PepsiCo

I'm trying to get into Fritolay I heard it's an awesome job. Do you mind explaining what you do exactly? Hours worked, pay, Benefits etc

 

I hated every minute of working for Coca-Cola as a route driver, and did doubles a few times, and as a merchandiser.

Horrible... Will never do that job again.

 

Certainly. As an "OTR" driver for Frito Lay, we work out of one of their traffic centers (usually associated with a manufacturing plant). We deliver to vend customers (Walmart, Costco, any number of food service customers, etc), our route sales reps (bins), or other Frito DC's. Bins are offloaded with a 2 wheel hand cart typically. Vend is all floor load and we palletize as the customer needs. We unload, stops where we use lumpers are very, very few and far between. We don't merchandise anything, that's what the route sales reps do.

Hours? Well, we operate on a 60/7 rather than 70/8. I typically wind up working very near my 60 in a week. Pay may vary depending on traffic center, since there are a few union ones (mine is not). 55cpm, case pay varies by stop type (bins 8c/case, vend 10c/case, DC or drop/hook 3.5c/case I think). Some situations are paid hourly, like random drug tests or in-office training. Lay overs in hotel, if necessary, we do not use sleepers. I typically gross $1500-$1900/week and I don't feel like I'm working that hard, unless its super hot outside. Benefits are pretty decent, BCBS/vision/dental, 401K, pension. 3 weeks vacation first year. Bennies and vacation start on day one of employment. Better than most in trucking, but I can't find my prospectus for exact details or numbers.

How awesome the job actually is depends on the traffic center. Ours has a large number of drivers who've been here 15+ years, with the top ten or fifteen having been here 25+ years. We operate on a straight seniority bid system, so if you are new in the door, you may get some of the less desirable runs more frequently. Other traffic centers are likely different. We have a few union ones, but they aren't the norm (and aren't well liked due to an abundance of DGAF and overall poor performance, but this is only an opinion based on dealing with their loaded trailers).

 

Hate to say it, but the Coke/Pepsi thing definitely depends on the area and if it's Union or not. Coke/Pepsi in my area are Teamsters and the make well over $20/Hr with OT and benefits. Other places further south pay like $13/Hr or something ridiculous.

For the guy that works for Frito, nice job! I've always heard nothing but good things about driving for them.

 

I quit filling out the PepsiCo application in my area when it asked if the average pay of $35,000/year was acceptable lol

Must not have been a union shop

 

Yea, ive been there since March and I think ive made love 26,000 or something like that year to date. It's the most money I've ever made.

This being my first driving job and all. Plus the training pay was 14.55 an hour and the guy who trained me wasn't in any hurry I still grossed over $800 every week.

 

We make a whole lot more money than that. Our Aberdeen MD traffic center is hiring currently, advertising $75,000 average the first year. My local management is hesitant to say you'll make more than $50K, but then will show you the average gross pay of the bottom of the seniority tree, and for the most part it's rather higher than that. Year to date I've made $45K and I started in January.

 

Good morning JPenn,
Do you run local, regional

 

Are you guys gonna stick with beverage for the long term??

I'm thinking I'll give it two years and look for another outfit like Old Dominion or Keebler.. Or maybe hauling fuel for Eagle

 

The only thing I found difficult was a 9pm start time, I could never get real sleep during day