Start Orientation July 2014

Howdy All,
I am currently a student at a CDL school here in IL., just south of Chicago. I finish school next week then test for my license the following week. I've decided to try flatbed because it gets you out of the truck more and some exercise... plus it seems to pay more, in most cases, than dry van.
I've been in construction my whole life and worked in all kinds of weather...be it 100 degrees or 10 below for 8 hours or more. Now obviously those are extremes but they do happen here. Anyway, I don't think the weather will bother me to much.

I have been doing a lot of reading on these boards and other forums as well. I realize no company is perfect and they all have their good points and bad. I just try to weigh them and see which one is a good fit for me. I had it narrowed down to 3 and decided on Melton, only time will tell if I made a good choice. I will give it my best shot. Hey, we all gotta start somewhere and it looks to me like Melton is better than a lot of them, definitely not the worst.

The CDL school I'm enrolled in has recruiters coming in almost every other day. Heck, some come in when they are not even scheduled, they just show up. I've lost count on how many I've seen. Some of them look like used car salesman ( somehow that seems offensive to used car salesman lol) as soon as they open their mouth's doodie comes spewing out...on the other hand some do seem to tell it like it is and don't promise you the world.

I do have a few questions about Melton and was hoping some of you guys or gals could answer them.
1) Does Melton have many runs to the Chicago area? There are a few steel mills and such here and of course northwest IN.
2) I believe I was told if you are within 75 miles of your home you can stop by. What exactly does this mean? Sleep at home for the night or just stop by to pick something up?

I will probably have a few more later, the recruiter answered a lot of them for me.

Thanks for any help and I hope to join your ranks soon!
Safe travels to all!

 

Thanks Army for the info. It is much appreciated.

Safe Travels!

 

You are probably right. I've found in the construction industry that if a company has 4 or 5 jobs going and 1 is close to your house you can bet your arse they'll send you to the 1 farthest away from it.

Thanks for the insight Mrh2008.
Safe travels!

 

I was told Tulsa. I will be renting a car...don't feel like sitting on a bus for 11-12 hours.

 

Sorry to hear your truck got hit jsprocket, that sux. Like ya said at least they cover a lot of the car rental.
Safe travels!