Headed to Melton

I know this is my first post on this forum, but I have been reading a lot of posts going on 6 months now in hopes of determining the right company for me for the rest of my career. With what I have read and the multitude of drivers I have talked to I made a decision to go to Melton Truck Lines.

There are both good and bad posts about Melton here, but every driver I have talked to in the last 6 months has had nothing but excellent things to say about them. Most have told me that they do not plan on going any where and one of them said he would go kicking and screaming if he had to leave. All of the drivers that I "interviewed" from all different companies Melton's drivers were the only ones that consistantly told me that they would recommend Melton to their family and friends.

So with all of that said I am leaving today for Melton's Birmingham location to start orientation tomorrow. I am hoping that I can consistantly post here on how the next few weeks, months and years go in my career with Melton. It is my desire that drivers and the family of drivers reading this can use this thread to help make an informed decision on whether Melton is right for them. As time goes on please feel free to ask any questions and I will do my best to answer them.

 

Sorry it has taken me such a long time to get back to this, been busy plus typing on my iPhone can be a pain.

I should start saying that the orientation I went through in Birmingham may not be the norm due to the terminal being destroyed in one of the recent tornadoes.

Well Monday was, as I am sure, a typical first day of orientation. Paperwork, drug screens and physicals took up most of the morning. (be prepared to lift tarps and stand on one foot for 30 seconds each) The afternoon was some classroom activities with quizzes and we ended at about 4:00 pm. We left having some homework to do before the next morning.

Word of warning, lunch is Subway 5 dollar menu everyday on wheat bread. Their take is if they are going to feed you, you are going to eat healthy!

Tuesday was more videos and quizzes in the morning, then a trip to the terminal after lunch for a load familiarization before load securement videos that afternoon. The Orientation Supervisor was feeling extremely ill so we ended at around 2:30pm with more homework for the evening. FYI.... Jim-n-Nicks BBQ is a GREAT place to eat, 5 of the 6 of us converged on JnN and had some great food and a great time with the staff there. Just remember that you are on a 4 day interview, Tuesday's are Mexican night with $1 on all Mexican beers.

Wednesday we said goodbye to the meeting room at the hotel and went to the terminal for the practical portion of the load securement. Wear sunscreen!!!!! Most of the morning was securing the 9 or so loads individually, (only a few can be completed before lunch) just before lunch we did some ergonomics with the truck and trailer, then it was off to take turns for the drivers test. Those that were not actively taking the drivers or backing test ate lunch. After lunch it was back to load securement until about 4:00 pm when we were taken back to the motel.

 

Thursday morning we checked out of the motel rooms and met in the lobby, we handed in our benefits packets and took a personality test so we could be matched with our DM's, then back to the terminal. The morning consisted of tarping exercises as well as finishing any loads that were not completed on wednesday. (Word from the wise, complete the loads you have confidence on first and leave the harder ones to the end, that way you can complete most of them early and have time to work on the harder ones later, one guy did the opposite and did not complete everything, he left on Thursday with a bus ticket back home.) During lunch we set with maintenance and got the ends & outs and the do's & don'ts on maintenance and the equipment. After lunch we had a operations class with the terminal manager and were given keys and sign-out paperwork for our trucks. After signing for our equipment we were given our driver id's, badges, road test and medical cards along with our per diem pay for the week. Once you have that you are released for the day so you can run and get anything you may need before being dispatched Friday morning on your first load.

My first load took me through the house for the weekend (this is not typical) and I was able to get the rest of my stuff and see the family.

This past weeks has been tough, nothing the fault of Melton, it just seems like Murphy moved into my life and set up shop. I am hoping that next week brings better miles.

As I am writing this I am sitting in Detroit at a shipper waiting to get loaded that is taking me home for the long weekend. My son graduates tonight but I may not get there before he walks across the stage, waiting on a transfer truck to get here that has part of my load on it. This shipper is good though, as soon as it gets here they are going to pull me in and get me loaded!!