The start of my first year with Swift.

I'm just a student still, but that's why I kept trying to tell Sheriff to try other places. The pay at Swift is crap, lol. Melton's really good, Congratulations.

I'm hoping my resume gets me in with them right out of school, not sure though. My resume is ok, Clean records, but I have a one year unemployment gap up til now with no good reason for it...

 

If you don't have OTR experience, they probably won't hire you, unfortunately. They don't have training programs for new OTR drivers, only refresher type training for OTR drivers that haven't been OTR in a while and thats only about a week long. They will occasionally hire drivers with one year local experience IF they ran paper/electronic logs. I love the T660's they run! APU's, inverters, nice and clean. And I'm pulling a 48' with 10' spread, I'll never go back to being a "van sissie" as the instructor in orientation said. Lol.

As for your 1 year of unemployment, not sure what themed think if you didn't have a reason. I had 3 years unemployment from 08-2011. Stay at home father. They didn't ask twice.

i did have a problem with my hair test tho. Well, the problem wasn't mine, it was the labs! They somehow forgot to run my urine and hair tests!!! Along with another guy in my orientation and one more in Tulsa. That put us 3 in the hotel for another day. Everyone else got their trucks Thursday!

 

From what I've gathered, Melton used to require a few months OTR experience, but they now advertise that they accept students. Many people on here recommended Melton to students even before they officially changed their hiring policies.

 

I was told several Tim's that they don't hire without experience, BUT, someone, somewhere has their info mixed up. I delivered last week in Eau Claire, WI with another driver. He had a trainee with him that had ZERO experience, fresh out of CDL school, so apparently, Melton DOES hire with no experience.

 

Here's an update on the new job!

After I deliver this load, the pay period is over. And I'll have been with Melton for 18 days.
so far, I've been dispatched on 5 loads for a total of 6,601 miles. With orientation pay, mileage pay and tarp pay, I have grossed $3,260.40 in 18 days.

I can't complain about the money, miles, equipment or the company. I've also had more drivers come over and chat/help at Melton in my first two weeks at Melton than I did in a year and a half at SWIFT.

I love it here! I think Melton may be "home" for a good long while. Although it is still very early.

 

lol
I love that idea. I can see it now, on the hottest days, a bunch of Swift drivers walking circles around the truckstops sweating, waiting for their 10 to be up. Classic.

I was recently threatened because my idle time was too high. Not sure of the % but it was up there. Dont know how you guys sleep in this heat without the truck running, getting decent rest to operate a truck the following day. I can't.

 

Sorry to see you go Sheriff but I understand completely. I'll say that without further comment here.

Your advice has been invaluable and always greatly appreciated.

Good luck out there buddy.

 

My idle time is rarely above 2%. Here's my trick.... I put in a couple of those breezeway window screens for the front windows, open all the vents, park well away from idling trucks (to avoid noise and exhaust), lay a big towel or two on the bottom bunk, turn on the little fan, get naked, sweat and sleep.

While I'm doing all this I think fondly of the days my wife and I would pay big bucks to spend a day at a Spa that featured several "hot rooms" with varying levels of temperature from Hot to Hades with aromatherapy and the works.... but now I get all that for free! I used to pay the spa to sweat in my sleep....

Then I wake up refreshed, drink some water, take a shower, and get ready to work.

 

That does not sound like my idea of a good night. Not at all.

 

Nah... nights are for driving... the better to sweat in the heat of the day.....

I've had a lot of experience with outdoor recreation and working in a wide range of climates and temperatures. What I've found is that the human body can adapt to pretty much anything, from cold climates to hot tropical climates. Ever visit a third world country where you walk out of air conditioned "comfort" and get slammed by the heat? Ever wonder how all those people don't keel over and die because of the heat, and they are walking around, working, and going about their life like normal while you are suffering? I found out from doing quality control in "sweat shop" factories and getting to know the workers and managers, that they abhor air conditioning.... BRRRR!!! They have adapted so well to the heat that anything under 75ºF is call for them to break out the overcoats... and I'm not kidding.

After a while I just gave up staying in air conditioned hotels to better adapt to the heat. After a few days I found I started to like it. On the flip side I also found out that if you work or play in really cold environments your body also adapts to that, even to the point that you feel like sunbathing when it's still below freezing.

IMHO I think we're stuck in a mindset that we can't stand anything above 70ºF or below 67ºF... then end up burning a lot of energy to control a narrow band of temperature... becoming modern "Bubble Boys"... then end up suffering when we have to get out in the environment. It's better to become more immersed in the climate and adapt with the seasons. Fresh air is a wonderful thing....