To TMC, Or To Melton? A Wannabe Flatbedder Inquires!

Hey all, long time no post, but it has been crazy here!

Since I posted this thread:

https://www.truckingtruth.com/truckers-forum/Topic-6927/Page-2/what-is-a-realistic-expectation-for-first-year-salary-

I have since got three months of very enjoyable (albeit not profitable) experience under my belt. This has given me time not only to be a little bit drier behind the ears, but to think long and hard about what I want out of my career. One thing that I have been sorely missing is the physical activity I used to enjoy in other professions... and this has naturally led to a desire to drive a flatbed.

I have made lots of phone calls, and am considering Melton or TMC, with Melton being the one I'm leaning towards after reading several favorable posts here. I haven't found as many discussions about TMC, and want to make the best decision I can.

Does anyone have experience with TMC on here? If so, I'm all ears. They both pay about the same ballparkon paper, with Melton offering better tarp pay. I'm sure that I can find things to like about either company. Just looking for some information, and to share the joy that comes with light being at the end of the tunnel! :D

Hey there, Snappy!

I'm a Melton driver, and all I can say for sure is, they are the real deal!!! Everything you see in their youtube videos and on the website is the way it is. It's a driver centered company. Heck even Bob Peterson, the president of the company drives! Granted it's only a couple loads a year, but he does it.

The orientation and training program are top notch. The trainers are hand picked. Not just anyone can be a trainer.

I've been with Melton since just before Thanksgiving of last year, and it's been great working here. Unfortunately, I got injured back in January. But the way that I and my family have been taken care of, is nothing short of awesome! I broke my ankle at a consignee in NJ right before I was scheduled to head for hometime. I Got taken to the local ER and caught a cab back to my truck. After I had left, one of the other Melton drivers moved my truck to a safe spot for me and left the keys in a safe place.

When I called the safety dept. (after hours) to let them know what was going on, they jumped right in to help me. The first thing she asked me was, "Are you in a safe place?" I told her that my truck was parked in a turn out, just outside the consignee's front gate. Her next question was, "Do you have access to facilities? A bathroom or shower, food and water?" The answer was no, but I had heat in the truck along with plenty of food and water. Her response was, "That won't do. Give me a few minutes and I'll call you back." And about 5 - 10 minutes later, she called me back to tell me that another Melton driver was on his way over to take me and my truck over to the nearby T/A.

A little while later, she called to let me know that another driver was going to fly out to me and take me, my truck and my trailer to our terminal in Ohio. A couple of days later, I found out that I needed to have surgery to repair my ankle. They took care of everything! Doctors appointments, hotel room, etc... They even offered to fly my wife out to be with me! (She had to work though. She's the only one in that office.). After the surgery they flew me home for 10 days and then back again for a follow up appointment with the doctor. I'm currently doing "light duty" work at the main terminal in Tulsa, OK. And everyone here is fantastic! Including the president of the company! On more than one occasion as I was sitting down to eat, he's stopped by to ask how I was doing.

I've got about 3 more weeks of physical therapy and I'll be getting back in a truck. (God willing). But, before that time is up, they're going to fly me home again to be with my family.

Just another reason that it's not always about the money! Yeah, the money's good! But how we get treated, is way more important to me! And they have treated me and my family better than I could have ever expected.

Sorry for the long post. If you have any questions, please feel free to PM me! If I don't know the answer, I know a ton of great people here who do!

Tarren W.

Hey there, Snappy!

I'm a Melton driver, and all I can say for sure is, they are the real deal!!! Everything you see in their youtube videos and on the website is the way it is. It's a driver centered company. Heck even Bob Peterson, the president of the company drives! Granted it's only a couple loads a year, but he does it.

The orientation and training program are top notch. The trainers are hand picked. Not just anyone can be a trainer.

I've been with Melton since just before Thanksgiving of last year, and it's been great working here. Unfortunately, I got injured back in January. But the way that I and my family have been taken care of, is nothing short of awesome! I broke my ankle at a consignee in NJ right before I was scheduled to head for hometime. I Got taken to the local ER and caught a cab back to my truck. After I had left, one of the other Melton drivers moved my truck to a safe spot for me and left the keys in a safe place.

When I called the safety dept. (after hours) to let them know what was going on, they jumped right in to help me. The first thing she asked me was, "Are you in a safe place?" I told her that my truck was parked in a turn out, just outside the consignee's front gate. Her next question was, "Do you have access to facilities? A bathroom or shower, food and water?" The answer was no, but I had heat in the truck along with plenty of food and water. Her response was, "That won't do. Give me a few minutes and I'll call you back." And about 5 - 10 minutes later, she called me back to tell me that another Melton driver was on his way over to take me and my truck over to the nearby T/A.

A little while later, she called to let me know that another driver was going to fly out to me and take me, my truck and my trailer to our terminal in Ohio. A couple of days later, I found out that I needed to have surgery to repair my ankle. They took care of everything! Doctors appointments, hotel room, etc... They even offered to fly my wife out to be with me! (She had to work though. She's the only one in that office.). After the surgery they flew me home for 10 days and then back again for a follow up appointment with the doctor. I'm currently doing "light duty" work at the main terminal in Tulsa, OK. And everyone here is fantastic! Including the president of the company! On more than one occasion as I was sitting down to eat, he's stopped by to ask how I was doing.

I've got about 3 more weeks of physical therapy and I'll be getting back in a truck. (God willing). But, before that time is up, they're going to fly me home again to be with my family.

Just another reason that it's not always about the money! Yeah, the money's good! But how we get treated, is way more important to me! And they have treated me and my family better than I could have ever expected.

Sorry for the long post. If you have any questions, please feel free to PM me! If I don't know the answer, I know a ton of great people here who do!

