Melton Truck Lines

Discussion in 'Motor Carrier Questions - The Inside Scoop' started by cnjrollin, Oct 15, 2007.

  1. cnjrollin

    cnjrollin Bobtail Member

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    Feb 21, 2007
    Mesquite, TX
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    If you are interested in working for Melton Truck Lines and want some
    great info directly from a MELTON DRIVER - just ask me!
    I can give you the complete run down of what you can expect when
    coming to work for Melton. I am a Melton driver, and I have the knowledge
    and insight you need, to make the right choice concerning your trucking
    career. Remember, I am NOT a recruiter, I am an actual Melton driver!

    good luck!

    JS
     
    Bluskie Thanks this.
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  3. hkbravo34

    hkbravo34 Bobtail Member

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    Oct 23, 2007
    clarksville, tn
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    :biggrin_25513:not on 24/7 lol aim is same here , please im me. thanks :biggrin_25514:
     
  4. Sarge

    Sarge Light Load Member

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    Sep 9, 2007
    North Florida
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    Hey guys, my fiance and I are lookng at Melton right now and wonder if you could share some of the inside stuff. We are a team and are looking for another team gig.
    We have talked to about 10 other companies but we don't want just another company to work for. We could have gone to work for any of them as we both have spotless dacs and MVRs. We don't really need to run our arses off just want to make a decent living. Also want to go home after about a month or so. Most companies tell us 1 day for every week out with a max of 3 days home and that sucks. How much can you get done in 3 days? Have people to see and places to go. We really like to run the upper northwest.
    Sorry I don't use IM. I'm a truck driver so I don't have any friends to IM anymore.
     
  5. moujick

    moujick Light Load Member

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    Aug 8, 2007
    California
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    I’m interested to apply for Melton Trucking, I would like to know if they have a terminal or any yard in Los Angeles area
    What are the orientation schedules? And where are they located?
    Do they only have Kenworth trucks?
    Mileage pay is $.41 cents is it a flat or variable rate?
    Is the 401 K starting in 60 or 90 days after hiring?
    Your trucks govern at 62 mpr or more?
    Can I refuse a load?
    Do you have an Open Door Management Policy?
    Do you have long-term disability insurance?
    Does the Melton dispatch a head? Or do they dispatch when you send an empty call?
    Do they have a per dime program?
    How about detention pay?
    Thank you for your time
     
  6. Sarge

    Sarge Light Load Member

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    Sep 9, 2007
    North Florida
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    Hey thanks for everything, got a chance to check out your site and yes, you definitely like working for Melton.
    As such, Sacred Feline and I have decided to go with them as they seem to have all the right answers to our questions. And vice versa. If everyhing goes as planned we should start orientation on the 26th of Nov in Birmingham. Any thoughts about Birmingham, not one of my favorite places but you gotta do what ya gotta do.
    We're looking forward to working there and have talked with about 10 other companys before deciding on Melton. I noticed there's not many negative things said about them and that's great. They also run all 48 which is what we like. The only thing we heard was they don't run the upper northwest as much as we'd like but we'll see about that.
    Perhaps we'll have a cup of coffee sometime.
    Thanks,sarge
     
  7. Sarge

    Sarge Light Load Member

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    Sep 9, 2007
    North Florida
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    I'm sorry to report they have already made us the job offer so I don't know how to get you in on that bonus. If it were up to me though I would be happy to see you get it and you deserve it in my oppinion as you spoke so highly of the company. That did have some bearing on our decision as well. I'm not really sure how to go about doing it though.
    On other notes, you sound a lot like us, we hate running the east coast too and are always much happier out west of Kansas city. Texas, fugettaboutit. Right now we're just happy to have found a job we both want to do.

    We live in Jacksonville, Fl. but hopefully not forever.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 27, 2008
  8. reniffk

    reniffk Light Load Member

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    Jun 27, 2007
    Hazel Park, MI
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    Thank you for all of the info, I have applyed with them and receved the blind offer pending CRST's report on me and the interveiw.
     
  9. cnjrollin

    cnjrollin Bobtail Member

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    Feb 21, 2007
    Mesquite, TX
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    Just to update everyone, the marriage between myself and Melton is now over. It was bitter sweet - because Melton overall is good company, nice equipment and some other things that made it bareable to work there. However, with the good comes some bad and depsite working with them for over a year some things seemed to never change.

    Let me say that I was terminated by Melton with "too many service failures" due to the fact that the loads were scheduled too tightly (Melton is famous for this) booking loads too tight, and expecting you to somehow make the delivery by going over your hours and such. If you complain you will sit and you will be lucky to run any loads for the next week at least. Now the work was good, and when I first started I ran into a driver who said he was quitting because Melton was "running him too hard" he was on his last load....I thought that was cool, afterall you want to run your butt off right!? WRONG - at the risk of violating hours of serivce, losing your CDL, and getting chewed out by safety..its not worth it! The driver managers move the freight, they could care less about you risking your CDL to get it there. Melton loves to send you loads that should've picked up hours earlier, almost guaranteeing you a service failure from being late. Again, if you turn the load down, you will sit and that could be for a couple of days.

