Question:
Hi folks,
I just graduated from CDL school last week and I am very anxious to get started with a company. I have been accepted by Roehl but they tell me that I can't start orientation for 2-3 weeks because of the July 4th holiday. Am I being paranoid or am I getting the runaround because I'm female?
I appreciate any insight y'all might have on this.

Answer:
You are Not getting the run-a-round.
Just as they stated....
Due to the Holiday wknd(4-day wknd for most), they do Not want to start orientation only to INTERRUPT classes for the Holiday.
Think about it....
It would not make much sense to have drvrs(many of which may be from out of town/state), to attend class for 1-2 days & then tell them "There will be No class for the next few days, b/c of the Holiday."
Not only does it Not make sense to do that....it also wouldn't be Fair.
How would you like it if YOU were a newbie from out of town/state attending the orientation & they told you that there would be no class for the next few days?
You would be stuck in a town that you know nothing about & do not know anyone there...and to top it off....you are on a Limited budget.
I personally would Not like it.
Once I got started with orientation/class....I don't want to stop until it's over.
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I realize that you are a bit excited about getting started(and That's Great!)......but, take a few deep breaths & settle down. (breathe in....breathe out)
[This message was edited by choclit snda on June 23, 2003 at 18:02.]

Answer:
Excellent Choice.....Roehl.
Past Posts about Roehl(click here)

Answer:
Squeeky,
Congrats finishing school, enjoy the holiday and celebrate this Country great Birthday !!!
Then get ready to "Rock n Roll" on your new career!!

Answer:
Thanks guys.... After re-reading my question, I decided it did sound paranoid. I guess I just figured what with the trucking industry being 24/7, that orientation would be the same. I shouldn't be so impatient... if I've learned anything from reading these boards it's that patience is a key trait to possess if you're going to drive a truck. *breathing in....breathing out*
Thanks for the link, choclit. I think I've read all those posts already, though! That's mainly how I came to choose Roehl... all the positive comments I read here about them. Werner was my first choice but only because they have a less restrictive rider policy than Roehl. Werner turned me down, not sure why, but it's probably for the best. I think I'll learn more from Roehl. And I really want to start with a company that I can stay with; not sure how long I would have wanted to stay with Werner once I got some experience under my belt.
It would have been nice, though, if the recruiter had at least given me a firm starting date, and given me some info to work with. He just said to call back in a week or so. It felt like a total brush-off...

Answer:
Squeaky, I am in the same boat as you only with Transport America. I wasn't that bummed about it considering it gives me some extra time with my wife and kid's. It also allows me to be with them on the actual holiday and not on the road with a trainer or in Indiana doing my initial company training and orientation. I was really grateful for that.
If it ain't broke modify it, that's what I do. Funny thing is it alway's end's up falling apart. Can't quite figure it out.


Answer:
It sounds like a bunch of us "Newbies" are going for orientation in the month of July/August !!

Answer:
Like choclit said you picked a good company with Roehl!
Did Roehl say where you would be doing orientation? Marshfield or Gary?
Take the next week off and relax! Get the home 20 in order. It may be a few weeks before you get back home! Enjoy and good luck!
Drive on! bandit58....

Answer:
Congrats on choosing a great company to work with. Don't despair its worth the wait.
As the past becomes the future unfolds
Answer:
Thanks all, for the congrats and advice. I just passed my DMV test yesterday. I am so psyched!!
I haven't slept much in the last few days, what with everything going on and being so excited. Guess I'll use this time to catch up on sleep, because I know it will be in short supply very soon!

Answer:
I think you'll enjoy working for them.
Goodluck
Cruiser

Answer:
Congratulations on passing your test. As far as Roehl goes, I can attest that it is a good company. I just got home from phase 2. You will have the benefit of not having to sign a contract with Roehl, they have changed their policy in regards to hiring drivers needing OJT, NO MORE CONTRACT. Unfortunately for me, I am still obligated since I signed it last May, but it will be comlete October 1st instead of 75k miles. Roehl is a good company to start with. I share the same concerns with the rider policy, since I am single and have no children then I am excluded from the rider policy. It would not suprise me though that if it becomes a big enough issue with retaining qualified drivers then they may change the policy. Roehl is just the right size IMHO, they are large enough to be stable, but small enough that you do not seem to fall between the cracks. If you do go with Roehl I hope to see you out on the road. At the moment I am still stuck in the condo I was in phase 2. I am hoping to get into a truck that I will be in for at least a year or so. The scuttle butt is that they have held off on purchasing any new trucks lately due to the new emission engines, cant say I blame them, but it is putting a shortage on newer trucks. All in all their equipment is good if not great. The trucks are goverened at 65, and the tattle tale qualcom will let Marshfield know every time you go over it. A big comlaint that drivers have is that maintainence is slow, but they are thorough. The truck I am in recently had a PM(Prevenitive Maintainence) that took 8 hours to comlete, the reason being that the mechanic was being shuffled between other trucks, but he did a great job, and went completly over the truck. I could go on and on, but you could defineatly go with a worse company. What ever you choose, good luck.
Buzzdog

