melton 2014 update

I live in pine valley and I get loads out and into CA pretty easy...as long as I am going home or leaving after home time.

 

what items do you have to pay for once getting hired on at Melton? Specifically, safety and securement items.

 

The only securement items you need to buy are bungies.

You need to buy a vest and hardhat, safety glasses and steel toed boots. Vest glasses and hard hats are for sale at terminals.

 

All of the mentioned item you get at orientation. They deduct the cost out of your first paycheck. Bungies can be picked up at terminals they also take that out of you check. And the sell all those items cheaper than you can find them in truck stops. Your first two boxes of bungies come with you truck. There are other items that can make life easier that you can buy. But aren't really needed. Like corner/edge protecters.

 

You may get corner/edge protectors free, too. Got a few from the terminal where I did my orientation and then got a whole lot more when I got a load of insulation. Pick up pieces of old tarps at Laredo (don't know about other terminals) for padding/protecting your tarps. I picked up some carpet cast offs and cut it up for padding, too. The more you protect your tarps the less patching you have to do.

 

You buy your steel toed boots from Melton? What if you already have them, do they still make you purchase the boots or are you off the hook?

 

Nope, buy your boots on your own. Everything else you can get at terminals.

 

I forgot to mention this. One piece of equipment that isnt required but is still a must have is a strap winder. I think melton sells them for under $10.

I went about a month without one, finally found one in a truckstop for $18.

You can spend 15-20 minutes rolling your straps by hand when you deliver or you can spend less than 5 doing it with a strap winder. The choice is yours!

 

How long is training for a driver that already has cdl but has only driven a refer unit. I'm set to start on Monday and just want to know how long it will take before I'm back behind the wheel again.

 

4 whole days. Drivers with 6 or more months OTR experience (I believe) go strait into their own truck after the 4 day orientation.