truck driver

diesel mechanic

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Mcelroy-Truck-Lines

The cameras will pop on for every little thing so you’re practically being spied on anytime you’re driving. The trucks can’t pull and take forever to get up to speed and pray you don’t hit a hard climb.

You get paid a measly $25 for tarp pay and you’re expected to tarp just about everything for no reason other than “safety”. If you pick up from lowes distribution or any “pre tarped” facility, you will get beat out of your tarp pay. But guess what! You still have to bungee everything down,pull on the tarp to fix it because the idiots that pre-tarp can’t do their job properly, THEN you still have to undo it all, for FREE. 

Mcelroy doesn’t care about it’s drivers. They hire graduates because they are in constant need because they can’t retain anyone. People who have worked here for years have walked out on them. 

My truck is a 2018. It has been in the shop multiple times and seems to always have some little thing breaking. They will ride you and make you learn to drive a manual truck, then snatch it from you and force you into an automatic after all of the trouble they put you through with shifting. They don’t take drivers into consideration on any equipment changes even though we are the ones spending 11 hours a day driving while they sit in an office chair.

My truck has literally came to a complete stop while climbing a hill on the interstate and I was lucky enough to get it onto the shoulder with only a few inches of  trailer sticking in the road. This was NOT the first time and it wasn’t the first time I called the company about it. Nothing has ever been done about it because they don’t care as long as it will somehow earn them $1 still.

The cargo is the same stuff over and over. There’s nothing interesting about the job and quite frankly, they only seem to haul things that any idiot with half a brain could secure.  They offer barely any opportunity if you want to switch to day cab and with their tarping policy and the fact they want you to do two loads, daycab with them isn’t worth it.

Basically if you want to work for a company with junk for trucks that hauls the same boring cargo over and over and doesn’t Care about their driver, come work for Mcelroy!

Compared to what's out there, McElroy is a very easy company to work for. They are fairly strict when bringing in new guys but I think it's necessary since they're willing to take on new drivers with zero truck driving experience. 

It can get rough sometimes, what with truck driving in general and flat-bedding specifically requires, but that's an element that will vary between drivers. I've had moments where I had to bite my tongue and keep the truck moving but they weren't a regular thing for me.

The one thing i consider a MAJOR CON is the driving-facing cameras. At some point you have to be willing to trust your drivers. They excuse themselves with the platitude of safety but it's really so they can protect themselves. I get it, but drivers feel like they're constantly being watched even if they're not, and that's what matters.

Pay is great for new guys, but not for veterans. A couple years, and you've pretty much gone as far as you'll be able to. Any drivers who stay don't do it for the money. 

Texas division doesn't do coils, so new drivers in that area will not learn how to use chains. This will look bad on your resume in the future. Just an FYI. If your a new guy around TX, it may still be worth it just to get that first year 
under your belt. Coils can be nerve-wrecking anyway.

Dispatch used to let me do my own thing, no micromanaging. As long as I got the loads where they needed to be without issue, they didn't ask questions. However Safety in Cuba,AL will jump on your back, albeit politely, about small things because of those driver facing cameras going off unannounced. It's well-intentioned but petty, like a neurotic mother checking in on her only son every hour. It gets obnoxious.

Overall, it's a great place to start, not stay.



This is a honest blunt unbiased review based on my experiences so please read carefully.
Employed from 2015-2017.
I had 7 weeks training and this includes 2 weeks on yard, 4 weeks on road with trainer, and final week in Cuba, AL.
Left MTL for a better job that is local and better pay.  Main reason I left is to have more time with my family.
Started at .46 per mile and left at .49 per mile.
NO pay for tarping which I believe is NOT fair due to dangerous labor and safety injury/death hazards if you fall from trailer.
Averaged 1100-1500 miles weekly so you do the math. Some weeks more and some weeks less.  Miles were never consistent.  Yes, MTL has minimum pay loads. 
Slow trucks which is another safety hazard but overall very good equipment.
Mandatory Monday 7am delivery unless otherwise stated. I typically left out on Monday mornings but sometimes Sunday evenings.
Every load must be tarped except wired coils and shingles.  If not then you may be terminated and DON'T forget there are always eyes looking and that applies anywhere else.
Overall, good company to start trucking career and yes I do recommend this company.  Is there better companies?  Yes.  Remember though that there are NO perfect companies.

Loading tarping strapping  driving vehicle inspections paper logbooks. typical flatbed over the road company.

