Question:
Hello all!!
I have been out of the house since May 4th. I started orientation with Roehl in Gary IN on the 5th. Orientation went well, we had 2 people that were a no show and 2 others quit the 2nd day of orientation. Six were left in orientation. I did not get any suprises or red flags while in orientation. We finished everything up in Gary on May 8th.
I rode to Fairdealing MO with a trainer that was going home in TX to drop me off with my assigned trainer. Fairdealing is just west of Poplar Bluff. I signed up with flatbed national with Roehl. The trainer I was assigned to was in the curtain side fleet, I was told I would probally be out with him for 10 days to learn strap securements then go with a flatbed trainer to learn chains and tarps. We pulled out of MO with an empty van and picked up a load in Cuba MO that was headed to South Bend IN. We dropped in South Bend and dead headed to Elkhart for another D&H that was headed to Marshfield WI. At Marshfield we finally got a curtain trailer of door cores that was headed to Temple TX. When we finished that load, we were dead headed over to a little town on the border of LA and AR for a load of ply wood. We got loaded up at around 8pm and headed up to Prescott AR for fuel and to weigh. On the way to Prescott it started to storm really bad. Visiblity was about 50 yards or less with the rain. I backed it down and took my time on that 2 lane road. Well all of a sudden it stopped raining and my ears started popping. I knew what was going on, about that time there was a lightening strike in front of us, and the tale tale signs of a funnle cloud forming up could be seen. Well, I kept it in the wind and got to Prescott. I had to pry my fingers off of the steering wheel when we got there, but it was a good learning experience. When we scaled we were 3000 lbs. over gross, and the mill's shipping department was closing in 30 minutes, so we shut down in Prescott for the night. We woke up in the morning and went back down to have some wood taken off, we re-scaled and were legal, so off to Saginaw MI we went. After we dropped there we dead headed to Archibold OH for over head door's that went to Marshfield WI area. We did a dead head to Algoma WI for a load of doors with 2 stops, first stop was Winchester TN and the last stop was Atlanta GA. We picked up the load on a Sunday, the shipping papers said we had to give the first drop 48 hours notice before delivery. Well we tried to call them first thing Monday morning, when they returned our call they told us that we would have to wait until Tuesday, so we shut down on top of Monteagle TN. Woke up early in the morning and went down Montealge for the first time on the old road that goes west. Took my time and enjoyed the view as we came off the hill into the valley. The job sight was Franklin County Highschool. They took their doors off with a lull. We pulled the curtains back and headed to Atlanta. The drop in Atlanta was right in down town. It was for the Atlanta School Administration building which was a major job sight. Well it soo happened that there was another major job sight right next to it, this place was FUBAR. I got my first real taste of a major job sight. The best I can explain it is.....visualize a monkey, a football, and a 55gal drum......you can fill in the blanks . Well after 3 1/2 hours of waiting and a deal being made between the different parties at the job sight the doors were finally off. We headed to Monticello GA for some particle board that was headed to Washington Court House OH at the Lowes distribution center. We got that load off and headed to Bainsbridge OH for some green hickory and white oak that was headed to New London WI. Well one thing I learned real quick is, when hauling lumber, you can count on being loaded heavy the first time. Closest scales we found in the truckstop guide was Jeffersonville OH so we went there to scale and sure enough we were 1800 lbs over gross. So back down to have them pull off 300ft of the white oak, back up to scale and we were legal. Got the load to Newlondon.
By this point, I was well past my 10 days with the curtain trainer. He had told me on day 9 of training that they were going to have my stay with him for the completion of phase 1 training, and the last 5 days we were spend pulling a flatbed trailer in the Gary area so I could get my different securements done. Well after New London they sent of to MI to pick up some loader pieces for Prentice WI. On the way the Qual chirpped and we had to call dispatch. Planes were changed, We were to drop in Prentice, bobtail to Marshfield, pick up a load there that was headed to Boston. The trainer was supposed to drop me off in Ft. Wayne on the way. I got off the truck on Saturday and came home. I am scheduled to get picked up with a new trainer on tuesday to finish my flatbed securements.
I have completed 15 days of training. In those 15 days the truck was dispatched appprox 7500 paid miles. I drove approx 5500 of those paid miles. Some days were a challange, some were a breeze, they all came out in the end. All in all, I learned alot, but I realize that I still have much more to learn. I have only scratched the surface. I would have prefered to stay out until I finished all of my training. But I did take advantage of getting home, made some phone calls and went to the 500 today!! It is good to be home to see friends and family, but I am anxious to get back out and finish training. I am still looking forward to getting assigned to my own truck and completing that first load by myself.
I will keep this thread updated through my training process.
Buzzdog

Answer:
Hi Buzzdog!!
Glad to see you're doing well with Roehl. I'm into the road phase of my weekend CDL training now and if everything works out, I should be headed to Marshfield on the 14th of June.
Good luck!!
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I ride for those who can't! POW/MIA - You are NOT forgotten!!
Information is power!! The question not asked is the opportunity missed!!
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:
You get into dealing with real flatbeds and tarping please be very careful. It is no joke when people tell you that a gust of wind can yank those tarps away from you or pull you off the top of that trailer. Also be very careful when climbing around on top of those loads period. Do not be embarrassed to get down on your hands and knees and crawl if need be.
After all the fun you had getting to where you are now I would hate to see it end anytime due to getting hurt.
Be careful, be safe, be smart, and try to have some fun.
I will always be a mutter trucker at heart.
Answer:
Uturn,
I have no problem asking for help or doing what it takes to stay safe. In my first 15 days, there was only one time that I did not feel safe. It was not driving next to a tornado, it was not driving with winds gusting up to 50mph in IL. It was while I was busting the straps in Atlanta. I had to dive under the trailor to take cover as a SCHOOL BUS came blasting through. I was watching the lane of traffic and was picking them up at least 200 yards away. This driver never once slowed down, or moved over. I also realize how dangerous the places I will be loadind and unloading at. I can do everything I can to stay safe and be aware of my surroundings, but take a fork or lull operator that is having a bad day.......
Buzzdog

Answer:
Sounds like things are going well for you at Roehl.
Other than the school bus thing, it doesn't sound like you had any "surprises".
Doing the research on a company before you go to work for them, helps a heck of a lot, don't it! .
Good Luck!
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"I've always been crazy, but it's kept me from going insane!" (from Waylon Jennings)
"The feel of the wheel delivers me, from a life where I don't wanna be." (from Joe Stampley)