Comments By Weatherman

Day one is complete.

I was expecting a lot hurry up and wait today but was only half right. There was plenty of wait but not so much hurry. We were picked up at the hotel at 6:40 am to begin Orientation at 7:00 am. There are 10 people in class and after starting the day filling out paperwork we waited in line for our drug test, another line for the DOT physical, and finally waited to take a strength and mobility test. The last couple of hours were spent going over Hazmat and hours of service.

The physical was not bad. I would recommend letting your hair grow out on at least part of your body to make the hair test easier. Even more important make sure you bring any prescription medications with you in the original bottle. And remember some medications may require a letter from your personal doctor stating that you can drive on said medication.

A bagged lunch was provided for free consisting of a sandwich (I had turkey), brownie, and chips. We were also given an $8.50 voucher to be used at a nearby restaurant for dinner. Throw in Breakfast at the hotel and all of my meal were paid for today.

Tomorrow we are suppose to work on yard skills in the morning then more class work in the afternoon.

Well, after doing my research and earning my CDL through a private school I find myself setting in a hotel room waiting to begin orientation with Roehl Transport tomorrow morning. This thread will probably not be anywhere near as epic as Wine Taster's Roehl Training Thread but It should hopefully give a different perspective for those coming from a private school and/or looking to drive as part of Roehl's dry van fleet.

So far, all is going well. I was given a rental car to drive from Columbia SC to the hotel in Georgia which is an awesome start considering I was in no way looking forward to riding a greyhound (which is also an option if you prefer). The hotel is pretty nice and has an indoor pool. I do have a roommate however the rooms are pretty good size so at least we should not be tripping over each others stuff.

Tomorrow I can expect a lot of hurry up and wait. Most likely just Drug test, DOT physical, and other paperwork. I do not expect any issues long as my blood pressure behaves. I will update as I can but please let me know if you have any questions.

Man, Thank you for this post. I feel even more confident that I made the right choice joining Roehl.

Best of luck to you Max! You can add one more to the list of people starting next week. I am headed to Ellenwood Ga tomorrow to hopefully begin a great career with Roehl. :)

It will probably depend on what you military driving experience consisted of. One of my CDL school classmates received a military exemption from taking the CDL skills/road test. He still needed to go through a CDL school first because he only had experience driving straight trucks with automatic transmissions; however he received his license once the course was complete. Start talking to recruiters to see what they require and do your research as many companies love hiring vets and there are some really good programs available (especially if you have unused GI bill benefits).

I failed the CDL exam twice (damn you alley dock) and had no problems finding a job. Most places will take you as long as you have a CDL and a certificate from your CDL school.

I would say yes. Both provide you access to more loads and therefore will help you drive more miles. I am starting orientation next week and Roehl does not require you to have a TWIC card, but my recruiter recommended that I get one. I am also required to bring a travel document which includes either a birth certificate, Passport, passport card, Enhanced Drivers Licence, or FAST card. I already have a passport so I am bringing that with me. However I am not sure if there are any advantages to having a FAST card in lieu of a passport. That would probably be a better question to ask in the general forum.

Hopefully this helps

The Free And Secure Trade Card, better known as the FAST Card, is part of a program designed to expedite handling of shipments through customs between the United States and Canada.

TWIC is a common identification credential for all personnel requiring unescorted access to secure areas of MTSA -regulated facilities and vessels, and all mariners holding Coast Guard-issued credentials. Individuals who meet TWIC eligibility requirements will be issued a tamper-resistant credential containing the worker's biometric (fingerprint template) to allow for a positive link between the card and the individual. (homeport.uscg.mil)

Basically FAST helps speed up deliveries crossing the border and TWIC grants you access to shipping ports/docks.

Awesome information. Thank you for taking the time to write this up.

I am headed to Ellenwood Ga on the 28th to start my training with Roehl. I am going to agree with the problem driver theory. $230 is maybe 750 miles per week. Also keep in mind things tend to slow down at certain times of the year. I have been checking in with the Roehl thread on that other trucking forum, and it appears they just now recovered from the 4th of July holiday.