Melton, Whatcher 20

i do not know any of the guys or their numbers, ive seen a few because in laredo we have a 'load board' and it shows you what number in line you are for a load, also shows what state the person is from so thats how i know we have a couple guys up there.

tarping at first was hard for me. i am fairly slim and didnt have much muscle at the time of orientation. i lifted them just fine, but it was sometimes a struggle. i had zero flatbed experience, and came fresh from cdl school. i like it very much here. my complaint as well is hometime, i wish they did regional. the only reason i would quit is for a local job, but that local job has to pay me as much as im getting now...and melton would be hard to beat because they keep giving raises!

securing and tarping was intimidating at first. trust me. but it got a hell of a lot easier with practice. my first tarped load took me about 3 hours, a little less. but they understand you are new to this, so dont sweat it.
and like mrh said, in hot weather it gets tough. but take breaks and you can do it.

i havent done it in the snow yet haha but im sure its just getting used to it. i couldnt see myself pulling vans...i like flatbed.

also, in my experience, if you have a high load or something most shippers will put your tarps on top of the load for you. some have tarping machines too. honestly dont get too hung up on it. they likely used a forklift to place the load on your trailer, they can use the forklift to put your tarps on top for you.

sitting at flying j outside atlanta. cons has o/n parking but its 60 miles away and i only have 25 mins left. saw lots of melton guys today going in the opposite direction than me on i20. probably 10+.

 

I'll chime in here and agree that I won't be leaving Melton any time soon. I started with them a year ago next week. Like others have said, those first couple of months are tough, but get easier. I don't think I'm as fast as the others in tarping, but I a whole lot faster than when I started. I find the heat to be a bit tougher than the cold, but this last winter was pretty brutal; a couple of times the fingers just didn't want to work after getting so cold. Keeping your hands dry is the key and I haven't got that one figured out yet. Everything I was told by Melton before starting has been true. Miles can fluctuate, but I average about 2500 miles a week. With tarp and stop pay it pays the bills. I have gotten the fuel bonus a few times and that is a nice little surprise.

Home time could be better, but that seems to be the nature of the beast when involved in OTR. For me it isn't quite so bad since the kids are grown and gone (for the most part) and this job is enabling me to pay off some bills and stash a bit of money so I can enjoy life with the half when she calls it quits in a couple of years.

Good people, good equipment/upkeep, good pay and benefits equals a good company.

 

thanks guys for all the comments and guess it up to me I wish i could get one of you could just tell me to do it.......my mind is in a whirl wind....i talk to a recruiter today and want told half of what you did.....( see my whirl wind).... As i think more i just want a nice truck to drive, a good pay, i guess hometime could be work on,

 

Just don't be in a fleet full of idiots. Have to send mac 63 every morning now cause they can't figure hours and want to be late.

 

I only send 63 then night before I'm empty. Never send 12 unless I know the load is going to be late before I even get loaded. My DM is pretty awesome. Most of the time.

 

If you're looking for a nice truck and good pay along with OK hometime, Melton has it. I'd expect you to make more than 55k the first year, and our trucks are nicer than most fleets. Ot sure how accurate this is, but Melton says the average age of our trucks is 2 years old. Hometime could be better, but it's pretty much on part with the rest of the OTR companies.

 

Man, I should be a recruiter! Lol

 

My truck is an 11 and was told probably turn it in late this year early next.

Well apparently my fleet can't communicate and a lot late today so guess they screwed us. Have to send it every day now since people never bother looking at their hours.

 

i do the same, send my 63 before sleep before the day i deliver.

i made it a whole day early for delivery and had to wait til almost 1 to get unloaded. i got there at 930am because of traffic around atlanta.
got new load pickup birmingham and deliver kentucky, total miles is a bit over 600, already in birmingham at flying j for the night. first no tarp load in weeks but its only for a day hah. thats alright.

 

Why not hit the terminal, it's Birmingham no one cares there and ample parking and do some free laundry.