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

2021-08-08

Another quick update.

I thought about starting another thread.... calling it Phase 2.... nahhhh..... will stay with this one.

Phase 2 essentially started back when I did my two days with the local driver out of Roehl's Phoenix Terminal. I started with my official driver/trainer exactly one week ago from today.

I continue to feel blessed... my current trainer has been excellent... he is several years younger than me... but he has been an excellent instructor and we have many likes and dislikes in common. I honestly feel that it could not have been a better matching. My understanding.... he feels very happy to have me as a student also. We get along extremely well... and we work together, extremely well!!

We are flatbedders... I don't need to get into any specifics... most of our loads have been light so far... some small... some not so small... but, 'relatively' light. I have done plenty of strapping... some tarping... and plenty of driving. Have not had the chance at using chains... or carrying a heavy load yet... but, that will come. We started in Phoenix... swung over to LA... down to Yuma... back to Phoenix... up to Salt Lake City... down through the Utah hills/mountains east of Spanish Fork (beautiful down that way)... and then down through Albuquerque into the Dallas area.

My trainers 70 hour clock ended a bit earlier than mine... thus... I drove the full 609 miles yesterday into the Roehl Terminal in the Dallas area. He timed us, almost perfectly.... maybe to close.... lol. As we parked in the terminal last evening.... I had 12 minutes left on my 70 hour clock.... lol!

The Roehl Terminal in Dallas is a bit smaller than the one in Phoenix. We knew it did not have a washer/dryer... but.... but we did not know that the courtesy car provided for drivers, would not be available to us as the there are no employees here on the weekend to provide us with the key... this is unlike other Roehl Terminals..... grrrrr!! Parking here last evening... somewhat of a disaster. The yard is packed with trailers, tractors... and tractor-trailer combinations. Ugh... what a pain. Today... it has cleared up a bit... waiting to see what tonight looks like.

Our saving grace.... today we Uber'd to Hurtado's BBQ about 4 miles away.... awesome BBQ. Other than that... chillin' in the truck and relaxing.

I have had an awesome week. I continue to be happy with my choice to go with Roehl... I am extremely happy with all my trainers.,,, and I am very happy doing what I am doing. I suspect this lifestyle works for me... at least for now.

We are waking early tomorrow to drop our load.... and await a new load.... and then on to a new destination. Damn... this is fun!!

All is good!!

The Conley yard, and maintenance facilities are pretty cramped on too little a section of real estate. My favorite terminal always was the facility in Gary, IN.

My trainer thinks there is a chance we may be headed there to Gary.... will find out more tomorrow morning. Four or five of my classmates were there yesterday with their trainers... I don't know how they managed that... maybe the stars and the moon aligned properly. They all had dinner together... pretty cool... with I could have been there.... but, back to the real world... lol.

South of Moab, UT

Hurtado BBQ

2021-08-15

And... another week of Phase 2 completed.

Multiple runs.... with multiple loads... pipes... steel coils crosswise... steel conduit... misc stuff being tansported. Strapping.... chaining... strapping some more.... and tarping....and putting on the miles!! Good Stuff!! I continue to have a great time and enjoy this every single day.

We are on another 34 hour reset. Relaxing and unwinding until we startup again early on Monday. Can't wait to get going again. Wish I had the motivation to write more here... but... its just nice to sit back, watch a little Netflix... and relax.

Working on my solo loads so that I can finish up Phase 2 and test out.... and then.... getting ready for Phase 3.

All is good!!

It sounds like you are really doing a great job! Enjoy those resets. You've deserved a break!

That photo from Hurtado BBQ looks so good it makes me hungry!

It sounds like you are really doing a great job! Enjoy those resets. You've deserved a break!

That photo from Hurtado BBQ looks so good it makes me hungry!

Thank you, Old School......

2021-08-24

Update...

Last Saturday, I finished up my Phase 2 training with Roehl.

Friday night, we (my trainer and I) ran out of time and stayed at a truck stop a bit west of the Phoenix area. Saturday morning... we dropped off our last load together... and then landed at the Roehl Terminal on the west side of Phoenix. I said a long farewell to my trainer... he was exceptional in every way that I can think of and I will truly miss training/working with him. As such, not all is lost as we have also become friends and I will remain in contact with him.

After a small wait, I met with the main instructor/trainer from the Phoenix Terminal.... I then obtained the keys to my truck (well, not my truck until I pass my testing), and proceeded to step through all the requirements of my Phase 2 testing. All went well... and.... I passed without any issues. Needless to say... I felt immense relief.... and I felt a wee bit of happiness.

