April 2024
Leadership Message
Hello and welcome to the March edition of the OpenLine!
I would first like to take this opportunity to congratulate Chris Sharrock, our Safety Technology Specialist, for winning the 2023 Lytx Coach of the Year! This honor is awarded to industry professionals who show an unwavering commitment to safety. We are very proud of Chris for earning this prestigious award.
Lytx wasn’t finished celebrating Melton’s safety professionals. We just learned our driver, John Anagnost, was awarded third place in the Lytx Driver of the Year contest! Congratulations, John! Well done.
As we roll into the Spring, please keep the following safety tips in mind:
- Always be hydrating.
- Use 3 points of contact when getting in and out/on and off equipment/loads.
- Creating space around your vehicle allows you time to make proactive decisions, so practice the Smith Keys.
- Get Out and Look!!!
Thank you to our Melton Road Trainers who guide the next generation of drivers and to our Melton Mentors who answer calls after hours and on the weekend to help support our fleet. Please always call our Mentor hotline if you have questions and cannot reach the safety team. That number is 866-938-1319!
I’ll close with a huge thank you to all of the great people who make Melton Truck Lines a success and a quick reminder to wear your PPE.
I look forward to seeing you next time you are at the Tulsa Terminal! Be safe out there!
Melissa Stephan
Director of Safety
NOTE: Driver of the Month, Rookie of the Month, and Top Fleets are unavailable this month. Both March and April’s Driver and Rookie of the Month will be featured in the April OpenLine.
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].
Jason shared his ambassador truck turning gold with he sunrise this morning. Thanks for sharing, Jason!
Wellness & Safety Articles
Spring Fitness Tips
Getting a late start on your New Year’s Resolutions? Spring is the perfect time to jumpstart your fitness routine and…see more
Watching Your Weight
In our world of transportation, ensuring that all loads we haul are of legal weight is of utmost importance…see more
Monthly Poll
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!
Kudos
Here’s some positive messages we receieved about both office staff and drivers for this month!
Get Involved
We’re excited to share all of the activities that have been happening at Melton during the month!
Anniversaries
Be sure to congratulate these staff members who have hit tenure milestones with Melton!
New Hires & Movement
Congratulations to all of the new hires and promotions this month! Meet the newest members of the team here.
Driver of the Month: Bradley
Congratulations to January’s Driver of the Month, Bradley! He has been with Melton for nearly two years after previously working in the oilfields, but has been hauling farm equipment since he was just 16 years old! Bradley’s favorite part about Melton is the family environment and the flexibility we have in getting drivers home in the case of personal issues and events. He has two great Safety tips for our drivers: first, never be afraid to call in and ask for help when you need it. Second, if you feel like your load needs more straps, always add more – better safe than sorry!
His DM, Wendy, had this to say about Bradley: “Bradley is very conscientious and always keeps me updated. I know I don’t have to worry about a load when he is picking up for us.” Congratulations, Bradley!
Rookie of the Month: Ahmed
Congratulations to January’s Rookie of the Month, Ahmed! He has driving for Melton since 2023, and this is his first driving job after graduating from 160 Driving Academy in San Marcos, TX. Ahmed holds a master’s degree in human resource management and previously worked as an HR and Payroll analyst. He chose to drive for Melton after doing a lot of research about OTR jobs, and came to Melton after speaking with Samantha in Recruiting! The most interesting load he has hauled was just 400 lbs and only had to travel 50 miles – definitely unusual!
His DM, Rebecca, wanted to give her congratulations: “Ahmed is a great driver, hard worker, and always communicates and works hard at representing Melton in a positive way. Great asset to the team.” Keep up the great work, Ahmed!
A Message from Our Wellness Manager
Getting a late start on your New Year’s Resolutions? Spring is the perfect time to jumpstart your fitness routine and embrace a healthier lifestyle. Here are some tips to make the most out of your spring fitness journey:
- Take advantage of the outdoors: With warmer temperatures and longer daylight hours, take your workout outside. Whether it’s going for a run, biking, hiking, or even gardening, outdoor activities offer fresh air, sunshine, and a change of scenery.
