Blog

What is Tarp Pay? Any truck driver knows that fair compensation is extremely important in the industry. Truck driving is both a difficult and important job, so drivers should be paid fairly for the time and work they put in to keeping the U.S. moving. That’s why tarp...

Owner Operators vs Company DriversThere are two types of truck drivers that are often discussed in the industry: owner operators and company drivers. But what do these terms mean, and what’s the difference between owner operators and company drivers? We’ve explained...

What Should Experienced Drivers Look for In a Company?Before we get started, let’s first answer a couple of commonly asked questions: What is an experienced driver? How many years is an experienced driver? What is the difference between an experienced driver and an...

How to Back Up in a Semi TrailerBacking up is a skill that both new and veteran truck drivers must continually focus and practice on.. Flatbed trucks require skill and training to maneuver, and there are many things to remember when backing a 53’ trailer into a...

How Can a Truck Driver Eat Healthier?There are many reasons why it can be difficult to manage a healthy diet as an OTR truck driver. With limited time for cooking and eating, lack of space in a cab for kitchen appliances and food storage, the convenience of grabbing a...

Should You Drive with a Pet Rider?Driving across the U.S. all by yourself can be an isolating experience without someone to keep you company. Keeping in touch with family and friends is easier than ever today with new technology, but nothing beats having a loved one...

A Guide to CDL Training for Veterans Wondering how many truckers are veterans? Or what percentage of truckers are veterans? According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, over 10% of employed veterans are directly employed in the transportation industry as of...

Stay Organized as a Truck Driver  Any OTR driver will tell you that the cab of a semi-truck wasn’t engineered to be spacious and luxurious. While drivers do have access to almost everything they’d need to be self-sufficient on the road, it has to all fit into a...

Melton's Quest for Quality As the transportation industry develops and shifts, businesses continue to face ever-changing demands and expectations of consumers, employees, and industry partners alike. Attributes such as customer service, performance, and speed are more...

Sustainability in Trucking  Even though heavy-duty vehicles make up just 5% of the vehicles on the road, they are responsible for over 25% of CO2 emissions. This doesn’t come as a surprise – large trucks need a lot of fuel to operate, and semitrucks transport...

How to Earn Your CDL & Become a Truck Driver How do I get started as a trucker? Is truck driving worth the money? If you want to get into the world of trucking, these are few of many questions you’re likely asking yourself. There are plenty of articles out there...

Social Media for Truck Drivers  Social media has taken the world by storm in the last several years. It’s rare to find someone who doesn’t have any social media presence these days, and people around the world are staying connected in ways that were previously...

Best Restaurants for Truck DriversWhen you’re out on the road for weeks at a time, it can be a challenge to find a place to stop for a satisfying meal. Options are usually limited to the closest truck stop, and revisiting the same chain spots over and over can get...

Self-Driving Semis: Exciting or Terrifying?  Predicting the future is impossible…except if the future is already here! Autonomous trucks that can drive across long stretches of highways without a single human input seems like a distant dream. However, several...

The Best Truck Stops in the USAfter a long day of driving across the country, the one thing on a truck driver’s mind is finding a place to rest. However, not all truck stops of America are created equal! Some could be as small as a convenience store, and others could...

Layover vs Detention Pay in Trucking When it comes to truck driving, time spent on the road is money. Most drivers are paid by the mile versus hourly, which means if you’re not driving, you’re not making money. Delays are often unpredictable – traffic, weather, supply...

Women in the Truck Driving Industry  Nowadays, women in truck driving compose more of the workforce than ever before – but that number still sits between 8 and 10%. In the midst of the driver shortage that has worsened over the past few years, recruiting women...

How Do I Get a CDL License?The first step to starting a career in trucking is obtaining a Class A commercial driver’s license by completing CDL training. There are numerous schools and training programs to choose from, it can seem a little overwhelming at first. Not...

Top 10 Reasons Gen-Z Should be Truck DriversIt’s no secret that truck drivers may not have the best reputation. Decades of misleading stereotypes have disregarded the importance of drivers to our economy and life as we know it. The industry is changing every day, and...

Causes of Back Pain & Injury Prevention TipsFlatbed trucking jobs are some of the most labor intensive in the transportation industry. From picking up and adjusting 8 pound tarps to load securement, there’s many ways for drivers to sustain short or long-term...

A Day in the Life of a Truck DriverIf you’ve considered truck driving as a career, you’re probably curious what a typical day on the road is like. The lifestyle can be appealing to those who like working independently and don’t mind working for long stretches of time,...

What's Your New Year's Resolution?The beginning of the new year feels like a fresh start. It’s the perfect time to review the past year’s events and think about its highs and lows. For many, it’s the perfect time to make a change. Everyone has a story about a new...

Gift Ideas for Truck Drivers The holiday season is one of the busiest times of the year for our OTR drivers. Most of the Christmas gifts and holiday dinners we enjoy are made possible by the hardworking men and women behind the wheel of a semi-truck. Over 70% of...

Why Trucking Makes a Great CareerWith so many opportunities for a career, it’s intimidating to figure out which job is a perfect fit. Each has their own unique challenges and tasks they bring to the table, and truck driving is no different. Is it for you, though? Many...

Thanksgiving on the RoadTruck drivers make Thanksgiving happen. Every year, drivers deliver millions of turkeys, sides, and desserts to grocery stores and restaurants across the country to ensure that everyone can celebrate with their families. What about the drivers?...

How Much do Flatbed Drivers Make? The trucking industry offers a variety of ways in which drivers are paid – but how much do flatbed drivers make? The difference in pay depends on different factors for each company and each mode of transportation. Melton offers cent...

Breast Cancer AwarenessOctober is Breast Cancer Awareness MonthBreast cancer is the uncontrolled growth of breast cells.  Cancer occurs as a result of mutations, or abnormal changes, in the genes responsible for regulating the growth of cells and keeping them healthy....

Ways to Stay Connected with Family as an OTR DriverHaving an OTR truck driving job has plenty of perks and benefits; your days are never the same, you get to travel all over the country, you get excellent pay and benefits, and the sights you get to see along the way...

Perks of Flatbed TruckingThere are several different types of trucking you can try out once you have your CDL, each with its own pros and cons to consider. One of the most popular types of trucking is flatbed, which differs from a standard dry van in that the trailer...

Best Trucking Companies for Veterans in 2024For Veterans looking to transition back into the workforce post-discharge, there is no shortage of training and apprenticeship programs looking to help. Melton Truck Lines is among those companies, proud to offer a 24-Month...