW/MIA - You are NOT forgotten!!
Lead, Follow or get out of my way!!!