- Set realistic goals: Start the season by setting achievable fitness goals. Whether it’s increasing your endurance, losing bodyfat, or improving flexibility, setting specific and measurable goals will help you stay motivated and track your progress.
- Find a workout buddy: Exercising with a friend not only makes it more enjoyable, but it also adds a level of accountability. Set up workout sessions with a friend or join a local fitness group to stay motivated and committed to your fitness routine.
- Mix up your workouts: Avoid monotony by diversifying your exercises. Spring offers a great opportunity to try new activities such as swimming, outdoor yoga classes, or even paddleboarding. Mixing activities challenges different muscles and keeps your workout routine exciting.
- Fuel your body with seasonal produce: Spring brings an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables. Make a conscious effort to incorporate colorful and nutrient-rich produce into your diet. Choose from strawberries, artichokes, spinach, and other seasonal delights to support your overall health and fitness goals.
- Stay hydrated: As the weather gets warmer, it’s essential to stay hydrated. Increase your water intake and carry a water bottle with you wherever you go. Hydration not only supports your workouts but also helps regulate body temperature and aids in digestion. Your goal should be to drink half of your bodyweight in ounces of water. If you’re out for an extended period of time, you may want to consider adding electrolytes to your water. Walmart sells some great electrolyte packets.
- Listen to your body: Spring is a time of renewal, and your body may need some time to adjust to increased physical activity. Pay attention to any signs of fatigue, discomfort, or injury. Take rest days when needed and don’t push yourself beyond your limits.
- Practice self-care: Alongside your fitness routine, prioritize self-care practices. Engage in activities that promote relaxation and reduce stress, such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, or getting a massage. Taking care of your mental well-being is just as important as physical fitness.
- Get enough sleep: Sleep plays a vital role in overall health and fitness. Aim for seven to eight hours of quality sleep each night. Sufficient rest helps restore your body and lets you wake up refreshed and energized for your workouts.
- Enjoy the journey: Spring is a time of growth and rejuvenation. Embrace the journey of improving your fitness and focus on enjoying the process rather than fixating only on the end results. Celebrate small victories along the way and give yourself the grace to learn and grow.
Need help with an exercise program? Please contact me anytime at 918.270.9611 or [email protected]
Stay healthy my friends,
Bret Bringham
Wellness Manager
A Message from Our safety department
In our world of transportation, ensuring that all the loads we haul are of legal weight is of utmost importance. Although you cannot simply look at a load and determine if it is overweight, there are pre-cautionary methods you can use to avoid dreaded overweight violations— including verifying the load is placed correctly at the shipper, scaling at the nearest certified scale, and contacting our team with any issues you encounter.
One of the first avenues to take in avoiding an overweight trailer is to be an active participant in the loading process. While you are at the shipper, verify that the loader knows where the load center is on your trailer and ensure that they are loading your trailer correctly based on that load center. A good way to visualize how load placement should look on our flatbed trailers is to think of the trailer as a teeter totter that needs to be balanced. In other words, you want to have equal weight on each side of the load center. Before leaving the shipper, make sure you see this balance as much as possible. That way, if you see that the freight on your trailer is loaded incorrectly, you can easily communicate with the loader to quickly correct it and continue on with your trip.
Once you are confident in the load placement and have secured your load, the next step is to determine whether this load requires to be scaled. A good rule of thumb is if your load weighs 40,000 lbs. or more, then you need to go to the nearest CATscale from where you are loaded to verify the weight of your load is legal. Additionally, after you finish scaling your load and receive your scale ticket, check to see how much each axle weighs. If your trailer axles weigh over 35,000 lbs., then that requires a split weight to check if each trailer axle is at the legal weight limit. As a reminder, below are the legal weight limits for our Melton trailers:
Flatbed Trailer: Load Center can be found 22’4” back from the nose of the trailer or marked by a yellow sticker under the trailer.
