Melton Truck line Q's that haven't been able to answer well. Currently in CDL school.

Discussion in 'Melton' started by DayoldMeatloaf, Oct 24, 2014.

  1. DayoldMeatloaf

    DayoldMeatloaf Bobtail Member

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    Oct 23, 2014
    San Diego, California
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    Hello everybody. I was accepted to Melton's Nov, 17th orientation, and i'm just biding my time till I'm there.

    Alright first Bnrobot's http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...22-orientation-w-melton-march-2014-tulsa.html has been a goldmine for info regarding melton & trucking in general.
    Thanks to Army91W for doing a short, but great blog. http://www.thetruckersreport.com/truckingindustryforum/melton/246042-my-blog-melton-truck-lines.html
    There are a lot of other posters that have been really helpful, so thanks to all of you.

    Now for the questions.

    ----Loads/Hometime/DM
    -Does going out 4-6 weeks w/3-6 days seem feasible? I'm single w/little attachments and this looks doable for me. Are there things you've run into that changed the math on how long you planned on staying out?

    -Are there things drivers can do to make for a smooth relationship w/their DM? Are DMs dispatchers?

    -Most flatbed loads are Mon-Fri so sitting over weekends is common. Is this flat out wrong, or just common enough to happen every month?

    -Are Hazmat/Canada loads becoming more common?

    ----Savings/Pay
    -So i know that part of the benefits package is a 401k w/up to a 50% match on first 7% of pay. Is this fully vested after 3 years or gradual(20% at 1 year, 40 at 2yrs....)?

    -Do they offer any other retirement saving option w/matches? HSA, Traditional/Roth IRA's..

    -For those of you that were here before the pay raise to 37cpm to start. Will future pay raises be applied to current drivers as well?

    -I'm expecting to live on 100-175 while OTR, is this ,w/some work , doable?

    -Just saw a $30 holiday pay. Is this a new deal?

    ----Trucks/Cooking & Eating
    -Does Melton give you daily recaps of your miles? How easy is it to get stuff fixed if they don't match what's expected?

    -All trucks come with APU. What kind are they? Any maintenance involved?

    -Are APU 1500w? How does this work out w/ a fridge running?
    I'm looking at the 3 in 1 Ninja(1150 watts) , a small cutting board(only a 4 inch knife allowed?), and a small freezer. I'll be canning a lot of food while at home.

    I've heard great and okay things about Melton. I understand #### happens, so i'm wondering if there were some issues that you've seen new drivers dealing with and your $ .02 on how you dealt with them.

    -Coming straight out of school, and am nervous/excited/impatient to get out there. How hard is it backing the fixed tandems?

    -I'm looking to buy a pair of un/insulated coveralls for when securing a load. Good idea?


    Thanks for taking the time to look over my post.:biggrin_25514:
     
    Army91W Thanks this.
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  3. jsprocket

    jsprocket Heavy Load Member

    830
    262
    Nov 4, 2013
    Columbus, GA
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    I filled it in
     
  4. bnrobot

    bnrobot Light Load Member

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    97
    Jan 17, 2014
    So. CA
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    hi dayoldmeatloaf, welcome to flatbed

    _ yes seems feasible since we get one day home for every 7 out. 4-6 weeks = 4-6 days. only thing that made me stay out longer would be a slow week or maybe something i didnt want to miss, so i stay out longer. i like to save a certain amount of money so when i get home i can just splurge every day im home, im sure everyone has diff reasons as to why they stay out.

    -dms are dispatchers. do what jsp said. be on time, be respectful and communicate as soon as you think something is up as far as ETAs and stuff.

    -i dont have very many weekends of sitting so i think that is wrong. true most places are mon-fri some are saturday too. ive picked up on a handful of saturdays and they are usually pre-loaded trailers. for the most part the schedule is get unloaded friday morning, get reloaded and drive thru weekend deliver monday. most of my loads have been this way.

    -i dont know about hazmat/canada but ive talked to about 3 diff drivers who have said theyve done more recently.

