Willow Run Foods

I’ve been a driver at willow for 16 years. It’s a two-year commitment now if we train you to get your license. It’s an employee owned company and every year every employee gets around 16% of their gross pay in company stock, So the retirement plan can’t really be beat.

Over the years since I’ve been there, there have been maybe 5 women who have attempted to become delivery drivers. None lasted more than a couple of weeks. Some went through training and a couple came in with their licenses already.

 

The ESOP is a good deal if you plan on staying. I went to sage in Endicott to get my CDL and remember the bald headed safety guy coming in and giving his spiel to come to willow. Low and behold I ended up going there after trying hard for a local no touch job

Did the city run with roc center (the one where you had to lug 4 extra mall carts around) for almost a year. Then a crappy 13 stop Baltimore Checkers run and a 8 stop long island, 208 I think was that run. I left after that

 

It’s definitely an incentive to stay longer at a difficult job.

I never cared for city runs or working with somebody else. I’ve had runs with every one of the concepts. Some are certainly better than others, not all runs are created equal, LOL

 

I never cared for the city runs either but I ended up getting along with my co driver good. That was 8 stops and usually 1400 case avg. Wasn't bad, 6 Wendy's and 2 Popeye's. Roc center was nuts taking 2 different elevators with 6 total carts.

Is the huge guy still there? I forget his name but he was a riot to work with

 

as long as you can pass the background check, and everything else, you would be just as hireable as anyone else.

however, be forewarned, that some companies may make you take a physical agility test, where they do not do that for the guys.

i think there was at least one thread on this site about that a few days ago?

it's discrimination if only one sex has to do it, and not the other.

 

On the heavier end say with 7-8 bags of flour your looking around 350-400. Or a stack of 5 fries minimum a box (36-40LB if my memory is right) going down stairs.)

This isn't being sexist at all. It's a very demanding job, one of the most demanding in the trucking industry and not for the faint of heart. Using muscles you never knew you had. I went from a weight lifting routine to lumping food and muscles were sore I never knew existed.

There's enough work in the area to where you could land something less demanding. The LTL world is labor but nothing compared to food service. IMO that's where I'd look if I was in your shoes

 

I know exactly who you are talking about, LOL. I haven’t seen him in a while, but I think he is. This summer and fall was really really rough. Quite a bit of turnover.

I don’t know the exact HR hiring process, but as long as you do ok with everything else, you being a woman would not keep you from being hired. You need to have your permit already. I got my license through Willow when I started. The first time I ever drove a tractor trailer was during my job interview. They expect people to have never sat in the driver seat before. So they’re not expecting miracles, LOL. Watch some YouTube videos to get the idea of how to shift.

 

Don't stress about not having driving experience. When I started there was about 5 of us and only me and another guy had our license beforehand. If you need more time they'll gladly spend some extra time with you. Compared your avg run of the mill freight company they have a good program