Go Melton? Or stay home??

Discussion in 'Melton' started by Dodgerfan82, May 26, 2014.

  1. Dodgerfan82

    Dodgerfan82 Light Load Member

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    Apr 9, 2013
    Temecula, Ca.
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    Hey guys.. Writing from my phone so excuse the wall of text. I have a question for you guys.. I have been a tow truck driver for about 9 years now, and I do alright here.. I do have my class A and jump in the big wreckers from time to time but it's usually only when the normal heavy driver are sick or on vacation. I'm trying to find a way to make more money but being stuck in a light duty tow truck isn't really doing it.. I have pretty much reached the pay ceiling for light duty and that means I am taking home a little more then 600 a week after taxes and with horrible benefits. So I have been looking into trucking. I will admit I am one of the guys trying to get experience then find that gravy local job.. I have a family and all that and where as I am no stranger to being away from home (prior Navy) I don't want to do it for less money then I make at home. Atleast not for long.. I know I will have to pay my dues.. So my question is since I don't believe half of what the recruiter at Melton told me... In your guys opinion is it worth it? Outside of my love of big trucks... Even though my 45 ton wrecker is way cooler then any 10 speed Highway truck lol. Is there still money to be had out on the road? Working for Melton? Etc. I'm just trying to get back to a solid 1000 a week take home. Thanks in advance guys I value your opinions and appreciate what you do out there!
     
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  3. CenutryClass

    CenutryClass Road Train Member

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    Old Dominion. You don't need to pay your dues before finding a local job. Check indeed, the transport section of craigslist..Just throw ###### at the wall and see what sticks. Someone will call you.
     
  4. Dodgerfan82

    Dodgerfan82 Light Load Member

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    Apr 9, 2013
    Temecula, Ca.
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    Good to see a Conway guy.. I have talked to lots of well payed and happy Conway drivers.. And yeah I have thrown out some leads but do to only jumping in a big truck and logging once or twice a month I keep getting told I need Otr experience.. I have had my class A for about 9 months all together but am only in a big rig a few days a month... Think I should put in some more time and keep dropping apps? I havnt tried Old Dominion... They are actually here local to me.
     
  5. jerseyguy71

    jerseyguy71 Light Load Member

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    Jun 16, 2013
    plainfield,nj
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    never trust what any recruiter says(get it in writing)name of the game is move the freight and they are telling us(drivers)any & everything to fill their trucks...plz dont be some companies next victim for the sake of getting exp it'll put a bad taste in your mouth towards the industry
     
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  6. Aireal

    Aireal Medium Load Member

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    Aug 20, 2012
    Garden City, TX
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    If you can average 600 miles a day 6 days a week @ .32 pm that's 1,100, add in tarp pay, then take out taxes and it will be around what you want. Truck's are governed at 65 ( or were) so it is possible to make those miles plus.

    They are a good company, some of the dispatchers are a little pushy, but that's everywhere. A lot of it is time management, you have to know how to get your load, secure it, tarp it and get on the road in a timely manor and then in reverse.
     
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  7. Dodgerfan82

    Dodgerfan82 Light Load Member

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    Apr 9, 2013
    Temecula, Ca.
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    Ok. Well it sounds like it can be done then. I appreciate all the responses.. I actually got some bad news in an email it's seems like I would need to go to class A license school even though I already have my CDL to get into Melton... They need 6 months of logs or CDL school.. So im not sure what I should do. I do know as much as I love my wife and kids there is something about the road that keeps calling me.. Maybe it's an itch I should go ahead and scratch. Thank you again.
     
  8. ramblingman

    ramblingman Road Train Member

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    I'm a Flatbedder for Systems Transport and i feel confident saying Your not going to make $1000 a week take home your first year. Melton does a lot of short haul work. 900-1000 miles average which sounds nice,but on a unload/reload day you will be lucky to make 400 miles especially with E-Logs.

    My personal average haul length for 2014 is [TABLE]
    [TR]
    [TD="class: xl63, align: right"]1241.538462[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [/TABLE]

    and i get many 1500+ mile runs.

    I think as an OTR flatbedder you will pretty much top out at 60k per year which is 1328.90 Gross per week. Before you ask no you do not divide by 52 you divide by 45.15 because that is the true # of weeks you work if you take one day off per week which i imagine the majority of us OTR do and you being a family man will be at least that if not more.

    Financially, you will be better off staying where your at. If you need to do this for personal reasons then so be it, but don't do it for the money. Health insurance may be good at Melton, but it's horrible here at systems and most trucking companies.
     
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  9. Dodgerfan82

    Dodgerfan82 Light Load Member

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    Apr 9, 2013
    Temecula, Ca.
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    Yeah not expecting to make that at first.. Just want to get there within a couple years. However I am hoping I can expect to take home 6-700 a week fairly quickly.
     
  10. Dodgerfan82

    Dodgerfan82 Light Load Member

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    Apr 9, 2013
    Temecula, Ca.
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    How do you like System? They are my next call.. Not even sure if they take CDL school grads.. I live in southern California so it seems my flatbed options are slightly limited.
     
  11. ramblingman

    ramblingman Road Train Member

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    I'm doing that in my first year, but you will have higher cost of living out here on the road and the priceless cost of lost time with your family. During training you will be bringing home 300 or so a week for the first 2 months which needs to be considered.If you have to go through a trucking school i just don't see it being worth it. You'll be broke or in debt from trucking school and then work for pennies the first 2 months so you can make a couple hundred more bucks per month maybe eventually? Meanwhile you'll be pushed to your breaking points living in a truck with some Douche who's using you as cheap labor (team driving training) lonely missing your family making no money living off of crumbs while your family is broke back home wondering when the pay checks are going to get bigger.

    Then once you get through that hell more than likely you will deal with some dispatcher devoted just to newbies and be ran through the wringer your first 6 months to see if you got what it takes to stick. They will more than likely run you to death and then leave you hanging for the first 6 months until they figure out your not going to quit. You won't have any choice either because you'll be broke from trucking school and slave wages in training.
     
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