Melton Truck Lines : August 19, 2013 (Tulsa, OK)

Ok yes I agree with noggin, keep swinging doors. But next time your gonna give an anti flatbed speech keep in mind I'm female, I just dropped a load in 100 degrees while u were napping I unstrapped un tarped and had everything put away and in am hr I was moving after my next load. So while ur complaining walmarts not unloading you fast enough that flatbedder is moving. It was also brought to my attn about some older posts. Some ppl mentioned are no longer with Melton, keep in mind the amount of time spent here. If things are really that bad noone is going to spend that long in those conditions. No life as a flatbedder has not always been peaches and cream. But I'm fairly new to flatbedding. I love my career, and I found a home here at Melton. The thought of going back to tandems repulses me. That is a very borinh job.

 

I always try to park early. Get an away in-easy out spot. It's ok to pull up 10 times, get out and check behind u as often as possible, as long as u get parked safely. It's all good. Glad to hear your doing well. Your miles will pick up over time. Your getting training miles/loads. As u get better or over a little time the loads will become more challenging. With a few easy ones mixed in

 

They started giving training miles? I've never heard of a training fleet....miles are miles, loads are loads. There aren't any loads that they give just to "new drivers"...

 

They have assigned a DM to all newbie drivers. They start them slow and work them in. It is a training fleet. Julian Stinette was the DM for all new drivers, I don't know who it is now. But I do know its a different DM now

 

My orientation at Melton is in a week and a half. I'm taking my CDL test tomorrow, I'm completely new to all this, so I'm pretty stressed out. Any advice for orientation?

 

Take a deep breath, relax, being stressed out for your test is not going to do you any good. I have a year experiance almost the best advice i can give you is be patient your first year will be rough, take your time and watch your mirrors. Also do not team with a lease operator like i did with central he bailed on me and now i have a 2013 peterbilt 587 for 83 weeks(i honestly did foresee that coming). Only other advice I can think to give is look at things as a bit of a challenge.

 

The orientation since your new will be really straightforward though. You will take a drug test and physical for your medical card within your first day there.( dont forget to get a copy of said card to the dmv for the self certification, depending on the state they may require a long form). Then the rest of it will be all the company policies and making sure you can do paper logs and stuff like that.. They will make you lift some tarps up and put them on a shelf( fairly light so should be easy). You will also take a road test(since your a new hire they just want to make sure you can drive safetly their not concerned with grinding. Also make sure you bring your dd214 if your military i forgot mine and they gave me the first bus ticket home and said see you in six months. Thats really all i can remember from orientation so if you have any more questions ask away.