OpenLine

June 2025

Leadership Message

Hello and welcome to the May edition of the OpenLine!

Let’s first give a big shoutout to David and Tim for earning Driver of the Month and Rookie of the Month honors! You set the bar for excellence. We appreciate everything you do — keep up the great work and keep rolling strong.

The freight market remains unpredictable with fluctuating tariffs and uneven freight levels. Some areas are tight, others are plentiful, but as pricing pressures continue, we need your help managing expenses through Fuel Conservation (MPG) and Toll Optimization — especially avoiding the I-76 PA Toll where costs outweigh the benefits ($350-$420 for a 6-hour drive). The good news? Melton is staying agile! Our sales, pricing, and planning teams are working hard to secure the best freight, improve haul lengths, and reduce deadhead miles. Your patience, professionalism, and preparation help us navigate these challenges together.

Small improvements lead to big wins. Operations and Sales are focused on getting better by 1% each day — aiming to load every truck same-day or next-day with the best freight available. Whether it’s a short or long haul, your efficient trip planning and professionalism help us make the most of every mile. TAMs are actively preplanning to reduce downtime, so even when freight isn’t ideal, know we’re working behind the scenes to keep you moving, and our Hazmat qualified drivers are getting loaded first – due to high demand.

Remember, your Hours of Service are critical — treat them like gold! Clear, timely communication makes all the difference, whether it’s reporting a delay, or flagging an issue. If challenges come up at a shipper, lean on your Driver Manager. We’re here to support you.

We value your feedback! Use WorkHound to share thoughts. It’s anonymous unless you’d like a reply (just include your name and truck number). Don’t forget to also use Rate My Load after each trip to help us correct issues and use your feedback to ask for more 5-star freight.

Every load is a testament to teamwork — sometimes it takes 20+ calls to land one opportunity. Let’s make every mile count so we stay top-of-mind for our customers.
Stay safe, stay connected, and stay productive.

Angie Buchanan
VP of Operations

Driver & Rookie of the Month

April Driver of the Month

Congratulations to our latest Driver of the Month, Leon! Leon has been driving for 10 years and is a Melton Ambassador. His favorite part about driving…see more

April Rookie of the Month

Be sure to congratulate our Rookie of the Month, Steve! Steve has been driving for Melton since November, and this is his first Class A driving job. Before…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].

There’s a Dukes of Hazzard quote that would fit this perfectly- Thanks for sharing, Jeff!

John hopping off the beaten path for a quick pit stop- and what a beautiful view!

A little sunset a field of view. Never a bad sight!

Postcard perfect pictures happen so rarely, but Mario’s always in the right spot.

Masury sunsets just hit different. Thanks for sharing the view, Michael

Blue, blue, and more blue- such a stunning view out in Idaho!

Cloudy skies on the Lewis and Clark trail, but Steve and company are chugging along!

Hard work starts early out here! Thanks for sharing the view, Tyrone

Wellness & Safety Articles

Lifepspan vs Healthspan

There’s more to living a long, happly life than just the number of candles on your birthday cake…see more

Lifespan vs Healthspan

There’s more to living a long, happy life than just the number of candles on your birthday cake…see more

Monthly Poll

See last month’s results: What’s your go-to pizza topping?

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].

A super big THANK YOU to Treven and Ambassador Kavin for helping me untarp and retarp this challenging repowered load in Birmingham this morning. We had to use all of our muscles and a little bit of ninja level climbing skills, but we got it done as a team …… and that is the Melton way.

Steve, Melton Driver

Finally had an opportunity for my trainee, Darren, to try his hand at securing and tarping a load. Not the easiest load, either. He did all of the securement on his own with three or four hints from me. I did pitch in on the back and middle tarp, but he placed the front tarp by himself. Darren is making me really look like I know what I’m doing!

David, Melton Driver & Road Trainer

Shout-out to Melton Trainer Dakota! I was in North Carolina when Dakota gave good advice and helped me re-dress my front and rear tarps. Big thanks!

Orrin, Melton Driver

I just had another driver call in to give kudos to Colvin for a recent tarp job.

