Roehl Transport GYCDL Training - Phase 1 Start Date: 2021-07-06

I am confirmed to attend Roehl Transport GYCDL - Phase 1 training in Marshfield WI, starting on July 6th. Upon successful completion of training and obtaining my CDL , I will return to the Phoenix area and become part of Roehl’s National Flatbed Division and start Phase 2 OJT with a trainer. Upon successful completion of Phase 2, I move on to Phase 3 and I will get my own truck and continue my OJT as a... Rookie Solo Driver.

Roehl's Training Road Map

2021-06-30 / Phase 0 (pre-training) / My backstory:

I am humbled and honored to be part of the Trucking Truth family. I am relatively new to this forum and I have been hesitant to post much here until such time as to having received my ‘official’ confirmation for training.

I feel blessed to have found this website as it has been highly beneficial for me thus far.... from utilizing the various HRT study materials.... to the plethora of information posted via the forum. I also enjoy the interaction of the moderators and the helpfulness of many of the members.

Trucking has never been a dream of mine.... and never in my lifetime would I have thought that I would end up driving a big rig.... let alone, becoming a flatbedder... a skateboarder.... a knuckle dragger?! But now, I shall follow in the footsteps of those flatbedders that have come before me here on TT... Old School, Chief Brody (aka ‘The knuckle dragger’), The Dragon, Pack Rat and many others.

I am 53 and in relatively good shape although I could stand to loose a few pounds, so sayeth my knees whom have not been friendly to me over the past few years. After 32 dedicated years working in one industry.., with only 2 different companies (11 years with my first company and 21 years with my last company), I am now starting this new career to carry me into my full-time retirement years... whenever that may be.

Being that I live in the Phoenix area, I opted to apply to Schneider, Roehl, Knight, and Wilson Logistics. I should have looked more at Swift and Prime... but, I did not. Ultimately, I chose to go with Roehl Transport as this has allowed all of my ‘pieces of my puzzle’ to fit the best.

In an effort to give ‘something’ back to the TT community, I intend to document my activities via this diary. I am unsure as to how often I will provide updates, however, I hope to provide an update daily, at least through Phase 1 of training. We will see... one day at a time.

I am extremely excited for my new start... and I am at grounded with the realization that I will have many new challenges facing me during my journey. I would be lying if I said that I do NOT have any hesitations and concerns... but... now is the time to stuff those into my back pocket...... eyes open, chin up, chest out, and with a wide-open mind.... I am ready.

I completed my DOT physical about 3 weeks ago, and soon after, I obtained my Class A learners permit.

In the next day or two, I will start the drive of approximately 1755 miles to my destination... Marshfield, WI.

And on July 6th, : Roehl’s Phase 1 Training begins.

G...

Congratulations Penn99!

We are looking forward to hearing of your progress. You can expect it to be challenging. Just keep plugging away and do your best. We are always here if you need some advice or a little "pep talk."

Good luck as you start with Roehl.

You may have me confused with Turtle, another moderator. The closest I've been to pulling flatbed has been pulling log trailers long ago.

Congratulations Penn99!

We are looking forward to hearing of your progress. You can expect it to be challenging. Just keep plugging away and do your best. We are always here if you need some advice or a little "pep talk."

Thank you, Old School. I always appreciate and respect the responses you provide to many of the members here. As far as requesting advice... yep... I will definitely be doing that!!

Good luck as you start with Roehl.

You may have me confused with Turtle, another moderator. The closest I've been to pulling flatbed has been pulling log trailers long ago.

Thank you, Pack Rat. And.... welp.... pulling log trailers counts in my book.... lol. I think I absorbed your name mentally from the last few pages of the 'Flatbed Variety' thread. I do enjoy your interactions here on the forum..... so.... all is good!!

2021-07-02 / Phase 0 (pre-training) / travel:

Driving… Phoenix area to Pratt, Kansas. 917 miles. Evening in hotel.

2021-07-03 / Phase 0 (pre-training) / travel:

Driving… Pratt, Kansas to Eau Claire, WI. 785 miles. Evening at my Aunt’s home.

My phone is in a dead zone at her house… and she has no Wi-Fi. UGH!! ‘Almost’ feeling too dependent on technology… especially since I cannot contact anyone via my own devices.

2021-07-04 / Phase 0 (pre-training) / travel:

Relax and events with family… Aunt, cousins, kids of my cousins. Evening at my Aunt’s home.

2021-07-05/ Phase 0 (pre-training) / travel:

Early start at 5am. Helped my Aunt unload a hay wagon and stack the hay bales in her barn. She has a few horses and 2 miniature donkeys that like to eat… hay. She also has a few chickens…. two baby turkeys… a dog… and a cat. Its been about 40 years since I last threw a hay bale. A great work out but I was winded a bit. The second trailer arrives this afternoon.... I am happy to 'not' be there.... LOL.

