My blog with Melton Truck Lines

Hey everyone. I have been a member on TTR since 2006. Finally had things line up where I could make the jump into driving. In January I went to Roadmaster in San Antonio. I blogged about my experience in the truck school section. I still like the training I got there and getting on the road is when you really see your skills grow.


Blogs by Evertrucker on Crete when he was there was reads I always looked forward to. Here's my attempt at a good read lol.


I started with Melton in February. Bnrobot wrote a good play by play on orientation. http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...22-orientation-w-melton-march-2014-tulsa.html


After orientation was over my trainer was at the Tulsa terminal and we hit it off right away. A day or two before I knew he was my trainer he walked by me strapping a load and gave me some pointers so as soon as I found out he was my trainer I knew or hoped trainer would be great.


My trainer started his career with Allied Van Lines , he was with them for 10 years before going to Schneider for three or four years. When I got on his truck he was celebrating his 3 year anniversary with Melton. No 6 month wonder training me lol.


We met on a Thursday and got a load out Friday morning. Of course trucking happened and we had a mechanical problem. Tulsa Cummins couldn't get the part till Monday. The shop hands me a voucher for a hotel for the next three nights. It was/ is early to base how a like a company but from what I read and heard most would of stuck my trainer and me in the truck for the weekend. Instead they put me in a hotel for the wknd. I was happy.


Monday comes Cummins has the sensor and we're ready to roll by eleven. We get a load off the yard going to North Carolina. Another driver had dropped the load, we did an equipment exchange a good pretrip and hit the road. The first day we drove over to West Memphis, AR. Nothing to exciting, took my first truck stop shower at the Loves and called it a night. I did see some stuff I read other drivers talk about. One driver blocked the fuel island for 30 mins to go get Taco Bell. The parking lot was half empty but he must of been hungry lol.


Day two we drove from West Memphis over to SC/NC border. Nothing to memorable except when I was backing into the spot at Loves for the night. It was a straight back no pull ups or anything and as soon as there is space between my hood and the truck in front of me a truck squeezes through at 25 mph. My trainer tells him to slow down he jams on the brakes and jumps out. Sees two of us in the truck, becomes less brave gets back in his truck and takes off. 95% of close crashes I see are in the truck. New guys go slow in the t/s. It's your license and job.


Day three we deliver in Mt Holly and pick up plastic pipe or tubing. Easy load and the shipper had a special attachment for the fork lift to put you safely on top of load. We had a two stopper in Delaware the next day. I think we stayed at the TA in Roanoke that night. New guys but in your t/s guide no parking at the Pilot in Roanoke. The Pilot was tiny and very few spots.


Day four we empty out in Delaware. Both receivers were happy to see us and we unloaded ASAP. We headed over to PA for some shingles back to NC. After that trip I realized how imperfect the Qualcomm GPS is. Both on the way and leaving the shipper it would freeze and I missed the turn. It took a lot of Effort in PA on state highways to drive. I don't know how else to explain it. We ended up at the Carlise Petro for the night.


Day 5 6 7 8 We deliver our heavy shingles in NC and reload steel for FL. We had an extra day on the trip. I forgot where we stayed that night but got up the next day drove down to the Petro in Reddick, FL. We were an hour or so away from Daytona but the trainer and I were too tired to rent a car to go see the 500 that wknd. Better off anyways because of the rain delays on the race. We delivered Monday morning to a construction site. It paid to be first that am because the job site unloaded one piece of steel at a time and it took two hrs a truck and there was two behind us. Met an ATS l/o. He was funny as heck and although he liked it at ATS he did not recommend leasing for the faint of heart. Also met a trainer from Cyprus. Glad I didn't go that route. We got dispatched for a next day p/up I'm GA going to Md.


Day 9 10 we pick up some aluminum siding in GA. That was the first time I had to put on the body strap suit and hook onto a cable to get on top of the load. It was a nice square load and easy to tarp. We delivered the next day in MD. At the receiver I found out why spread axles don't drive like tandems. Turning to tight you feel this pressure like you are up against something. It's your trailer axles getting ready to be dragged side ways across the pavement. You have the option to dragged tires side ways possibly blowing a tire out or repositioning to get a better angle. I got that better angle and no damage to the tires. After del we picked up brick headed for Iowa.


Day 11 12 We stayed the night somewhere in IL. The next day delivered in Iowa. I read a lot about other flatbedders helping other flatbedders but I do not think it happens that often. After we unstrapped and untarped our load the guy ahead of us wasn't finished. I went and helped him fold up his tarps and I think he about fell over when I started helping him. Truth was we needed him to get unloaded before we could and I couldn't sit in the warm truck and watch him struggle with his tarps in the cold. Anyways we loaded down the street heading for New Jersey.


