Comments By Tarren W.

Hey there, Snappy!

I'm a Melton driver, and all I can say for sure is, they are the real deal!!! Everything you see in their youtube videos and on the website is the way it is. It's a driver centered company. Heck even Bob Peterson, the president of the company drives! Granted it's only a couple loads a year, but he does it.

The orientation and training program are top notch. The trainers are hand picked. Not just anyone can be a trainer.

I've been with Melton since just before Thanksgiving of last year, and it's been great working here. Unfortunately, I got injured back in January. But the way that I and my family have been taken care of, is nothing short of awesome! I broke my ankle at a consignee in NJ right before I was scheduled to head for hometime. I Got taken to the local ER and caught a cab back to my truck. After I had left, one of the other Melton drivers moved my truck to a safe spot for me and left the keys in a safe place.

When I called the safety dept. (after hours) to let them know what was going on, they jumped right in to help me. The first thing she asked me was, "Are you in a safe place?" I told her that my truck was parked in a turn out, just outside the consignee's front gate. Her next question was, "Do you have access to facilities? A bathroom or shower, food and water?" The answer was no, but I had heat in the truck along with plenty of food and water. Her response was, "That won't do. Give me a few minutes and I'll call you back." And about 5 - 10 minutes later, she called me back to tell me that another Melton driver was on his way over to take me and my truck over to the nearby T/A.

A little while later, she called to let me know that another driver was going to fly out to me and take me, my truck and my trailer to our terminal in Ohio. A couple of days later, I found out that I needed to have surgery to repair my ankle. They took care of everything! Doctors appointments, hotel room, etc... They even offered to fly my wife out to be with me! (She had to work though. She's the only one in that office.). After the surgery they flew me home for 10 days and then back again for a follow up appointment with the doctor. I'm currently doing "light duty" work at the main terminal in Tulsa, OK. And everyone here is fantastic! Including the president of the company! On more than one occasion as I was sitting down to eat, he's stopped by to ask how I was doing.

I've got about 3 more weeks of physical therapy and I'll be getting back in a truck. (God willing). But, before that time is up, they're going to fly me home again to be with my family.

Just another reason that it's not always about the money! Yeah, the money's good! But how we get treated, is way more important to me! And they have treated me and my family better than I could have ever expected.

Sorry for the long post. If you have any questions, please feel free to PM me! If I don't know the answer, I know a ton of great people here who do!

Tarren W.

WTG!!! MG!! Glad to hear you're doing well, and loving it!!!

I'm sitting in Springfield, MO. waiting for my truck to get fixed at the Kenworth dealer. That happened about halfway through my very 1st solo load! But, I still love it!!!

Maybe we'll bump into each other out on the road somewhere!

Keep up the good work & the great attitude!!!!

SWIFT - Sure Wish I Fought the Ticket

TMC - Two Marines Cuddling

Sorry, had to bump it!

Steve,

Just finishing up my orientation at Melton. And on our break I showed Joe your picture and asked "Do you know this guy?" He said, "Wilson!!! You know Wilson?" LOL

Anyway. Hope it's going good for you! See you out there!

Tarren

Just got my confirmation to orientation on Nov. 24th!!!!! Got my flight booked. (it would have been a 1 day, 15 hour bus trip!!!!)

I'm going out on Saturday the 22nd, so I'll have a day to relax and get acclimated. I can't believe this is all happening so fast! I know that my wife is getting nervous about me leaving. But we've kind of been down this road before with my outboard training classes in the past. The 1st year of our marriage I went away for 3 weeks to Atlanta. Also, for the 1st 5 years we were married we spent roughly 6 months apart at a time because of our jobs.

Anyway. Just wanted to share the update!

Is anyone else headed to Melton for orientation Nov. 24th?

Tarren

Firstly, CONGRATULATIONS!

Thanks!

Also, am a little confused about the car having to back up being an automatic fail... unless they weren't over the stop line. If the car is already there when you approach the intersection then I will wait if I can't make the turn, but if you own the intersection and a car pulls up, they have to back up.

At least that's the way I understand it.

Yeah, the car was there first. And, no, they were not over the stop line. I don't think he was really paying attention at that point. The look on the examiners face when he got out of the truck and headed toward our instructor said it all. That student was a real piece of work!

Tarren

Congratulations, Jolie & Sarah D.!!!!!!! That's awesome!

Best of luck to both of you!

Tarren

Congrats I hope to be in your shoes in a few months.

Thanks, my friend! I really appreciate it!!! Best of luck to you!

Tarren

Just wanted to let you all know that I passed my road test!!!!

I don't care how old you get, it's still nerve wracking taking a road test with the brownie sitting there watching your every move. Though honestly, he was pretty cool. He understood that we were nervous, and definitely took that into account. I only had two screw ups for a total of 25 points. The 1st was right after I finished with my blind side parallel park (which I managed pretty well, a little crooked from the curb, but not too far.) I had to cross a set of railroad tracks in the yard we were in, while at the same time trying to avoid hitting another big truck backed into a dock, sticking out more than half way across the street. It looked from my mirror like I was passed the tracks. However, I didn't take into account, the angle of the tracks. I was still on them when I shifted. 15 points! Then, on the final turn of the test, I was so focused on not hitting the curb with my tandems, that I almost took out the stop sign in front of me!! 10 points!

Other than that, it all went pretty well! Pre-trip was good, though he rushed me through because it was snowing.

All in all, it went well. 3 out of the 4 students from our school passed!!! The one who didn't was kind of a arrogant jerk, way too over confident. He messed up pretty bad, he said after he got back. When he got back, he was a bit humbled. Then started beating himself up over it. He said he was having trouble shifting, cut his turns too tight, couldn't parallel park, stalled out on a different set of railroad tracks (which the instructors warned us about, repeatedly.) It's a set of tracks in the middle of the city, at a busy intersection, followed by a traffic light. If there is more than one car at the light, you can't fit the truck in between the cars and the tracks! It was drilled into our heads, over and over. But, with two cars at the light, he went for it! Then stalled it right on top of the tracks. To top it all off, on the very last turn (where I almost hit the sign) He rushed the intersection, with a car at the light on the street he was turning on. Forcing the car to back up! (automatic fail in the eyes of NY state!)

Just goes to show, there is such a thing as over confidence!!!

A few minutes after I was done and sitting in my car with the instructor, I got a call from the recruiter at Melton Truck Lines! I gave her the good news and she confirmed me for orientation on 11/24/14 in Tulsa, OK!!!!!

I'm on my way, guys and girls!!!!!!! A big thank you to everyone here at TT.com!!!!! I probably wouldn't have gotten even half way to this point without you guys!!!

Tarren