The Food Service Rant thread

hunted · Jun 21, 2015

LoneCowboy said: ↑

I'm in Colorado too. I work for MBM, it pays great, but it's a fouled up company. Everyone is hiring. US Foods, Sysco, McLane (who pays the best, but work the hardest), Sygma, Shamrock, all the produce companies, etc.

They all seem to work the same, seniority systems, you work extra board the first few months (which means your schedule sucks) until you get a route. But everyone is so short, you'll make bank and work all the time and rapidly move up the board.

Many run locals everyday, some run longer routes, all depends. Honestly the locals can be a lot of work, you unload the entire truck EVERY DAY. And of course you get locked out over lunch (no deliveries between 11-1pm) so your day gets longer although you don't "work". And of course it's early mornings, long days and pretty much 365 days a year.

But, it pays bank. I work 4 full days and about 3 hours on a 5th. (mind you that's about 55 hours on the 70 hr clock) and I'm easily on track to break $80,000. And I'm low on the totem pole. Guys who work harder make more money. (easily 10-20 drivers at my terminal clearing over 100 grand a year, but they work harder than me)

It takes (and Mike with GFS should chime in here) really 3 months for things to start to click and the job gets easier. Becomes much more natural and you know what's going on. (and getting a route helps a ton, you know where you are going and where the stuff goes at each place).

You want in at MBM, PM me and I'll get you in touch, if you want other ideas I'm willing to share them. Denver companies tend to run longer routes I think since Denver is really the only real hub for 500 miles in any direction.
Click to expand...

I'm working for Lily Whole Foods account. I enjoy the hours pay is decent and as long as you do your job safely and make your stops on time they leave you alone. Its local

Sg29651 · Jun 21, 2015

How is MBM benefits?

LoneCowboy · Jun 21, 2015

Getting better. MBM got bought by McLane 2 (or 3?) years ago and McLane bene's are top notch and they are starting to filter down. The health insurance got MUCH better this last year, holiday pay went up (was like $120/day, now like $180/day). The 401k is amazing. (McLane matches at their profit percentage, last few years it's been over $1.50/match for each dollar you put in).

Sg29651 · Jun 21, 2015

So would it be better to work straight for mclane?

LoneCowboy · Jun 21, 2015

Different kind of work.
MBM does chain restaurants (and only chains). They are generally (although not always) set up for liftgates and pallet jacks. Everything is palletized and while some things get wheeled in, some places tear down the pallet themselves.

McLane (reg. not food service) does everything, from wal marts to little mom and pop convenience stores. It's not palletized, it's all free stacked in totes and everything comes off a ramp and gets wheeled in.

McLane pays better, but they work harder. And (around here anyway) seem to have less turnover. Depends on what you are closer to also. The hour commute into MBM kinda blows for me and precludes me from doing many locals. (14 hour day becomes 16). Not sure exactly how McLane pays, but neither place is hourly. I know that McLane trucks are governed faster than ours (cuz I get passed)

Mike2633 · Jun 22, 2015

Cowboy's right it takes about 3 months for it to start to click. I had a very very very hard time when I started at GFS. I'm heading now into my 4th month coming up very soon here. I came from the beer truck business and I had a very difficult time adjusting to GFS. The delivering the trucks them selves the whole shooting match, however you work through it and you get better.

I think I'm doing better now ha-ha! I have my own routes for the most part and I know my stops for the most part and usually things go alright.

Today I got a parking ticket first one ever. It was at a stop that the company knows we were on borrowed time on meaning it was down town no parking they said you'll have to break the rules you get a ticket give it to us will pay it.

The parking ticket was given to me by the transit police, not the Cleveland police but the RTA transit police (Midwest Trucker says you'll get along better with the bears in the chicken coop then the RTA transit police) which I thought those guys were tired of getting run down on the news for writing truck drivers tickets. I for a minute thought we turned the page on that stuff, because they weren't writing tickets for a little while, but here it is they decided to do a serge drill and write tickets they were writing tickets left and right at 11:00am this morning. Well that's life in the broadline.

LoneCowboy · Jun 24, 2015

Remember (in the other thread) about the load they let me take out without the reefer working correctly? two months ago? So, I get a call on my day off "we have questions". Yeah, I did a full writeup that day, the GM and the trans manager both looked it over (and I stupidly didn't make a copy), so look there.
few minutes go by, phone rings again and I missed it again

We have more questions please call back.

IT'S MY DAY OFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I declined to return the call. I work 14 hours tomorrow, I'm sure they can find some time WHILE I AM WORKING to call me.

Mike2633 · Jun 24, 2015

We've been having trouble with our yard spotters at our warehouse setting both zones to 0 degrees and freezing entire loads. Usually happens with the trucks that run back hauls.

Tankyank92 · Jun 25, 2015

What do you guys think about Golden State Foods? I've done a little digging and can't find much more than complaints from former butt hurt employees.

I ask because there is a terminal about 5 minutes from me outside St.Louis in Illinois.

And to keep it on topic, any rants particularly with GSF?

Mike2633 · Jun 25, 2015

GSF is a McDonalds Supplier they do all the places that McDonalds owns. So most of you're stops would be McDonalds restaurants, delivering McDonald's products. They have a nice fleet of trucks.

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