Question:
I've seen guys say that they wanna stay out 30, 45 even 60 days to get their training period over with A.S.A.P.
That's not a bad idea. The sooner the better in my book.
BUT!!!!!!!!!!
You need to consider 1 thing! You're going to NEED TO GET AWAY from the truck some time!
Think about it. To spend that much time.....eating, sleeping, farting, driving, talking, learning.......etc.....in one spot, for that amount of time.......you're gonna get burned out quickly!
You're gonna NEED TIME to 'recharge' your batteries and 'unwind'.
You can't do that on the truck for that long of a period.
*******************************
"Got the bird dog on...
Dodgin' the scales...
80 miles an hour and a step outta jail..." From "Rollin' Home, Pirates of the Mississippi)
*******************************
"I've always been different with one foot over the line.
Winding up somewhere, one step ahead or behind.
It ain't been so easy, but I guess I shouldn't complain.
I've always been crazy, but it's kept me from going insane." (from Waylon Jennings)
**************************
Member: Happy Dweller Society
Owner Operator Division


Answer:
was 6 weeks in length. I did it in one shot and then took a week off before being assigned my first truck and going solo.
Looking back on it I have mixed feeling about having been gone that long at one shot and if I had been given a choice I think it would have been better if I had done two 3 week stints instead of the entire 6.
The week I took off at the end of training was to recharge my batteries, so to speak. If I had stayed out another week or two as the company really wanted me to I am pretty sure I would have suffered terminal burn out right then and there.
I will always be a mutter trucker at heart.
Answer:
I have two 20 day training phases, which I am told will take a full 60 to complete. I've been prepared to be away from home and in very adverse conditions through previous employment, so I am not exactly adverse to it. But it would be nice to at least have Christmas at home.

Answer:
On both parts. It is good to get it all out of the way, but you will be more prone to being burnt out. This is a MAJOR reason Roehl is revamping their training process. Instead of being out with a trainer for 20 or so days straight they are changing. They are breaking the training up into 3 "evolutions". An evolution will be 10 days out with a trainer seperated by home time. They are doing this to help the new driver transition into the job. After they have completed the 3 evolutions they will be assigned a truck. There is no guarantee that you will be with the same trainer through the 3 evolutions. They will no longer have the period where you put 2 novice drivers together. I have not heard when this is going to take effect, probally expect to see it at the first of the year.
DRIVER BY CHOICE
Buzzdog

Answer:
i stay out 4 to 6 weeks at a time and yes you get burn out the trick is to get out of the truck if you can spend a night in a motel if you have time things like that. after the frist week the inside of the truck startes to get small when the only time you are out of it is when you fuel or take a shower or eat so pace yourself.
YOU CAN SLEEP AFTER YOU DELIVER THE LOAD

Answer:
I've had almost an entire day off in the last 4 or so weeks. I hate my truck.
"There is just something about fresh winter snow and a river. The day is bright even if it is cloudy, the water is friendly even if it is cold and the fish are there even if they are not biting."
Member: Happy Dweller Society
Team Driver Division

Answer:
Originally posted by Buzzdog:
On both parts. It is good to get it all out of the way, but you will be more prone to being burnt out. This is a MAJOR reason Roehl is revamping their training process. Instead of being out with a trainer for 20 or so days straight they are changing. They are breaking the training up into 3 "evolutions". An evolution will be 10 days out with a trainer seperated by home time. They are doing this to help the new driver transition into the job. After they have completed the 3 evolutions they will be assigned a truck. There is no guarantee that you will be with the same trainer through the 3 evolutions. They will no longer have the period where you put 2 novice drivers together. I have not heard when this is going to take effect, probally expect to see it at the first of the year.
_ DRIVER BY CHOICE _
Buzzdog
I believe that they are starting to phase that in now. Chris started Phase 1 on the 9th and was out for 12 days then home for 4. He's looking to be back in WI by the 2nd and then home by that weekend. In the time he's been out he's had 3 trainers.

Answer:
Man, I hope not. I just want to get it done with.

Answer:
I know what you are saying. Unless you were prior military and have had to deal with such a long period away before it will be extrememly hard for someone that has been home every day. Actually with the new system that Roehl is putting in you will start milage pay sooner. With the old system you were looking at least 40 days of per-diem pay before you started milage. With the new system you are looking at around 39 tops. I realize this only seems to be a 1 day savings, but if you read real close to the old system, it said phase 1 is a minimum of 20 days. I was out on phase 1 for 26 days due to having 2 trainers. My first trainer was a curtainside that I was with for 16 days. There were not any flatbed trainers available when I completed orientation so I was out with Ralph for that part.
DRIVER BY CHOICE
Buzzdog

Answer:
I'm going van, so hopefully there are plenty of van trainers available next week. I planned to do phase 2 with my buddy from school, but I wonder if it will work out that way. Doesn't seem all that likely that we will both finish phase one at the same time.

Answer:
Did my training and then stayed out for 6 months !
After that, driving a car and sleeping in an actual bed took some getting used to !

Answer:
Well the clock starts on me in a half hour. I'll be westbound on 80 soon towards Gary Indiana.
Gotta goooooooooooooo!

Answer:
I was talking with a Roehl Trainer last week in Mogadore, OH, he said there will actually be 3 different trainers, was my understanding.
He did not care for it and not sure if he would continue to be a trainer.
Myself I would not want to be a trainee and have to adapt to 3 different drivers of how to drive a truck! Just glad when I did it last year I had 1 who was tops!!
Drive on! bandit58....

Answer:
I had to bring this thread back. Hoss was right on this one, staying out through the entire thing is rough. I rolled in last night after being out 24 days. I wasn't ready to cry for my momma or anything but I can definately say that I was messing up a lot the last few days out there. They were all little things, but they were mistakes that I normally don't make.
Need to get home to recharge those batteries.

Answer:
As a rule (since I usually drive for small companies that give you a little room to make your own choices), if I run east or in the midwest, I'm home every weekend.
If I run west, I will stay out about 10 days (never more than 14) and come home for 3 or 4 days (which must include a weekend).
I'm willing to stay out a little longer running west, because I know that I will be running and not sitting around.
If I have to sit around; it is going to be at home---not in a truck stop spending money.
_________________________
Cover Your Cans People!!!It's apparent this place is never going to change....then again; why should it? It gets the clientel it deserves.
Bette Midler