My driver/trainer was suggesting.... and the individual giving me the test is highly recommending when the time is appropriate.... that I also become a driver/trainer for Roehl. LOL... I said absolutely not..... well, not for now... who knows what the future will bring. I told them both.... I need to focus on myself.... and focus on the areas where I need improvement... time will tell.... but, I see me staying solo for the remainder of my driving career.

The truck I tested in is officially now my truck. It is nice but has a few issues.... the previous driver was a smoker, so the maintenance team is trying to help out with that issue. Additionally, there are a few maintenance issues... and the maintenance team is also working on those items. Everyone in the maintenance group at the Phoenix Terminal... from the head of the department... to the guys in the shop... have been extremely nice to me and very helpful.

And so.... my solo journey begins tomorrow... the beginning of Phase 3 training for Roehl. I bought and prepared a few items.... and delivered those items plus some clothing to my truck today.... to my truck which is still in the maintenance bay.... all should be ready by tomorrow. I am nervous, anxious, and excited to start my solo life in a truck. Did I mention that I was nervous? Regardless.... I believe I will do well.... I will do everything in my power to do well. I believe I am ready.

And... for a little more info on my Phase 2 training... I already mentioned my trainer was exceptional. I also feel that my time training during Phase 2 was a wonderful experience and I am feeling blessed for all that took place. We never made it the Midwest, however, we did get to the Dallas area... but that was the farthest east we went. We were in the L.A. area a few different times and we were back in the Phoenix area a few different times. We also were up in the Bay area of CA one time.... one load but with three individual customers, thus, three individual drops. We then picked up a load in Sacramento.... and that load had 6 individual customers (6 drops).... one in eastern Nevada... and the remaining 5 in southern Utah. Strapping... unstrapping... strapping... unstrapping in the rain.... strapping in the rain... unstrapping. Fun stuff... at least this load did not have tarps.

And thus... the states we hit on our journeys... AZ, CA, NV, UT, and TX. Wow... what a great time I had.

And now... onto Phase 3. I am excited!!

All... is so very good!!

G....

Wow... its been a few weeks since I have last posted.

I started Phase 3 with Roehl after my last post...... and have been on the run ever since.

My first solo load in Phase 3 was a load of plastic sewer pipes... a relay load from the Roehl terminal in Phoenix to two different stops in the Sacramento area. I was nervous as *%*@ going out on my own... but shortly after leaving the terminal, the nerves died down and I think my previous training took over. It actually felt somewhat natural... well... as natural as it could possibly feel that early in my solo career.

My 1st solo load:

My 2nd solo load:

I have mostly bounced back and forth between northern California and Utah.... and somewhat in Nevada... and lately, I have been going in and out of L.A. a lot. Ugh... can’t say I like doing L.A. continuously... but... it is part of the job at this point.

All has been good very well... from my perspective. My Fleet Training Manager states I am doing extremely well. I have no reason to doubt him. He has also been excellent to work with......

All in all... I am enjoying my new career... and I am enjoying the lifestyle as a trucker. I feel well prepared by Roehl’s training. I was not expecting it to be easy.... and.... it has not been easy. The L.A. metro area has had me in few extremely stressful situations, yet, I have powered through. And I will never forget the number 1 rule.... do not hit anything.

My favorite trip thus far: picked up 4 aluminum coils in Vernon, CA (L.A. area) and delivered to the Coors Industrial Park in Golden, CO. Man, I love the Rockies!! Makes me seriously think about moving back to Colorado.

Dillon, CO.... before heading up that long hill to the Eisenhower Tunnel.

One of my recent loads.... picking up near Long Beach... ugh L.A. area.... again!! And... I had to tarp it!!

I am a Flatbedder... and sometimes the tarping can be a pain... and sometimes, certain driving situations can be extremely stressful... however.... I have never had any negative thoughts about having chosen this profession. I am actually enjoying this, and I am actually having fun.... every day.

This may change in the future... but for the time being, I am holding on to this and making the best of it all.

And so, as I wrap up Phase 3.... and starting tomorrow morning, I will be heading up to the terminal in Gary, IN to do my ‘Winter Training’... as the Phoenix terminal does not provide this training.... cannot imagine why.... lol.

Much thanks goes to Roehl... and much thanks goes to Trucking Truth.... for helping me all along the way with my journey.

All has been good. All ‘is’ good. Very good.

G....