Answer:
Okay, I called Roehl back today like the recruiter told me to (he told me last Monday to call him back in a week). He had said last Monday that it would be 2-3 weeks and I was hoping I'd get lucky and it would only be 2 weeks, meaning I could start orientation next Monday. So, I call him and he says it's too early, that he's not gotten organized for the day yet (jeez, it was after 9am...), and he says call him back late morning/early afternoon. Well, I didn't call him back in the AM because I didn't want to give him the chance to say he still hadn't had time to do whatever it was he needed to do (turn his brain on?). And I didn't want to call between 12 and 1 because I figured I'd get told he'd gone to lunch. I figured 1:30 would be good so I call then and guess what? He's JUST gone to lunch! Uh huh...OK.... I call back at 2:30 and he's on another line. I call back at 2:45, finally get to talk to him and he tells me it will STILL be another 2-3 weeks and even then he can't guarantee me anything! And he's not giving me any details, just a flat, "We don't have any trainers."
So, from last Monday to 3 weeks from today I'm supposed to believe they aren't starting *anybody* in Orientation because they don't have any trainers? For at least a month they aren't scheduling anyone to start orientation? And this is taking TWO terminals into consideration, not just one (the Gary, Indiana, terminal AND the Marshfield, WI, terminal). This, during the summer months when I am led to believe that freight is high and they are desperate for drivers? I asked the recruiter why did they send me a pre-hire if they're not actually accepting students at this time and he said he had nothing to do with that, and if I didn't want to to wait that I should go with another company. (!?)
Grrrrrr! I already had felt like I was being pushed aside by this guy last week, and this comment was just too much. I called the employment director at the school I attended and asked her if this was normal. She said if the recruiter said there were no trainers, then there were no trainers. I asked how a company that is, what, the third-biggest carrier could go a month without having ANY trainers available? And she says, "Oh, they have plenty of trainers, they just don't have any FEMALE trainers available." And I'm like, well for pete's sake, *I* don't care if they're male or female and she says, "well, Roehl has a policy though, only female students with female trainers."
Thanks a lot, Mr. Doofus Recruiter Guy! You could have TOLD me that little detail a WEEK ago! Thanks for wasting my time!
*breathing....*
So, I called some of the other companies that I had applied to, and US Xpress said they could take me next Monday. Finally! I wasn't crazy about them because I wanted to gain experience with shifting, but at this point I need to start making some money. I got bills, man! I could have been at US Xpress last Wednesday and been out on the road by now.
So, I still think Roehl is a good company but I'm less than impressed with a certain recruiter that works for them!
Any comments/advice on US Xpress?

Answer:
Unless things have changed in the last year, Roehl has no policy against male/female trainers, they do leave it up to the student to make that decicion, also the trainer has the choice. That is the way it was a year ago! Had a gal in my orientation and she went with a male trainer! Now her preferance for companionship I will not guess at, if you know what I mean!
I hope it works out and you can get on with Roehl, they are a good company. Not sure where they rank size wise, but not the 3rd largest I know. Good Luck!
Drive on! bandit58....

Answer:
Yah, I've been thinking about that "third largest carrier" thing and I guess I have to retract that. I had it confused with a statistic that they are 3rd on the list when it comes to safety, which, again, may or may not be true, I just read it here at Trucknet somewhere.
But the ban on male/female training is true, the recruiter confirmed it. I think it is just silly; it should be left up to the personal preference of the trainers and trainees. My "discrimination radar" says it is a way for a company to discourage female drivers, and the recruiter's attitude with me did nothing to dispel that suspicion.
I chose my handle "Squeeky" because it was my childhood nickname, used interchangably with "Mousie", which was acquired at a very early age due to my fondness for cheese. I have a feeling it's going to take on a new meaning, as in "Squeaky wheel", as in the sqeaky wheel (the loudest complainer) gets fixed first. I hate to get a rep as a complainer, but dangit, I'm too old for this crap!
I know, I know... I don't know the meaning of crap, right? Wait til I actually get out on the road, right?