Drivers in food industry and others, who may know. CT/NY/NJ, what's the compensation?

Anyone can make more money working for a company out of the north eastern states. Their rates are hire than the southern states.

Working for a food company as a line haul driver can make out pretty good. Closer to 80K , per say. But it's harder work with some companies.
It's better to get the hourly rate at 17.00 and up to start, with 5 years experience here in Pennsylvania. And depending if the work is drop and hooks or unloading multiple stops. I know that NJ, pays a tad higher than over here.
Five years experience would be considered an "experienced driver.".

Go For It! Better than "Over the Road" and less expenses too.

 

i used to do food (and may go back if things get to that point).

Yes, i would agree---80Kish if it's a decent company. But, at least 60K in general.

When i was doing it in 2000-2003 i grossed average $1100; $1000 on the low side, $1400 on the high side. Doing alot of Boston/Ct/RI/western ma--springfield etc. and NY/NJ.

Some routes can be a bear. But really, most routes in my opinion are not nessesarily bad---it's the hours that really determine how "bad" routes are---not nessesarily tightness of the customer's parking lots of how many pieces to unload; Even NYC was not bad to me---because it was during the daytime and we would get a hotel a night. And yes, this was with a 40' trlr and daycab.

The early morning or middle-of-the-night sht is what i really didn't like. As far as unloading, i took my time and didn't stress and that was not that big of a deal even in the heat. In my opinion, there is no need to pack your handtruck to the brim as i noticed most people insist on doing. Stacking it halfway means much less stress with only a little extra time needed to unload.

i can't do it now because i have some back issues, but as soon as i get these problems ironed out, i may very well go back for the money. These back issues were not caused by unloading either.

So yes, i would say (especially in this economy) that food is a good move.

 

1) Yes! Exactly! A lighter loaded handtruck means much less effort which equals less strain which equals less tiredness. What can happen alot is the customer may sort of "complain," saying things like "you're such a young guy---you should be putting more on etc bla bla bla." But what they don't understand is that we have to unload the whole trailer all day---we are not just catering to them. So we need to conserve our energy. If you politely explain this concept to them, they usually get it. And again, it really does not take all that much more time to do the extra trips.

In my opinion there's no need to get all macho, loading the handtruck all the way to the top as i see most drivers (and helpers) doing.

A fully loaded handtruck will eventually mean trouble. My rule: If you're straining, it's too heavy.

2) i also recommend the back brace thing; It's usually a black spandexy thing with velcro. It's really good. However, you must practice proper lifting techniques.

3) i am going to try to get my email address put in but i'm very busy---trying to decompress from the third shift from last week as i type this.

We will talk more about this---i promise.

 

I made $17 an hour time and a half after 8. $54k for about 53hours from the time I start my truck to the time i got back to the yard. I delivered hot dogs on multistop delivers with 2 nights out. 80k is not an average. You are still looking at $48k-$59k on the top end with few exeptions. You have to be real lucky to find more than that out here. The reason is why would companys pay more to drivers that are home every night or every other night. Talk to the sygma, sysco, bozzuto's, and gas haulers running out here for a better answer.

 

I work for a Natural Products distributor out of California. All lift gate, electric pallet jacks and mostly pallet drops (perishables and frozen is broken down). We service the 11 western states and we have everything from local hourly runs to 4 day runs. All runs other than locals are team routes except for drop and hooks. Our guys are averaging from a minimum of $60,000 to $115,000 a year. New equipment leased from Ryder and other contractual benefits from our Union contract.

Food Industry has treated me good and is much more consistent and secure than freight and other industries. Good luck in your endeavors.

 

Lots of Good Info on here and pretty accurate.

One thing we all forgot to mention, depending on who you haul for.,

you can receive top pay rate when working for a company who has their own product, versus, working for a company who's only a "distributor."

Sysco , Sygma and Feeser Foods are Distributors. You're not moving their own product. Yet the pay is still decent.

Like take gas hauling,, if you work directly. for an example, sunoco, shell , etc,,, you're more than likely making over 20 dollars an hour, versus, Penn Tank Lines who is only a distributor, with an average of less than 17 an hour. Sunoco or Sheetz had an ad in our local paper ,a while back, advertising 25 or 26 dollars an hour. Yes, their transportation division runs under another name, but they're still the same company.
Gas hauling is pretty neat too.

Any Driver who gets in with any company that has their own product, will make out better. There's no middle man involved.