Roehl 7/4-7/3 Vs. Typical Regional Plan?

Hello all, I'm considering getting into trucking but one thing that I can't quite make up my mind on is whether to try the Roehl Transport 7/4-7/3 plan or just go with a general regional division of a company who has terminals nearby. My biggest concern overall is home-time. I want as much home-time as possible while still making a decent paycheck so no 7/7 plan from Roehl unfortunately. As I see it, Roehl's plan offers a longer home-time, as far as consecutive days goes, but as long as a regional division can get me home each weekend, which I realize is not guaranteed, they both should equal out to within a day or so of total home-time each month. Is this correct? I am fine being gone a week or so but would prefer to stay away from anything that would keep me out much longer than that, a few days for unexpected things that come up is fine but i'd want to get home as much as possible.

I run on a dedicated Roehl fleet. 5 days on 2 days off. Usually I leave sometime Monday morning and return home Saturday morning or afternoon. It is nice to get home every weekend but sometimes it's only for 36 hours which flys by real quick. Occasionally I'll get home on a Friday night which is great. I would rather that though then weeks out at a time.

Dustin's requirements:

My biggest concern overall is home-time. I want as much home-time as possible while still making a decent paycheck

Dustin, this is what many people look forward to. The bad news is that if you are at home, you don't get paid. I know you skipped the 7/7 plan, because that means drive a week then home (no pay) a week.

You "earn" a day at home for every week you drive. The usual OTR driver may be on the road for a month or more at a time (I stayed out two weeks) so they can be home four days.

So you can figure out the difference in your paycheck between those 7/3 & 7/4 plans.

If I'm not mistaken, I believe you must run otr for a while in order to be eligible for the slip seating gig. Maybe a Roehl driver can confirm.

If I'm not mistaken, I believe you must run otr for a while in order to be eligible for the slip seating gig. Maybe a Roehl driver can confirm.

You don't have to go otr to get on the home time fleets. Honestly tho I found that otr isn't that bad. I stay out 3 weeks and go home for a weekend I could go home every other weekend tho if I wanted to.

Dustin,

I run a dedicated account for Roehl..same as Joseph...on 5-1/2 and home for reset. Joseph is correct when he says the 34 hours go by quick. The nice thing is knowing that I will be home for at least one day a week to see my son. Keep in mind a 7/3 or 7/4 will be a floating schedule...those 3 days off will vary. Roehl has a terminal in Conley Ga, which I think is roughly an hour south of you.

I have been driving for Roehl for 1-1/2 years on a dedicated account and enjoy it. Nothing but good things to say about the company. Good luck in your search.

Tim

I'm Roehl, also, on a Regional Gig (newbie) 5/5.5 days....out on Monday morning (4am to 7am depart) usually back Sat morning by noon-ish. and maybe once a month, home on a Friday....for a longer weekend. And the hometime does go by quick....I also would like to be home more. I know my paycheck would suffer but thats ok, my sanity is priority number one while I'm learning this career. I originally thought that I could sneak in additional hometime during the week when i might be passing by my house. umm I thought wrong lol . I do pass by my hometown once maybe twice a week but stopping is tough unless its near my 10 hr reset or i have time on my load for delivery. well i was only able to stop once in 3 months. so that killed them hopes..... The Hometime you do get goes by really fast like everyone says. Don't forgot all the little things you did here and there at home during the week to keep up the house , add up to a big chunk when you got cram them in on weekends. Honey-Do lists for example.....lol....

Anyway, it all depends too on how much money you want to make.....but my advice is that its alot easier to ask for more driving time and less hometime from an employer than the other way around. So I would do the 7/3- 7/4 perhaps to start and then decide from there. The only thing that kept me from choosing that rotation is the slip-seating. You may get different trucks that youre switching on and off driving. Prostar one week Freightliner another week. not always..sometimes, Usually, I think you get the same truck u had; still sitting where u parked it and nobody drove it.....but u never know......also then having to empty out the truck of All your stuff when you come home and then pile it all back again when youre ready to roll again. I liked the idea of having my own truck assigned to me and only me. So i chose Regional instead. Good Luck with your decision....Hope everything works out for you..

Sorry to hijack the OP's thread. I'm also considering Roehl but have a different situation. I'd rather stay out a month to two months at a time. Does Roehl require one of those home time schedules?

Thanks for all the replies everyone!

When I mentioned wanting a decent paycheck I didn't mean 40k+ I'm well aware it would be lower than that but if I make over 21k, like I'm doing now with a company I've been with for 5 years, it would be an improvement haha. Surely regional or the 7/4-7/3 could get me near 30k which I'm more than fine with. Im not expecting to be rolling in money I just want more room than I have now while doing something I feel like I would enjoy versus a job that I don't enjoy and all I look forward to is when I'm able to leave for the day. I'm mostly just curious about whether the 7/4-7/3 would get me home more or less than a typical regional 5 or so days out with a weekend reset. Big plan overall is do what I have to for the year or so to get where I want to be, then find something that may get me home daily. I'm willing to do what needs to be done now to get there, just would like at least a day or 2 home a week If possible. Thanks again.

Dustin wrote:

Big plan overall is do what I have to for the year or so to get where I want to be, then find something that may get me home daily. I'm willing to do what needs to be done now to get there, just would like at least a day or 2 home a week If possible.

Dustin just a quick reality check on local work; the hours are typically very, very long. There is also a greater chance for traffic congestion and issues, operating in very tight spaces, etc. By the time your day is finished there is barely enough time to shower and eat before grabbing 7-8 hours of sleep to start it all over again the next morning. The other thing with local work, there are a lot of Mom and Pop operations that create stress and additional issues for their drivers. Not saying there aren't good local jobs out there, when you to that point just exercise caution in making your choices, talk to the drivers who work at these places, follow one of their trucks (if you have the time).

Based on what I read, Roehl seems to have plans that would be a reasonable compromise for you. Roehl is a good company. Once you hit your first year of experience the available options are almost limitless. Finding a good dedicated account is also something to consider. Good luck.