 Smith system and load securement is taught to student drivers. had to spend a month out on the road with trainer, witch was 180 miles from my home. I would have to commute that distance every week in my personal vehicle, during my training. 

management is somewhat flexible, but very customer first and bottom line oriented as they should be, but drivers can sometimes be treated like robots and expendable as a result.

there is minimal interaction with coworkers, but they tend to be helpful when you do see them. ex. they'll usually help you fold your tarp or throw straps if they see you.

the most physically demanding part of the job is working with the tarps and cargo securement devices. the hardest part can be leaving your family every sunday.

the most enjoyable part of the job for me, was driving on the beautiful highways that are full of mountain scenery. like I-40 and parts of North Carolina and Tennessee.

You are pretty much on your own when released to drive.  For the most part, they do fairly well on getting you home on the weekends in that many times you get home LATE on Friday and have to leave EARLY on Sunday to make a delivery.  Maintenance and breakdowns are handled very well and quickly, translating to minimal lost revenue for you and the company.  The loads are consistent and usually are predictable from day to day.  After 3-6 months you know the kinds of loads you will get. The most annoying downside, not company related, is dealing with the traffic and apparent brainless drivers on the road these days and plentiful road construction areas in every state.  It is everywhere and it will bring you to a 2 mph drive more times than desired! 

McElroy  is a great place to work if you're just getting your CDL. The safety department at McElroy and their training personnel will definitely help you become a better Driver than you were coming in without a question. The money could definitely be better especially when you clearing not grossing anywhere from 700-1000 a week (thats the summertime in the winter time youll be lucky to see 600 a wk) which I dont know about you Is not enough for me to continuously leave my family at home. While other flat bed companies or paying anywhere between 1100-1500 barring that you have some flatbed experience. So in my opinion if you're just starting to drive McElroy is an awesome place to start. They work with you pay attention to your needs and ultimately they try to work with you but unfortunately they just dont pay there veteran drivers enough and in then end more than likely you'll end up leaving too.

Typically day at work show up strap your two loads down  off duty because if not you will run out of time .run to Lancaster  store 105 miles get payed for 80 .wait 1 hour past your appointed time that's 7 am to get unloaded. then another 1hour for fork lift driver to unload you .drive back to hagerstown get new load take it another 100 miles get played for 80 .get to store wait to be unloaded .14 hour day set for 4 hours with out pay .worked hear for 3 years ,never one time got detention pay .trust me they will not pay you that .call in to report a flat tire on your second load ,the night dispatcher treats you like a kid even thou you and your fellow drivers make every dollar for the company as they set at desk .come in next day the tire is not fixed .so now its your responsibility to drive a laoded flatbed to s and s tire with a flat and wait to get  it fixed (without pay ) and still try to make your 14 hour day .because why pay a company to come fix it when you will do it for free .your time means nothing to them

(i am local so this may be biased compared the OTR drivers) dispatched between 12-3 a.m. and off between 12-3 p.m.
off on weekends. management is relaxed. they let you do your job without hounding you. i normally call them, not the other way around. typically run 1-2 loads depending on the length of miles. i normally make between 1200-1800$ a week driving ONLY about 2200 miles so its not bad honestly. I really love this company just wish they had more day type work for local guys. front and rear facing cameras. 10 speed manuals for day cabs as of right now (some sleepers have 10 speeds but the numbers are dwindling). some days are long 12-16 hours some days are short 7-8 hours. but i always make about the same amount of $$$ every week. good place to start. good place to stay. most local guys have been at this company for about 5-12 years +. i could see myself here longer if the hours aligned with my family. 

Let me start off by telling you that I did a whole month of research before scouting out Mcelroy for employment and I believe that I made the right decision. I started out McElroy as a new driver and have been paid and treated exceptionally well. The training McElroy gives every driver is great and thoroughly prepares you to go out on the road by yourself. Benefits are phenomenal. They are flexible with your personal life, when my uncle and aunt died they let me off for their funerals no questions asked. Paid holidays. Honestly I could go on forever about this company but check it out yourself and you will not be disappointed 

Ok, so here's my take. I'm talking to recruiters everything sounds all good and if u do your homework you'll see that they are a 100% tarping company which is fine. But they tell u that 75% of the loads are prepared tarped and loaded. However what they don't tell you coming into orientation is that you will have to take an agility test which is like going to an extreme boot camp and at the end of all that simulate loading tarps ranging from 25 lbs to 120 lbs on a trailer. And if u can't do that you fail the test and aren't hirable. And since you aren't hirable then u have to return home with basically no compensation for your time there because the hotel and drug testing then come out of your pocket. It seems like an ok company but if u don't think u can't lift the 120 lbs then don't waste your time because it is a requirement and your a liability that they are not willing to take a risk on.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Truck driver 4 salaries reported	$125 per day
Diesel mechanic 1 salary reported	$27.00 per hour
Trailer mechanic 1 salary reported	$21.50 per hour
Tire technician 2 salaries reported	$14.66 per hour
Recruiter 1 salary reported	$54,679 per year

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