A good problem

Ashley bought out the western division from Wilson Logistics a while back. And Peninsula is a PNW based LTL carrier that has been around forever.

 

Stay put and get experience. Every job pays less than the highest paying job in the country. Tons of new drivers have tried the "quitting their way to the top". It rarely works. There is lots to learn with only a month on the job.

 

^^^^^^^^^^^
Winner....

--Lual

 

Kroger and Peninsula are are two different animals. Kroger is a multi billion dollar company that (probably) services just their stores whereas Peninsula is an LTL operation and is very significantly smaller than Krogers. It's very odd that either one would approach you with offers being such a new driver. I do not know but I suspect that the different DC's that Kroger owns runs under different union contracts. Freddy's would be different than Safeway or Albertsons etc.... Krogers owns so much but since you said Portland I assume you would be out of Clackamas or Alberstons in Portland. What is the difference between the pay and benefits between Kroger and Peninsula? Specifically (for me) I would want to know about medical benefits, how much are union dues, and how much gets put toward your retirement. On the face of it I would lean towards Kroger cuz I never liked going into Peninsula's yard but otherwise have no info on their equipment or operations.

 

Are you even sure it's Kroger hiring? Or is it a 3rd party like JB Hunt that works out of the Keoger dc?

 

Hmm, what if the OP caught an offer at just the right time? When Kroger is willing to bend their own rules a bit to hire more drivers for their own fleet? Seems like it might be a good opportunity for the OP, and having a friend as an "insider" might smooth the path... just my take on the subject.

The best trucking job I ever had happened after I caught a small ad in the local paper (San Diego U-T), the ad only ran once and I happened to see it, so I jumped on it. If the OP really wants to get with Kroger, this may be a random opportunity which won't be seen again, or at least not anytime soon, aye?

Maybe the folks doing the hiring for Kroger just said, "We need drivers, let's overlook the requirement for a year's experience & take anybody who has a CDL-A and no felonies, no bad MVR, etc." Sometimes things like this happen because the need is too great... and those who are available get the job(s).

 

EXACTLY what happened to me. Nephew took a new job and said they wouldn't be interested in me as a new driver. I saw the ad in a local small community shopper and cold called. My nephew had it wrong and he wasn't sponsoring people to get their CDL. Semantics i know but communication and due diligence is important in EVERYTHING you do!

I need to learn some basic spanish now it seems as asking two latino farm workers if the tank is full yet and getting a smile and nod up and down followed by "yeah yeah yeah" apparently means they are going to hook the hose back up as soon as you hop back in the cab to complete load paperwork.

Due dilligence, yeah. Now i know what milk load counter is and where to find it, lol.