Question:
Good evening all.Well i have been driving for Coca-Cola for about six weeks now and lemme tell ya. It Sucks REAL BAD!!! I guess i was expecting more I just can't beleive that a company like Coke is so unorganized.It's like a circus.This is my first driving job since getting my CDL in March. I was going to with Roehl but the old lady kinda wanted me around so i decided to wait and see if i could find something local.I got a lead on Coke so i decided to give it a shot. The driving part is not too bad.I do drive a tractor trailer but not a 53 footer.The call them a 16 cell trailer.It's got 8 bays/cells on each side with a single axle tractor. I do get alot of practice in angle backing,straight backing,driving down some tight streets, going thru residential streets,parking,you name it.Not to mention some rough and i do mean rough neighborhoods here in Chicago.Delivering coke products to gas stations,mom and pop stores convience stores White Hens 7/11s', Walgreens etc.I have also done some Bulk runs driving a 35 footer. These are used to deliver to the major food stores The pay is OK but it could get better. If i stick it out,it could get better but now it does not look too good. I am grateful to have a job.Eventually i will get my union card but we'll see.Right now i'm just trying to get the driving time in so i can take that next step and find a better job. I am still considering talking to Roehl tho.In this I have to deal with people who want a discount for the product being delivered,driving with loads of cash on me,(Guys here have been robbed), people who do not want the product,wrong addresses,wrong product on my truck.It can get crazy out here.

Answer:
I did the same type of delivery except it was beer and wine.What a nightmare!! It got to physical for me to unload the 20 stops I had every day.Palitizing re palitizing,breaking down product,gettin it in and down impossible stairs.ect.. I finally quit after a month and am really glad I did!!The money was really ok but the cons far outweighted the good....Best of luck,and FYI most companys want semi experience not 'city trucks'Been there done that .....Mike
"I love You All!! Let Me See Your Hands" OZZY OSBORN

Answer:
Hate to bring bad news,but an OTR Carrier will not count your local driving experience.If you decideto go with Roehl or any of the major carriers you will have to go with a trainer.Starting out local will not count.

Answer:
Local driving is really not all it's cracked up to be in most cases. That is the way most of the local jobs are in my area - they involve lots of physical work, long hours, and low pay. Basically, they are always looking for drivers. Some companies require experience, some do not.
With a decline in LTL freight in recent years, the collapse of large unionized companies (such as CF), and the rising cost of private fleets, really good local jobs are getting harder and harder to find. And the few that are out there go only to very experienced and/or specialized drivers.
I have driven motorcoach buses and from my experience, if you want to be home more, it is a better alternative to OTR than most local truck driving jobs, and the work is not as physically demanding.
Just like what was said above, if you go OTR now, you will have to go out with a trainer, but with your experience, you will probably do very well in training, and may be able to get on your own sooner than others with no experience.
From what I understand Coca-Cola can be a good company to stay with. But the down side is that you have to put in your time out in the trenches for a while before you get the good pay and jobs.

Answer:
why did you get a CDL?
for a good paying job or an easy job.
If you want to expend as little effort as possable exsisting,go over the road,never be home and spend endless hours waiting for free.
If you think coke is screwed up,you ain't seen nothing yet.
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Answer:
Do you actually work for Coke or is it an independent bottler? I worked for both Coke and Pepsi. Anyone that thinks their job is tough needs to try soft drink delivery. I have worked as a masonary laborer and other construction. Soft drink delivery is tougher than anything I have done. Nothing like a gew bottles or cans blowing up on you and covering you with sticky soda first thing in the morning. Or trying to open the sliding doors in the ice cold weather.
Many bottlers have gone to delivering to the supermarkets with trailers at the dock and then have a merchandiser come in and work the product to the shelves. By far the easiest job at Pepsi was the "Pepsi Express" driver. He had an electric pallet jack and that's how he unloaded. Truck was loaded for him and ready to go every morning. I would check into the chance to move in that direction if I was you before your back gives out.

Answer:
If you think coke is screwed up,you ain't seen nothing yet
so true
-----------------------------
Learning experience in progress


Answer:
How do I know that. Take a wild guess.
You don't see 400/500 lb drivers working for COKE or Pepsi.
Physical labor is part of route sales. If physical labor is not your cup of tea, then look for something else.
I worked for Canada Dry in route sales. Yes, it's physically demanding, non stop, all day long.
The same goes for LTL. I worked LTL too for a number of years. I started driving running local, not OTR. OTR came much later. Now I have a pot belly. I was a lean mean machine when I worked local.
Keep working for Coke, you'll get into shape. Once you get enough experience in route sales, you can get a better paying route. Beer sales pays good money with the big guys. Eventually you may be able to get into pre-sales. In pre-sales, you won't be lumping.
You can run Coke line haul to the supermarkets or the Coke distributors. That pays well too.
Pepsi does the same thing.
Seniority drivers do well, better pay better routes.

Answer:
Hi all. Thanks for the advice and criticism.It is a very physical job. I have lost about 20lbs since starting here and that the thing i do like.My pot belly is slowly becoming a little tea kettle. That's the thing i do like is the getting into shape part of it.i know if i go OTR,here comes the belly again. I still may give Roehl a call. I would ace the training part of their test. You know how many time i have to angle back in a day?

Answer:
Being in Chicago I wouldn't be surprised if you
could find a better job if you would knock on some doors. ABF is looking for a Road Driver in Chicago,need to be 25 and 2 yrs. experience,I believe they offer training if you have less.
Mike
[This message was edited by RABELAM on September 11, 2003 at 22:48.]
Answer:
brickhead
Try to stick it out. Get some time under your belt.
I started driving local delivering food and yes it sucked also.
I stuck with it and it got better, once you learn the stops.
Being new I got a lot of the crap never the same route. One of the hardest things for me was finding the place's and then were the stuff goes.
After awhile things got better having the same route you get to know the people were you delivery too. I stayed for 9 months, something better came along.
Like was said most OTR companys will not take local driving as experience
But having local delivery experience you will have a better chance getting that local delivery job then a OTR driver wanting to come off the road.
TR

Answer:
Hey Brickhead, I'm going through the exact same thing. I started a job at Snapple a month ago which is also beverages. I usually bust out 300 to 400 cases with 10 to 20 stops a day. When I saw your post I was shocked knowing I was'nt the only one going through this hell. I've dropped a good 25 pounds and my hands,feet and back hurt as I write this. I look at the Pepsi and Coke guys and realize they don't have any better.
Actually I'm realy screwed now because my options are more limited. I could definalty get a job at Sysco, Us foodservice, Pepsi or Coke But I realized that these guys only get good money because they have to bust their *** . Funny thing is I put in 1 and half years as a OTR driver b4 this job. I guess I was expecting a nice cushion job starting at 20 an hour but geez was I wrong.
If your lazy OTR is a great job ,believe me I miss it alot. The good side is that I bring home 700 to 800 a week . which was better than OTR cause I dont spend money when Im at home versus over the road. And OTR companys will always be there. Hope this helps