Final Thoughts: Beer Truck Driving

Discussion in 'LTL and Local Delivery Trucking Forum' started by Mike2633, Jan 24, 2015.

  1. Mike2633

    Mike2633 Road Train Member

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    Recently I was offered a job that I am going to take working for Gordon Food Service of Grand Rapids, MI.
    However, I want to say a thing or two about beer truck driving, which is what I currently do. The beverage distributor I work for is not a bad company however that being said I don't really care for the culture there which is why I choose to leave and also because it's not really what I wanted to do or why I got into this.

    However working for the beer company was not a bad job at all. Actually it's a fairly good job. If any of you are interested in hauling beer and making beer deliveries and are willing to work really really hard in the beginning it can be a good job. If you work for a decent distributor that makes it even better. The distributor I work for has some good points unfortunately they also have some bad points and I know every company has things they don't do well, but where I work there the old adage of either you are going to fix the problem or you are not and they opt for the were not going to fix the problem and I don't know how much money that costs them opting not to fix the problems. Like the warehouse where I work and the way that all gets together has been a real thorn in the companies side miss picks and other troubles broken stuff late late loading people working huge amounts of overtime missed delivery times because stuff isn't leaving on time, I don't know how much money that costs the company, but it has to be an absolute ton. Warehouse guys and yard spotters working 60 hours a week when it gets busy.

    If I was the owner of the beer company I work for there would be more then a few suits and clip board monkeys looking for new work.

    However let me get past all of that. If you are interested in doing beer deliveries and think you have what it takes I would tell you that it defiantly can be a good job and jeeze it took me 8-9 months for the lights to turn on, but once they do it's a good job, you work good hours don't drive anywhere no truck stops most distributors have real nice automatic trucks usually not all the time, but usually the side loaders are automatics they work real good you will have weekends off you won't get rich delivering beer, but you won't be poor either, you'll earn a solid wage and have good health care benefits and where I work we have a nice company 401K. You might start 4,5 & 6 am, but by 3-4pm you should be done sometimes earlier sometimes later, but it's really not a bad gig. Sure some days will be frustrating as heck and sure you'll have a 15 hour day now and then, but really it's not a bad job at all.

    If you're OTR right now and want a nice job doing local work check with you're local beer distributor you'll find it's really not bad.

    Heck I mean a typical day working for the beer distributor driving wise is only a few city blocks or maybe one road from one side of town to the other. Not a bad job at all really it is a good job it's just takes 8-9 months to really see it.
     
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  3. Dinomite

    Dinomite Road Train Member

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    How much cash on average are we talking about good sir?
     
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  4. thelushlarry

    thelushlarry Road Train Member

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    Do they give me all the beer I can drink?:Camel v2:
     
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  5. Mike2633

    Mike2633 Road Train Member

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    Depends a little on the route, but generally I make maybe $240 a day give or take. Pretty much in the $40,000 a year range some routes have more cases though and pay more. Our top where I work is $60,000 a year and most guys in between $40,000-$50,000 a year. Depends on the route. We have guys who have been pushing beer for 30 years.
     
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  6. Mike2633

    Mike2633 Road Train Member

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    Well there are warehouse breaker sales and you can get beer at a pretty good discount. I buy my mom wine at the warehouse breaker sales usually get a 12-14 bottle of wine for 4 bucks. The beer goes quickly at those sales. Bought my self an entire case of Arizona Teas for like $5.00
     
  7. MadeinMX

    MadeinMX Light Load Member

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    I made 75+ in my first year of food service and a little bit less in LTL. You should reconsider your career if you think those are good numbers.
     
  8. Mike2633

    Mike2633 Road Train Member

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    I understand what you are saying, I think for some people they get comfortable and it's a quality of life thing. The guy who does my route for another beer company flat out said "I'm not really after money anymore. He goes I'm after quality of life, I like this job I come in do my thing get done early can get home early and be able to get my kids off the school bus."

    So I guess that's what I am saying, if you made you're money already and are looking to have more of a quality of life and have decent benefits and even a little bit of retirement then beer truck driving might just be for you. Depends some distributors are better to work for then others, I mean no you're not going to be buying a house in the hamptons driving a beer truck, that's not going to happen, but you if you manage you're money correctly you'll be just fine.

    People like it, we've got guys at my yard both young and old who like it. Me it's not my thing, but we all have to start somewhere.
     
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  9. unloader

    unloader Road Train Member

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    Who'd you drive for to make 75k in food service?

    unloader
     
  10. LoneCowboy

    LoneCowboy Road Train Member

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    not the guy you are replying to, but the AVERAGE first year wage at my distro center is 72k a year, the AVERAGE for all driver is like 79k. I'm going to easily beat the 72k in my first year and I"ve met multiple people (seen their pay stubs, the company texts them to you) making over 100k.

    MBM, Denver center.

    Don't get me wrong, you earn every penny of it, but it's there. ETA that the McLane guys make more, but they ramp everything, our center uses liftgates and electric pallet jacks.
     
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  11. MadeinMX

    MadeinMX Light Load Member

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    Pretty much with any food service company you should be able to get it. I am taking about companies like sysco, us foods, mcclain, golden foods, etc. I dont mean small distributors. The company i worked for only distributed in four states but had pretty good contracts (subway, burger king, chillis... Etc). It is hard work but if you are willing to work, you will make good money.

    There are good jobs out there for cdl holders, but most people dont risk or dont want to challenge themselves. Just saying.
     
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