Question:
I finally changed from flatbed to van at Roehl. With the weather getting colder, I had a flare up of asthma in MI. I explained that I could not do it any more and was transfered to Van.
I had to take a .02/mile drop in pay, but I am confident that in the end it will not effect my annual pay. The ammount of time spent on tarping and untarping can be spent driving. I will not miss having to tarp a load of rough green lumber that has been sitting out in the snow.
I am now in 3156. Its a mid-roof 2001 FL Century. It is an auto-shift, still getting used to that. My right hand still instictively(sp) tries to find the stick, the shifter is on the steering column. I am looking forward to the change. I would not mind doing flats again, but if I do it would preferably be as O/O with my own trailor with a Conestoga on it.
DRIVER BY CHOICE
Buzzdog
[This message was edited by Buzzdog on January 11, 2004 at 1:42.]

Answer:
You change trucks more then I change underwear! No, wait thats sounds bad! You sure have had alot of trucks since you started!
I'll just scratch the other number from my list I carry, and add this new one to it instead!
Welcome to the world of vans!!
I wass in Gary last week and saw a driver who fit your desription, but again was not you! Someday!
Drive on! bandit58....

Answer:
I told Rick Roehl during orientation that he did'nt have enough money in his checking account to get me to pull skateboards. However I still like the curtainside fleet. Except when it's below zero, and tryiong to handle curtains/straps. That's when the van boys are giggling at me freezing my *** off out there. But, it's my turn to giggle when I hear them telling about sitting in a grocery warehouse all damned day waiting for a P&G load to get unloaded. Was out to Sacremento over New Years, then from Markett CA to Medford OR, and spent New Years Day in Bend OR. Loaded Fri. for a Tues del. in Minneapolis. Broke my 30 yr. record of not having to chain up. Had to chain up to go less than 10 mi. down the road in OR. Oh well--$**t happens!! Looked inside a '04 Int'l at Marshfield the other day---They don't have the wraparound shelves in them. They also are not Eagles--not that that matters all that much anymore--I think it's just a chrome package. The new Freightliners have 465 Mercedes Benz engines in them. Hope you like the auto shift.
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:
Razz,
My eventual target is going to be to try to get to Curtain. I figure the easiest way will be to get to it via van. Seems that it takes an act of god to get out of flat's once you are in it, at least for me. I told them 2 times before this that I wanted to go to van. It was when the asthma finally reared up that it happened. I will make no bones about it, I had issues with the last truck I was in as well with the FM I had. So far I am very pleased with the new truck. Even with the auto, I think I will actually grow to like it. One thing is for certain, I can move around the truck alot easier without the stick in the middle. The daytime traffic in Chicago will be alot easier now. All in all it has a better ride, less road noise. Heck the cup holder on the passenger side actually closes. Marshfield installed an aux heater in the bunk.
I forgot to mention, I gave Parrot a ride down from Marshfield to Gary. Was real fun having both of our personal items in the truck. He was moving out of his old truck for one in Gary. We had a great ride down.
Bandit,
2968
3040
2765
3156
Those have been the trucks I have been assigned to since July. 3156 has 405k on the odometer, so I plan and hope that I can stay in it for over a year.
DRIVER BY CHOICE
Buzzdog

Answer:
I had to call Roehl back in Jan. I called them the they told me that flatbed has opened up in my area (FT Leonard Wood MO) along with van so know I have a choice of eather.
So I was wondering if you Roehl Drivers could anwser a few questions for me.
How often do you drive through Missouri down I-44?
How many miles did/are you driving in flaybed/van each week and how many of those miles driven are paid?
I ask the question above because I've talked to SNI Drivers who usually get in 2600 to 3000 each week because of the number of drop/hooks and their fright base is so huge they seldom slow down. Have you ever talked to any SNI drivers or hear of this from others?
Van, how often are you at grocery warehouse each week and how long do you normally have to wait?
How often do you get a load into the NY City area?
Why does Roehl have you change trucks so much?
Why would they put you in an auto-shift? Would they put me in one? Can you refuse an auto-shift? What would they do if you refused it?
I would think after a while I might become rusty with a standard.
Well in two weeks I will be moving my family to Missouri. Feb I'll be taking two weeks off to unpack the boxs, children into school and make sure my family is setup with everything. Mid Feb will start school with one of the following.
Roehl, SNI, or a school in springfield if the funds are approved through the WIA.
Maybe I'll see ya'll out there at a roehl yard some day, be safe.

