OpenLine

January 2025

Leadership Message

Welcome to the December 2024 edition of OpenLine!

Happy holidays and congratulations to our Driver of the Month, Mauricio, and our Rookie of the Month, Jesus. As outlined in our 8th tradition, “We show our appreciation for our drivers. We treat them as our guests whenever we come into contact with them. We keep in mind that their job is difficult and demanding…” We greatly appreciate all our drivers for your continued hard work and efforts!

Freight and market conditions continue to be challenging at best, and even more so for the flatbed industry as a significant portion of our business is related to the construction industry, which is markedly slower through the winter months. We are optimistic that things will turn in the spring, given the warmer months and construction season. Until that time, we rely greatly upon your help to be as efficient as possible, pushing to improve productivity by safely maximizing your hours of service and logging more miles through the course of your day. Focus on controlling and maximizing your fuel efficiency, and be aware of your surroundings when backing up or driving in tight spaces to reduce the chance of preventable accidents. All of these are little things that collectively add up and will assist OUR company financially.

Finally, as we are officially in December and the coldest months of the year, below are some tips to assist you in managing the cold weather safely:

Prioritize proper clothing and dress in layers. Waterproof coveralls, warm boots, dry socks, a hat, and gloves will go a long way toward ensuring that you are protected from the elements when out of your truck loading, tarping and securing your loads.
When conducting your pre-trip inspections, ensure that you are checking for issues related to winter driving like tire pressure, lights and fluid levels.
Be cautious of bridges as they freeze faster than roadways.
Maintain a larger than-normal following distance to allow for extra stopping time on slippery roads.
Practice safe winter driving techniques such as accelerating and braking smoothly, and avoiding sudden maneuvers.
Stay informed about weather forecasts and plan your route accordingly to avoid severe storms.
Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated even in cold weather.

Thank you again for your continued hard work and be safe!

Patrick Brown

Vice President, Melton Logistics

Driver & Rookie of the Month

October Driver of the Month

October’s Driver of the Month is Mauricio! Mauricio has been with Melton for ten years, and he chose to drive for us after hearing good things from his previous trucking…see more

October Rookie of the Month

Congratulations to October’s Rookie of the Month, Jesus! Jesus has been with us for six months, and this is his first OTR job. Before Melton, Jesus worked as a supervisor at a…see more

Photos

Every month we receieve lots of amazing photos from our drivers from their time on the road. If you have a photo you’d like to share, send an email to [email protected].

A gorgeous view to start the day!

A little spooky for November, but a great view nonetheless- thanks Austin!

Between a rock and a hard place? Not for Chonny, he’s just stopping for the sights.

Check out this beautiful sunset captured by Cindy Peterson on her way to Oklahoma City!

You can practically smell that crisp, clean, Connecticut air. Thanks for sharing, David!

Tight spaces aren’t a problem for Doug. Heights, though…

Nothing compares to a good rest after a long day, and a beautiful sunset to cap it off. Thanks for sharing, Mario!

Picture perfect background for Patrick this week!

Wellness & Safety Articles

Why You Should Try Drop Sets

Drop sets are a multi-part exercise. They involve performing an exercise with a heavy weight for several reps…see more

Navigating Close Quarters Like a Pro

Truck stops are hubs where drivers refuel, rest, and refresh. Over the years, truck stops have gotten…see more

Monthly Poll

See last month’s results: What’s your favorite Thanksgiving tradition?

Leave us a Review!

We’re always looking for Melton team members to share their opinions with us. If you want to share your experience working for Melton, we encourage you to leave an honest review on your platform of choice. You can visit our Glassdoor page below!

Review Us on Glassdoor

Kudos

Here are some positive messages we receieved about both office staff and drivers for this month! If you’d like to give kudos to a coworker, please send it to [email protected].

