How Roehl Transport Supports Drivers During the Pandemic
Truck drivers have long provided the goods that power the American economy, and now more than ever before, their health and safety is critical to our recovery. Sadly, some companies have not provided the help and support their own employees need during this global pandemic, revealing a lack of values and leadership. If your company is like that, consider the differences a safe and stable carrier like Roehl
Transport can make in your personal and professional life.
It’s important to know that Roehl is built on values. Founded by a driver almost 60 years ago and now led by CEO Rick Roehl (who still maintains his CDL), Roehl’s cornerstone value is Safety. Having a driver as a leader meant that Roehl’s leadership kept their eyes on the horizon to identify potential threats to safety, including the threat of coronavirus as something to take seriously and to plan for very early on and long before there was discussion of Safe at Home orders. “These are unexpected and unprecedented times, and we’re addressing the challenges. We’ve been educating and protecting our employees, partners and communities at large,” said Tim Norlin, Roehl’s VP of Driver Employment.
Roehl developed continuity plans to assure they could continue to serve their drivers’ needs, and those plans are adjusted and executed based on ever-changing conditions. For example, one of the first things the company did was to create an Emergency Response Team and to ensure their terminals would remain open, clean and safe for their driving teammates. “We have locations across the US, and making sure our driving teammates had access to them is critical for so many reasons,” Norlin commented. “It’s unfortunate that some places have shut their doors to drivers – the people who deliver the goods that our country needs – products, medical supplies and food.”
Driver Success is also one of Roehl’s values, and that means providing the care and solutions to help drivers meet their personals and professional needs. “At our terminals, we have liquid hand sanitizer that our drivers can use to fill up their own bottles,” Norlin said. “We also have non-medical masks available for each of our drivers,” he added, noting that the masks are also available at terminals.
As the coronavirus pandemic continues, many people are out of work. The economic impact on those families can be tremendous. A benefit of driving for one of the largest and most successful trucking companies in North America is Roehl’s diversified customer base. “While some customers have reduced shipments, others have increased. For example, our refrigerated fleet is one of the largest in the nation and our drivers are moving even more frozen and temperature-controlled loads (like frozen foods and cheese) to keep up with increased demand,” Norlin shared.
Through it all, Roehl’s Executive Leadership team has met regularly, communicating openly with employees, answering questions, and making educational resources readily available. “Truck drivers and transportation professionals help meet the critical supply chain needs of our country, and Roehl drivers are truly leaders in this industry,” Norlin said.
If you are a driver who is not feeling safe or supported, Roehl is open, investing and hiring. Roehl offers professional drivers a variety of fleet and home time options including national, regional and dedicated positions with most drivers receiving weekly home time. For more information on professional truck driving jobs and how Roehl is providing additional resources to those who may be impacted by travel guidelines, office closures or other obstacles, call 715-591-7050 or visit www.roehl.jobs.