March Driver of the Month: David

Let’s recognize our newest Driver of the Month, David! David has been driving for 20 years total, and has been with Melton since October of 2010. He chose Melton to get away from driving box vans and into a new type of trucking. His favorite memory from his time at Melton is delivering a load into Boeing, where they assembled fighter jets. David has lots of advice for new drivers; don’t get into a rush, always complete your load checks and tire checks, and make sure you’re double checking your securement when you leave the shipper. David would like to give a shout-out to his wife, Cathy, who rides along with him in the truck, as well as his DM, Rory.

Rory would like to give a shout-out to David as well: “David is an Ambassador with over 1.5 million miles. He is also a mentor to other drivers and is ready to help them when needed. He is very deserving of the DOM title, and I hope he makes Driver of the Year!” Congratulations, David!

March Rookie of the Month: Tim

Congratulations to our newest Rookie of the Month, Tim! Tim is originally from San Diego, and has been driving for Melton for 6 months, this being his first OTR job. Before he was a truck driver, Tim previously worked in construction, and chose to drive for the Melton for the new challenge it provided. When he’s not driving, Tim likes to exercise and go for hikes, and the most memorable load he’s hauled were air conditioning units out of Pueblo, Colorado. His best advice for new drivers to be successful is to be as patient as a snail.

His DM, Taylor, wanted to pass on a message: “Tim is so great! As a DM he has been awesome with his communication and being patient with me while I continue to learn. Appreciate his teamwork daily.” Keep up the great work, Tim!

A Message from Our Wellness Manager

Improving your physical health is important in reducing the incidence of chronic conditions such as diabetes Type II, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease, but can it also play a role in improving your mental health?

The life expectancy of people struggling with mental illness is significantly reduced by one to two decades compared with those who address and treat their mental health. Additionally, those who are overweight and obese have been reported to have an increase in depressive syndromes compared to those at an otherwise healthy weight.

Unwanted weight gain almost always leads to negative body image. Body image has been shown to play a significant role in eating and weight disorders and has been linked to depressive behavior.

Recent studies have found that obese individuals are more body-conscious than those at a healthy weight and that they have a harder time losing weight due to stress. Psychological stress is directly related to increased cortisol levels, which tends to make the body hold on to fat stores. Psychological stress can also increase feelings of anxiety and make individuals feel discouraged to begin eating healthy or exercising.

Let’s Fix It

Diet:  It is important to find an eating plan that works for YOU!  Our bodies are all different on the inside and out, meaning what might work for your friend may not work for you.  A great start is the Mediterranean Diet, which encourages individuals to eat fresh, whole foods.  This includes mostly fresh vegetables, fresh fish and lean meats, fresh fruit, and health fast such as nuts and olive oils.

Movement:  Just the word “exercise” can send some people into a panic.  Exercise doesn’t mean that you’ve got to join a big gym or train for a marathon.  Simply starting to walk for 30 minutes every day is a great way to get going!  After you have walked for 30 days and started developing the “habit of exercise”, it’s time to start some weight training.  Weight training is something that you can do in your home or truck easily without joining a gym.   Please reach out to me in Tulsa or check out our Facebook group “Melton Torqued” for some great workouts to get you started!

Making changes to your daily routine is hard. But by taking small steps to improve physical health through improved diet and increased exercise, it won’t take long to notice positive changes in your mood and behavior. Just remember, you are unique, and you are totally worth it!

Let’s Take Care of Ourselves!

Bret Bringham

Wellness Manager

A Message from Our safety department

Staying safe on the road isn’t just about defensive driving or proper load securement—it begins with how you manage your time. Hours of Service regulations are in place to keep drivers alert and well-rested, but simply following the rules isn’t always enough. The way you manage your day within those limits can be the difference between a smooth, stress-free trip versus a violation.

Planning Ahead to Set Yourself Up for Success

Trip planning is key to staying in control of your time. Know your route, schedule your breaks, and build in extra time for traffic, weather, and delays. The more prepared you are, the less likely you’ll feel pressure to speed or scramble for parking at the end of the day. Smart planning keeps you compliant, safe, and on time.

Avoid Pushing Your Limits

Equally important to note, driving right up to your maximum allowed hours leaves little room for error. A last-minute delay, traffic jam, or difficulty finding parking can quickly lead to a violation. Aim to wrap up your day with time to spare, so you’re never forced into a risky situation by the clock.

Stay Aware of Your Clock

It’s easy to lose track of your HOS when you’re laser-focused on meeting a delivery deadline—but that’s when violations are most likely to happen.

Your Geotab tablet is more than a compliance device, it’s your safety partner. Use it to monitor your drive time and on-duty time throughout the day. Don’t wait until you’re nearly out of time to plan your next move.

Remember, if any of your clocks hit zero—your 11-hour, 8-hour, 14-hour, or 70-hour clock—you cannot legally drive. Continuing past your hours puts you at risk for violations. Know your limits before you reach them and plan accordingly.

Overall, you can’t always control road conditions or delivery windows—but you can control how you manage your time. Staying ahead of the clock, taking meaningful rest breaks, and understanding your hours isn’t just smart, it’s how you stay safe and make it home at the end of the day.

As always, our Safety team is here to help; reach out to us at 800-656-2167!

May Anniversaries

2            Malik Lampley

2            Matthew Whelan

2            Paulon Knight

2            Pernell Taylor

2            Randall Watson

2            Stephen Tillman

2            Wilton Comeaux

1            Andre Lozano

1            Anthony Hamilton

1            Austin Miranda

1            Chase Johnson

1            Chase Harkins

1            Christian Long

1            Colton Winterroth

1            Daniel Adams

1            Deshun Banks

1            Donald Williams

1            Duane Nooner

1            Dylan Hackney

1            Edward Sullivan

1            Edward Delong

1            Edwin Pastor

1            Gordon Campbell

1            Gregorio Reyes

1            Jaron Rogers

1            Jason Shimkus

1            Joel Arellano

1            John Ford

1            John Harwood

1            Jose Rios

1            Kyle Sporer

1            Lorenzo Delgado

1            Philip Patterson

1            Rene Guzman

1            Richard Ortez

1            Roberto Aparicio

1            Shaun Douglass

1            Skyelar Kim

1            Skylar Polk

1            Terrance Weaver

1            Timothy Loe

1            Wayne Bernard

February Top Fleets

Each month, we have our best fleets in MPG and fuel compliance. Below you will see the top three fleets in each category. Congratulations to each fleet. Keep up the great work.

6.90 MPG

Overall Fleet Average MPG

1. Stephen D. – Fleet 10 with an average of 6.99
2. Rory B. – Fleet 25 with an average of 6.98
3. Chad M. – Fleet 8 with an average of 6.974

69.61%

Fleet Avg. Expert Fuel

1. Katrina C. – Fleet 19 76.60%
2. Tony S. – Fleet 18 76.02%
3. Wendy R. – Fleet 11 74.11%

Monthly Celebration

Each month, we gather in our Tulsa headquarters atrium to have our monthly celebration to celebrate anniversaries, new hires, promotions, and birthdays. Thank you for everyone who attended in person or online!

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April Hires

Emily Mota

Driver Manager

Nick Smalley

Landscaper

April Movement

Are you a Cat or a Dog Person?

Have a poll idea for the next OpenLine? Please send it to [email protected].