Tarren W.

Hey, that's awesome Tarren! Thanks for the info -- I definitely hope that I can get on with Melton! :) How's the ankle coming along? Hope to see you out there soon!

Hey, that's awesome Tarren! Thanks for the info -- I definitely hope that I can get on with Melton! :) How's the ankle coming along? Hope to see you out there soon!

You're very welcome!

My ankle is doing much better, thanks for asking! It's been really sore the past couple of days because I was doing a lot of walking the other day, and the ankle brace that I was using didn't fit right. (ouch!). But I went and got fitted for a new one yesterday and have been icing it and keeping it elevated since yesterday afternoon.

Have you talked to a recruiter yet? If not, I can give you the names of a couple of good ones!

And if you end up coming out here in the next few weeks, give me a shout!

Tarren

Hey, that's awesome Tarren! Thanks for the info -- I definitely hope that I can get on with Melton! :) How's the ankle coming along? Hope to see you out there soon!

You're very welcome!

My ankle is doing much better, thanks for asking! It's been really sore the past couple of days because I was doing a lot of walking the other day, and the ankle brace that I was using didn't fit right. (ouch!). But I went and got fitted for a new one yesterday and have been icing it and keeping it elevated since yesterday afternoon.

Have you talked to a recruiter yet? If not, I can give you the names of a couple of good ones!

And if you end up coming out here in the next few weeks, give me a shout!

Tarren

Will do! I've been working with Kendra, she seems really good so far. Answered all my questions, very personable and professional on the phone. Seems good with me wanting to wait until after my next home time to come aboard -- I am past due for a general physical with my doctor, and want to get it done while I'm insured.

She said she wanted to get me set up with an interviewer yesterday, but I call today, and her answering machine says she's on vacation. I'm not stressing though, as we've got a few more weeks to get everything set up before the orientation date we're shooting for, first or second week of April in Ohio.

Will do! I've been working with Kendra, she seems really good so far. Answered all my questions, very personable and professional on the phone. Seems good with me wanting to wait until after my next home time to come aboard -- I am past due for a general physical with my doctor, and want to get it done while I'm insured.

She said she wanted to get me set up with an interviewer yesterday, but I call today, and her answering machine says she's on vacation. I'm not stressing though, as we've got a few more weeks to get everything set up before the orientation date we're shooting for, first or second week of April in Ohio.

Cool! Kendra is one of the good ones! They're all really good, but she's really nice.

Ohio is a good place to start. Eric, the terminal manager is a great guy. So is Keith, the guy who runs the shop out there. They're all really good guys out there. Pay attention, and if you're not sure about something, ask.

The hotel is pretty good too! Better breakfast there than at the hotel in Tulsa. and there's a subway in the convenience store right out in front of the hotel. You get a discount on subs and stuff from subway if you show them your room key card.

Like I said, if you have any other questions, feel free to drop me a PM!

Snappy, I'd have to say that they are both great places to get your start in flat-bedding. It's going to kind of depend on your own personal preferences for corporate structure. TMC tends to be a little bit rigid, almost a military like structure. Melton seems to have a more family type atmosphere to it.

I like them both, but you will know which structure suits you better. We've had quite a few Melton drivers in here and they all seemed to be quite happy with their new situations. We had a driver in here for a while named Steve who drove for TMC, but he switched over to Roehl I believe - not because he was unhappy, but his situation at home had changed somehow and he needed a little bit more flexibility in his home time options. He spoke highly of TMC, and I'm fairly certain he has a training diary in the training section of the forum.

Awesome info, thanks guys! I was kinda wondering how true the "Truckers Marine Corps" gag was for TMC, Old School.... honestly, all the info I've acquired for Melton from Tarren here, and Wilson's old blog posts, have helped propel Melton forward in my mind.

Also, I just got an offer from Melton! I'll be heading there in early April for a 5-day orientation :D By the time that's done, I'll be getting a truck and starting out with them! :)

Awesome info, thanks guys! I was kinda wondering how true the "Truckers Marine Corps" gag was for TMC, Old School.... honestly, all the info I've acquired for Melton from Tarren here, and Wilson's old blog posts, have helped propel Melton forward in my mind.

Also, I just got an offer from Melton! I'll be heading there in early April for a 5-day orientation :D By the time that's done, I'll be getting a truck and starting out with them! :)

Awesome news, my friend! I'm Hopeful that by the 5th I'll be back in a truck, and back out there. So, you'll have to keep us posted on how it goes!

So, congrats on the offer! Again, if you have any questions, feel free to PM me.

Tarren

Congratulations Snappy, that's awesome!

You will be very happy over there at Melton, and I think you will enjoy flat-bedding also. It's one of those things that you will have to get accustomed to at first, but most flat-bedders are quite content with their jobs. It's somewhat of a personal preference thing, but I find flat-bedders to have just a little bit different approach to their jobs than most drivers. I can't really put my finger on it, but for the most part they are a great bunch of folks who will be more than happy to help you if they see you in need at a shipper or receiver. Of course this isn't 100% the case, but often times it proves true. I once had a flat-bedder from Boyd Brothers write my truck number down in his little pocket notebook he was carrying after I had jumped out and helped him with the tarps he was wrestling with in the wind, so I inquired as to why he was taking my truck number down. There were about ten other trucks sitting in the parking lot with drivers sitting in the seats that the Boyd Brothers driver pointed to as he said, "you see all those sons of beaches sitting in their trucks while I'm out here fighting this wind - the next time I see your truck I'm gonna get out and help you, but those guys won't get a helping hand from me!"

Don't know why I went into that story, but maybe you could use a little flat-bed humor for the day!