Answer:
How often do you drive through Missouri down I-44?
I have gone down it every time I have headed to ElPaso. But with where I live, I do not get west of the Mississippi that much it seems.
How many miles did/are you driving in flaybed/van each week and how many of those miles driven are paid?
Can't answer on the milage for vans yet. During the summer I had 1 month that I had about 10,500 paid miles, other months were around 10,000 paid miles. You can count on between 5-10% more hub miles vs. paid miles. You would have to deal with this difference with most companies that use HHG. I will say that since I changed FM's in Nov my miles on flat's dropped. I am hoping it will improve with a new FM on vans.
I ask the question above because I've talked to SNI Drivers who usually get in 2600 to 3000 each week because of the number of drop/hooks and their fright base is so huge they seldom slow down. Have you ever talked to any SNI drivers or hear of this from others?
I have never talked to a SNI so can't help there. I have talked to alot of the Roehl van drivers though, and they say about the same thing. Alot of carriers are looking to try to lessen the impact of the new HOS by pooling trailers at customers to increase D&H.
Van, how often are you at grocery warehouse each week and how long do you normally have to wait?
This is my first dispatch on van, so can't help you there. But as I have already said before, flatbed drivers get held up just as long as steel plants. Add to the fact that after you have waited at the steel plant that you still have to secure and tarp. I had a real eye opener last November in NC. I pulled into a customer to load plywood. I was about 1/4 of the way loaded when a Roehl van pulled in. He swung the doors open and bumped the dock, he was getting basically the same load I was getting. About the time they got me loaded the van driver was shutting the doors and getting down the road. I still had about another hour and a half at the customer securing and tarping before I could get rolling.
How often do you get a load into the NY City area?
In your 1st year you will not go into NYC. You might go through it on the big road, but don't expect a delivery there. You will also not go west of the Rockies during your first year.
Why does Roehl have you change trucks so much?
Well in my situation I am not really the norm I will admit. I was placed into 2968 after phase II. I was moved to 3040, a condo, in August to finish out a phase II driver. I stayed in 3040 until the end of October when they needed the condo for phase II teams. I was in 2765 until 2 days ago.
Why would they put you in an auto-shift? Would they put me in one? Can you refuse an auto-shift? What would they do if you refused it?
I would think after a while I might become rusty with a standard.
3156 was the only unit ready to go in Marshfield. I could have rolled the dice so to speak, turned my truck in at Marshfield, take all of my personal items and hitch a ride to Gary to see what was down there. I opted for the truck in Marshfield. I actually think I am going to like it to be honest. It gives me a lot more room between the seats, easier to move around. In heavy traffic I know it is going to be a god-send. As a company driver, you are not really in a position to refuse a tractor, especially if you are just starting. Trust me, I HATED the last tractor I was in. As far as forgetting how to drive a manual, I am not afraid of that. I have driven manual trannys all my life. Sure I may scratch the gears a little until I get used to the eng/tranny but this is the case even in moving between different tractors.
Living in the MO if you do go with flats, I know we have a regular run that goes from Vesper, WI to Poplar Bluff, MO. Go with what you think will work best for you. For me, the extra .02/mile with flats just did not seem to be worth it anymore. I will post what differences I actually find between flat and van. I will say this much, if my new FM does what he says his goal is for his drivers I will be very happy. He said his goal is for his drivers to get at least 450 paid miles a day.
DRIVER BY CHOICE
Buzzdog

Answer:
Thanks for posting this Buzzdog. Was gonna call you and ask ya how things were going with the new gig.
*******************************
"Got the bird dog on...
Dodgin' the scales...
80 miles an hour and a step outta jail..." From "Rollin' Home, Pirates of the Mississippi)
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"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)
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Member: Happy Dweller Society
Owner Operator Division


