Any Coke guys here? Just got hired as a bulk driver..

Usually the more you are at a stop, the easier it is to establish and maintain decent working relationships with the receivers. It is a lot tougher if you aren't there on a regular basis.
Doing LTL, we had a very few deliveries at Walmart stores, and some grocery stores. When you are only in there once a month, or even less, you can't really establish much of a rapport with them.

Don't know how big your stores are, but I've seen soda drivers who basically service just one or two big customers! Can't imagine a more boring job than that would be.

 

And once again, the sheer diversity of this industry, means that there is something for just about everyone. I'm just not sure I would have been suited for that type of job. I always wanted lots of "windshield time!".
Being able to be home every night, and still have that windshield time was what made my last job so attractive to me. Also all the variables involved. We didn't have bid routes. And we had diversity in what we pulled. It was all dry van, but could be anything from a pup, to longboxes or sets. Some days I'd find myself in the mountains, some days in the desert. And most days were a combination of town and rural. It was a nice mix, at least to my way of thinking.

 

I got hired by coke but bailed before orientation. Sounded like a good job. Union benefits.
What's the name of the company?
Probably Coca Cola Refreshments or CC Bottling Company etc...
That'll give you more accurate information.

 

The way I understood from my interview was you get a region. Might be 100 miles away, you'll drive there, service the stores in your region, then drive back. So a good drive at the beginning and end of your day with a lot of other crap in the middle.

 

Ive been a Coke guy for the past ten years. Started as a merchandiser and Ive been an OFS/Rapid delivery driver for the past 5 years but I've done a little bit of everything. By far bulk is the easiest position to work and in my area was typically the end point for most of the older guys nearing retirement. If you are in an area with high volume its a pretty steady job.

Most stores get deliveries 2-3 times a week so you might run the same route every other day or so. The trucks are typically loaded so you are in the same area all day so it might be a long run out and back everyday with short runs between stops. It all depends on the size and density of the territory your branch covers. You might have 10 stops or 2 stops depending on the size of the orders. You might take out a 2 stop truck close to the plant and then reload a few more stops. Because of the nature of the game you might have really short days or you might have really long days and getting hourly pay can make or break you.

There are so many companies within Coke that its hard to say about how they pay overtime. Consolidated is an independent company, I work for the corporate company CCR, almost every branch is different. Some are union and some aren't. There are pros and cons to this, The pay is great and Teamsters benefits are some of the best in the country (despite the fact that our retirement is rapidly disappearing.) However if you work in an area with low turnover you will be working the crap routes nobody wants until the old guys retire.

As far as dealing with receivers, every store has different policies, don't assume anything. Let them know you are new and ask them how they like things done almost as soon as you get in the door. Even receivers in the same company at different stores do things differently. Kiss their behinds until you get a routine established with them. Apologize if you do anything they don't like. Ask permission if you feel unsure about something like opening an overhead or where to park pallets. PICK UP YOUR EMPTIES. Not picking up empties will drive receivers and the next driver nuts. Having to go back to the same store every other day to a receiver who doesn't like you is brutal. DON'T try buying one coffee or anything like that unless you are 100% sure that they are cool with that and don't have any company policies regarding bribes. I had a Wal-Mart receiver who I really got along with great, bought them coffee one time and nearly got kicked out of the store. And yes these places can kick you out if you are a jerk or constantly screw up or violate their policies.

Talk to other drivers, both Coke, Pepsi, and the beer guys. Most of them will tip you off to which receivers are jerks, who does what as far as check in procedures, who will let you take shortcuts and who goes by the book. You can also coordinate with other drivers so you aren't waiting on docks all day, maybe you can skip a stop and go to another so you aren't running into the Pepsi guy at the next store or vice versa. Learn when to wait in line and when to run to the next store when there is a line. Keep in mind that by the time you get back, the line might actually be longer. Most guys fall into a routine and it pays to learn the routine of others.

That's all I've got for now. Closing remarks: Stay in Bulk, Sideloader/OFS/Rapid delivery are nothing but heartache.

 

Very good first post! Paddock is right on point with his response. I was a driver with Pepsi for 20 years and I was at least another 10 years away from even the possibility of getting a permanent bulk delivery route. You should feel lucky that you could hire right into that job. Like Paddock said it is basically a retirement job in the beverage business. I would make sure this is an actual bulk and not a "mini" bulk position. They are similar trucks, but the mini bulk guys usually have to wheel and merchandise the product. Good luck!