Comments By Hawk

Do any/many others do this? I've seen ads for CRST, Celadon, and Roehl seeking CDL trainees lately. I'll double check the ads, as I don't like TDI presently fishing for students deceptively.

BTW, I've checked with Prime, Knight, and CREngland for sponsored training already. Closed doors there, and not all due to location.

I know that if Roehl is hiring in FL then they will train and pay you to get your CDL. Fill out an app with Roehl and then give them a call, you will talk to someone directly with Roehl and they will fill you in on the Get your cdl program.

It's been a few weeks so I might be missing a few things so here's what I remember: They take your blood pressure and heart rate sitting down. After that you go to a squatting station and do ten squats, they measure your heart rate (hr) then you squat and hold that position another hr is taken. (This stimulates squatting under the truck) You then climb up a station to simulate climbing up a trailer hr is taken. After that you life a crate and walk a certain distance (I was flatbed so I am not sure if all these test apply to van and refer) Your hr is taken. You then walk over to another station and life a crate with weights in from waist level (hr is taken) You then have to simulate pushing a van door (hrs is taken) then you simulate pulling a van door (hrs is taken) Then you go lift a steel tarp and do ten curls with it. (If I remember the hrs is not taken) Same with the walking of the balance beam.

You take your permit test in your home state and skills test in the state that you go to school in. It takes about 3-5 business days for your home state to receive your skills test results. Hope that helps!

I had meant to keep a diary of my training while I was going thru the Get your CDL program at Roehl but time got away from me these last four weeks! So, instead,I will give you all the highlight real of my experience along with a few feelings.

A few notes about the program that are not notes in the review of the school on trucking mg truth:

This is a four week program and you are an employee from day one. You are paid $500 a week while you train to take your cdl skills. A hotel room is provided (shared with another student) and the hotel provides breakfast in the morning. Roehl provider lunch for you and a voucher for dinner at the hotel restaurant if you are in Marshfield (not sure about other locations). You are responsible for travel to and from the terminal each day and class runs m - f from 7 am to 5 pm and on Sat from 7 am to 11:30 am. You must come with your state's cdl permit and a d.o.t. physical that they pay for.

Week 1: You start out by filling out paperwork and taking a physical fitness test on Monday. Then they take a few students to the simulator to learn how to shift including the art of double clutching. The next day the students that didn't get into the simulator go while the one's that already had gone join an instructor out on the track bobtailing around in the truck. Day three is spent hooked up to a trailer and on the simulator learning how to turn. By day four you are out on county roads driving with an instructor! Day five builds on the previous day. Day six is spent in the classroom learning. ( This is very intense and I never thought I would be on the road with actual traffic the first week!)

Week two: You start city driving and learning the pre-trip. Each day builds on the last. They teach you company policies and you start to learn how to back the truck. The right hand and left hand turns get harder as you improve on your skills. The pre-trip becomes your responsibility so start arriving at 6:45! ( Again WOW! So much to learn! Hard to believe that we will be taking our CDL pre-test next week)

Week three: Monday and Tuesday are pretty much the same as week two. Wednesday is cdl pre-test day in the morning. You will only do your In-cab test, air brakes and the driving portion of the test, no pre-trip or backing portion. The afternoon is filled with backing. By Thursday and Friday you work on where you need improvement and the instructors start backing off on the coaching. (Week three goes by quick and you start to feel more confidant about your skills. You also receive your first paycheck so budget accordingly if you quit a job to come to work at Roehl)

Week 4: Monday and Tuesday you are on your own so to speak. The instructors are still in the passenger seat and will stop you if you are unsafe but by now you need to know your stuff. Wednesday is CDL test day! When you are not testing you are shown videos about safe driving and quizzed on them. (I passed!) The one's that pass are given their fuel cards and set up their company voicemail. Thursday you receive your certificate of completion, a class picture is taken and you learn how to do a 45 degree back! The van driver's meet their fleet manager and go home after lunch while the flatbed driver's start cargo training. Friday morning is spent in the classroom learning more cargo training, you meet your fleet manager and Friday afternoon is spent outside doing hands on work. No Sat class during week four so you get to home after Friday! (Test day was nerve wracking and the hardest test I have ever taken.)

This is very intense program and probably the hardest thing I have ever done, it's a long month but goes by quick. Study at night and learn the pre-trip, ask questions and be open to constructive criticism. Everyone there wants you to succeed and every company driver and instructor is happy to have you as part of the team! Safety is number one and is a cornerstone value!

I know this was a long post but if you are considering Roehl then I can't think of a better company to join, I have felt valued from day one and I feel like I made the best choice for stating my new career!

Thanks, going to be starting out in the flatbed national fleet.

I have been lurking around on this site for the last couple of months. Ater doing a ton of research and a lot of talking with friends and family, I have decided to leave my sales career and become a truck driver! I am enrolled in the "Get your CDL" program with Roehl Transport. Because of the High Road Training program, I was able to pass my written test on the first try! I now have my permit and am ready for the hands on learning!!