Greg bumped into Colvin at a Love’s on I40 outside of OKC a few days ago and was really impressed with Colvin’s tarp job. Greg said the load was square but had a bunch of different levels like the skyline of a city. He said the tarp was perfectly tight and easily the best tarp job he’s ever seen.

Kudos to Colvin!

Matt, Employee Experience Manager

Huge shoutout to the crew down at Laredo. I feel like I needed a lot of advice and help this time around, and every single person I spoke with gave me nothing but a wonderful attitude and tons of help. I had a load I’ve never taken so I had questions on securement, and had some trouble tarping in the heat, and then the Freightliner popped a couple of lights. So, Matt in Safety down here, Jaime on the forklift, and the guys in the shop that I forgot to ask your names, y’all rock and you are appreciated! Ready to rock and roll down the road again!

Jordan, Melton Driver

My thanks to the three drivers and trainee who assisted me with this load last night and taught me how to use the tarp crane. Melton truly has the most impressive drivers I have had the pleasure of working with, and the culture of mutual assistance is exceptional within the transportation industry.

Daniel, Melton Driver

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

Top Fleets

It’s time to recognize and congratulate the top fleets for the month!

Check it out

March Driver of the Month: Leon

Congratulations to our latest Driver of the Month, Leon! Leon has been driving for 10 years and is a Melton Ambassador. His favorite part about driving OTR is the lifestyle and how different it is from the traditional 9 to 5. His favorite place to drive through is Utah, and his top place to eat on the road is at the Big Texan steakhouse. The qualities Leon thinks are most important for truck drivers to have are self-motivation, patience, and the ability to stay organized. He would also like to give a shout-out to his DM, Tiffany.

Tiffany had this to say about Leon: “Leon works his tail off, day in and day out. I never worry about a load whatsoever when he’s on the job! He always makes deliveries on time, if not early, and does it all beautifully!” Keep up the good work, Leon!

March Rookie of the Month: Steve

Be sure to congratulate our Rookie of the Month, Steve! Steve has been driving for Melton since November, and this is his first Class A driving job. Before Melton, Steve drove for several years locally. He decided to pursue flatbed to try something new, and he liked how Melton stood out as a military-friendly company, as Steve previously served in the Marines. While he’s not driving, he likes to go on motorcycle and camping trips with his wife, who plans to join him on the road very soon. Steve would also like to give a shout out to his trainer, Marvin.

Steve’s DM, Amanda, wanted to add a message: “Steve has been such a great addition to Fleet 27 and Melton. He is hardworking and goes above and beyond in everything he does.” Congratulations, Steve!

A Message from Our Wellness Manager

There’s more to living a long, happy life than just the number of candles on your birthday cake — we also want to take into consideration the quality of those years. While the average national lifespan is increasing thanks to modern advances in technology and improved public health, it’s also important to consider how healthy and well we feel as we age and get into our golden years.

“Lifespan” refers to the number of years a person lives. Lifespan has increased in the past few decades. In fact, the United Nations estimated that the average global life expectancy in 2019 was 72.6 years, a huge increase from just 45.7 years in 1950.

“Healthspan,” meanwhile, refers to the number of years that a person lives in relatively good health — in other words, the years that they live free from serious illness or chronic diseases. It’s important to consider healthspan along with lifespan because it can be an important indicator of how long people can live independently, move freely, and just enjoy life without having to deal with the burden of long-term medical issues.

So, How Do You Boost Your Healthspan?

Eat healthily
Filling your diet with healthy, nutritious whole foods is a great first step for both maximizing your lifespan and improving your quality of life. A 2023 study suggested that following healthy longevity-associated diet patterns like eating more whole grains, nuts, and fruits, and minimizing consumption of sugar and processed meat was associated with an increased life expectancy of 10.8 -10.4 years.

Exercise regularly
Staying active can play a huge role in improving your lifespan. Benefits range from improved muscle strength, improved metabolism, fighting inflammation, and improving cardiovascular health — all of which can help support your body against common chronic health conditions associated with aging, like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and sarcopenia. In addition, staying strong and building muscle can help improve your mobility and independence, both of which are important for your quality of life as you age.