I want to give compliments and kudos to Nick, his truck number is 14852. That man is a literal godsend. When I tell you that man helped me with every step of my second load…I didn’t understand what was happening and there were already some straps on it; it was so confusing. He did not have to stay with me, he was almost done with his load and it was almost midnight, but that man helped me every step of the way. He’s a great one and I really appreciated it!

Cordell, Melton Driver

I’d like to say, the folks at OSR have been super professional and extremely courteous. Thank you very much.

Kevin, Melton Driver

Our shop guys do not get enough credit for the support we get from them. I picked up a trailer headed to Canada, and I noticed it had a couple of bad tires and a leaking axle seal. I called OSR and told them I was rerouting east to avoid the storm and would be passing Laredo to get the stuff fixed. En route, the axel got worse, and I limped into the terminal. They started working on the trailer at 2:30; at 8:20, I was fully fixed and pulling out of the shop. Thank you didn’t feel like enough for the work they put in!

Dicky, Melton Driver

I want to shout out my DM Austin for Fleet 14 and OSR. Had my truck throw up an error code with both check engine lights on and had to take it to a shop here in MO. Both OSR and my DM made sure I was taken care of. Now I just wait while sitting comfortably in a hotel. These guys do the best to take care of us, and I just wanted to give props.

Austin, Melton Driver

I have recently onboarded a new team member who previously worked at a company with inadequate standards. It has been a rewarding experience to introduce them to our training program, which focuses on Melton’s expectations and breaking any poor habits they may have formed. Our communication methods, including the Smith system, have been particularly eye-opening for my trainee. I am thrilled to be working with someone who truly values the attention to detail in our training department and am excited to see their continued progress.

Ashley, Melton Driver

My trainer, Ramone, has far exceeded my expectations as a trainee. I couldn’t be happier to have him as a mentor and learn from a Melton veteran such as himself.

Anonymous WorkHound

I had a rock fly into my AC condenser leaving me with no AC besides losing the load since I have to take the truck to the dealer. OSR team did an amazing job getting me into a hotel with truck parking so that I don’t have to worry about it while sitting at a truck stop overnight. OSR killed it for me and I’m greatly appreciative of them!

Anonymous WorkHound

My trainer Charles has been excellent throughout my whole training. Very helpful with lots of tips!

Anonymous WorkHound

I stayed the weekend at the Tulsa terminal for the first time since I started with Melton 6 months ago. I’d just like to say that each and every office & shop personnel were extremely friendly and professional. Their remarks and actions seemed very genuine and not portrayed as an act. The safety guys rock too. Funny one liners & convos with other drivers were a blast. Out of my last 2 companies, by far Melton is the most professional and fun place to drive for. Thank you all!

Kevin, Melton Driver

I want to thank Alex, the Outside Repair team, my Fleet 19 DMs, and the Melton fam for the support while I was broken down. Y’all are what make Melton Truck Lines the greatest flatbed company in the game today!!

Montae, Melton Driver

Today is a great day at the Birmingham terminal as new drivers receive their trucks. Mr. Daniel, the terminal manager, is exceptional. He excels at welcoming new drivers, boosting their confidence, and road preparation. He even provided Thanksgiving food for employees and drivers. Thank you, Mr. Daniel; we’re super proud of you!

Elisa, Melton Driver

Giant kudos to Jess and Matt and Mr. D. Got my truck in, got it fixed in record time so I could make my pickup in time. The lounge area is always clean with good showers, and I even had time for laundry. Keep up the good job guys. BIRMINGHAM ROCKS! Y’all are the best, thanks again.

Anonymous WorkHound

Get Involved

We’re excited to share all of the activities that have been happening at Melton during the month!

See what's happening

Anniversaries

Be sure to congratulate these staff members who have hit tenure milestones with Melton!

Let's Celebrate

New Hires & Movement

Congratulations to all of the new hires and movement this month! Meet the newest members of the team here.

say hello

October Driver of the Month: Mauricio

October’s Driver of the Month is Mauricio! Mauricio has been with Melton for ten years, and he chose to drive for us after hearing good things from his previous trucking job. His favorite place to drive through is Montana and Washington because of the mountains and snow, and the most memorable load he’s hauled was a load of oversized tires from the Carolinas. Mauricio’s best tips for new drivers is to always pre-plan your trips to avoid any unexpected circumstances that could lead to mistakes.

