Question:
I will be graduating truck driving school later this week and I have recieved a dozen or so pre-hire letters. I've narrowed it down to Roehl and JCJ Trucking. JCJ is a small outfit in Illinois who operate 95% auotmatics. So I am leaning twords Roehl because I haven't heard a good thing about the auto shifters yet. I've searched this entire site and others and have yet to hear a single bad thing said about them (Roehl). I know that no company is perfect. I would like to hear from somebody who works for them or has worked for them. Good and bad comments welcome. I don't want to go work for a company and quit a few months later, I'd like to start out right. Can anyone help me out?

Answer:
but here is a suggestion for you. Roehl has a terminal just south of Milwaukee on I94, and there is a pretty big truck stop right there by it.(Think the truck stop is called Milwaukee travel Center) Try going up there and talking to some of the drivers.
Just my two cents worth on this. I would steer clear of learning to drive on an auto shift tranny. While they are becoming more common all the time you will still find yourself handicapped if you do not fully have the skills to drive a manual, and unless you are the Rainman of shifting that is going to take a good year to accomplish.
Only two things I know of are infinite. The universe and human stupidity, and I am not real sure about the universe.
Answer:
Originally posted by parrothead:
I haven't heard a good thing about the auto shifters yet.
I am not sure what you really mean here. If you are talking about training on auto shifters you will not hear too many positive votes from this from experienced drivers, simply because they are still not all that common.
If you are talking about the reliability of the auto shift tranny most all drivers who have driven them will tell you that they rarely mess up and 9 times out or 10 that they do mess up all you have to do is stop in a safe place, shut the truck off for about 15 seconds, restart and go.
Finally this is one of those "HOT" topics among drivers. Many of the ones that will chime in and tell you how junky the auto shift is have never driven a truck with one, or if they have it was for about 10 minutes only. I just spent 6 months driving a truck with an auto shift for a company that had a "fix it 6 months after it gets broke" maintence program and the autoshift was about the only thing on the truck that consistantly worked right. On the whole I like the auto shift but just not for someone to learn on them.
Only two things I know of are infinite. The universe and human stupidity, and I am not real sure about the universe.
Answer:
I have tried talking to other drivers from both companies, but because of referral bonuses I get the feeling that they are giving me all the good news and leaving the bad news out. No company that I've ever worked for is this perfect.

Answer:
they want you to run legal.
safety is a priority.
you'll start solo in an older truck, but within a few months they will move you up.
I could never figure out which way was north in Marshfield! Drive on! bandit58

Answer:
I have been with Roehl for 1.5 years and have only one complaint. When I went 1st seat (by myself, after training), my DM and I got along great! Recently, I was asked to become a driver trainer. I said yes. I gave up a DM who could read my mind. Gave up a truck I had for 1 year and picked up new. I had NO problems with the truck. Went thru "train the trainer" and got a truck that was re-built from an accident. I wrote it up for 13 things in 2 weeks, and it appears that the bugs are worked out of it. My new DM and I are having some problems but we both aggreed that we can work them out. Other than that I am very happy with Roehl.
I promised myself that I would stick it out for a year. If I didn't like it, I now had the expierience to get a local job. But I'm still here, because for the most part they have kept their promises and I DON'T have a problem running legal, and can still make decent money. It sure makes life alot easier.

Answer:
Originally posted by bandit58:
they want you to run legal.
safety is a priority.
you'll start solo in an older truck, but within a few months they will move you up.
I could never figure out which way was north in Marshfield! Drive on! bandit58
Bandit58 - This is a bad thing? How so? Curiousity is peaked here?
IMNSHO - Running legal and safe are paramount. I have helped pick up the pieces too many times over the years to even think of running any other way and this even though I'm not driving for a living - yet....
One thing that impressed me about Roehl is the fact that they do take safety very seriously and it's not just a parroting to placate the public. Skid pan training and multiple check rides before they let you loose solo, only tell me they want me to get home alive all the time, every time.
My other vehicle is a '99 Electra Glide!!!! I ride for those who can't! POW/MIA - You are NOT forgotten!!
Lead, Follow or get out of my way!!!

Answer:
I too agree that running safe and legal is the way to go, to a point. Can performance and on time bonuses be affected by this? You hear the horror stories about waiting and waiting, if you're late for a delivery do to things outside your control does it count against you?

