Ace Hardware?

Discussion in 'Motor Carrier Questions - The Inside Scoop' started by cavigu, Apr 7, 2015.

  1. cavigu

    cavigu Bobtail Member

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    Sep 20, 2010
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    Anyone have any information on what it is like driving trucks for Ace Hardware? What is a typical day like? Drop and hook or unload? Pay? Anything helps, thanks!
     
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  3. Erick Evans

    Erick Evans Light Load Member

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    Minneapolis, MN
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    I worked at an Ace hardware in town, not as a driver though. When a driver brought freight to the store the driver would usually have to hand dually pallets to the back of the trailer, then an store associate would use a forklift to take the pallets off the truck. That's pretty much all I know.
     
    cavigu Thanks this.
  4. born&raisedintheusa

    born&raisedintheusa Road Train Member

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    There is an ACE Hardware close to where I live in Wichita KS. I spoke to the driver about 2 years ago. He drives in from Colorado Springs CO to the various stores in the area.

    The driver has to get inside the trailer to manually get the freight to the end of the trailer, onto pallets, for the forklift operator to take it out of the truck. The ACE Hardware store that the driver was at did NOT have any loading docks to back into. This is why the driver was doing what he was doing.

    This is not necessarily true of all ACE Hardware stores.

    Also, the ACE Hardware truck driver had told me that they require at least 1 year of experience, prefer that you have at least 2 years under your belt. Again, this was about 2 years ago. It may be different now.

    The ACE Hardware truck driver that I had spoken to was a very pleasant guy, 60 plus years old with 30 years plus years of driving under his belt.

    He emphasized that it is a very good company to work, but that you must be customer oriented and that you must know your job well.
     
    cavigu Thanks this.
  5. TheJrodTest

    TheJrodTest Light Load Member

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    The Road to Omaha
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    FYI- It is next to impossible to verify employment for a future job after Ace Hardware... no one at that company has a clue as to what is going on when it comes to Drivers and DOT regulations... One of my biggest headaches is clearing former Ace Hardware drivers.
     
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  6. TheJrodTest

    TheJrodTest Light Load Member

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    The Road to Omaha
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    To be fair - Lowe's is horrible too, but Ace was worse. I hate seeing the hardware stores on apps, but good drivers are good drivers, no matter where they came from...
     
    Arkansas Frost Thanks this.
  7. Arkansas Frost

    Arkansas Frost Heavy Load Member

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    Aug 2, 2012
    North Little Rock, AR
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    Typical day as a "new" driver. Call in between 9-10am and get your load info (or don't get a load). Have your bag packed because you never know, it might be a one day run or it might be overnight. There are a few gravy runs that pay well Service Center to Service Center, but you usually get those when the old timers are on vacation or there are just extra runs that day. Sleeping in the truck puts about $25 in your pocket. Most of the time I sleep in a hotel and watch cable until I pass out, then wake up have my coffee and complimentary breakfast and hit the road showered and fresh. Most runs are stocking the stores, but it's on a bid route. The average wait I've heard to get a route is 6 months (I've just hit that mark). I qualify now but I have to wait for an offer of someone's route or for them to rework them which may be December. Store routes are fairly easy once you get use to it. I came in as a flatbedder so it was an adjustment getting use to the pallet jack and actually unloading my trailer at each store. You typically have 3-5 stores, and you run from one to the next until your empty. Most stores are friendly, most drivers are good people, and most of the dispatch/management team takes care of you. Sometimes trucks are loaded wrong but I'm just happy to not be in the warehouse! It's decent pay for what I consider not much work and the benefits package is pretty amazing. I get frustrated when I'm not making big money but then I hit a good week or actually make it to something important with my family. I took vacation recently, yeah I already accrued vacation, to get married. I'm just patiently waiting on a route so I can start working on other things and planning life a little better. Latest I've worked was 2am, and my smallest check was around 500. So you stay kind of busy it's just real unpredictable on the extra board.
     
    free spirited1 Thanks this.
  8. jaburgess0867

    jaburgess0867 Bobtail Member

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    Mar 28, 2016
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  9. jaburgess0867

    jaburgess0867 Bobtail Member

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    Awesome info... I just got hired on yesterday at Ace. I've got 1 year running apples locally. They offered a $5000.00 sign on bonus also. Starting wages are .44 mile plus $16.00 hourly when down. Extra 2 cents for doubles, plus $$ for each store stop... Average weekly pay starting is $750-1000 with benefits and 401k.... After 5 years average is$70,00- $80,000 a year. After 10 your in the $100,000+ bracket.
    Trucks are all 2015 and newer Internationals... automatic (sucks) but very nice. Governed at 65 mph.
    It's definitely a career position.
     
    Gregstruck70 and BackIsSore Thank this.
  10. Allow Me.

    Allow Me. Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    Rancho Mirage, Ca.
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    You're talking loading at DC then making retail store deliveries, right ? Out for 2-3days
     
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