Mauricio’s DM, Josh, wanted to comment: “Mauricio is as reliable as they come. He never complains and does his job well every day.” Congratulations, Mauricio!

October Rookie of the Month: Jesus

Congratulations to October’s Rookie of the Month, Jesus! Jesus has been with us for six months, and this is his first OTR job. Before Melton, Jesus worked as a supervisor at a power sports dealership. He chose Melton because he wanted to see the country, and enjoys having the freedom to manage his own time. His favorite memory while driving is getting to see the Canadian side of Niagara Falls while waiting for his truck to be fixed. When he’s not driving, Jesus likes to visit the shooting range and ride motorcycles. He also would like to give a shoutout to his trainer, Ramon.

Jesus’ DM, Becky, had this to say: “Congratulations…Jesus is a hard worker, always communicates – he is a good asset to Melton.” Keep up the great work, Jesus!

A Message from Our Wellness Manager

Drop sets are a multi-part exercise. They involve performing an exercise with a heavy weight for several reps, then immediately “dropping the weight” to a lower weight (or no weight at all), and again repeating that same exercise for a higher number of repetitions.

There aren’t any hard-and-fast rules for the number of times you should perform the movement at each weight. However, many people advocate for doing your drop sets until failure — in other words, until you physically cannot do another repetition while maintaining the correct form.

Take a bicep curl, for example. One drop set might look like curling:

35 pounds until failure
25 pounds until failure

How Drop Sets Can Take Your Training to the Next Level

Not only do drop sets shake up your usual workout format and add some challenging interest to your usual exercises, but they also let you capitalize on the benefits of both high-weight, low-rep sets and lower-weight, high-repetition sets.

To understand how this happens, it’s helpful to understand how muscle growth (also known as muscle hypertrophy) works in the first place.

The golden rule of muscle hypertrophy is progressive overload, which involves gradually increasing the “load” that you lift during your workout. The easiest way to do this is by gradually lifting heavier and heavier weights. Adding more weight to your exercises over time continues to challenge your muscles through the same exercises, which ultimately helps you build bigger and stronger muscles after proper rest and recovery.

But there’s also something to be said for lifting lighter weights as long as you’re lifting them for a higher number of repetitions. Performing an exercise for a higher number of repetitions in a set can help you build muscular endurance, which has plenty of positive implications both inside and outside of the gym.

Some researchers also believe that training to failure can help you break through training plateaus. Research indicates that performing an exercise until you physically

cannot anymore – can better activate your motor units, which are the neurons and muscle fibers that need to be activated in order for your muscles to produce force and move. It also better activates the release of growth-promoting hormones, which are necessary for making gains. However, it’s also important that you’re still lifting weights that are heavy enough to be challenging so that you can reap these rewards.

Stop by Torque for more training tips and join our Torque Facebook Group by searching “Melton Torqued” using the Facebook search field. We have over 300 at home/truck workouts posted, exercise tips, recipes and more!

Have a great December!

Bret Bringham

Wellness Manager

A Message from Our safety department

Truck stops are hubs where drivers refuel, rest, and refresh. Over the years, truck stops have gotten exponentially busier, posing challenges for drivers when parking. Mishaps in these situations can lead to costly damages and delays. With that in mind, what are some steps that can help drivers prepare and conquer close quarter and backing situations?

1. Plan Ahead: Before pulling into a truck stop, plan your route and parking strategy. Use GPS tools to identify spots with ample room and do your best to avoid overcrowded locations during peak times.

2. Take It Slow: Patience is key when backing a tractor and trailer into tight spots. Take your time to ensure you are aware of your surroundings and where your trailer is going.

3. Avoid Distractions: Eliminate distractions such as phones, music, or eating while maneuvering. Focus on your surroundings and keep your eyes moving!

