Couple Questions about Foodservice Delivery

Discussion in 'LTL and Local Delivery Trucking Forum' started by Driver33491, May 5, 2015.

  1. Driver33491

    Driver33491 Bobtail Member

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    May 5, 2015
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    Hello all, Im interested into getting into food service delivery and have a few questions for anyone familiar with the trade.

    1. I hear everyone say Foodservice keeps you fit, but what If im not completely in fit now(5' 11" 325lbs), but have muscle, and have done lots of manual labor before, should I be alright? One of the perks of this job, that i think of, is that a job in foodservice delivery will help me lose weight, but do I need to lose it before I can get the job?

    2. Right now I am a local in the chicago area. But have serious interest in moving to Lousiana or Texas, or somewhere down south. Would it be easier to get a job where Im at, then transfer in say, 6 months? Or should I apply in the area im interested in moving to and try and get a job before I move?

    3. A few of the companies I looked at said their drivers are out 2 days at a time. How true would you say this is, and what factors determine this? Also, do you stay in a hotel or the truck? If its a hotel, why are they running sleeper trucks?

    4. Do yall get paid holidays, paid sick days, paid personal days? whats the vacation pay like?

    5. I heard most pay per case, miles, stop pay. Is this better than being paid by the hour? are any food service companies paying by the hour?

    5. Ill give specific details of my current job and get everyones opinion on if i should move on or not. Im a local for a mega in Chicago. Make 19/hr. Our max cap is around 22/hr. "work" 70 hours a week, no OT at all. So my max yearly is about 75k. Not much bennies, I get insurance, 401k with crap matching, no sick days, paid holidays, personal days, nothing. you take off the day, you dont get paid, that simple. Our "vacation" pay is a joke. For 2 years of service, 2 weeks of vacation pay, ill get a flat $1,000. for TWO weeks. Its a joke. The company is really into micro managing to the extreme. But the position is super easy. No manual labor, day time M-F type deal. This part is what is really making me consider not quitting. I am pretty much guaranteed my 70 hours a week. Even in the past couple weeks when we are slow, we go and sit somewhere, or move trailers in the yard, to get our hours in. We dont lose hours.

    So with all of that considered though, Im wondering if it would be worth it to quit that job and move on to something else. I heard consistent stories on first year food service drivers getting 70+k/yr. Is this pretty true? If so, then maybe I shouldnt be worried about not getting work in that industry compared to LTL and such. I have no problem/worries about getting in tight spaces to deliver. I like multi stop runs. The idea of that and lots of physical activity actually excites me. Compared to just sitting and driving to a couple stops like I do now.

    Anywho, Just figured Id get the opinion of some of yall on here that have been doing it, or know some one who is. I got a lot to think about. Is it worth moving on from my gravy, 65k/yr job I have now, but with no bennies is the big thing on my mind. Thanks in advance.
     
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  3. CAT76

    CAT76 Bobtail Member

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    I rolled groc for 7 1/2 years loved the job and my people on my route, just very hard on your body. I would do it over again if I had the chance. Hope this helps... good luck
     
  4. flybynight12

    flybynight12 Medium Load Member

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    1 just depends on how you shed weight youll drop like 50 pounds then put it back on as muscle.
    2 start foodservice now alot of the companies discrimate against wheight they wont say it out right but they hint it
    3 depends on company
    4 depends on company
    5depends on company
    6 i would not go food service again. that being said when you walk in your the bottom you get a light rt and just depending on the place you could make it maybe no its a toss up. this is chicago its a big area lots of food to be delivered moving somewhere else could hinder the money. if i was you id go with ups or abf and call it a day and get a gym member ship if you want to lose weight.
     
  5. EHB

    EHB Medium Load Member

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    Soaking in the bathtub is a must... and relaxing.

    Some nice after a day throwing around tens of thousands of pounds of food by hand every day.

    Sticky gloves is a must, the boxes will soak the water right out of your hands and dehydrate you very quickly.
     
  6. spindrift

    spindrift Road Train Member

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  7. LoneCowboy

    LoneCowboy Road Train Member

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    I work for MBM, we deliver to big corporate restaurants. And our terminal uses liftgates and no ramps, but still lots of stuff comes out the side. 48 foot trailers, loaded to teh tail, we gross out before we cube out usually. Figure a load is 35,000lbs or more. (the trailers are heavy)

    1. I really thought everyone was going to be in their 20's and studly and ripped. It's mostly average guys and most guys are in their 40's. Oldest of 56, youngest of 31. (that I've met). Some fat, some skinny, mostly bigger guys though.

