Question:
Got in the mail yesterday that Roehl announced a accross the board pay increase effective 02/2004.
Newbie pay (van/National) starts at .28 with increases at 3 months (.29), 6 months (.30), 9 months (.31), 1 year (.34) and 2 years (.35). They also announced that several catagories of additional compensation (detention,stop off, and hand load/unload pay have also increased. For a driver that averages 115,000 dispatched miles per year, this is equivalent to a $2,300 to $3,450 annual increase, plus additional compensation. They also announced a change in their hometime policy. The longer you stay out, the more hometime you earn. Seven (7) days out = 2 days off, 11 days out = 3 days off, 18 days out = 4 days off, 24 days out = 5 days off, 30 days out = 6 days off, 36 days out = 7 days off. I'm not going to tell you everything in the mailing, since it is 10 pages long. This is so new that it's not on their website, but the website is never up to date. If you have more questions, send me an e-mail, and I'll try to answer.

Answer:
Well this was really stinks, litterally(sp). Starting January Roehl will NO LONGER reimburse for showers.
DRIVER BY CHOICE
Buzzdog

Answer:
Do they fuel at places that don't give out shower tickets?
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Humans are amazing creatures. "With all the things you can train them to do, I've been considering getting one."-Stoney Jay Gould
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This post coming to you live, from Jesus Land !!!

Answer:
Yes they do fuel at places that give showers. But there are times when the all knowing opti-stop tells you to put on less then 50 gallons. The other problem will be come January. In order to run the most effecient we are expected to wait until the end of our shift to take a shower. Well lets say we fill up at a Pilot in the middle of the day and when we shut down for the night there is no Pilot around, or what ever T/S that we fueled at for that matter. The other issue, Roehl seems to fuel at different chains in spurts, one month it seems that the only fuel stop is at FJ's next month may be Pilots, and so on. Then we throw in when we fuel at a terminal. Yes we can get a shower at the terminal but that does not help on those mid-day fueling or stops.
Since I have been with Roehl I have only submitted shower reimbursement maybe 4 times total. Even then, they only paid $5 on it, driver eats the difference. I get most of my showers when I get through a terminal or when I fill up. If I continue to do that after January, then I will be wasting driving time if it is during mid-shift. Trust me, you dont want a flatbedder to go with out a shower every day.
Is this a petty gripe I am bringing up? Probally. I just do not agree with it. I liked knowing that if I was shut down some where that I did not have a shower credit that I could at least get $5 back from the company.
DRIVER BY CHOICE
Buzzdog

Answer:
Buzzgod and IBStrollin, have some questions for both of ya.
IBStrollin, you sent me an e-mail about a month ago about Roehl, Thanks for your help. I'll be sending you a reply today.
Buzzdog, Thanks for the info on the GPS system you own. I picked it up and started using it when I go TDY and it worked really well. My only problem is tring to change the route it programed for me to take. I'm tring take out a section of road I don't want to travel and add one that I do within that route. Do you have this problem?
You posted in the O/O forum a question about a program to track different things. I found two things which you may already be know about. Frist is the spread sheets on the OOIDA site. Second is a company named (The Alliance). Web site is 43truck.com click on products. They have some things that might be of interest to you. Also there are three books not listed on their site. you will have to call the company to get these. The number is on their site. I'm waiting to order these until after the first of the year in order to write them off as a deduction.
1. How to get started as an Owner Operator.
2. 10 Steps to success as an Owner Operator.
3. Financial Planning for the Owner Operator.
Questions to you. Can you tell my if the flatbed pay has increased and by how much?
Know that the weather has changed are you doing more loading/unloading inside of buildings or everything still done out in the weather?
What are your primary type of fright, mostly lumber or steal?
How often if at all do you haul vehicles like farm equipment?
Last but not least whats the average amount of times a week you trap/untarp your loads?
Stay safe.

