Did you ever search Wikipedia for ‘Truck Driver’?
We did.
A truck driver (commonly referred to as a trucker or driver in the United States and Canada; a truckie in Australia and New Zealand; a lorry driver or driver in Ireland and the United Kingdom), is a person who earns a living as the driver of a truck, usually a semi truck, box truck, or dump truck.
Truck drivers provide an essential service to industrialized societies by transporting finished goods and raw materials over land, typically to and from manufacturing plants, retail and distribution centers. Truck drivers are also responsible for inspecting their vehicles for mechanical items or issues relating to safe operation. Others, such as Driver/Sales workers, are also responsible for sales and customer service. (more)
TruckDriver.com
Carrier of the Month
Melton Truck Lines, Inc.
Melton Truck Lines had a humble beginning in 1954 when Bert and Gladys Melton purchased a small piece of operating authority and a couple of trucks and began operations in Crossett, Arkansas. Business began with a plan to haul lumber and roofing materials in the states of Missouri, Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico. Bert purchased two brand new diesel "B Series" Mack tractors within a few years, which gave him a total of six trucks and twenty-three trailers. In late 1957, Bert met with an untimely death, leaving the business in his wife's hands.
In 1958, William Duncan McRae purchased the company. In respect for Bert Melton's memory, the name Melton was retained for the truck line. From the beginning, the newly incorporated company had a family atmosphere. The company was small, and many of the employees were husband and wives. Through the years, this unique atmosphere grew stronger, and whole families - mothers, fathers, sons and daughters would become part of the "Melton Family." The McRae's became known affectionately as Mr. Mac and Mrs. Mac.
Mr. Mac eventually approached his son, Duncan (Dunc) McRae, Jr., with the idea of joining him in the company. Because of Dunc's experience with IBM, he recognized a potential benefit if Melton began using computers. At the time, there were few programs designed for trucking companies, so Duncan wrote his own, which put Melton out in front of the competition.
In 1980, Melton was approved as a bonded carrier with the customs service, which marked the start of the Mexican "through-trailer" service, another pioneering move. Through the years, Melton's fleet grew to 600 trucks and utilized both box vans and flatbed trailers.
Meanwhile, in 1989, Bob Peterson formed a new company called GlasTran, whose focus was exclusively on the needs of flatbed shippers, and located it in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The first customers were primarily glass companies, and the company started up with 30 leased tractors, 36 trailers, and six people in the office.
In 1991, Duncan McRae, Jr., retired by selling Melton Truck Lines, Inc. to Bob Peterson. At the time of the sale, Melton's operation consisted of 340 trucks, 700 trailers and 12 terminals. Mr. Peterson decided to relocate the headquarters to Tulsa, OK, merging GlasTran and Melton together. Melton family members describe the period before the merger as "Old Melton" and the subsequent years as "New Melton."
Melton has grown to be a strong industry leader, employing over seven hundred of the best professional drivers available. The company continues to convey an attitude and feeling of family. The gleaming fleet of new, blue Kenworth trucks proudly serves customers from coast-to-coast, and strives to remain ahead of the competition with top-notch drivers, customer service, and safety programs, as well as state-of-the-art equipment and communications techniques.
Melton Truck Lines wants YOU to be a part of their winning team. They want to build their drivers’ futures by offering top industry pay and benefits.
They are committed to ensuring their drivers are rewarded for their hard work through base pay, tarp pay, great benefits, as well as bonus and recognition programs. Best of all, their drivers are moving 12 months out of the year because they transport a variety of commodities within driver-friendly shipping lanes.
Melton is currently hiring professional drivers with at least six months of recent solo, OTR driving experience.
With just 6 months OTR, you can start at 36 cpm and earn up to 40 cpm plus $40 tarp pay and Fuel bonuses available.
All company drivers receive a full benefits package including BCBS health, vision, and dental insurance. They also offer 401(k) retirement program, paid vacations, guaranteed home Christmas Day, Fuel Bonus, Pass it On referral bonus, paid orientation, and liberal rider program.
No flatbed experience? They will train you during orientation!
Call Melton today at 877-462-3528 today or apply online at meltontruck.com
Get on the road to a healthy smile with healthy savings!
You need to feel your best to drive your best, and a healthy smile is key to good overall health.
That is why TruckDriver.com teamed up with DentalPlans.com to offer you an affordable way to protect your dental health and your wallet, a discount dental plan.
Discount dental plans are designed for individuals, families and groups looking to save money on their dental care. These plans are easy to join and members enjoy discounts of 10% to 60% on most dental care procedures, such as cleanings, checkups, root canals, crowns and more.
Advantages of Discount Dental Plans:
- 30+ plans to choose from
- No paperwork hassles, no annual limits, no health restrictions
- 10% off any plan with coupon code DRIVER10
Ready to get on the road to a healthy smile and healthy savings?
Visit TruckDriverDental.com or call 888-602-3083 to join today!
Remember to use coupon code
DRIVER10 to save 10% on any plan.
Here are the results of the TruckDriver.com Career Change Survey:
Do you know anyone who has attended a truck driving school this year (2009) in hopes of changing careers?
Yes – 61%
No – 39%
We haven’t seen any recent stats, but traditionally around 90% of new drivers entering the industry are gone from it within 90 days. We know one old-time student recruiter who used to tell graduating classes, “Look to your left, look to your right, chances are, both of those people won’t be driving a truck a month from now. What about you?”
He called it ‘Reality Recruiting’.
Did you know the Great American Trucking Show is taking place in Dallas this month? Take the TruckDriver.com GATS Survey and tell us if you’ll be there.
Speaking of truck shows, we couldn't help but wonder why somebody didn’t come up with the idea of Truckstock – you know, like Woodstock (40 years ago today), for drivers only, no recruiters, no sales guys, just truckers.
Maybe it’s because there are hundreds of Truckstocks taking place every night at Truckstops. That’s probably why.
Until next time, keep on truckin' and please drive safely.
Your Comments Are Always Welcome
We do like to hear from you and invite you to let us know how we can improve the e-Report. Please send your ideas and suggestions to: jobs@truckdriver.com
