pepsi/coke bulk questions

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by randomname, Oct 24, 2014.

  1. randomname

    randomname Light Load Member

    238
    261
    Jul 13, 2014
    0
    So Pepsi and coke are always hiring here in Wichita Falls. Probably means the job sucks, I'm guessing. Am I correct in thinking that the "bulk" guys use the trailers with lifts and then pallet jack the product into the store? I have heard that this is easier than driving a bay side. I am lazier than I used to be.
    And what kind of hours are typical? When they say early start times, what does that mean? See above, under lazy.
    Thanks guys
     
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. SodaDriver

    SodaDriver Light Load Member

    89
    81
    Sep 13, 2014
    Michigan
    0
    You are correct. The bulk guys use lift gate trailers and motorized pallet jacks and deliver pallets of product to the grocery and mass merchandise stores. It is the easiest job you can get in the beverage industry because you hardly ever lift a case. Our bulk drivers start between 4 and 5 a.m. Might be different where you are though. Are they hiring for a "bulk" driver or just driver in general. It is usually one of harder jobs to get because the more senior guys take them because it is one of the only jobs in the beverage industry that you can actually retire from without killing your body.
     
  4. jsprocket

    jsprocket Heavy Load Member

    830
    262
    Nov 4, 2013
    Columbus, GA
    0
    I've always heard those types are you work til truck is empty and saw a post where guy was working 16 hour days for pepPepsi.
     
  5. Dumdriver

    Dumdriver Road Train Member

    1,525
    2,138
    Jul 8, 2014
    East Coast
    0
    if its "bulk" its cake.. Its cake, AND its great money! But like someone above me said, its rare to start out as a bulk driver for those companies... Thats a position that the guys with seniority eat up before they get out to the public.. I'm not saying it's impossible, but most likely you'll start out on the sideloaders..

    Sideloaders are not only waaaaayyyy more work, but usually the pay structure is different.. Its definitely not the hourly pay with power equipment that bulk is.. Think manual labor with a hand truck..

    But there is also the benefits that come with these companies.. That needs to be factored into your decision
     
  6. w.h.o

    w.h.o Road Train Member

    3,574
    4,068
    Jan 10, 2011
    Chicago, il
    0
    I doubt they are hiring bulk drivers, most likely just drivers. You will first start out as a helper and help side bay drivers unload and throw it in the shelves and cooler. Then you become a backup driver and take over routes when they go on vacation or sick. Then you get your own route. Then you become a bulk driver.

    Union

    Hard work

    Good luck

    I did it for a few years
     
  7. bigkev1115

    bigkev1115 Road Train Member

    2,363
    3,608
    Oct 23, 2009
    Alexandria, AL
    0
    Coke and Pepsi are always hiring this time of year due to drivers quitting due to the dropoff in pay and drink sales. I work for an independent bottler for Pepsi. Most of our bulk drivers leave at 530am and usually back by lunch this time of year. Basically with bulk trucks, you deliver big accounts like Wal Mart, Dollar General, and big grocery store chains.Then you have a merchandiser that comes along after you deliver to work the product. The key to leaving early is do you want to wait in line for 2 to 4 hrs and wait in line when there s maybe 5 trucks ahead of you?
     
  8. randomname

    randomname Light Load Member

    238
    261
    Jul 13, 2014
    0
    Thanks for the replies gentlemen. Coke or Pepsi, which one is better? They both have ads up.
     
  9. unloader

    unloader Road Train Member

    1,002
    1,067
    Jan 7, 2013
    0
    I did beverage delivery for a 7UP/Snapple company in southwest Colorado. The company was based out of PHX.

    I was mixed, bulk delivery and store delivery. In the bigger cities your mileage may vary in terms of the job. They may have drivers solely for bulk and drivers solely for store delivery, or you may alternate. For me the bulk deliveries were the grocery stores and Walmart. I would use a pallet jack to unload pallets of beverages and then count them with the receiver for the store.

    Many big stores use an uplink device to upload your order into their system, and then depending on on the receiver they would either scan in the items or take your word for it. Walmart will scan in. Period. And it will take time. But you'll be paid hourly. Yet the person in dispatch will just see a case count and wonder why it took two hours to deliver to a walmart.

    For the corner stores, liquor stores, drug stores, etc you will most likely hand truck in. Which can be a #####. I hated delivering at Walgreens and Rite-aid. It was a bulk size order, but you had to hand-truck in. Store delivery usually involves at least stocking the shelves.

    In my area we had drivers and sales people. In other areas I know the driver is the sales person. I personally wouldn't take that gig as it was time consuming enough just delivering product. To add selling it on top? Would be killer unless you worked a slow area, which would mean less money.

    It is a decent gig if you want to be local and are satisfied with so-so money. I work in the oilfields now, so obviously my idea of so-so money and your idea might be different. That said, this is a job that will NEVER go away. Ever. Period. If you work hard (and trust me you will), keep your head down, and do your job you could easily end up being a lifer.

    I had the added benefit of working in a college town, which for a single guy like me, was heaven. Plenty of cute girls, and even more ####### receivers. At the end of the day you will at least go home wondering if the beer delivery guys you saw at 10am ever got the 25 stacks of product trucked into the store.

    The job was great in the summer months. Come winter. Well... It's about as a fun as a fat kid on a diet in a candy store. Best of luck to ya.

    unloader
     
  10. SodaDriver

    SodaDriver Light Load Member

    89
    81
    Sep 13, 2014
    Michigan
    0

    Summer is no treat either because you sweat your ### off. Couple months in spring and couple months in fall are the only good times to do this job as long as you can avoid the rain.:biggrin_25513:
     
  11. Chopswithafist

    Chopswithafist Light Load Member

    90
    36
    Feb 2, 2012
    West, TN
    0
    I worked for Coke back in 2006-2007, they were advertising bulk driver positions as well, but you will be hired as a regular route driver. Its really long hours and hard work. You'll start out driving one of the side load trailers and delivering to mostly convenience stores, restaraunts, cvs, and a mom and pop grocery store thrown in the mix. YOU are responsible for stocking the shelves, rotating product, working backstock, picking up out of date products, etc. You'll spend a lot of your time in walk in coolers stocking them. As the above poster said, the "bulk" jobs are usually given to more senior employees since it is a gravy job. They drop off the pallets at a store and merchandisers come and stock the shelves. If you get hired on, you could put in for a "full service" route, that's where you go around filling drink machines and taking the money out of them..Yes you still have to hand truck the cases around, but you don't have to deal with anyone and its pretty easy. You typically drive a bob truck for that.

    Hope that helps
     
    Mike2633 Thanks this.
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.