Delivering To Grocery Stores

Rob when I look at them maps all I see is a big bowl of gravy. Your a lucky man.

Rob when I look at them maps all I see is a big bowl of gravy. Your a lucky man.

Very gravy. Yesterday i had one of the few runs we have that is on 2 lane roads, but it was only 20 miles each way. Otherwise I'd say 95% of the time I'm on the Interstate. Many of our docks are able to setup for a straight back or slight offset, especially the new stores they're building. Hyvee actually also owns a construction company that designs and builds these new stores and they do a good job at making them truck friendly. Most of our difficult backs come at backhauls or the older stores we have.

I made a few vendors upset yesterday. The produce truck was getting ready to pull out of the dock so I pulled in front of the 3 trucks waiting and hit that dock. We're told to do that and vendors all know we have priority but it still feels odd. I usually ask them how much they're taking off, if it's only a pallet or 2 I'll let them get them off quickly then they'll move the truck before checking it in however it was the milk and they tend to take forever so I said screw it.

Today i took a 420 mile run to Mankato MN. Left at 1130pm and could have possibly made it back before needing to take my DOT break but no reason to risk a violation if I got plenty of time and breaks paid. I'll be clocked out by 8am and still have most of the day to spend with the family. Ain't gonna lie, driving overnight sucks. Nearly hit 3 deer throughout the night, just a matter of time before it happens.

Figured I'd make another update as I have plenty of time today. Today (monday) is my Friday so I figured I'd take a pretty easy route to get me home early. Well i thought wrong haha! I took a 2 trailer relatively local load starting at 11pm. First trailer was to stores in Marshalltown and Cedar Falls both docks were super easy, pull around the building and setup for a nearly straight back. Both stores also had everything go into coolers on the dock so it only took half hour at each store.

this load was 230 miles. Next I needed to grab another trailer and go deliver contract freight. My paperwork, as well as when I bid this route said I'd have 12 pallets to deliver so imagine the surprise when I opened it to find only 1 pallet. I went inside to talk to shipping office and they informed me rest of product hasn't made it to us yet so take the 1 pallet, as the Shag driver already questioned them about it. This load was 30 miles away in Norwalk Iowa, just south of des Moines. This dock was more of a challenge than many of our stores but still not bad

. I hit the dock to the left of where I'm parked. I'm now hooked to trailer on the right side as they rent a trailer from us to use as additional storage and fuel is under 1/4 so I am leaving my trailer that was full of fuel. I've been sitting here for about an hour and a half waiting on 3 pallets I'm picking up. I called dispatch immediately when I was told they're having computer issues so it'll be a while. They asked if it's my last thing for the day and how my hours look (had 5 hours with an additional 2 if I use my 16, takes 35 minutes to get back) then asked me to stay put for a couple hours and give them a call back. Waiting sucks but atleast I'm being paid and it could be worse, I could still be 2-wheeling in this 90 degree heat. I volunteered to work July 4th. Figured we wouldn't be doing anything anyways so i may as well make the overtime wage ($45 hr) as holidays are only time we get OT pay. I've been trying to work a 5th day as much as possible so it'd be dumb to work Tuesday instead of Thursday if I dont have plans anyways.

Last week I had another Interesting backhaul. Delivered to stores in Owatonna and Fairbault just off I35 in southern MN. I then picked up a backhaul in Fairbault. I snapped a couple pics before I hit the dock.

I didnt have the most space to maneuver

i was afraid of going into the river but seeing the tire tracks and following those helped put my mind at ease about the pole or going over the bank and I got into the dock without hitting anything.

I've had some situations I've found myself in that have been a challenge maneuvering a 53' trailer when I pulled a 28' but I've gotten through them safely. The backing mechanics are obviously the same but it takes more time for this trailer to react than what I had been accustomed to. The brightside of everything we do being based on seniority (despite not being union) is I'm slowly moving my way up. I currently have 5 drivers below me, and they're hiring a couple more as well as sending 2 warehouse guys through school so I'll have a couple more routes to pick from.

I shared these in a different thread but I'll post them here as well. I ran out to Lincoln NE a couple weeks ago and snapped this before heading into the store to the west.

when I came out 20 minutes later it was beautiful to the east

naturally right after I snapped that pic and walked to truck it started down pouring.

On Monday I was planning on taking the shortest route due to having plans. Fortunately "short" routes were all that were left when it was my turn to pick. I took a Marshalltown and Cedar Rapids run, and clean up the cedar rapids store. I clocked in at 1230am and could have made it all the way back to the yard in just over 7 hours but decided to take my hour break as its paid anyways, why throw away easy money! By the time I clocked out id put in about 8 and a half hours and drove 260 miles.

