Rolling Frito Lay Sales, LP - Plano, Tx.

When I worked in a manufacturing plant up north they used numbers such as listed in your post, but the "M" Meant thousands. I would believe that a bean counter made the ad, and just continued that same theory...
Just my .02

 

Almost looks like the pay is set and now room for improvement.

 

I have several friends that drive for Frito in Orlando. Those numbers would be low compared to what they're making. Company drivers, and making very close to 6 figures, and some are already there.

 

I applied on the internet for Frito-Lay's OTR driver position, and was called in to take a written test. This is apparently only the first phase of the hiring process. They only give a brief description of the job, have you fill out an application on site, and then you take a multiple choice test with questions geared toward determining your personality and ethics. Not hard, just an interesting experience. They will then call you later and if you "passed" the test and background checks will ask you to come in for a drive test.

Depending on the traffic center you apply to, most loads are out and back the same day. There are a few longer trips where you lay over. They will pay for your meals and motel. Some trucks have sleepers, but I get the impression that they are used for the occasional team run.

The big draw back, at least in my opinion, is that you spend almost as much time unloading as you do driving depending on what load you get. They seem to have a somewhat complicated dispatching system whereby you call in or check a web site for all the loads for the next day. You dispatch daily. You make a "bid" for the loads you want, and dispatch determines which load you get based on your seniority and hous of service available.

They do everything through computer logs so they know exactly how many hours you have. No fudging logs here! The big worry is that if you are new, you will most likely get the runs with less driving and the most unloading. They run regular DOT logs so expect to work an avg. of 12+ hrs./day. The cake runs, which I figure most senior drivers will take are to the distribution centers where they use roller trailers and the product comes off in 20 minutes and you are headed for a pre-arranged back haul, and depending on the distance, back to run another load or 2 that day.

The harder runs will be on the 28' set of double van drop decks or 48'-53' single van drop decks loaded floor to ceiling with 2000-2500 boxes of chips. All of which you unload with a hand truck at one or multiple vendors. A driver I talked to said this can take up to 4+ hours. Granted chips are light so you don't have to worry about heavy lifting. Staring at one of these trailers loaded is where you come to the dilemma, is it worth the pay to unload all these boxes on a regular basis?

I have to say, they do pay. I was told the average yearly pay for a driver out of the facility I applied to is $72,000 plus. Some senior guys are into the $80K range and even higher. Although you really do have to work for it. They work you 6 days/week with typically Sunday off. But you can work 7 days if you want the big bucks. Of course, you will eventually hit 70 hours and will take the 34 hour restart off. Depending on the length of the run, you may only get 10 hours off when you get home every night.

Being a long-haul western state driver, I would prefer to take the "longer" runs, rather than do multiple runs in a day. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee I will get any of those, it is just the luck of the draw.

From what I could see most of the drivers stay, even though the unloading seems a bit excessive. In fact, it looks as though that is where you earn the majority of your pay. So it has to be that and the excellent benefits that keep their trunover low.

Personally, for me I would rather drive more! That's really why I enjoy trucking. But I have to admit the potential pay is really tempting! Guess I got some soul searching to do!

I hope this helps anybody who is searching for information on Frito-Lay. As you can see I wasn't short on words! :smt024

 

Thanks for posting this, I was wondering how well these types of jobs actually pay and what the work is like. Frito Lay is hiring about an hour from where I live and was thinking of trying to get on once I get my CDL in a couple months, but not sure if they hire newbs. Their site said 1 yr OTR experience, but maybe I could sneak in....
Think they'll hire new drivers?

 

NOPE, and I would double check that 1 yr experience, because FL here (metro Detroit) requires 2 years.

 

Hi, thank you for the information. I have applied with Frito several times over the internet. Its hard to get any information. If you call the company its automated. I suppose you have to wait until they contact you unless you have pull on the inside. Thanks, Beemer

 

My mother and father both worked for Frito for over 15+ yrs in New York. All around I have heard 99% good about everybody and have been to the company picnics. Frito seems to have a lot of good people.

 

Maybe it'd help keep you in shape? Always a bonus