Quality is equally as important as quantity
While living a long life is the goal for many of us, it’s only half the battle. The real victory lies in making sure that you can spend those extra years feeling healthy, mobile, and fulfilled. Through smart nutrition & regular exercise, you can give yourself the best chance at a long and good life for years to come.

Keep Moving,
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

28 Albert Adams

25 Lesley Vincent

24 David Seeden

23 Christopher Powell

21 David Taylor

20 Katrina Cromartie

18 Brian Suddarth

18 Carmen Carrier

15 Dennis Williams

15 Elisa Thompson

15 Shane Lease

14 Jose Rocha

13 Jaime Pantoja

12 Alejandra Bustamante

12 Ricky Katipunan

12 Samuel Hurt

12 Wyn Norsworthy

11 Arnulfo Romo

11 Bryan Williams

11 Matthew Komblevicz

10 Haskell Fields

10 Karlie Disidore

9 Anthony Conners

9 Colvin Dosedo

9 John Jackson

9 Stephen Daley

9 Ty Rainey

8 Eddie Vaughn

8 Kennedy Alvarez

8 Kristofer Miller

8 Rebecca Couick

8 Steven Landaverde

7 Jacob Meyers

7 Joshua Foster

7 Manuel Gastelum

7 Zebadiah Church

6 Brian McDormand

6 Charles Woolman

6 Daniel Perez

6 Hall McCormick

6 Jeremy Tinsley

6 Samantha Oxford

6 William Baker

6 Zahra Williams

5 Carlo Lasanta

5 Miguel Guerrero

4 Adlet Timothee

4 Christopher Stafford

4 Daryl Norman

4 Emily Bump

4 Kenneth Butler Sr.

4 Mark Stannebein

4 Nicholas Mihal

4 Perry Wells

4 Thomas Morris

4 Zeno Barnum

3 Andres Garza

3 Daniel Mann

3 Daniel Gelinas

3 Dustin Sproule

3 Gerardo Montalvo

3 Jacob Baker

3 Jasmine Dyson

3 Jim Smith

3 John Patterson

3 Joseph Baird

3 Kyle Flippin

3 Luis Burgos

3 Mark Holloman

3 Ronald Mitchell

2 Ahmed Abdellatif

2 Alcides Lucero

2 Arthur Garcia

2 Austin Kelley

2 Brian Paul

2 Carlos Backey

2 Eduardo Hernandez

2 Ethan Cline

2 Evan Pierce

2 Fernando Alvarez

2 Frederick Santiago

2 Halle Marion

2 James Harl

2 Kareen Taylor

2 Khamari Ridley

2 Lauren Bain

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

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

23.69%

Fleet Avg. IDLE

Becky T. – Fleet 31 19.61%
Austin H. – Fleet 14 21.04%
Kylie S. – Fleet 32 21.30%

39.89%

Fleet Avg. OverSpeed

Matt A. – Fleet 23 34.25%
Andrew O. – Fleet 35 35.78%
Jo C. – Fleet 15 36.19%

44.81%

Fleet Avg. Cruise Control

Lydia H. – Fleet 22 51.36%
Kylie S. – Fleet 32 51.09%
Jordan S. – Fleet 26 50.43%

69.61%

Fleet Avg. Expert Fuel

Katrina C. – Fleet 19 76.60%
Tony S. – Fleet 18 76.02%
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. We also revealed the results of our latest ESOP evaluation! Thank you for everyone who attended in person or online!

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May is Mental Health Awareness Month

This May, in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, we organized a series of activities for both Melton drivers and office staff to participate in. Our aim was to shine a light on the often unseen challenges many individuals face in their everyday lives. To explore more about mental health topics and discover effective strategies for managing stress and anxiety, visit our Melton C.A.R.E.S landing page.

First Tulsa SPCA Visit of the Year!

This month, the Tulsa SPCA came to visit our Tulsa headquarters to give employees the chance to take home a furry friend. Thank you to everyone who came out to say hello! Take a look at some photos we got here.