January Driver of the Month: Ramon

Let’s congratulate our latest Driver of the Month, Ramon! Ramon is originally from California, and has been with Melton for 15 years, having driven trucks for 26 years total. He’s stayed with Melton all this time because of the equipment and how drivers are treated, and his favorite part about the job is the freedom of being out on the truck independently. Ramon is also a Road Trainer, and enjoys meeting all sorts of personalities while training. His best advice for new drivers is to always be patient and take your time when securing loads. Ramon would like to recognize Lisa in Road Training as well as his DM, Ashley. Congratulations, Ramon!

January 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.

Tim’s DM wanted to congratulate him: “Tim has been a great addition to Fleet 20. He has great communication skills, is always hyper-aware of his situations, and consistently looks for ways to improve. Congratulations!”

A Message from Our Wellness Manager

While there are many risk factors for type 2 diabetes including age, genetics, stress, ethnicity, pregnancy, and even certain medications that elevate blood sugars, the most directly related risk factor is overweight and obesity. On the flipside, this is good news because that means you can trim down your risk by adopting a healthier lifestyle.

5 TIPS TO LOSE WEIGHT & SLASH YOUR RISK FOR TYPE 2 DIABETES

1. Eat more whole grains.

The bran and fiber in whole grains make it more difficult for digestive enzymes to break down the starches into glucose. This leads to lower, slower increases in blood sugar and insulin, and a lower glycemic index. As a result, they stress the body’s insulin-making machinery less, and so may help prevent type 2 diabetes.  Refined carbohydrates (think: white rice, mashed potatoes, donuts, bagels) are absorbed quickly and force the body to work harder, leaving us tired and hungry more often.

2. Cut back on added sugars.

Added sugars have little to no added benefits in food, only empty calories. The average American consumes an average of 350 calories per day from added sugar! Over time, this can add up and significantly contribute to weight gain. Unlike naturally occurring sugars, found in fruit and dairy, added sugars are more quickly metabolized and used for energy by the body – leading to a more rapid rise in blood sugar. To cut back on added sugar, eat less sweet treats, candy, sugary beverages, and many processed foods (read those food labels).

3. Choose heart-healthy fats.

The type of fats you choose to consume may also influence glucose metabolism. A 2009 Harvard study found that a diet rich in heart-healthy unsaturated fats (such as those found in seafood, nuts, and plant-based oils) has beneficial effects on insulin sensitivity and may even reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.

4. Drink more water.

Juices, sports drinks, soft drinks and specialty coffees (like your fall favorite, pumpkin-spice latte) are often loaded with added sugars. Stick to water for rehydration – you’ll not only get less added calories and sugar, but you’ll feel better and more energetic by staying hydrated.

5. Move more.

The benefits of regular exercise are no secret, but its effect on those at risk for type 2 diabetes is especially noteworthy. Both cardiovascular exercises as well as strength training help manage blood glucose levels and play a major role in the prevention and control of insulin resistance.  During exercise, muscle contractions increase your cell’s ability to take in glucose and use it for energy, regardless of whether or not insulin is available. Aim for about 2.5 hours of moderate to vigorous exercise per week, or just 30 minutes per day for benefits.

Stay Healthy!

Bret Bringham

Wellness Manager

A Message from Our safety department

The Geotab tablets are an essential tool used to track Hours of Service (HOS) and maintain accurate logs. With that said, we have continued to see a trend of intermittent issues that can result in HOS violations across our fleet. Whether it is something that can be fixed directly by the driver or is something that has to be fixed at a terminal, please keep an eye out for these occasional problems:  

1. Location Not Tracking
   Sometimes, logs may inaccurately label where you are located due to connection issues. This can look like your location is stuck in one place, even though you have traveled to a different city or state. If this happens and the tablet does not correct itself once you are in a better service area, please reach out to Safety to fix your logs and to verify your tablet is still working correctly.  
2. Drive Time Not Logging
   A few drivers have experienced drive time not logging, even though they have driven for a period of time. If you notice your drive clocks are not counting down or that a drive log is missing, find a safe place to park and reach out to Safety as soon as possible. Catching this early is the goal, so keep a close eye on your logbook!   
3. Logging Out for the Shop
   When taking your truck to the shop, detach your truck from your tablet and log out of Geotab. Go to HOS > Dashboard, tap your truck number, and click the ‘X’ to delete it. After that, log out of the tablet. Failing to complete these steps can result in inaccurate drive times and on-duty statuses added onto your logs!  
4. Logging Sleeper Berth
   We often see a handful of drivers receiving violations when they split log and fail to log sleeper berth. Logging sleeper berth during each 10-hour break not only most accurately reflects rest times, but it also ensures you are not unintentionally getting a violation. The best way to avoid these violations and keep logs as correct as possible is to get in the habit of logging sleeper berth during each 10-hour reset. 

By keeping a close eye on your logs, you can avoid compliance issues and keep operations running smoothly. If you encounter problems, don’t hesitate to contact the Safety team at 800-656-2167. We are happy to help!

March Anniversaries

2             Patrick Snyder

2             Philip Kirkbride

2             Robert Cowan

2             Vahit Yapici

1             Adrian Granados

1             Alexander Alderton

1             Auston Wilburn

1             Cameron Hopper

1             Dionna Hudson

1             Gary Brown

1             Gregory Mcneal

1             Haile Abrha

1             Hunter Pepe

1             Jadon Caputo

1             Jaylon Collins

1             Jesus Feliciano Esponda

1             Jordan Duhon

1             Jose Garcia Agosto

1             Mario Irizarry

1             Matthew Barager

1             Megan Mccoy

1             Modesto Zamorano

1             Osamah Alshawk

1             Perla Lara

1             Peter Colon

1             Ricco Parker

1             Rogelio Vasquez

1             Timothy Hall

1             Walter Duhon

1             William Campbell

1             Zackery Ornelas

1             Zidkijah Kirts

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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January 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.

6.79 MPG

Overall Fleet Average MPG

1. Cooper S. – Fleet 07 with an average of 6.94
2. Jo C. – Fleet 15 with an average of 6.93
3. Amanda T. – Fleet 27 with an average of 6.882

62.67%

Fleet Avg. Expert Fuel

1. Andrew O. – Fleet 35 72.29%
2. Wendy R. – Fleet 11 70.47%
3. Kylie S. – Fleet 32 70.03%

February Hires

Mustafa Hassan

Extended Coverage

Ray Schrock

Credit and Collections Specialist

You just won the lottery. What do you do first?

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