- 12,000 lbs. on steers
- 34,000 lbs. on drives
- 40,000 lbs. on trailer axles (20,000 lbs. on front trailer axle and 20,000 lbs. on rear trailer axle)
- 80,000 lbs. overall total/gross weight
Step-Deck Trailer: Load Center for open axle is located at 15’8” and for closed axle is located at 12’3”
- 12,000 lbs. on steers
- 34,000 lbs. on drives
- 34,000 lbs. on closed trailer axles (17,000 lbs. on each trailer axle) or 40,000 lbs. on spread trailer axles (20,000 lbs. on each trailer axle)
- 80,000 lbs. overall total/gross weight
After scaling, if your trailer is scaled below the legal weight limits, then you are ready to roll to your next stop. However, if your trailer scaled in above the legal weight limit, then communicate your issue with your Driver Manager and Safety as soon as possible. From there, we will work together to produce a game plan, which is likely returning to the shipper to have the load readjusted.
Completing these pre-cautionary steps—actively participating in the loading process, going to the nearest CATscale, and quickly communicating when a problem arises— ensures that time and money is not lost. Failing to complete these steps can result in not only being stopped at weigh station and having to shut down until your load is fixed, but it also puts you at risk for receiving an expensive ticket and requiring a vendor to correct your load at your location. With that being said, please do not hesitate to reach out to the Safety Department with any questions or problems you encounter throughout the loading or scaling process. We are here to help you!
April Anniversaries
30 Richard Marak
23 Marvin Williams
23 Kyle Burchart
21 Jeffrey Noah
18 Michael De La Cruz
17 John Davis
17 Rick Castleberry
16 Scott Smith
15 Christopher Myer
14 David Solomon
14 James Peavler
14 Larry Langdon
14 Timmy Blandburg
14 Willie Parrish
13 Bernarus Felder
13 Myron Larkin
13 Paul Voss
11 Brian Martin
11 Christopher Sharrock
11 Richard Baez
10 Christopher Hambly
10 John Jenne
8 Jonathan Mount
8 Russell Mccray
8 Rebecca Tatum
7 Richard Matchett
7 Carolyn Orr
7 Lisa Garcia
7 Mitchell Wright
6 Arthur Quarles
6 Christopher Mcpeak
6 Luke Schaberl
6 Hilary Mcauliff
6 Rory Beel
5 Albert Richardson
5 Cliford Thomany
5 Michael Morse
5 Tommy Jackson
5 Janelle Forbes
4 Abraham Millan
4 David Norman
4 Gerald Duval
3 Felix Campos
3 Bradford Sanger
3 Brooks McAllister
3 Darius Brown
3 David Seaman
3 Gregory Hubbard
3 Spenser Knight
3 Stacy Jackson
3 Va’quon Jones
2 Brandon Jones
2 Christopher Deans
2 Juan Estrada
2 Larry Marmon
2 Peter Baldwin
2 Cindy Gaona
2 Erin Herring
2 Kevin Ryan
1 Abdellahi Hamar
1 Alexander Roberts
1 Bryan Noble
1 Cameron Leventis
1 Cody Dingle
1 Colin Mcleod
1 Dajuan Hodge
1 Daniel Dessiniste
1 Fabian Castellanos
1 Geovany Hernandez
1 Haji Ali
1 Henry Albaro
1 James Parrish
1 Jessi Barnett
1 Johnathan Jackson
1 Jonathan Alltizer
1 Jonathan Montgomery
1 Jose Padro
1 Juan Gonzalez
1 Juver Soto
1 Kelvin Carter
1 Liud Carvajal
1 Melvin Martin
1 Raymond Holland
1 Richalson Auguste
1 Robert Zapata
1 Timothy Taylor
1 Tyree Coggins
1 Ulrick Carson
1 Wesley Boatwright
1 Cariel Turner
1 Colton Hughes
1 Dalton Varnell
1 Kade Sherrill
1 Logan Hager
1 Valerie Strickel
Monthly Celebration
We gathered around the fire in our Tulsa headquarters to have our monthly celebration. Each month we celebrate anniversaries, new hires, promotions, and birthdays.
Congratulations to our employee of the year!
During the monthly celebration, we revealed the 2023 Employee of the Year, Camille Adams! Camille has been working at Melton for almost 20 years in the Sales department, and has worked hard on behalf of the company to book loads and save costs. We are so lucky to have you, and congratulations Camille!