    -401k is fully vested after 3 years.

    -401k is the only thing they offer as far as i know

    -heres the current pay
    Students = 37cpm (was .33)
    3 months OTR = 39 cpm (was 35 then 37 at 6 months)
    1-5 yrs OTR = 44 cpm (was 42)
    5+ yrs OTR = 45 cpm (was 43)
    120,000 Melton miles = 45 cpm (was 43)
    360,000 Melton miles = 46 cpm (was 44)
    600,000 Melton miles = 47 cpm (was 45)
    900,000 Melton miles = 49 cpm (was 47)
    1.2 Million Melton miles = 50 cpm (was 48)

    - $100-175 will work, i put aside 250, go to walmart buy bread etc spend about 100 and it lasts me a lil longer than a week. the extra 150 is just if i feel like eating out or whatever.

    -dont know if its new but ive been out during 4th of july and a few other 'holidays' and have received this $30 pay.

    -your qc will show your miles. if something changed like an added stop or something, just tell your dm and it should be added. theres been instances like a repower where i drove an extra 200 miles but didnt see it reflected on my check. just told my dm and it was there the next week.

    -not much maintenence on apus. whenever it doesnt work you may have to reset it, which is just pushing a button. if that doesnt fix it you get sent to a thermoking to fix it.

    -converter is 1500w. i have a fridge w a freezer in it, works well. i have a toaster oven also. havent tried it with fridge plugged in, i usually unplug it and turn truck on when i use it just to be safe. anything w heat usually draws a lot of power.

    -most issues are just how you deal w them, i believe. if you can see that sometimes things dont turn out the way you plan it all the time, should be easy for you here.

    -i came straight out of school too. was nervous as well, but you get used to it and get comfortable. backing was my worst, still getting better at it understanding how it moves. just get out an look if you need to! better than hitting someone. dont care if trucks are waiting either, some guys think they are the ####, so dont let them rush you.
     
  5. DayoldMeatloaf

    DayoldMeatloaf Bobtail Member

    4
    1
    Oct 23, 2014
    San Diego, California
    0
    Holy hell guys. I got way ahead myself. First day in a truck today, and boy was it a day. I stalled that thing close to 8 times on my first run. You could've made flour listening to those gears grind. Towards the end i actually managed to get up to 7th and downshift back to four. Overall it was fun :D. The DMV in CA(San Diego) wants us to double clutch only, so that's what we're doing.

    Thanks for the answers. Talked to Mara and she mentioned that Melton offers other retirement accts, but didn't send me any emails w/those offerings yet.
     
  6. jsprocket

    jsprocket Heavy Load Member

    830
    262
    Nov 4, 2013
    Columbus, GA
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    You'll get it, I attempted to double clutch once and it didn't go well after floating last year and half. It will be second nature, I don't even have to look anymore to shift, all feel and sound.
     
  7. flatbilly

    flatbilly Bobtail Member

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    Jun 24, 2012
    Elkhart County,IN
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    Thanks for some great questions meatloaf. A few questions I have in comparing FB companies is length of haul and variety of loads. Seems Melton gets more variety than tmc or maverick. Is this true? Also seems others run more east where Melton does a lot of both east and west. Thanks in advance
     
  8. jsprocket

    jsprocket Heavy Load Member

    830
    262
    Nov 4, 2013
    Columbus, GA
    0
    If it fits we ship, I've been everywhere in this country except the very northeast and Pacific northwest. We do run them I just usually tend to stay in central time zone.
     
    flatbilly Thanks this.
  9. bnrobot

    bnrobot Light Load Member

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    Jan 17, 2014
    So. CA
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    ive both ran all cross both east and west. coast to coast but no northeast yet either.

    oh i found out hometime policy for west changed. 1 week out before hometime request, 2 weeks to get you home. so total of 3 weeks before you are sittin at home instead of 3 weeks out + 2 to get home.
     
    flatbilly Thanks this.
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