Answer:
Originally posted by Unka_D:
Originally posted by bandit58:
they want you to run legal.
safety is a priority.
you'll start solo in an older truck, but within a few months they will move you up.
I could never figure out which way was north in Marshfield! Drive on! bandit58
Bandit58 - This is a bad thing? How so? Curiousity is peaked here?
IMNSHO - Running legal _and_ safe are paramount. I have helped pick up the pieces too many times over the years to even think of running any other way and this even though I'm not driving for a living - yet....
One thing that impressed me about Roehl is the fact that they do take safety very seriously and it's not just a parroting to placate the public. Skid pan training and multiple check rides before they let you loose solo, only tell me they want me to get home alive all the time, every time.
My other vehicle is a '99 Electra Glide!!!!
WHOOPS!!! Sorry to leave you wondering! Was all meant as sarcasm! Guess I should have used a at the end! While I agree with what you said a company can't be perfect Roehl is pretty darn close! I'm not one for taking stupid chances and that is what I liked about them, treated me fairly, and I may very well go back (not working right now).
Sure you will hear some bad from some, but that is to be expected. Not everyday I was on the road was great, but the good days out weighed the bad!
As far as being late, I can't say enough "communicate". If your 150 miles awy from your delivery and your suppose to be there in 1 hour, you will not make it! Send a message tell D/M why! It's called trip planning. My trainer never missed a time, I continued that, most times was early by several hours! Sorry for any wrong impressions you may have gotten. Maybe I'll see some of you back out there again! Drive on! bandit58

Answer:
Originally posted by parrothead:
I too agree that running safe and legal is the way to go, to a point. Can performance and on time bonuses be affected by this? You hear the horror stories about waiting and waiting, if you're late for a delivery do to things outside your control does it count against you?
To the point of risking your life or someone elses all in the pursuit of a few extra dollars. To the point of risking a fine, to the point of possibly getting fired for being put OOS (out of service) for being out of hours.
You had better get it in your head right now that there is no end point to running safe and legal. The ONLY POINT to running safe and legal is to do it.
If having a "flawless" on time record, or getting some stupid little bonis is more important to you than being a PROFESSIONAL truck driver then do everyone a favor and stay home. We have enough steering wheel holders out here the way it is.
Only two things I know of are infinite. The universe and human stupidity, and I am not real sure about the universe.
Answer:
I have never riden one of those Evo's. Raised with
Panheads and now own two Shovelheads. '76 Superglide and '83 Lowrider. Those old 4 speed
iron heads can be a pain at times. Might move up
to an Evo. 103 CI stroker in soft tail frame.
Just wondering about the new bikes.
Be cool-4SPEED

Answer:
Originally posted by 4speed:
I have never riden one of those Evo's. Raised with
Panheads and now own two Shovelheads. '76 Superglide and '83 Lowrider. Those old 4 speed
iron heads can be a pain at times. Might move up
to an Evo. 103 CI stroker in soft tail frame.
Just wondering about the new bikes.
Be cool-4SPEED
Riding that thing is about the most fun you can have with your pants on..!!! My brothers all called it "The Old Man's Ride" and laughed until the first time we popped out 600 miles and the old man was ready to party and they were whining.. LOL....
BTW - it's the "Fathead" engine (88 Cubes)... Took Wolf Creek in fifth gear fully loaded from the West side.... Have the Stage I breather on it and it will walk away from most stock V's....
My other vehicle is a '99 Electra Glide!!!! 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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Uturn, Let me ask you something, would you stop for the night 20 miles from home because you were out of hours? what if you were at 70 and had to take a few days off to get some back?

Answer:
20 miles from home because of being too tired to drive any further. I have been 20 miles from home and feeling ill and did not go home but stayed in the truck until I felt well enough to drive.
Finally, if you are running so hard that you have to shut down for a few days in order to get enough hours back to run you really need to back off some.
Only two things I know of are infinite. The universe and human stupidity, and I am not real sure about the universe.
Answer:
Originally posted by parrothead:
I too agree that running safe and legal is the way to go, to a point.
We have already covered this. And in conjunction with you next statement it seems you are saying that you will be happy to toss safety out the window if it means losing a bonus or something.
Can performance and on time bonuses be affected by this? You hear the horror stories about waiting and waiting, if you're late for a delivery do to things outside your control does it count against you?
A someone already pointed out the KEY is keeping your driver manager informed. The best way to do this is to use your Quualcomm or other in truck communications if so equipped. It is fine to call in but by using the Qualcomm there is a written record of you notifying dispatch of a problem. Do not wait until the last minute to say that there is a problem. Instead as soon as you suspect that you may be late for a pickup or delivery let them know even if it is two days ahead of time. Then update them as needed.
If you use good communication skills then a good company will not hold being late against you if it is something beyond your control such as being delayed at the warehouse, truck break down, weather delays, etc. Also some companies will over look an occasional driver related tardiness (over slept, routed yourself wrong)if you are honest with them and it happens rarely.
If you find yourself working for a company that is going to come unglued because you are late due to circumstances beyond your control then you are working for the wrong company.
Only two things I know of are infinite. The universe and human stupidity, and I am not real sure about the universe.