Thank You, Alton!
Alton has driven over 3,000,000 miles with us and has been unwavering in his commitment to Melton. To show our appreciation, we gifted this special edition, customized Melton truck to Alton following our monthly celebration. Thank you Alton for representing Melton over the years, and we hope you enjoy your new truck!
February Ambassadors
Let’s give a huge congratulations to these drivers who reached Ambassador status and Senior Ambassador status in February!
Congratulations to Chris, the lytx Coach of the Year!
Our own Chris Sharrock has won the Lytx Coach of the Year in the For Hire Trucking group! In a pool of a record number of applicants, Chris stood out as an upstanding candidate with a dedication to safety. Chris will be representing Melton at the Lytx Executive Advisory Meeting this April. Congratulations, Chris!
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December Top Fleets
81%
Top Expert Fuel Compliance
- Macy Minter- Fleet 27 With Compliance Of 88.46%
- Chad Merrick- Fleet 08 With Compliance Of 86.70%
- Rory Beel- Fleet 25 With Compliance Of 82.06%
6.68 MPG
Overall Fleet Average MPG
- Wendy Rolnicki- Fleet 11 with an average of 7.42 MPG
- Tony Smith- Fleet 18 with an average of 7.26 MPG
- Staci Pula- Fleet 36 with an average of 7.22 MPG
Top 100 & Elite Fleet
Abraham Millan
Adam Zlata
Alex Madrid
Alexander Smith
Alfred Bothun
Andrew Winans
Banner Partain
Bradley Pendergrass
Brandi Long
Brandon Darnell
Brooks Mcallister
Bryan Long
Carlo Lasanta
Charles Phillips
Chris Mcpeak
Chris Ehmen
Christopher McPherson
Corey Baker
Damian Licona
Daniel Gelinas
Daniel Shonebarger
Daniel Sieczkarski
Darrell Henson
David Posey
David Guiliani
Dennis Williams
Edgar Kipkorir
Eduardo Reyes
Eric Correa
Francisco Vieira
George Frazho
George Rooney
Guadalupe Solis
Henry Shumate
Henry John
James Johnson
James Feeney
Jason Daigler
Jeffrey Mcmahan
Jeffrey Granat
Jeffrey Weaver
Jerry Hoffpauir
Jesus Trevino
Jim Tinnin
Joe Zuniga
Joey Cook
John Estorcien
John Anagnost
Johnathan Hardin
Joseph Stievenart
Joshua Mossey
Juan Karns
Juan Delgado
Karl Hoglund
Keith Smock
Kenneth Finch
Leon Wert
Luis Carroz
Luis Davis
Luisny Filisme
Luke Schaberl
Luke Brown
Manuel Gastelum
Mario Agsaulio
Marvin Geddings
Mathew Feltner
Matthew Schall
Mauricio Clavel
Melton Cockrell
Michael Bernat
Michael Morse
Michael Allen
Michael Maines
Mike Simpson
Minh Tran
Mohammed Alkateib
Moises Perez
Musa Ahmed
Nicholas Mihal
Patrick Vonalt
Paul Pellerito
Ray Morgan
Richard Zapata
Rickey Russell
Ricky Legue
Ricky Katipunan
Ronald Wright
Samuel Hill
Scott Jernigan
Stephen Vinson
Steven Heiberger
Tamas Keller
Tayler Franklin
Terrance Small
Timmy Blandburg
Todd Rasco
Tony Hayes
Travis Lancaster
Troy Marquis
William Adkins
Wyn Norsworthy
Zoran Harrison
March Hires
Clay Ballard
Driver Manager
Daniel Cabrera
Inspection Bay Technician, Birmingham
Serina Thomas
Operations Intern
Max Lopez
Shop Intern
Megan McCoy
Account Manager, Melton Logistics
Hunter Pepe
Account Manager, Melton Logistics
Christopher Blunt
Account Manager, Melton Logistics
William Beaulieu
Account Manager, Melton Logistics
March Movement
Marshall Willis
Orientation Instructor
Taylor Baum
Driver Transporter