Flatbed Companies That Hire Newbies

Hey guys,

I was wondering if you knew which flatbed companies that hire new guys? I've been looking into Melton, Roehl, and TMC. I was also wondering if we had any drivers on here that work for Melton? I'm starting to get half-way through school and need to find what is best for me to work.

I work for Modular Transportation our of Grand Rapids Michigan. Its a great company with great people. Work Monday-Friday and home on the weekends. They took me right out of cdl school. They also have good equipment as well.

Brian, I have been working for Melton just over 5 months and I know they are hiring drivers right out of school. I had minimal experience when I joined them because I was a part time dry van working for a small regional company. It takes a little bit of time to get the hang of securing and tarping, but I find the challenge very rewarding. Let me know if you have specific questions.

Hey Larry!

I was wondering what you thought of training? My recruiter says it's one on one and that's what I'm really interested in and that the new pay scale makes it uniformed.

I did not have the opportunity to ride with a trainer, but I do know that is one on one training. That is after the group training at orientation. Even after you are on your own they assign you a mentor in case you have securement or other questions. Everyone is super friendly and helpful, too.

Hey Troy Thanks for the info on modular.

Larry, thanks for input on melton. I've been compiling a huge pros and cons with companies that are interested in me. They seem like a really great company. The downfall was the home time but my wife says she lists them as number one as do I. I have a big decision to make soon as I am graduating school in a couple weeks. And I'm looking to find a place to call home for work and making sure bills are paid.

Hey Brain, I've been with Melton for a little while and when I started at Melton they didn't take students right out of school. BUT, because My little experience I had in 2012 was a dry van (CRST) I came over to Melton did the week Orientation in Tulsa, was the only Terminal that dealt with t3's at the time. Btw Charles man he is awesome. Made Orientation fun. Anyway After that they got me a plane ticket to Pittsburgh, PA and Joes son picked me up and drove me to the Ohio terminal to meet up with my trainer. It's one on one. You drive, and your trainer gets bored and after the 2nd day wishing he could drive. Cause you will not run team with your trainer. and the guys Melton picks to become trainers are 100% professional. At the time I went through, Had to be atleast a Blue Knight. Which is 3 years safe and accident free driving. Not sure now, but assuming still going with a pretty high bar. I mean the only thing I can say bad about the running rabbit is after I got off the truck with my trainer because of my limited experience and the fact I was at the Sunnyvale yard. My first truck was 6939. A 2007 Freightliner Century Classic 10 speed AUTOMATIC transmission. Only up side, it had paper logs. I stuck it out for 2 months and they brought me into Tulsa and handed me the keys to a brand spankin new t660 with I think it had 9 miles on it with them knowing full well I have a dog that rides with me. And our safety department isn't like you are probably hearing in other places. If you are even doubting how to secure a load properly CALL, Josh or Ken will help you and walk you through it step by step. They don't talk down to you or write your name in a super secret note book of people to fire. If you doubt your ability even in the slightest and secure it without calling safety. That is when they start questioning you. When in doubt call. the first, **** 4 or 5 months I called safety enough to where Either Josh or Ken answer and as soon as they hear my voice know who it is. I know how this must look, just another Driver trying to boost his company and get a recruitment bonus. see the thing is. I am on leave no bonus for me. Brings up another point. I had to come to Florida because my mother got really sick and passed away. Melton calls to check up on me and even offered to find a local contract they could buy and then get one of their local trucks to me in Tampa. I declined due to the crap I have to deal with legally and family wise. but hell that is life.

Do not be fooled. You need to find a really quiet place and think long and hard. People that come into Flat bedding because of the wrong reasons do not last. If you come here for money, or because the equipment is pretty or because you hear how badass us Flatbedders are, It's the wrong reason. If you're like me and got into Flatbedding because your freaking mind blowingly obsessed with them and LOVE manual labor. You'll be fine. Once you hit the 6 month mark it will be in your veins. At first what you can expect at Melton. Remember you are new, unproven. You might get lucky and get a brand new t660, it's extremely rare but it happens. But I can bet everything you WILL get the **** loads that no one else wants. Example: Western extrusions. It's a light load most of the time. Good miles. But securing it is brutal, Then you have to tarp it. if you didn't grab padding at the yard. Your tarps are ruined, sharp edges of the metal will shred it.

