Question:
Here are my observations:
I started school on the 30th of Dec.
The lodging in the apartments is okay.
Clean well equipped with stove,
microwave, dishes, coffee pot and
televisions. The apartments are in an
older building in downtown Marshfield
the apartment I'm in is set up for 3
people a large common area with 3
lockable bedrooms each with their own
tv. There is a phone in the room that is
on a party line with the other rooms, my
apartment mate has used it to send and
receive calls. I'm not to sure about the
internet access, might be difficult with
the phone being a party line.
The school is great so far. All of the
instructors are knowledgeable and
friendly. Class moves at a quick pace
and there is homework, You'll end up
reading 20+ pages and answering
questions at the end of the chapters.
1st day-Classroom / Physicals, Start log
books, do paperwork and 3 chapters in
the text book.
2nd day-Clasroom more logs, discuss
homework from the previous day.
Afternoon on the range coupling and
uncoupling trailer to the truck.
3rd day-Classroom, logs, review
homework. Then out to the range for
shifting in low range.
4th day- Classroom, logs, homework
review. Shifting into high range and
beginning straight line backing.
5th day-Classroom, logs, test on the
previous classroom material. Then on to
the range for a week one evaulation and
some more shifting, turning and backing.
The curriculum is very well laid out,
the pace is fairly quick and set up so
that as you begin to master one skill
the next is taught as the previous skill
is refined.
So far I'm impressed! The company seems
to be firmly committed to safety and to
doing business the right way. All of the
instructors have been with Roehl for a
very long time I believe all of them
have been with the company over 10
years. They seem to be genuinely
concerned that their students learn the
material and the skills necessary for
them to be successfull.
I'll come back and update next time I get home (in about 2 weeks).
Don't forget...The more you know the more you learn there is more to know.
Preston Pig you got mail...hopefully...your mailbox kept rejecting my primary e-mail address.
As the past becomes the future unfolds
Answer:
I'm glad that you are happy with the school so far. My husband finished school not long ago and is driving now. He really enjoyed the classes. Good luck.
Some of it's magic, and some of it's tragic, but I've had a good life all the way.
(Jimmy Buffett)

Answer:
Thanks, Wiz! Much obliged for the update. Sounds great, keep up the good work!
de KJ5KX

Answer:
They ARE paying you for orientation, aren't they?
If not, I have an issue with them making you fill out logs, as you aren't considered "hired on" until completion of orientation (or completing the OTR training portion, possibly with some companies).
I know for a fact that Transport America's orientation is unpaid - though that might have changed from last year...
===============================
I'm not a truck driver, I'm a professional tourist!

Answer:
Sounds like the typical day at Roehl. I've been there for a year and a half now. I did'nt know they had apartments now. I got put up in a motel on the north side of town. BTW "word to the wise"-- don't take ANY Roehl equipment (including the co. car) out to the Rear End bar on the south side of town. Had a couple of drivers took their tractors out there and they got called on the carpet for it. They have eyes and ears all over Marshfield. The instructors there are all top notch. I was very impressed with all of them during my orientation. BOL to ya and keep us posted. 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:
They ARE paying you for orientation, aren't they?
If not, I have an issue with them making you fill out logs, as you aren't considered "hired on" until completion of orientation
He's attending SCHOOL.....
The purpose of them doing logs is so that they will Know HOW to do logs PROPERLY.
And since he's in SCHOOL, it has NOTHING to do with being an employee or Not.
Heck, I would only hope that ALL schools would teach the students how to log. If the school does NOT teach logging...they have No business operating as a school.

Answer:
"BTW "word to the wise"-- don't take ANY ++++ equipment (including the co. car) out to the Rear End bar on the south side of town. Had a couple of drivers took their tractors out there and they got called on the carpet for it. They have eyes and ears all over,,,"
I can't believe anyone could be so stupid as to drive/park their trucks at a bar, and go inside and DRINK !!! What PART of 'no-alcohol' in a CMV don't people understand? Is it the 'no' part, or 'alcohol' part?
Hilarious. The herd gets thinned every day. Yeah, I remember a couple of 'newbies' at an orientation I went to. Couldn't stay awake in class, and were pretty basically clueless as to what was going on. They sure knew how to party tho at the bar at the motel where we all stayed. And now, they are back home partying with their friends, workin' at the local factory for $6.89 per hour.
Work or Party? It's an easy choice if you want to make money.