Performed the 3S’s then drove from Eau Claire, WI to Marshfield, WI. 89 miles. Next 3 weeks at a hotel.

I grew up and went to high school in a small town about 20 miles north of Marshfield. As I drove today, I stopped at a small little dairy to pick up some cheese and some cheese curds… for my upcoming 3 weeks in the hotel. The main diary for this smaller dairy is about 7 miles from the hotel. I intend to swing by there before heading back to the Phoenix area.

I also stopped by a small specialty meat shop in my hometown… picked up some smoked bratwurst and some smoked/spicy jerky sticks. I would like to come back here before heading home to the Phoenix area…. not sure if I will make it.

Drove by… and snapped a few pictures of…. my childhood home. I was last there a little over 2 years ago when my mother had passed, and my brother and I had to take care of her belongings and prepare the house for sale. Just looking to see how well the new owners are taking care of the house.

In Marshfield, drove by the Roehl terminal and misc. other Roehl buildings. Then… arrived at ‘Hotel Marshfield’ which is a few short miles form Roehl. I am checked in and awaiting my roommate to arrive.

Ready to start Phase 1 training tomorrow.

All is good.

Don't forget to check out the zoo. It's only a few minutes walk from the hotel and its not bad. Also the Mexican restaurant out by the Menards is way better than the one near the hotel. Good luck!

Don't forget to check out the zoo. It's only a few minutes walk from the hotel and its not bad. Also the Mexican restaurant out by the Menards is way better than the one near the hotel. Good luck!

Thank you for the information. I have been to the zoo many years ago... and I may just have to check out that restaurant. I brought 2 cooler with me and a bunch of food so that I can minimize eating out. But I will certainly take a bunch of cheese, meat, and a few other things back home to AZ.

2021-07-06 / Phase 1 / Training Day #1

Met Roehl shuttle van driver at 6:30am. Those with cars followed the shuttle driver to the Roehl facility. Today is the only day for the shuttle. Those without vehicles will need to catch a ride daily with those of us with vehicles. Training started at 7am today... and will be starting at 6:30am for the remaining days.

Introductions of instructors. Roll call of students. Twelve students and two no-shows.

A few students had to do a drug (urine) test as their original tests were over 30 days ago.

All instructors and students proceeded out to a truck/trailer setup. Each student had to verify that they could successfully complete various physical tasks: open/close hood, get into and out of cab using 3pt. connection (3 parts of body on unit) at all times, up/down on catwalk using 3pt. connection, duck walk under trailer to inspect 5th wheel (on both hands and both knees was an acceptable method to crawl under trailer), lower/raise landing gear of trailer, open and latch trailer door… then close a properly latch/secure trailer door, properly climb into/out of trailer. For those who will be driving flatbed, we also had to do two simple tarp handling exercises. All tasks were to be performed multiple times and were to be observed and approved by the instructors.

Completion of multiple forms using Tenstreet… each student using their own phone to complete the tasks. Completion of the I9 form. Obtained access badge to Terminal grounds and installed Roehl’s app on phone. App provides multiple functions for training... and for working for Roehl.

Introduction and welcome by Training Manager for facility…. Justin.

New member orientation presentation.

Initial Review of HOS (hours of service) and performed sample log sheet.

Introduced to… and assigned.... the JJ Keller video series to be accessed via Roehl’s app.

I spent 2.5 hours completing the first series this evening.

My update today is vague and basic due to the added homework outside of work. Time appears to be fleeting. The WIFI in the hotel is surprisingly terrible for many of us students…. phone reception is hit or miss... but seems to be ok at times. Tomorrow, I will see how well my hotspot from my phone will work. But for today... I had to find a quiet location near the main lobby to get my homework completed. UGH!!

I am a bit tired tonight..… time to sleep.

All is good so far…. Except the WIFI.

Super updates!

2021-07-07/ Phase 1 / Training Day #2

‘The Roehl Way’: presentation and in class exercises. Half of our training day.

Yesterday, we were assigned our specific instructor/trainer our team each training truck. I am stoked to have the instructor that I wanted and I am with two other students.

Today we went out to our training truck and started training on Pre-Trip Inspection (tractor only for now). Side note, all training trucks are automatics.

End of day… each of us was allowed to drive the training truck around the ‘training’ yard, two times. Another side note... the first time driving a big rig (no trailer)... was awesome!! Being an automatic... it was much easier than I originally had expected.

Watched 3 hours of ‘required’ JJ Keller videos at the hotel. Time management for my new career starts now!!

All is good…. except the hotel WIFI still blows chunks!!