Answer:
Funny how things work in a small world.
Buzzdog; I am leaving "van" operations (one more week), for "flat".
My current job is pretty darn good---same freight to same company, lots of drop & hook, paid on the hub, home any time I ask, good equipment, etc...
One may ask: "why would I want to leave a gig like this?"
Here's why: .02 cpm more (still on the hub), $30.00 tarp pay (about 70% of the loads get tarpped), chance to own the truck I will be driving---and paid at 92% of 100% gross revenue pulling his trailer. (note; this would not be a lease/purchase program, or any other scam---I would buy the truck directly from the guy that owns it.)
Just as a company driver alone...I estimate an $8,000 increase in yearly income, just from the .02 cent raise and tarp pay.
The company that I drive for now, had origionally hired me to pull flats, but once the half a day orientation was over, the boss man said they were getting rid of the few flats they have, and would I mind pulling van----I had no choice, if I wanted to work, I had to settle for van.
Well; they did not get rid of their flats---and never intended to. They just lied to me to cover freight being pulled in vans.
Yes!!! They lied to me the first day! (and some wonder where the loyallty is being destroyed)
Any how; this new flatbed gig will be a smart move on my part, and I feel a big change in my life comming for the year 2004.
Good luck with your change, I look forward to updates, and I'll try and update as well from time to time.
_________________________
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

Answer:
Good luck with vans Buzzdog. I made it through training and went solo on Dec 31st. I went with flats and so far I like it. I'm in truck 2597, if you see me come over and say Hi.
mandrtrucking: I only have 2 things to add, in my first week of training, we took a load to Colorado. Since I've been solo I've only gone as far as Cedar Rapids Iowa. A guy I was in school and orientation with took a delivery to NYC during Phase II. I don't know if that was a mistake on the FM part or if it was their choice.
edit: new trk #
[This message was edited by cammy85 on January 14, 2004 at 14:12.]

Answer:
I am on my 4th dispatch pulling vans. So far this is great. Every customer I have been to I have been in and out. Swing the doors open, bump the dock, close the doors, put it in the wind. I have been getting ALOT better miles. Go to my first grocery warehouse tomorrow, Food Lion in Salisbury, NC. In the past 3 days I got my hands dirty one time, forgot to put on my gloves when I opened the doors .
I hope this keeps up, with the miles I have gotten so far, I will easily end up with a better check then I have been getting. Things are great with the new FM also, heck he had me pre-planned 2 loads in advance the other day. Got to love that.
DRIVER BY CHOICE
Buzzdog

Answer:
Buzzdog, please keep posting about your new Van experance. I have two weeks until my internet is cut off and I have to get my applacation in to either Roehl or SNI by Feb 1, 04. I'm having a hard time deciding which company to go with Thanks.

Answer:
IMHO,it;s a no-brainer mandrtrucking; GOROEHL!!
Trucks will outrun SNI with no problem.
And inquire into curtainsides. They just hired some new guys a while back on our side. Very friendly freight. Strap it down (no chains/binders ) close the curtains and put yer chin in the wind . NO grocery whses--very little NYC freight. Give it a try.
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:
The clouds parted and I saw the light. Why oh why did I not do this from the start.
If grocery warehouses are the worst that I will see, then this is cake. Food Lion, Salisbury NC. Total time from checkin 4 hours total. I have spent 10 hours waiting to get loaded at Charter Steel in Saukville, WI with flatbeds, then had to tarp.
I took a .02/mile cut, but my milage has gone way up. My paychecks are better. I drive more paid miles, and I do less "work". Have had alot of drop and hooks. When I have had live load/unloads it has been real quick, except the Food Lion. They had to palletize(sp) the load.
I'm a happy dweller. Frightening thing is, this is the "slow" time of year. I can't wait to see what my milage will be like this summer.
DRIVER BY CHOICE
Buzzdog

Answer:
I was thinking of going with flat bed at Roehl out of Michigan. Would I get more loads doing Van and do they do curtain side out of Michigan? I am wanting to go to curtain side after about a year or two. Any suggestions?

Answer:
(as far as I know) We do a lot of work in MI. with curtainsides. Lot of lumber going in and out. One thing about it, if curtains are slow they will put you on vans til they pick up. Biggest problem I had with vans was the Pactiv and the StoraEnso freight. Both are hardly ever ready, and don't care when they are. Another problem I had with Stora, was that I'd get to the customer, and I always got the line "Well we never even ordered that load". Then you blow several hrs getting that straightened out. (Usually the customer was right) A lot of times I ended up taking it to a whse or a cross dock outfit like Conway or Roadway. I think with the new HOS we won't be seeing as much of this. We hardly ever see it on curtains. Much more driver friendly freight, and a whole new world of customers.
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!!!!!!!!!!