PEPSI OR COCA COLA !!!

I was a high level manager at PepsiCo within the region and Piscataway is one of the facilities that my manufacturing plant supplied with certain products.

Operation wise, KO... hands down and no questions asked.

 

PepsiCo as a customer are horrible people to deal with. Stuck me for detention on a load that they presented me with the wrong info. I dont answer thier calls. I will one day, and get ahold of a shipment. Then I will get my money. F Pepsi co.

 

Training for what, driving at PepsiCo? The training system is incredibly fractured, and Delivery Supervisors are typically working under many hats while only being paid for one. As a result, it is very common to see Del Sups just "check the box" to move you through training quickly to get you out on your own and letting you make your own mistakes and rely on other drivers for help. The only part of the company that seems to get the corporate approval for new equipment purchases is Transport (linehaul drivers). The first Pepsico facility that I worked at had an average age of equipment that is easily 14 years old at this point.

I should clarify, this is what I witnessed during my time in the Northern New England region.

 

this hasn’t been the experience I witnessed at Pepsi. Not implying what you’re saying isn’t true, just that I haven’t witnessed it. From my experience you’ll spend about 2-4 weeks with another driver (different ones to show you different routes and different styles of working). After that they’ll send you out on a baby route for another week or two. Then you’ll run a full route but with a helper (as long as they’re fully staffed). It usually takes upwards of 4-6 weeks before you’re fully cut loose on your own.

as far as equipment goes the new guy usually gets the hoopty. Seniority being what it is

 

This is similar to how my barn (Coke) is. You'll spend a week on a liftgate route, a week on sidebay, a week in full service ( vending machines), and a week on nights. If you need more time they'll send you back out with someone, but once you're released you're thrown to the wolves. No baby routes, you are in the relief pool and the routes at the bottom are UGLY. 3-5 workers ( CVS, Walgreens etc), 14-18 stops 400+ cases on the tough routes. Equipment is pretty much first come first serve, with the upper seniority guys in each area basically having assigned trucks, but not technically ( they'll raise hell if if a bottom man takes their truck, especially if they leave trash or smoke in them ).

We bid positions twice a year, where you get to pick a specific area and days that you work. You'll be working saturdays guaranteed and in the less desirable areas until you get ~20 drivers below you in seniority. I've heard of guys being on the bottom for several years before I came in. Bulk is taken up by the guys with 20+ yrs in. We have one guy who has been here since '75, and a bunch more who have been around for 25 or more.

 

Beer>Coke>Pepsi