Larry E has 5 months, He is probably (depending on who his fleet manager is) just starting to get those easy no tarp loads. If he happens to be near PA on a Thursday Gets that nice run from ak steel going to Laredo, TX. its something like 1900-2000 miles? and they were giving me that load every time I was in the area, They dead headed me 340 miles from upstate NY down to AK Steel. its a tarp load. I got paid .42CPM and a extra $50. sure i'll take it. Deal with Pat (terminal manager in Laredo) for what a couple hours then go to dispatch and pick the load you want. I had a pay check one week it was $1690.16 gross, after taxes and what not my net was $1557.10. That was one of those weird weeks because of when I left home time being in tampa (visiting my family. I live in WV) they dead headed me 600 miles to SC then to Minnesota picked up a preloaded trailer in NY going to Mass, two drops. Total miles for that pay period were insane like 5k or some crap. Just one of those left hometime at the right time. I'm running out of stuff to say. Your new so don't expect the best loads. You'll see Melton trucks that are governed at 72 and aren't Melton blue. Those are million milers. Meaning they have driven 1,000,000 SAFE ACCIDENT free and ticket free for 1,000,000miles. Bob peterson goes lets the driver customize it. You work your way up the pole. after 6 months you'll of proved yourself and get better loads. Just do everything the Melton way and TAKE YOUR TIME. There is no such thing as to much securement. but under securing a load can kill you and innocent motorist. If you don't have a dog get one. Trust me. my dog has almost as many miles as I do and its a tool to keep you active and there just nice to have around. When you meet your DM. MAKE SURE YOU TWO UNDERSTAND ONE ANOTHER. Me myself have Karen Crawl. a lot of people don't like her, We get along fine. I was her go to driver for JIT runs. Ask ALOT of questions GL reading this

Sorry for the long response just wanted to make sure you didn't get the pretty one sided side. wanted to give you sort of a full picture. I mean if you have questions or want to know more detailed information I'm sure Larry E or myself Larry C (weird odds those are same name and all) can answer them. I'm a road recruiter but as I stated in the above post I'm on leave so I don't care much for it. I did it for the free hats and shirts, :P

Thanks for the info on Melton. Do they have many female flatbedders?

Tracy, I've seen very few and a couple are Ladies that are petite and generally gets help because of their looks and how they flirt. Melton drivers have a lot of the same pick ups so it's normal for multiple Running Rabbits to just secure (most of us are OCD about securing OUR way) their loads and then go from truck to truck helping each other tarp. BUT I have met a few that are the Tom boy types just generalizing for you can get a perspective of them. I mean I went through orientation with a Lady named Jasmine She was maybe 25 and had no trouble with the 100 pound tarps. It depends on you and how willing you are to push yourself. Flatbedding is great money no doubt. but theres a reason, its a very dangerous job, and its very VERY hands on work. I started at 155 pounds and when I took leave I was in the shape BMI wise (body mass index) percentage of fat to muscle % as I was deployed in combat lugging 80 pound gear all day and the PT. And I didn't work out. during orientation you'll need to dead lift a 95 pound tarp from the ground (lift with your legs) to the deck of the trailer. and our trailers are aluminum so they bow. I'm 6'4 and for me it was chest height. Funny part, that isn't the test that knocks out most candidates its the balancing test Balance on one leg 30 seconds then the other. It gets a lot of people, more than the tarp or drug test. See if you can lift 95 pounds PROPERLY lift with legs, not back. then the balance. and we hair test, we go back 7 months. No tolerance for substance use. unless you had a script and if it's a illegal substance don't risk it. I hope that answered your question if not feel free to ask more questions. There is no such thing as a stupid question. It's a huge factor in the decision of your career where a positive on a drug screen will end it before it begins. Remember, that 48000-49000 pound load that the shipper puts on YOUR trailer is your responsibility to be loaded properly and not uneven. Then you have to secure that load so it wont move. My thing when secure was am I comfortable enough for my family to ride next to my trailer my entire trip and know it wont come off and hurt someone. Trucking is a stressful life style, Flatbedding and the rules make it just that much harder. I had a receiver drop a maybe 30ish thousand pound beam on my trailer and just wreck it. if they want you on or near the trailer that can kill you. once again if you have more question i've been with Melton for a pretty penny and I am a road recruiter. So if I can't answer your question correctly I can call someone who can.