My blog with Melton Truck Lines

I am a little late this time updating. I left the house last week Tuesday and deadheaded to Houston. I picked up small coils and flat steel. This place you have to check the bar codes on each piece to make sure everything is there. The loader sAid this is your first stop. I was up against my 14 and didn't verify. Of course when I get to my first stop north of Dallas I untarp the first stop, and of course it's my second stop

Thankfully it was just taking off the wrong tarp and not taking off the wrong freight. Rushing always seems to cause little mistakes. I would of been pissed at myself if I got to Oklahoma at my final with the wrong product. No harm no foul.


I finaled out at a trailer manufacturer in south Oklahoma. Afterwards I deadheaded to Tulsa for pickup to South Dakota. It was a load of rebar. First time I had to use my dunnage for something other then a bulkhead. I was highlighted for the terminal in Tulsa to replace my hood CRST ran over at the truck stop.

I went into the shop at 2100 Wednesday and got my truck back Friday at 1700. Not bad for body work. Melton put me up in a motel while I waited. Before I left the shop Friday a planner called me to see if I could cover a North Dakota load for Monday. No problem 450 a day Saturday and Sunday.

I got to the consignee Sunday night and it was a residence on a county road. The guy came out and told me I could follow him to the job site. Turning around was a pain. It was a road not big enough for two trucks to pass each other with a ditch on either side. Spring time, melted snow, and rain made for real soft ground. I back in to his driveway carefully. I got out and looked 5x. I did not want to call a tow truck.

I let after hours at Melton know so the two other Melton drivers didn't have to take the same adventure. But one driver either wasn't notified or didn't listen because one of our trucks got stuck at the same place.

The next morning the guys unloading us showed and told us where they wanted us to park on the site to get unloaded. The Melton driver that didn't stay the night drove in front of me and a prime truck. Both myself and the prime driver told the guy what we thought of him to his face. He didn't have much to say. He was talking about appt times but we all had the same one he had started his 14 by not staying there and that's why he did it.

Anyways, after unloaded was told to dead head 640 miles to Bettendorf, IA. Very windy drive, thanked myself a couple times for not driving a van and ended up at the Iowa 80 truck stop with one minute left on my 11.

Ended the pay week with 2300 miles, two tarp pays, two stop pays, one local pay, and layover pay for being in the shop. Not a bad week with 44 hours in the shop. Picked in Iowa heading to Laredo.

Going home for Mother's Day but have to 10 11 days to run till then.

 

This pay week is in the book. Last week Tuesday I picked up coils in Iowa. The shipper made me drop my trailer in the bay because I had a 53 foot trailer and the garage door wouldn't shut because I was to long. They don't load with the door open.

Anyways, I go to tarp the load unfold my tarp and realized I had rolled my tarp flap first. I have never done that it must of been the rain in North Dakota distracted me. The dock area was to tight to flip my tarp around to put the flap at the front. I bungee it down drive on down the road and off course I have the Michelin Man on my trailer.

I was not going to stare at that for 1250 miles. First rest stop I untarp my load, folded tarp correctly and retarped the load. Took me 33 minutes. My mistake, I pay more attention when I roll my stupid tarps. lol

I made it to the most Southern Kansas rest stop on the turnpike before I called it a night at 1am. Rolled out Wednesday determined to sleep in my bed that night. My only concern was getting through DFW. I made it to Ft Worth at 430, traffic was getting heavy. Stopped at a loves and sat for two hrs waiting for traffic to die down. Luck would have it that it worked and I got home for the night.

Thursday I dropped my coils at the Laredo yard and was assigned a new load to Mount Holly, NC for Monday. Strapped and tarped the load and headed back home for a 34 hr restart. Stayed home Thursday and Friday night, left out Saturday morning.

I made it to Biloxi, MS and realized that along with not being the best driver when the truck is in reverse along with a couple of days out of the truck makes it hard to park. Either way didn't hit anything and called it a night.

Sunday I left with the plan of getting to Blacksburg, SC for the night. Traffic was good the whole way not even a brake check in Atlanta. Got to the loves in Blacksburg, SC. Pretty soon the three of us delivering at the same consignee were bsing for a couple of hours.

We had all been there before and knew it was first come first serve FCFS even though we had appt times. I normally don't wait for my appt time but I didn't want to start my 14 to early because on the east coast it seems to burn me.

I showed up and the other drivers had beat me there but by time my stuff was folded and put away the fork lift driver was ready for me. I am highlighted for home this wknd, it's Mother's Day in case you forgot. My first load was to West Palm Beach, FL but my DM didn't think I would get home on time if I took the load. Instead I picked up wood heading for Michigan.

