Driving for Pepsi

After 30 plus years of pulling flatbed OTR and being nagged by my 11 year old daughter, that she wanted me home and misses her Daddy, I am now a transport Driver for Pepsi, out of Cheverly, MD.
It took 2 months and endless paperwork before I got behind the wheel. I had my doubts going in. Not used to driving a day cab and dealing with city traffic on a daily basis but after 2 weeks, I know that I made the right decision and actually enjoy working for and with the people there.
Being a Transport Driver, we haul trailer loads of product to different distribution centers within a 250 mile radius of our plant. We also pick up raw material for production. It's all drop and hook, the easiest job I've ever had.
The downside is the slip seating but the driver I share my truck with is clean and we get along well. I installed my XM radio, GPS and CB radio for the both of us to use, so I don't have to dismantle everything after my shift.
Maryland is not a "Right to work" State, so joining the Teamsters Union is mandatory. In their new contract, they went from hourly ($20.35 ph) to .46cpm and $15.00 per stop (from beginning to end). If you're held up at a plant, the first hour is free, after the first hour, you go on the clock at $20.35 ph. The drivers here like it better than the hourly rate but as far as I'm concerned, it gets Pepsi off the hook on paying overtime. Like I said though, this is the easiest job I've ever had and I'm not complaining.
What really amazes me is the security at all of the Pepsi plants and distribution centers. You'd think you were driving into a top secret military base, lol. For cars entering and exiting, they check the inside (interior) of your car and open your trunk. All trucks must open their cab doors and trailer doors. I didn't know Pepsi was such a high valued commodity, lol.
They held bids for new start times last week. My Supervisor asked me prior to the bids if I'd be interested in starting at 8pm. I told him that would be great. No dealing with Rush hour getting to work and no traffic to deal with when making my runs at night. I can sleep all morning and have the entire afternoon at home before heading off to work again. I guess he knew what everybody would bid and that's the shift I ended up with and I love it.
That's my story...have a nice day!

 

We're not on anything up here. Everything's paper up here for transport drivers. I know that the bulk drivers from other plants use an installed computer in their rigs (peoplenet?). No need for us to have sleepers as our trips are usually no longer than 8 hours round trip to the furthest point, then we run to Baltimore for our last load. Usually gives us anywhere from 10-12 hours.
Are you guys getting paid by the mile/stop or by the hour?

 

That's excellent pay for Florida and you're making more per hour than we are. I like the fact that you're getting detention pay after 30 mins instead of 1 hour. They are keeping us busy as hell. Been running anywhere from 400 - 500 plus miles per night, averaging 2 - 3 stops.
Not crazy about those Pro-Stars but at least they have the big CAT engines in them. They pull just as good, if not better than my KW with 460 horses under the hood did, but 65 mph is driving me crazy, lol.
I couldn't ask for a better starting time (8pm). If you've ever been to Washington, DC, you know how bad Rush hour(s) and traffic in general is around here. I usually catch the beginning of morning Rush Hour in both Baltimore and DC coming back from my last run. Sometimes that can add on anywhere from 45 mins to 1 1/2 hrs.
Glad I'm able to converse with another Pepsi driver. Good luck and stay in touch.