    Getting fired from Melton Truck Lines

    I was sent a dead head load to birmingham, al terminal, from lousiana, I was not told I was fired until the next morning, and was told to have all my stuff out of the truck by 5pm. I was told I could have bus ticket, but my pet and rider would have to find their own way home. I was told they would ship any remaining truck items to me at $60 per box. I was fired on an "off-week" so no pay was available. I had to borrow money to rent a uhaul to get home at around $500 plus gas. (There were no one way rentals available due to the holiday at the time). When I asked why I was being dead headed 400 miles, they said the load planners were setting 4 drivers up for loads outta alabama. (They actually were firing 4 drivers) all them sat upset inside the terminal trying to figure out how they were going to get home. It was sad, because most of them had pets and you cannot take pets on a bus.

    Melton Overall

    Melton is a good company if you can go along with the program...ask no questions...and practically kill yourself to get their loads delivered. If you are lucky enough to get a dispatch. Melton has alot of things to work on and they need to start with their driver managers....who are hidden behind glass with security doors at the home terminal in tulsa, ok. I guess my taste has changed for trucking companies. I am now looking at a small company with big freight, and who know all their drivers by the sound of their voice. I made good money with Melton, but I overall I was very uncomfortable at times with certain issues, the small trucks, the tight loads, and the miscommunication with my DM.

    Making a change

    Again, I can't say they are a bad company, just a different type of company that operates on a different level, one which I'd grown tired of.
    It just seems all the nice things were really designed to benefit the office workers and not the drivers. Melton lowered their standards to bring in cheaper drivers...and then began to push older drivers out. They also attacked drivers with pets due to gas prices being so high. I know its only business and I don't take it personally...but even before getting fired I was looking to leave them. As with any trucking company you need to make sure they have what you want, but the only uncertainty is if the company will actually deliver.

    Recommendation

    Would I recommend Melton truck lines?

    Not to drivers with pets or riders...and not to anyone who wishes to run legally. If you don't ask for much, then Melton would be the company for you. They will make you money, but you will be thrown under the bus if your DM is confronted by safety. And Melton will fire you without proper notice and have you wondering what in the world you are going to do next. Be smart, do your homework and always have an escape plan!
     
  10. slodsm

    slodsm Light Load Member

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    Jan 19, 2008
    Tyler TX
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    Man, that's #### shame. I heard of a similar experience from one of the guys in safety.

    I will say they are working out for me so far and I have been running to the letter of the law but things can change. I have no pet and no rider and live like a caveman in my truck so if worse came to worse I would be ok but for the moment, I am very happy with the company and flatbedding overall vice pulling boxes.

    Good luck where ever you go man.
     
  11. cnjrollin

    cnjrollin Bobtail Member

    24
    4
    Feb 21, 2007
    Mesquite, TX
    0
    Forgot to mention a few details, upon getting fired I was due to receive a bonus and a CPM raise....so that just made getting fired worse! Melton does work for some drivers, and the safety department is strict, but the DMs seem to lack experience. It all depends on what ya want in a company, so I'm not bashing the crap outta Melton. (just so it's clear =) ) I did think it was funny though how Melton continued to call me wanting me to take an "exiting survey" -- I mean, come on! lol

    Melton trucks are currently governed at 62/63 MPH - so those tight loads become even tighter and those hills even steeper.

    For now, I have found a great company with roomy 2007 Peterbilt 387s - they are flatbed, van, they have step-decks and boxes...they aren't as big as the other companies, but they are more family oriented. No quailcomm junk other than (PeopleNet) so that means no arrival macros or departure macros...you fuel where you want, you route your own trip and can make more money hauling LTLs every now and again. I went with the flatbed division and have to say I am happy. The average length of haul is 1100 miles. (thats just average) they pay $75 a day for idle aire as well. Their trucks run at 70 and 72 at cruise control. They also have free onboard email system, 70'' sleeper a much bigger bed than Melton offered.

    I'm gonna trial and error this place and see how it goes. I'll let all of you know and provide a full report. This place loves pets and even their drink machines, (unlike Melton Corporate Terminal) has real sodas and not water and diet mumbo jumbo. They don't have a gym, but hey, if you got time to work out, you're probably not making any money. As I stated before, most of the nice stuff Melton has is primarily for the office workers, not the hard working drivers! As always, YOU decide what you can live with and live without when it comes to a trucking company.
     
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