Most of what i have shared is company specific but I hope that this post will shed light if anyone happens to be interested in this company. I mentioned previously when I received my first full quarterly bonus check I'd post the results. We received a text message from our VP that said "bonus 9.65%. Last year was 7.9. Great job! Thanks". That means that every employee eligible (more than 20 hours a week, employed for 60+ days) received 9.65% of their quarterly earnings. I believe the bonus is rare in any job but we receive one due to us being "employee owned ". My bonus amount was around $1900 GROSS, take home after taxes and 401k was $1175. I started January 21st and according to my paycheck today (paid every Wednesday, today is July 10th) I have made $39937 working primarily 4 days a week (I've worked additional days maybe 8 times) 50 hours a week. If my pay continues the way it has up to this point I should be around $85,000. I'm VERY satisfied where I'm at and see myself making a career there. I dont consider myself to be a top tier driver but due to my hourly rate am able to be paid like one. Top tier drivers can make that kind of money at nearly any company so dont think what I'm making is impossible unless you work where I do. However being paid by the mile requires you to perform at a higher level which is why its recommended to stay at your company for atleast a couple years so you can learn how things are done there. As this site is geared mainly towards those getting started, If this type of driving job interests you get your year of OTR driving in then look at opportunities in your area. We don't require a year, just "some tractor/trailer experience" but you will be in a much better position if you have a year. Most of our stores are easy to hit the dock but quite a few backhauls get pretty hairy. I'm anxiously waiting for my opportunity to pickup in the caves in Independence Missouri.

None of what I've said is an attempt to recruit, or get referral bonuses I just genuinely love my job and the company I work for. I also enjoy showing other sides of trucking that aren't OTR as many people aren't able to handle the challenges of being away from home so frequently. I give credit to all those drivers and their families who are able to make it work.

Great updates as usual!!

I would've worked on Independence day if I was allowed to. But only drivers were allowed to sign up. I'll get them next year. The seniority thing is new to me, but things move so fast here that there are already 10 guys under me with more coming in. I don't know what that means, but as soon as I do, I'll let you know. I enjoy your updates, keep them coming.

How much of the Waterloo to Marshalltown is 4 lane and how much is 2 lane with stop light or stop signs. I ask because I have to go from Shell Rock to either Altoona or Des Moines every once in a while and usually I take 20 over to I35 then south. Would your route be faster since I have no stops along the way or do you think going over to I35 better.

Highway 20 is 4 lane from atleast sioux city to Waterloo, maybe even dubuque. Marshalltown is on highway 30 and its 2 lane for about 50 miles from Tama to cedar rapids

Sorry I quickly replied to other post and didnt exactly answer the question. The route I took from marshalltown to Waterloo was mainly 2 lane country roads until i got to Highway 20 in Grundy center west of Waterloo. Taking 20 to i35 is likely quicker even if you take 65 which runs diagonal straight to altoona due to lower speed limit.

I enjoy taking long routes whenever possible because I get my hours in without sitting at several backhauls usually. For today i took a 608 mile run to Sioux City IA and Sioux Falls SD with 2 backhauls in SF. I was making great time until I ended up sitting for 4 hours at my first backhaul. We're told to call dispatch after 1 hour of waiting and they'll tell us to pull plug or wait for it. I made the mistake of not calling because everytime I went in to check on it I was told "almost ready, picking the last pallet", then dispatch called after 3 hours and the shipper said they'd be loading me in 30 minutes. They put the first pallet in within 30 minutes but waited another hour after that before I was finally loaded with my 17 pallets that were supposed to only be 12. They thankfully had "chimney stacked" the load, where they'll run one sideways and other straight in then alternate it so i could get 28 pallets in rather than 24. Turns out my other backhaul had 13 pallets rather than the 11 I planned on. Both backhauls were same company different location so they ended up unloading entire trailer and turning everything sideways to fit 30 pallets. By the time I was done with that backhaul I had 57 minutes left on my 14 hr clock so getting home wasnt an option. I found a Flying J truckstop on the north side of sioux falls which worked out great because I needed to scale and I'd been sent out in a sleeper cab today so I found a spot to sit for 10 hours. I informed dispatch I'd be laying over as required then called later to tell them where and what time I'd be back in Des Moines to run tomorrow's route as I'm scheduled to work tomorrow. The "latest" route we had was leaving at 230am and I'm not expected back until about 530am. The dispatcher told me come back as soon as my 10 hour break is up (midnight) and take the rest of the day off or do a couple drop at hooks at another one of our companies. Our chain has another subsidiary that specializes in health and wellness products and because of our proximity and lack of product that goes out it's more efficient for us to deliver it so we have probably 7 loads daily that we pickup and take back to our yard to deliver with our product. Round trip is 15 miles and takes about an hour for each run. I'm undecided yet what I'll do as I'll have plenty of hours for the week (48 or so ) plus about $300 for a vacation day i took for a total of $1700 for 3 and half days of work plus the vacation day. At the same time dispatch could have still had me run a load tomorrow which would likely result in another layover so it's only right that I help them as they helped me. I find it amazing how much more "free time" an OTR driver has for their 10 hour break. I've been accustomed to running off with my head cut off during my 10 hour break needing to do a ton of stuff . I was able to enjoy a meal at Dennys, talk to the wife and kids on the phone and only 2 hours went by. I love my job and dont plan on making any changes but this is nice and relaxing actually having my 10 hour break to rest and relax. Not dealing with the stress of finding a hotel with truck parking is also awesome.