I don't remember the rest of the day numbers for training but I do remember on the way to New Jersey we stopped at our Ohio terminal watched tv and did laundry for free. It was nice, quiet, and good to be away from the truck stop for the night. We delivered our load to New Jersey and there was a nice Italian Deli right there and I bought some good sandwich meat and bread. There is no overstating the difference of food from an Italian Deli to a grocery store deli.


We reloaded the same day in New Jersey at the port. I decided that day I would get my twic. We sat for 3 or 4 hrs with other drivers waiting for an escort. The guys with twics were in and out in an hour. After we got loaded and headed to the truck stop I found out I was done with training would be getting dropped off in Ohio to get my truck.


I did this on my iPhone so I apologize if it's hard to read or my auto corrects that don't make sense. I have had my truck for a few weeks. I'm on a 34 hr restart so I'll update on my solo travels probably later tonight. My trainer was great. It sucks being in a truck with anyone not your wife. My trainer was clean and we showered everyday. We could drive 14 hrs a day. Never not once was I or him driving while the other was sleeping. He gave me enough rope to figure things out and always had a good answer for questions I had. I still talk to him every day and probably will for a long time.

 

Alright second wind. My trainer and I stayed at the Ohio terminal over night. Woke up the next morning and got the keys to my 2014 KW T680. Just kidding. I got the keys to a 2013 KW T660. It only had 90,000 miles. My trainer helped me inspect it so I did not miss any possible damage or equipment I was signing for. We said our good byes and he headed out to Michigan.


Melton is big on the Smith System. I took a couple of tests and settled in my truck for the night. I could of got loaded that day but I had a UPS package coming the next day with my new debit card. The next day I was assigned a load off the yard to Virginia. It was steel light poles. It looks like a real big load but the poles are hollow and it is nice and light.


Melton did not know if I could park for the night at the receiver and google earth wasn't shedding anymore light. I aimed for a pilot about 30 miles out. Got to the pilot and it was packed at 330 trucks all over the place. Headed down the road and rest stop was empty and I got the best spot not to be blocked in or possibly hit.


The next day I delivered no problem. The guys could go home as soon as I was empty. They were fast and helpful. Lol. I was sent to Baltimore to pick up steel tubing and stakes. The guy loading me was in no hurry. After strapping and tarping it was almost 5. I didn't want to fight dc traffic going to my first stop in NC so I called it a night at the TA in Jessup. What a horrible fuel island that is. It's not hard but does not make any sense. It was my fuel stop and I didnt want to pay for parking.


The next day was my worst day since I took this adventure. It's 530 in the morning at a fuel island in Virginia. I was parked legally by 4 or 5 other trucks. I use the bathroom and do my load check. Get in the drivers seat about to release my brakes and here comes CRST. My Horn blowing at least 3 to 5 seconds and the trailer hits my truck. Pretty much dead in the middle of a 53 foot trailer is what hit my truck. I don't know how much to say because it's only been about a month. I have a camera in my truck and it caught the whole deal. I was able to drive away, it wasn't a preventable on my record because I was parked. But man my 8 month old truck needs a hood.


So, I deliver my first stop in NC and I am beat. Got hit today, had to untarp and retarp my load because it was a two stopper. I want a shower. Of course I took a wrong turn and even though it's a state highway it is not my day. Twisting and turning up a curvy mtn road with a 53 ft spread. Lucky a local driver was ahead of me and warned the other trucks coming the opposite way so we did not meet in a tight corner. I am grateful for that driver after a long day he gave me a heads up on everything on that tight road. Downside I didn't have a enough time to go back down and get to the truckstop. So Walmart it was that night.


I had the wknd to get to Joplin, MO for my final drop. But I was at Walmart and I didn't want to wait for Saturday morning shoppers to block me in, I left out at O dark thirty. Made it to the TN KY line and had lunch with my brother and met my nephew. Afterwards I passed out. I was still tired from the day before. The next day I head out and make it to the Petro in Joplin. I'm not big on buying stuff for my company truck but if I had my own I might skip that stop because that Petro/ and chrome shop has everything.


Delievered my load in Joplin and got a new load out of Arkansas taking me to Laredo. My load home, YEAH!


For or my first week I had 3 days of training pay and 1683 paid miles. I got my truck in the middle of the pay period.