    2. I don't know, ask the recruiter. Most companies you keep your company senority, but lose your terminal senority if you move. (so 401k stays the same, but start at the bottom again)

    3. The rule at our terminal is first night in the truck, 2nd night in a hotel. Most people ignore that I think. Some guys like to spend the night in the truck, some guys like the hotels (me). A lot of companies (us included) run team routes, 1 guy sleeps, 1 guy drives. Pays better, but ti's team, out 2 or 3 days. Honestly a single man 2 or 3 day route works best for a lot of guys. My commute is an hour to work. There's an hour of setup time (hook up, load your stuff, do paperwork, etc), 1/2 hour of download time (reverse). That makes a 16 hour plus day, PLUS you have to unload an entire trailer in a day. 2 or 3 day trip, you only have 1.5 hours of extra BS over 3 days, plus there's only one trailer to unload. Some guys want to be home every night, but locals can be crushing.

    4. Some companies do both even. It all depends on teh terminal. I'm at the bottom of the totem pole and I get paid cases/miles/stops, but the average per hour is close to $30. Easy. I just got back from a overnight. 13 hours first day, 11.5 today, 25 hours (more like 28 in real life) and it paid $650. That's well over $30/hour. Get stuck in traffic though or stupid stuff or whatever and you're making squat. (they do pay breakdown, but it's like $12/hr). I talked to a Sysco guy and he was hourly, and a US Foods guy in NM and he was hourly. It all depends.

    5. food service pays BANK. You earn every penny of it, but it pays bank. I've met multiple people (and see their pay stubs) making over 100 grand a year. They work harder than me. I only work like 4.5 days (55 hours or so logged) and I'll easily clear mid 70's, maybe mid 80's. and I'm at the bottom of the totem pole. From talking with other guys at other companies pretty much ALL food warehouse guys are idiots. Prepare to be extremely frustrated.
     
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  8. LoneCowboy

    LoneCowboy Road Train Member

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    oh yeah, we work early mornings. (which si good because parking lots blow when full of cars). Prepare to get up early (and I do mean early), day after day.
     
  9. Radman

    Radman Road Train Member

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    I worked at US Foods and when I was there they hired some big boys including myself. But if you go in the interview saying you want the physical work then they know your in the right mindset. You'll get joked on by other drivers and warehouse guys putting bets on you that you'll last only a week or two. Had a guy tell me that about me. I was a strong guy too but it's ALOT of cardio. You'll want to quit your first day. You'll likely puke if you eat too much. Just suck it up cause you'll make it. It's your body not used to it, it will get used to it. Once you make it a week or two then you'll be like "this isn't so bad" it's pretty much all mental. With foodservice hours are always there and no shortage of them. You'll make more or the same your first year then it does keep going up in pay. When I worked there I started at 19hr think its 20hr now starting hit 50-55hrs a week in 4 days. Never offered to work a 5th which you can. I liked having 3 days to recover usually got wed off and Sat and Sun off. Top out is likely around 25hr but they had other pay options to make more. They had a pay by case deal which you can make a crap load more if you have a heavy case route. More then the top rate 25hr. Guys were averaging 28-29hr didn't matter how many hours you work. Less or more hours you made your salary. They offer after your 90 days too. Top out takes something like 4 yrs for the hourly but like I said you can jump into the case by pay plan. You'll have options and can always switch. But pay by the case stuff
    Means you need heavy case count runs to make money.
     
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  10. Driver33491

    Driver33491 Bobtail Member

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    May 5, 2015
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    Thanks everyone for the info so far. I think Sysco and US Foods may be out of the question. Just found out theyre running driver cams in their trucks? That would be a deal breaker for me.
     
  11. Brettj3876

    Brettj3876 Road Train Member

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    I work food service, basically for a bottom of the ladder company and im on track to gross 65-70k, Grossing around 1250-1275 a week, sometimes 1300 if i get a huge case count week. You will make good money but like everyone else is saying you will earn every penny of it. Most ppl at my job are in their 40s, I'm 21, youngest guy on the roster and not that many others in their 20s, mostly just average guys trying to make a living.

    Don't worry you'll shed those pounds quick
     
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