Looking To Get My CDL License, Need Advice!! Thanks!

Hello all of the fellow Truckers! My name is Zach and I am going to attend my local technical college to obtain my CDL. I was wondering if some of you veterans could help me out by answering some of my questions. I'm only 20 years old I turn 21 in December. The program at the college starts in October and in order to attend the program before I'm 21 I have to have a pre hire letter. I've called around and so far Werener and Melton are the only two that will give it to me prior to being 21. Do you guys know if there are any other companies out there that would give me a circumstantial Pre Hire? Melton is supposed to be calling me back within the hour with a contingent offer of employment. They told me I would start at .37 cpm. $40 Tarp per load. .39 cpm after 6 months. 8 Days training in Tulsa, OK for $500. Then 3-4 Weeks with a trainer for $490/Wk Then I'll be on my own. Their fleet is 2012-2014.

I really want to get in with Roehl, I don't know why but I've read about them seen videos and all and I really think I'd enjoy working for them, As a new father and husband I feel Roehl has the best home time options, I really like the 21/7 option. I am in Tampa bay area, Florida, so Roehl wouldn't give me a truck they would fly me to the terminal and fly me home every 21 days. Unfortunately they won't give me a pre hire until I'm 21.

As a starter company who would you guys recommend? (I know there's thousands of posts out there to view but it's hard to sift through them all) A company with good hometime. Also, What can I realistically expect to bring home with me? How many miles can I expect to drive if I drive by the DOT Regulations? I'm trying to make a good choice, I'm getting into trucking so I can afford to rent or buy a home for my family, and move up in the world. My bills right now (Living with my parents) Total around $700 per month. Plus baby expenses etc. The idea of trucking excites me tremendously. Please share your thoughts and Ideas below, I appreciate it! Thank you all!

The recruiter from Roehl told you they would fly you to work and then fly you back home every 21 days? If this is true, which I don't think it is, it would be the first regular route company that ever did this. Personally I think the recruiter is blowing smoke up your backside but hey I could be totally wrong though.

I might need to go to work there. I guess if they are willing to spend a few hundred dollars a month to transport you back and forth on a plane every 21 days then you might want to go there cause you will not get a better offer than that anywhere.

I can't post a screenshot as I'm on my phone posting this. But here is copy and pasted the job description. In in Florida they have no close terminals. Go to roehl's site and search for jobs in zip code "34669" to see it live.

-------"In this unique fleet, you will have a dedicated Fleet Manager and planner with seven days a week coverage to ensure all of your needs are taken care of as you pick up and deliver van and refrigerated freight. If you pull a refrigerated load, you'll earn 2 cents more per mile.

You'll operate for 21 days, mainly in the Midwest, driving in many of the same lanes and for repeat customers. About 80% of your loads will be drop and hook freight. You'll then go home for seven days.

When you join this fleet, you'll be flown to one of our terminals in the Midwest, where you'll drive for three weeks and then you'll be flown back for your week of home time. We will pay for your flights, baggage fees and transportation to and from the airport in the Midwest.

On this fleet, you’ll get the Your Choice Pay Plan™ that allows you to earn a pay increase each quarter up to our top rate, and you can add to your income as a Driver Trainer (as much $10,000 a year) or referring other drivers to Roehl. Plus, we pay you for services many other companies overlook—like all intermediate pickups and drops and premiums if you go to Canada".---------

I can't post a screenshot as I'm on my phone posting this. But here is copy and pasted the job description. In in Florida they have no close terminals. Go to roehl's site and search for jobs in zip code "34669" to see it live.

-------"In this unique fleet, you will have a dedicated Fleet Manager and planner with seven days a week coverage to ensure all of your needs are taken care of as you pick up and deliver van and refrigerated freight. If you pull a refrigerated load, you'll earn 2 cents more per mile.

You'll operate for 21 days, mainly in the Midwest, driving in many of the same lanes and for repeat customers. About 80% of your loads will be drop and hook freight. You'll then go home for seven days.

When you join this fleet, you'll be flown to one of our terminals in the Midwest, where you'll drive for three weeks and then you'll be flown back for your week of home time. We will pay for your flights, baggage fees and transportation to and from the airport in the Midwest.

On this fleet, you’ll get the Your Choice Pay Plan™ that allows you to earn a pay increase each quarter up to our top rate, and you can add to your income as a Driver Trainer (as much $10,000 a year) or referring other drivers to Roehl. Plus, we pay you for services many other companies overlook—like all intermediate pickups and drops and premiums if you go to Canada".---------

Dang, sweet deal.

Ok so it's on the website... Maybe I am looking at this wrong but whoever came up with that type of fleet needs to be shot..... From a Financial point of view.

Now I am not saying that you should not go there and this is not about you. Now I am making it about the idiot that designed that fleets marketing plans, and yes fleets do have marketing plans before the get pushed through and given life, cause speaking frankly for a former small company owner it makes no sense at all.

