What kind of equipment does Melton provide for securing? - And other questions!

Howdy, folks. After giving food service a shot for a year and a half (Want to try it? Don't.), I'm heading back to flatbedding in style with Melton on Dec. 2nd in Masury. Had a lovely recruiter named Monica (and Lacy, filling in for her yesterday) who was a rather refreshingly straightforward person when it came to the smoke blowing portion of the recruiting process and found it pretty easy to make my ultimate decision to roll out with Melton over the other carriers I'd been courting. I'm pretty psyched about getting back on that skateboard. I didn't think I'd miss wind, rain, snow and coils as much as I do, but after wheeling boxes of fries down a ramp for Sygma for a year and a half, the thought of waiting in line for an hour and dealing with steelworkers seems almost refreshing. Yeah, buddy!

So, my primary question is this: What kind of equipment do they keep on the truck and what am I going to need to bring with me? I have the list of stuff they send in the e-mail and I have everything they list, but am I going to have to pull the ol' 6' stepladder off the garage wall and toss it in the trunk for the drive up to Masury? What about blocks for securing the front of a load, or do they just use bulkheads? Did any of you guys find that you needed some extra bungees when starting? I'm assuming basic tools like hammer, knife, screwdrivers (mainly for prying), etc. are on me. Most importantly, though: How many chains? How many straps? How many tarps? Rachet or snap binders, and how many? Breaker bar? Strap winder? Oil can?

Also, do they have the center and quarter points on the trailer marked (as I prefer to have them for quick, easy reference) or am I going to have to do it myself? They want you to bring your own CB, or is mine going to just sit in my car if I drag it along? Them pretty blue Kenworths run well? Do they have the optional minifridge in the sleeper? I was told about the APU and inverter being included, but I know some Kennys have the fridge, too. Blah, blah, blah!

Anything else at all that'll make my first few weeks a little easier with Melton would be appreciated. I try to think of everything, but it never hurts to ask because I'd hate to be sitting at the wheel and realize I don't have something I really wanted.

Thanks guys!

 

Thanks! I'll probably be going out solo after the orientation so I'll make sure I bring my ladder. 10 chains seems a bit low, do they let you buy/ask for more? I would like to have at least 12. And do they offer rachet binders? I find those much more useful for getting inside shorter coils than snaps.

Another thing I was wondering: Are the trucks 11'6" or taller? Looks taller to me, so I'll be going 'round the back in Gary, it would seem.

Thanks again!

 

12 chains - perfect. I'd hate to roll out, get three little coils and find out I only have 10 chains!

Looks like I'll be marking my own points on the trailer, then. Last place I hauled steel with had welds where the center point was (and a sidekit, so if you were really lost, you could just count), but without the sidekit, I'll want to measure and mark my own points of convenience. I was a little worried about getting a 53' and not knowing what to do with it until I realized that a bit of extra butt on the trailer doesn't really change where the load balances between the spreads and the drives. Heh heh. Either way, I think I'll have everything just the way I want it within a week. Thanks for the info.

That's a relief. The direct route is so much easier to get in and out of. Now if finding Building BFE-39 to pick up those seventeen double-plated, triple-bound, acid-washed, rolled-up dishwashers were only so easy...