Last week was great for miles at just over 2600. That's not setting the world on fire but with three nights in my bed and no home time charged I'll take it. I hope everyone has a good week, I am going to try to deliver 18 hours early tomorrow. I hope it works or I'll be stuck in Detroit for the night.

 

I picked up the load of wood last Monday heading for Detroit. My dm had said she was going to try to get a relay but it sounded like a headache to me. I drove as far as I could after picking up the wood and ended up at a rest stop in West Virginia. This rest stop was pretty tight along with my 53 foot trailer, I was concerned about sticking out to far. Luck would have it when the spot next to me was getting filled I was still doing paperwork and pulled forward for the flatbed driver to get in nice and easy. I made it to Detroit Tuesday afternoon and they took me right away.

It was around 4pm central time when I realized I probably wouldn't get a reloaded the same day. (I did deliver a day early) I messaged my dm to ask the planner where I should park, so I didn't got to far out of the way for a reload. I think that was the magic words because within 10 minutes I had a load assignment for pickup in the morning going to Columbus, OH. Only a 200 mile run but I figured it was getting me closer to the load home. The shipper had overnight parking, so away I went.

As bad as people say Detroit is the area I stayed the night in was pretty nice. I walked down the street from my shipper and had dinner at a nice greek restaurant. Walked back and didn't wake up till the morning when a Melton driver was backing down the street because he missed the entrance. Went inside and trailer was preloaded, had to strap and take off. (The shipper was fenced in and had all gates locked. I could not pick up preloaded trailer till morning.)

It was a same day delivery to Columbus, OH. I had to take quite a few backroads to get there from Detroit. Nothing exciting and the Uhaul place unloaded me right away. And without any input from me the Uhaul people jumped on the trailer and pulled all the nails out of the trailer that were used by the shipper to place the equipment. Then the manager said how are you getting out of here, I said I can turn around by your employees cars or you can stop traffic. Without a word he was out in the middle of the road stopping traffic. All in all very professional group.

Headed to the Pilot in Columbus. I haven't been driving to long but this Pilot was pretty bad. Lot lizards walking around with no shame and beggars not to far behind them. Also, every spot was filled at 2 in the afternoon. Spoke with another Melton, he had been sitting since morning waiting for a new load. I know a great way to get a load is to get out of the truck and go take a shower. Sure enough I take a shower and get back to the truck to find new load from Florence, KY to Laredo, TX. I went to go talk to the other Melton but he was passed out. I have learned to stay awake till 5pm central because you will get something by then. While I was heading to the shipper for am pickup that other driver was still sleeping.

Thursday morning I picked up coils of steel rods loaded shotgun on the trailer. It is nice loading for Mexico because any dunnage used has to be (treated) I don't know exactly the deal with the dunnage but the shipper did and supplied all of it. It was quick and painless to get loaded. I called my dm and said this load is due Monday at 0800 but I have a VA appointment in San Antonio at 830. Can I deliver this load at 2pm? She says no it is JIT, but she'll email Laredo to see if I can drop it on Sunday. Eventually get the okay to drop trailer at the yard on Sunday and to head home.

Thursday night I made it to the Petro in North Little Rock. There was a police cruiser parked in front of the spot I wanted. Parked next to the red curb. I started backing and here comes Arkansas finest running out of the restaurant to move his car. I wasn't going to hit his car or was I close but it was funny.

Friday's plan is to leave as soon as my 10 hr break is over to get through Austin as early as possible. I knew Dallas would not be a problem at 11am but Austin is Austin. Of course I get to Waco
and there is a hole in the road in the middle lane. Ten cars are pulled over putting their spare tires on after they flattened their tire running over the hole in the road. If I am exaggerating about ten cars then there was 7 on the side of the road.

The Waco incident slows me down and I hit Austin at 430. Takes 60 minutes to get through Austin which is not bad with stop and go traffic and make it home to San Antonio. I had two hours left on my 70 and didn't gain any hours till Sunday. Friday night and Saturday I hang out at home and 1030 pm Saturday night I head down to Laredo. The load did not have to be that early but Sunday was Mother's Day and the kids and I had to make breakfast for mommy. I make it to Laredo with no issues. Find a nice spot under the tarp building, take off my tarps and straps, and look for a empty trailer to take back home with me.

How to make sure I get a preloaded trailer coming off home time tomorrow? I found the newest trailer and hooked to it. Of course the yard dog had jacked the legs way up but it was pretty obvious and I still get out anyways and check my 5th wheel height before I back underneath a trailer. No high hook for me. It's easy to lower an empty trailer and I head back out. Got home at 6am and passed out.


This week I had apx 2400 miles with 3 nights at home. I am leaving the house tomorrow morning. Any students or new drivers have any questions let me know.

