Nestle water, they sometimes put skids outside for the drivers to grab a case or 2 when its hot. Another was a rejected skid of chicken noodle soup. One can was poked and had to get rid of the whole skid. I kept a few cases and pitched the rest. Last was at a Keebler place. I was early for delivery and was waiting for other drivers to get unloaded. No big deal, when it was my turn the dock worker was apologizing for the hold up and got to me right away. I told him no problem that I was still ahead of schedule and after he got done he handed my a large trash bag full of all kinds of crackers and cookies.
Keebler's are great to deal with. Also TJ Marzzetti in Columbus. Lots of times they will give the driver 1-2 cases of dressings as long as you are on the dock and joking around with them.
I got soooo much pudding my side bins are full of it. Hoping to run by a terminal to share the wealth soon.
This cookie factory in North Sioux City, SD gave me a whole bunch of boxes of Girl Scout cookies. I don't like them so I left them in the drivers lounge at my company's terminal.
Nope. There was one box that I liked, can't remember what they were, but I ate the whole box. The thin-mints, YEECHH! I left them in the drivers lounge with the rest of them. Oh, and I just remembered the name of that place. It was called "Inter-bake". I brought in a load of the plastic trays that go in each package that hold the cookies. Girl Scout cookies are made there at that place in North Sioux City, SD. I ain't got nothin' against the Girl Scouts, but I just don't like them cookies!!
I delivered boxed 'brownie mixes' to some grocery warehouse in Wisconsin. I was a whole pallet full OVER on the count they ordered. (about 150-200 boxes). I called our claims dept. and believe it or not, they told me to "just dump the overages, as it's not cost effective to return to shipper"....so, I put them in my cab and took them home to share with friends and family.
One time i took off from the winery from california, to chicago, got there they rejected the whole load, all the top's of the drums ,55 gallons drums had rust on top, so i had too dump that load in a warehouse there and dispacth said make it right, so i got a load of flour too new jersy, then a load of children books back, hum as they were loading the books i notice pallet after pallet with big carboard box on top, i ask why these out here, he said there damage and going too landfill, i ask if i could have some , sure, one was a moon type book, still had the sticker of 45 dollers on it, at the the time i had two grankids and i just loaded my truck with these free books, when i got home they had a blast, so that yuky trip to jersy was worth it by there smiles, anthor time i hauled new tide soap to the south, i got done unloaded, noticed a damage pallet, i asked if i could have a bottle , it was leaking all over, no problem ,my bottle was about empty, i swicth out, he said no, i said ok, got back into my truck, just sitting there kinda tired, i just help these guys unloaded my own trl, he comes back out with a dolly a case of those giant bottles of tide, i thought i screwed up on my count, noper he said just our way saying thanks for helping , i had lots soap now, butr those a few things i got from shippers and recs, and if you park next too a reefer they might feed you too as they got lots stuff too get rid of for there next load.
Tthis dude's got it figured out. Smiles on the grandchildrens' faces. Priceless. Irreplaceable. That's what life's really all about, aint it, people? If life was a race, it wouldn't be won by the Ph.D's with all the wealth, power & influence. It would be won by those who have figured out the purpose of all this madness and chaos we call our world. Seeing the bright eyes of little children light up upon receiving a gift or the re-telling of a story they find exciting. That's what we're here for. That's what keeps us all going, isn't it?