Delivering to Loblaws?

The Sterling we have at Arrow has a DD15, but the actual tractor has been rode hard and put up wet. Cabwise, it's one of the more comfortable trucks I've driven, but there are certain things I despise about it. Gauges and backlighting for one.

 

When did Hooters start that? Do you get your choice of waitress to sleep with? I don't have to sleep with the one I nicknamed "porkchop" do I?

 

I find all those big grocery chains annoying to deal with. Western Grocers has the worst delivery doors on their stores. Wal-mart is just as much of a pain.
I'm angry right along with you!!

 

Has anyone on this thread ever del'd to any of the following in New England ? Market Basket ? Hannaford's ? Super Stop & Shop ? Many of these older stores in small town Mass, NH, ME, VT, and upstate NY have the same docks and doors they did 60-70 years ago. That's back when the biggest thing they had to design for was a bullet nose Mack and a 20' trailer, what we call a pup now. Save Easy (Loblaws) in small town NS is the same way ( Mahone Bay, Wolfeville, etc ). Not sure what, if any, of these doors and docks, have been mod'ed over the past 20 yrs, but imagine my 120 classic and a new 53' air ride wagon manouvering into some of these old docks. Not pretty.

That said, back in the day, they were always very good at the above ment'd stores for getting you in and out real quick ..... guess they liked their drivers.

A few years ago, during the last global ice age (recession), I drove one of my Buddies trucks while on lay-off. His primary customer was Loblaws in the Maritimes. Now granted I was hauling Loblaws freight, in Loblaws wagons, and I NEVER had any problems in the doors .... but I was at enuf Loblaws to see other company rigs and other broker rigs come in to local stores, and to the regional wharehouses in Halifax, and Moncton to see that 99.9% of all drivers delivering in Atlantic Canada seemed happy doing Loblaws runs. There were guys (and gals) from the US, broker and company, as well as pretty much every major CDN company represented. Maybe times have changed. Don't know. Maybe it's just in the areas mentioned above. Maybe it's disgruntled drivers. I have heard that Loblaws is trying to bust the union ... but that would just effect their company drivers .... just sayin'

SL

 

speedloader: If you have ever seen the new Loblaw's Logistics Center in Regina it has nothing to do with the doors. This is one of the most modern warehouses in Canada. BUT they only unload in the wee hours and you have to wait for hours and hours. Located in the middle of wheat fields with NOTHING in the way of food or showers. But there are more warehouses being built in the area and maybe the Indians that own some of the land will build a small truck stop. Would be a goldmine!

 

I hear ya Bruce ..... I was just commenting on Tam Tam's post ...... Most Loblaws, Sobeys, etc etc only take transient truck traffic at night, so they can use the doors by day to load their own night wagons. Been there and done all of that.

AND if you're looking for true isolation, the old copper mine in Murdockville, PQ, was as desolate as it can get from Friday nights until Mondays morning's, especially if your stuck up there because of the snow. Thank God for my own food supply, back before trucks equipted with fridges and microwaves. Mmmmmm ..... cold can goods 'heated on the engine'. Books On Tape, and CBC Radio 1 (English faintly). Fortunately the guard shack had warm water for 'bath's' in the sink.

But I digress ........

 

Wont do Loblaws or Wallyworld warehouses anymore. Your expierence is typical.

 

Speedloader: Sounds like you must have some good stories!

 

Only true life horror stories Bro ......


A relative once told me I should start writing down my memoires for a book .... my response: " Well my therapist keeps telling me to try to forget them ..... !!!"

oh well ..... lol

 

good ol galin lol