4. Check Your Mirrors Constantly: Your mirrors are your best friend in close quarters. Use them frequently to monitor your trailer’s position, adjacent vehicles, and any pedestrians or obstacles nearby.

5. Practice GOAL (Get Out And Look): Before and during the process of backing, get out of your truck and inspect the area. Look for potential hazards like parked vehicles, curbs, or uneven surfaces. Taking a minute to assess can save you from a costly mistake.

6. Use Spotters When Possible: If you are backing into a tight spot and another driver is available, ask for assistance. A spotter can provide a clear view of your blind spots, reducing the likelihood of misjudgments.

7. Communicate Clearly: If you’re using a spotter, ensure communication is clear and consistent. Miscommunication can lead to errors during backing or maneuvering. It is worthy to note that even when using a spotter, it is still your responsibility to ensure you are backing safely.

8. Regularly Refresh Your Backing Skills: Even experienced drivers benefit from occasional refreshers. Practicing backing maneuvers in a controlled environment helps build confidence and precision. If you feel that you need more practice, get in touch with Safety and we can set you up with additional hands-on training!

Close-quarter and backing incidents can often be avoided by exercising caution, maintaining situational awareness, and sticking to safe driving practices. By keeping these tips in mind, you can protect yourself and your equipment. If you have any questions, please reach out to Safety at 800-656-2167. Stay safe and happy holidays!

December Anniversaries

32 Alton Jackson

32 Sly Johnson

22 Kavin Foster

19 Lisa Potter

16 Marianna Watashe

15 Jerry McGowan

14 Homer Hoke

14 Richard Zapata

12 Christopher Garcia

10 Jorge Landa

10 Michael Mclaughlin

10 Troy Marquis

9 Jose Hernandez

9 Oscar Antu

9 Stephen Briggs

8 Miguel Rodriguez

8 Timothy Crawford

7 Kendrick Doss

7 Miguel Guerra Sosa

7 Robert Tusler

7 Stephanie Rinner

6 Nisha Cremeans

6 William Adkins

5 Dathan Conder

5 Jerrod Liswig

5 Jesse Milliman

5 Luke Brown

5 Terrance Small

4 Eduardo Lopez

4 Glen Lahue

4 Ronnie Fowler

3 Adam Zlata

3 Anthony Taylor

3 Bruce Burrus

3 Ernestitoz Stewart

3 Jeffrey Burchett

3 Michael Lopez

2 Adrian Rivera

2 Benny Richardson

2 Brandon Thomas

2 Cortnee Sparks

2 Eric Correa

2 Jerome Doucette

2 Marlon Ietter

2 Sean Highlander

2 Thomas Kraemer

1 Angel Otero

1 Charles Smith

1 Cody Hardin

1 David Joseph

1 Dylan Riley

1 Jeffery Myers

1 Jose Covarrubias

1 Joseph Tyler

1 Justin Wilson

1 Karen Adrian

1 Michael Thomas

1 Ovidio Amaya

1 Ricky Borges

1 Trevor Gutierrez

1 Tyson Prater

1 Willi Neumann

Monthly Celebration: We’re Thankful for You!

Each month, we gather in our Tulsa headquarters atrium to have our monthly celebration to celebrate anniversaries, new hires, promotions, and birthdays. To give thanks to our wonderful Melton employees this month, we also offered a traditional Thanksgiving lunch after the celebration.

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Elf Selfies: Happy Holidays!

We celebrated the holidays by having our team take photos as elves at our s-ELF-ie station! Check out the photos we got here.

Tulsa Veterans Day Parade

Last month, we celebrated Veteran’s Day by participating in the annual Tulsa Veteran’s Day parade. Drivers and office employees who have previously served in the military walked alongside our patriotic Melton Truck, driven by veteran driver Mario.

Thank you to everyone who participated! Take a look at some of the photos we captured from the day.

Follow Us on Social Media!

March 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.