Answer:
Hey Wiz-Glad your enjoying Roehl's school. I did and have been driving for 1.5 yrs now. You won't notice it now during school, but when you start orientation and Phase 1 (w/trainer), you will find out very quickly that RDTS (Roehl Driver Training School) has prepared you alot better for this job than some other schools. The Roehl trainers I know almost always say the same thing - "I finally got a Roehl student, what a difference". You would be suprised how many students come from other schools who never drove a Road Ranger transmission, took their Class A CDL road test on a Coke truck, and so on.
By the time you are done with school, you will have driven close to 400 miles, while some students from other schools have driven about 40.
Good luck!!!

Answer:
I just don't see why Roehl sends you off when another student driver after you have spent time with an experience trainer. Seems like overkill to me. YOU got the school where you are not being paid and then you got the training that goes on for 2 months where you ear not making enough to pay your bills(or at least I wouldn't make enough to pay mine) Seems to me alot of stress going that long without a decent paycheck. Hell if i was rich I wouldn't be going trucking in the first place. YOu would think Roehl would realize that? Maybe they realize it and don't care? We got a roehl recruitor coming to school later this month and I will see what he has to say and decide whether to work for them. But i will have my schooling out of the way and they are going to let us do quite a bit of driving.
Charles

Answer:
I guess the real reason behind the Phase II driving is 2 heads being better than one idea. Personally I think it's the blind leading the blind, but it seems to be working. I think it's another test to see if they can hack it. BOL and keep us informed. Regards/Razzrazzmark@pecbell.com 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:
What happened to Wiz?
I was looking forward to hearing more about his experiences at Roehl...
Wiz! Where did you go?
(no pun intended)

Answer:
Originally posted by T^2:
What happened to Wiz?
I was looking forward to hearing more about his experiences at Roehl...
Wiz! Where did you go?
(no pun intended)
Guess he took the training truck to the Rear End Bar after all...LOL
Oh well, CR England will always hire him!
http://www.subway.com

Answer:
Sending 2 newbies off together in one truck is a a dubious idea at best... in effect if the company runs them as a true team then the company gains another team out on the road.
But what about the newbies, that dang truck is gonna be running steady... with road conditions and a newbie drivin' sleeping in the bunk is out of the question.
No sleep + 2 newbies = BAD situation

Answer:
I'm still here!!
Just finished week 3 of training. Passed this weeks driving and written test. We had class last Saturday so I wasn't able to make the 900 mile round trip back to Michigan and my trusty computer.
Week 2 was more classroom training with 2/3rds of the days spent on the driving range. We also started driving around the country roads in the Marshfield area for some practical experience.
My shifting and turning progressed fairly well, although I'm sure the driveline was yelling obscenities at me periodicaly. (I guess thats why they call it practice.)
Week 3 brought Marshfield another bunch of truck driver trainees terrorizing the city streets. Traffic lights, more traffic and novice truck drivers...LOL the curbs will never be the same..
Actually it went well no one killed maimed or otherwise created property damage. Now and then traffic was slowed down a little due to slow shifting. I guess they'll get over it.
Next week is the final week of school prior to going out with a trainer. At the end of the week we'll be hired if the CDL test is passed..Which for me shouldn't be a problem, as long as I don't get too nervous. (I hate driving tests).
Dredick, Its training school I had to pay for it but will be reimbursed incrementaly after 10,000 miles. Logging is so we learn how to do it properly..avoids fines and OOS violations. I'd be pissed if they didn't teach us how to do it properly.
Yes I've heard the Rear-End bar stories..No I haven't been there..Too tired at the the end of the day to even think about it. I've also heard about the quality of the students from some of the other schools...I'm still very happy I chose to go to Roehl's school. The instructors are pasionate about trucking and training. I still believe they are going to be a great company to work for.
They are the #3 rated company in the US for safety that accounts for a lot I believe.
I'll let you all know how next week goes!!
As the past becomes the future unfolds
Answer:
thanks bunches WIZ for writing about your Roehl
experience..i too will be applying to Roehl maybe
we will meet sometime? from what ive read it seems to be a well run operation, although i do have my worries about running with another student. hopfully you can write and tell more and good luck on working with roehl..good luck