On top of the $900 to 1200 dollars a week they are going to give away with no hopes of seeing a return another $400 to $500,every few weeks cut their revenue down by a whole lot.

I am of 3 minds on this.

1) it's a bait and switch. Promise you the world then always find a reason or excuse not to stick by what they said and you have to fight to make them come around and struggling to make them stick to what they said.

2) They are putting together a really good thing. They are bending over backwards trying to pull in drivers with an attractive offer. Which is great but makes me question their intelligence. Are they hurting for drivers so bad that they will sacrifice their financial well being in hopes of getting one good driver out of 100 people that are going to jump on this opportunity? I tend to shy away from bad business practices even if they are only on the surface...... The Iceberg and all...

3) Go for it. Such up all the money you can while the getting is good before some of their bean counters come across this and start yelling really loud how their really thin profits are being spent on transportation and they are seeing no return on the transportation cost.

In closing I really don't know. Seems to good to be true. I do know both sides of the issue cause I have been there but this new fllet does not make sound Financial sense.

I would try it but watch yourself. I have seen more seemingly sound plans back fire, *coughs* Arrow Trucking *coughs* and the drivers are the ones that had to pickup the pieces.

Oh I forgot to mention desperation. When companies start doing things out of what seems like desperation I begin to looking for the cracks that surely will be forming in the walls of the dam right before it breaks apart.

Just be caution is all I am saying.

Yeah. I see what you mean. It's too good to be true. Why would they waste finances flying me, a newbie all the way to the mid west. Can't they just hire some local guy to do it. I've read good things about Roehl. I don't see them having such a shortage they have to fly drivers into delivery areas every couple weeks.

I'll know tomorrow( Friday) If Melton will give me a pre hire letter. I accepted contingent employment. Took the 45 minute interview over the phone. She said the hire department will check it over and get back to me. I've seen Good things about Melton. Do you have any experience with them or any ideas?

I re-read that post and it sounded like company bashing which it was not meant to be. And did not mean to scare you a way from Riehl. To this point they have always been a solid company and still are. It's just this offer was the only one like it and it just seemed strange and will say it still does.

Maybe Brett can provide an answer as to the why. It's just strange is all.

Roehl Transport has some of the best home time option in the country. Here's some of them:

7-On/7-Off Fleet

Exclusively from Roehl, our 7-On/7-Off Fleet drivers drive seven days and then they are home for seven days at a time. If you choose a 7-On/7-Off Fleet, you’ll have 26 weeks a year off. You must be fully rested prior to dispatch. Space in the 7-On/7-Off Fleets may be limited in some areas of the country.

7/4-7/3 Fleet

Getting more miles is a key feature of our 7/4-7/3 Fleets. When you join a 7/4-7/3 Fleet, you’ll drive seven days, then be home four days, then you’ll drive seven days followed by three days of home time. That’s an average of 120 days off and mileage goals between 95,000 and 105,000 per year. You must be fully rested prior to dispatch, and space in the 7/4–7/3 Fleets may be limited in some areas of the country.

14/7 Fleet

Roehl’s 14/7 Fleets are unique options that combine the mileage goals of a 7/4-7/3 Fleet (between 95,000 and 105,000 per year) with the extended home time of a 7/7 Fleet. You’ll drive fourteen days and then be home seven days. Space in our 14/7 Fleets is available in limited areas, and you must be fully rested prior to dispatch.

The job you're referring to sounds like 21 on/ 7 off. I'm not sure why they're looking to fly drivers in. Maybe it's an account they just landed and they desperately need to get the driver count up as quickly as possible. I'm not sure. I know if you book flights ahead of time or you're flying certain regular routes you can get them pretty darn cheap - $150-$250 for a round trip ticket. For the company to spend an extra few hundred bucks per month on some drivers, especially if it's for a short time, might not be a big deal in the grand scheme of things. It really just depends on their current situation.

I know there are oil companies that do the same thing. We had a fella on this site a few months ago that if I remember correctly was being flown from Arizona to Texas or something like that every three weeks.

I all, new poster here.

I am currently in my CDL school, I take my driving final on Monday and my DPS driving test on Tuesday. Roehl just came in to talk to us on Wednesday and while we did not discuss this particular situation (We're in Houston,) We did discuss them doing the Rental Car thing for orientation and training as opposed to bussing. But overall, if I was wanting to run dry van or reefer I would go Roehl. (Going Flatbed)

I used to work for oil companies and they will fly people for their time off as well. It's not as uneconomical as it sounds really. They likely buy a "block" of open tickets for each month based on the number of people they need to fly at a very discounted rate 2 months in advance. You will surely be sitting at the very back next to the crapper but you will be on a plane. Think of it as an investment in their work force. If you are a good driver and are a value to them, doing what no other company will do will keep you there for the long haul. They get a dedicated employee and you get treated like you matter. It's a great way to keep your people happy if you ask me.

Cheers!