 

Left the house Tuesday and deadheaded to Houston. I had grabbed the newest trailer before hometime in Laredo, sure enough I did a drop and hook with one of the oldest trailers. I think someone stole the abs light and the license plate light didn't work. Went to the loves and got the lights and replaced them myself. I sent the receipts in for reimbursement.

My load from Houston was taking me to the Fort Lauderdale, Fl airport. I had some kind of rebar for the runway they are building. I made pretty go time from Houston and parked for the night in Biloxi, MS. I hate that Loves I always end up parking at the Home Depot.

Wednesday, I leave Biloxi and go through the Ms scale. Then I hit the two scales on I10 in FL and an agriculture check point in Florida. Finally I hit one more scale heading south. I have to get pre pass on days like that. I scaled my load before I left Texas and it was balanced perfectly and the weights were legal.

Going across the turn pike (toll road) in Florida I realized how much of a pain it was for drivers before me. Normally my ez pass pays for tolls but not in Florida or Kansas. Almost 50 dollars later I made it to the Loves in Fort Pierce for the night. But pre Qualcomm, cell phone, and ez pass a driver had to carry some serious dough and hope his company was worth a hoot and paid everything back.

Delivered in Fort Lauderdale and was deadheaded up to Daytona to pick up insulation for delivery in Virginia. I wasn't to fond of the load because it was 3 days and 800 miles. I didn't waste anytime and left the shipper and drove to Max Meadows, VA for Friday night. Saturday morning I drove to the consignee. No dice on Saturday delivery. Resign myself to sitting at the Loves in Toms Brook, VA for the rest of the wknd.

This Loves is where another driver ran into my truck at the fuel island on my second solo load with Melton . I parked way out of the way and didn't drive near the fuel island.

Monday comes and I get unloaded along with four other Melton drivers. Received my next load of road paint going from Baltimore, Md to New Philadelphia, OH. I stay in the night outside of the consignee and delivered first thing Tuesday morning.

I ended the pay week with 2421 in miles. The load from MD to OH does not count for this weeks check. I get frustrated with the extra time I had on my loads and now I have had to 400 miles loads in a row. I guess everything cycles through but it's frustrating.

 

Another week in the books. I delivered my Ohio load with no problems. Stayed the night at the consignee and was unloaded in the morning. Went over to Walmart stocked up the fridge and waited for my new load. Ended up getting a load from Ohio to Syracuse, NY. Another short load, I speak to my dm about it and she says she'll talk to the planners but does not guarantee anything.

I drive my light insulation load to Syracuse. This was some kind of high dollar insulation that had to be tarped 100% versus just a smoke tarp. Stayed the night at the jobsite in downtown Syracuse for first thing delivery. Unload and get new load 200 mile deadhead to Pennsylvania and 1800 miles to Laredo. Thank you dm.

Drive down to shipper get weighed and told to park in gravel lot. Four hours of detention later I am loaded with coils headed to Laredo. Since I was at the shipper for six hours I decided to stay the night and head out first thing in the morning. My goal for this load is to get to Laredo as early Saturday as I can to drop the load and grab another. Getting there Saturday morning means some early early mornings.

The first night I end up at the Loves just north of Chattanooga, TN. Park at 5pm and leave out at 3am. Get through Chattanooga and a few miles of Georgia hit Alabama. They have all their construction signs set up including 55 mph speed limits but no cones or construction equipment. Irritating but drive the 30-40 miles of 55 mph and kick it back up to 64. I made it to the Petro at exit 76 on I10 in Louisiana. Thankfully I was not headed east on 10 to Louisiana Friday. East bound was stop and go from the Whiskey River bridge all the way to the bridge in Baton Rouge. That's probably 30 miles.


Anyways Saturday is going to make or break my plans for getting a load out on Saturday. Also, I need a restart living two hours north of Laredo, I want to make it home too. I slept in 20 minutes and did not get going till 2:20am. Get going drive to about the 4 mile marker and park for 30 minutes on I10. Drunk driver crashed taking out 2 other cars and a tour bus. Get going and make it to Laredo. Had about 3 hrs and 30 mins on my 14 and 2 hours and 40 mins left on my 11.

Trailer passes inspection. Untarp and park load. Get new load of vans. No tarping and no straps. Hook and go. Head north get to the Border Patrol Station. Can we scan your truck? Sure, no problem. Pass scan, get to San Antonio with 15 minutes to spare and the highway is blocked. Get turned around take back roads, find legal spot with one minute left on 11/14.

2800 miles this week with a restart at home. Headed to Missouri for Wednesday. Should be a decent start to the week. A little luck and help made this week work out with miles and the location of my restart.