I picked up in Arkansas and drove over to Oklahoma for the night. The wife says you can't make it too San Antonio tonight? I say of course but I'll be fired for driving over my 11/14. Drive to San Antonio and stay the night in my bed. Head out Wednesday morning and get to the Laredo yard. They have me drop my trailer at the forwarder and bobtail me home for home time. Got home Wednesday and stayed till Sunday night. Home 4.5 days charged two days home because they sent me home early. Got to bank the the rest of my home time days.


Week two 878 miles with 4.5 days of hometime.


Monday morning I wake up in Laredo yard. Number 14 on the board. Do my mandatory safety checkin and chat with some of the experienced drivers that were in my orientation. Get my dispatch for Washington State for Friday. My delivery appt is for 1 pm wst. I am thinking that's 3pm Tulsa time. I better get there early there is two other loads I know about strapping right next to me I don't want to sit all wknd.


First day of trip I make it just past Lubbuck almost to Amarillo. Go to bed at midnight head out 10 am. Get up to OK panhandle and the road is close for blowing dust . Call dispatch and they pay to route me over through NM and up i25. Get hungry decide I am going to stay at Denvr TA . Well that doesn't work so end up at quiet rest stop in Fort Collins, CO.


I get up the next morning realize my next fuel stop is to far and message in to stop in Laramine. Get the okay and fill up at the Petro. Decide I am going to take my 30 min break and shower at the Loves in Wamsutter, WY. As I am waiting to get checked in for shower I am thinking where is everyone ? Look outside and a Swift trainee parked at the fuel island ran in to use the bathroom but didn't set brakes. Truck rolls forward and hits 50 60 ft Loves sign. Trainer gets out of sleeper like what the hell happened ?


Take my shower and head out. Park at Idaho Falls, ID Flyin J. Get up the next morning call receiver they'll take today if I get there by three. See another driver heading to same place, I tell him but he says he'll del Friday. Head up to delivery and off load. I didn't have required packing list. The guy says you don't know what you have, I say 28 bundles of metal right on Bol. Anyways after hours dispatch saves day and emails packing list. Assigned a load from WA to KS.


Have to take a 34 hr restart because I can't make it to KS with available hours. Park at the Petro in Spokane, WA and camp out for 34. Pick up my load off the System Transport yard. Had about 5-10 of their drivers sit in their trucks and watch me untarp and unstrap load to put on my straps and tarps. Oh well headed to KS. DM makes appt for Tuesday because they can't dispatch me faster then 50 mph. Make it to delivery on Monday. Had to wait for their second shift to unload me but got it off for payroll cut off.


Week 3 3876 miles. Best week so far had eight days to drive the miles.


After I Delievered I was sent a p/up an hour away. Picked up two pallets and headed for Petro in Joplin. Stayed the night there and headed for my 2nd p/up in Kankakee, IL. Get loaded completely and stay the night at Loves in Kankakee. Take off the morning and take the toll road across IN, OH, and PA. I stayed the night in Breezewood, PA at the TA.


Next morning I deliver in DC had to fight morning traffic nothing I could do to miss it. Pickup in Baltimore the same place I p/up the last time I was here. This time I was loaded quick and made it to the Petro in Raphine, VA. Refr's and apu's don't bother my sleep had I not been so tired last night the o/o with straights parked next to me would of, but I slept like a log. Delivered this morning in NC. After delivery I have 2 hrs left on 70 and don't gain any hours till Sunday. Off to the t/s for a 34.


I took took a nap this afternoon and when I woke up I had a load. Picking up in SC for San Antonio, TX. God willing I'll be home Wed for my hometime that is scheduled for Sat and Sun.


Week 3 miles 1767 if I did the math right in my head.


So far everything is good with Melton. They leave me alone and let me drive/work. I haven't waited longer then an hour for a new load. APU is great for heat/ ac. I put my miles up but there is a lot of extras I didn't list like tarp pay, stop pay, local pay, and something else I am forgetting. Plus, my gi bill is paying for on the job training. The hardest part of the job is having everything fall on the wife. If something goes wrong at home when I am on the road all I can do is throw money at the problem and that's expensive. My wife and I are still learning but the pay check is in the bank every Friday.


Sorry about the long posts. I was going to do it when I get home but sitting at the ts isn't much fun. I'll keep it updated as much as I can.

 

Thanks. I like the KW. My only complaint is there is a seal either on the passenger door or windshield that makes it seem like the window is open. The first truck I was in didn't have the noise, it might be unique to this truck.