foodservice tips for winter?

Any good tips about food delivery in the winter? I run part time on the weekends delivering locally to convenience stores. The senior man on the list told me to invest in good workboots, but other than that, does anyone know any tips for minimizing slippage in the winter while going up and down the ramp? does everyone just end up loading the dolly lighter when its wet out, so you don't lose traction as easily?

 

I worked for a liquor delivery company for 12 years running up and down the ramp was always fun,...Up to 10 cases of booze at a time down the ramp and even up and down flights of stairs,....

A good pair of work boots is worth every penny,..Make sure they have a durable non-slip sole ans the ramp and steps on the truck will tear them up,..I am partial to RedWing boots,...

I also like lightweight wool hiking socks for the winter time they are plenty warm but not to warm,...

Be aware of your personal space, You'll be surprised at the things you will bump your head into,.And it usually hurts,...

Watch you step in the snow and ice,...

Take it easy loading the two wheeler until you get the hang of it,....It gets easier every day,.......

If I think of anything else I'll stop back in here,....

 

cool, had any experience with carolina boots? i was looking at a pair of steel toed lineman boots, but the soles didn't seem that chunky. i really need to shop around more, i guess i should probably go check out those redwings.

a couple of the guys here have hand brakes on their hand trucks, seems like that would be worth its weight in gold in the winter, as i have already had some close calls just in the rain. those ramps get slick when they are wet, it doesn't matter how jagged the teeth are!

one guy also said that snow banks in the winter are your best friend, and just point your ramp toward one of those in the winter and plan on running into it with every load. Sounded sort of miserable to me, there has to be a better way than that!

 

Carolina boots are good. I would stay away from steel toed lineman boots. First off steel toed boots conduct cold, second most lineman boots are composite toe because they are working around electrical lines,
third the big heel, 8" to 16" tops and reverse stitching on lineman boots are there to prevent the gaffs from kicking out, to keep the gaffs from digging into your shins and calves, and to keep the leather from peeling up. They arn't very comfortable for walking in all day. I would stick with a composite toe, low top (yet over the ankle) hiking style work boot with some decent lugs and grippy compound. Also a semi sturdy shank to protect your arch, yet flexible enough to provide comfort when walking. As mentioned good socks are important. Wool or some other type of hiking sock keeps your feet warm, dry, and helps against odors. If you get blisters try lacing up boots differently and or take a small thin ankle sock, turn it inside out and wear it over your wool socks.
Redwings are good.
Carolina's are good.
HyTest are good.
Hoffmans are good.

Sorry, I've never done that type of work so I can't offer any advice on anything else but I'm pretty good with boots so I thought I would throw that in there. Good luck.

 

A point on Carolina boots, make sure you get the ones that are Made in the USA. I did, mine are going on 4 years (two sets of soles), my brother got the chinese made Carolinas, and his lasted about 6 months.

 

yep, that was the biggest sell for me, the big made in usa and union stickers right on the box. if i'm buying chinese, i expect china prices.

http://www.carolinashoe.com/item.asp?ItemID=508
the boots i was looking at. fit great, look like they will last until longer than the horizontal hair on my head, and not expensive enough to worry about.

 

I wouldn't want that toe guard welding style boot, It will get in the way when you need to hook the axle of the two wheeler to pull it out from under a stack of product,....

If you are required to have a safety toe boot I would go with a composite toe boot in the winter, Steel toes are way to cold,..

 

oh ok, i guess i will have to keep shopping then. have you ever used a wheeler with brakes on it? are there any secrets to working in the winter besides loading it lighter and playing it safe?

 

I never cared for a two wheeler with brakes,...It seemed to me that thet always pulled to one side or the other,...Without brakes I could always keep it strait,.....

Go slow until you get the hang of it,....If you start down the ramp slow it's easier to control,...

Remember that floors in most kitchens will be slippery all of the time,...And take your time going down stairs,...

 

Fun topic! As others have pointed out, a good pair of workboots are worth their weight in gold. I have a pair of Justin Roper work boots that I've had for more than 10 years. I also have a pair of Carolinas that are also worth their weight in gold. Whatever you do, if you plan on working outdoors, invest in a quality boot!

I also recommend picking up a can of Sno-Seal. Basically you stick your boots in the oven and get them warmed up to open the pores of the leather. Once they are warmed up, you slather them with Sno-Seal and then let them air dry in a dry, well ventilated place.

While we're on the topic of keeping water out, consider how your feet are now. If you sweat a lot through your feet, you need something more than just a wool sock. Go to a hiking or camping store and buy a few pairs of polypropelene (sp?) socks. They are a synthetic material that wicks moisture away from your foot. You wear a heavier wool sock over the poly sock to kind of suck up the moisture from your feet and keep the inside of the boot from absorbing all of the sweat.