Answer:
The bonusses on the premeum plan have increased to as much as 6 cents per quarter, up from 2 I think, but they only pay it on miles in excess of 25,000 as opposed to all miles drivin in the quarter. this would really suck for someone who drives 25,001 miles.
Now I need some advise. At the moment my truck is sitting at a shop in St. Louis, the shifter stopped working thursday morning on I64 in heavy traffic with no shoulder. I have been asking for a different truck for close to 6 months now. I don't like the automatic. My FM always says that there is nothing available. Even though the last newsletter I recieved said that a new department was being created to recruit drivers to utilize idle tractors. I don't want to get on his bad side by pushing this issue, but I'm tired of writing up this truck for the same thing that never gets fixed. Any suggestions?

Answer:
You have to stand up for yourself. I don't know what div. you are on, but go over your DM's head if you have to. If you have a good record, they usually will listen to you.
You may have to take an older tractor, but if it gets you out of the auto, take it.
Try and get an International. I don't think they have any autos in them, and IMHO I think they're a much better tractor than the Century.
Better to have it and not need it as need it and not have it!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:
If I was fueling and needed a shower, I just put on the 50 gals. and let my DM know in the morn. If they have me fueling at that rathole in E. St Louis, I just go down the road and shower there. All I EVER do there is fuel. Restrooms are scary, and the restaurant just can't seem to get rid of the backed up sewer smell.
Roehl is the ONLY carrier I've worked for that paid anything towards showers. Bite the bullet, and save your receipts and take them off your taxes. I usually try and get into Flying J's myself. Pilot's are real clean too, but everybody knows about the parking issue there.
I don't get real excited about bonuses. Why? Because I want to see my money every week. They just raised the overspeed to 71 mph ,but kept it at 2% or less. If that's the case, we would be getting passed by Swift out there. Let it roll off the hills a few times over 70, and you used up the whole 2% for the quarter. Just pay me a good wage per week, I'll do my best, I'll be on time, and I won't tear up his equipment. Why do they have to put that 2% overspeeed on? To screw you out of the bonus. IMHO, that provision should be scrapped. I'm more impressed with a driver who's on time, does'nt have problems with customers, does'nt have claims/accidents/problems. Idle time is'nt an issue with me since I got the tractor with an ICON system. I've always met the idling goals. I think it's just the insurance making them put that overspeed on there in the first place.
Better to have it and not need it as need it and not have it!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:
..don't worry about the 50 gallon issue, just let it run past if need be to get the shower credit if that is what worries you! I always run mine over on the short fills! I have heard from several drivers that if you go up to 19 gallons over they won't say a thing. Since they like to run my "binder" so close to empty I'll just put a few more gallons in and not worry!
Razz, I agree on the restromms here at Gateway, but the showers, since they remodeled last year are top notch, other then the soap dispensors in the shower stalls, but I have my own for that!
#3360
Drive on! bandit58....


Answer:
I was just talking to you in Marshfield a while back. You told me you were from Wichita, and I said I would'nt hold that against ya'--Remember?? Regards and have a Merry Xmas!
Better to have it and not need it as need it and not have it!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:
Originally posted by Buzzdog:
Yes they do fuel at places that give showers. But there are times when the all knowing opti-stop tells you to put on less then 50 gallons.
Just ran into that the other day. I put on 44 gallons at strattonville, then got to Gary where my fuel card wouldn't work right.

Answer:
Originally posted by bandit58:
..don't worry about the 50 gallon issue, just let it run past if need be to get the shower credit if that is what worries you! I always run mine over on the short fills! I have heard from several drivers that if you go up to 19 gallons over they won't say a thing.
I ran 16 gallons over the first time I had one of those partial fills. I was cleaning the windows when it struck me that I wasn't supposed to fill it. I got it stopped before I went 20 over and haven't heard a peep about it.

Answer:
And you probably won't. If I get a 32 gal. stop, I put on an even 40 gals. If I need a shower and they give me a small fill I just call my DM and have him change it.
Better to have it and not need it as need it and not have it!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:
Has there been any talk about changing this programmed fuel buying with the new HOS coming next month? Seems to me that more than one fuel stop per day would just eat up hours and be counter-productive in the end. I realize it doesn't take much time to fuel - 15 minutes (or more, if it is busy, plus off and on the highway time), but when that starts to cut in to potential driving time, how much can the fuel savings be compared to lost driving time?
PP
Keep electing the same kinds of politicians and you will keep getting the same kind of government.
Answer:
The pay raise was about all the good news that could be handled this month.