ISO Info On Driving A Reefer For Dollar General

Hi! I'm interviewing for a Dollar General Reefer position out of the Westville IN DC (it's a fresh/frozen only division) and am wondering if anyone has experience with driving directly for Dollar General? I know Werner and others have DG accounts but am wondering what it's like to be an actual Dollar General reefer driver?

I know it's driver unload but it's from a reefer so it's a little different than unloading the dry van. There's a lift gate and I'd be wheeling in 2-3 loaded carts per store, leaving them in the cooler, and wheeling out and collapsing the empty carts...

Thanks for your input!!

Angela how much experience do you have?

My reason for asking; most Dollar Stores are very tight maneuvering around, setting up and then backing into (usually no dock). Not something an entry level driver should be attempting. Often like “trying to put toothpaste back in the tube.”

Before you accept this; I’d ask what the territory is and randomly view a satellite image of several the places you’ll be delivering to.

I can’t speak to the physicality if this, but I hope you like and are proficient at backing.

Good luck!

Hi! I'm interviewing for a Dollar General Reefer position out of the Westville IN DC (it's a fresh/frozen only division) and am wondering if anyone has experience with driving directly for Dollar General? I know Werner and others have DG accounts but am wondering what it's like to be an actual Dollar General reefer driver?

I know it's driver unload but it's from a reefer so it's a little different than unloading the dry van. There's a lift gate and I'd be wheeling in 2-3 loaded carts per store, leaving them in the cooler, and wheeling out and collapsing the empty carts...

Thanks for your input!!

I do local P&D in the city. EVERY Dollar General I drive by I look at how I would get in and get back out with a sleeper and a 53ft trailer.

Then I say, "Nope. Not me."

I was a District Manager on the retail side at Family Dollar. I can tell you that what the others have said is true. The parking lots are small and busy. Most stores will be delivered through the front door. If there are docks, they’ll be EXTREMELY tight and usually require blocking off a Main Street to get in. Sometimes with your nose still hanging in traffic once you’re in the dock. Some of those poor drivers would take up to two hours just trying to get the truck into the lot. In some of my stores we had to have police directing traffic for every delivery.

There’s not enough money in the world to make me drive a dollar store account. I know people do it, and I’m sure some like it. but it’s not not for me. Way beyond my skill set and acceptable stress level.

Might have been an overly blunt answer but that’s my two cents.

I used to work at one before I became a driver. We had a regular driver come every week; knowing what he had to back into and out of and how he did it, I didn't realise how good of a driver he was at the time.

The DCs won't be a problem but Omgosh the backing at most of the stores would be a career killer unless you're very very good at backing into tight busy lots.

I'm on the DG Fresh, Berkeley,MO account. I can tell you, it's hard work, stressful, and tightest backing scenarios you're ever had. Them rolltainers full of milk, are over 1200 pounds, and that's when they don't try to overstack them like they do often. Them rolltainers are not meant for that much weight, nor are they meant for milk crates, that hang over one side. With them already being top heavy, be ready to get the heck outta the way when you hit the tiniest bump, Cause it's gonna roll over, hard. But the milk isn't the only hassle. It's the rolltainers in general. They never repair them, never stack them right, and they are just a pain to use. And then there's the frozen... It's not already on rolltainers or anything, and you don't have a lift gate for it. It's palletized pizza, ice cream, and whatever else. Pull out the ladder attached to the side door of the trailer, climb inside, find the pallet marked for the store your at, and then hand unload the boxes. Moving as much as possible close to the door, then down the stairs and load onto the ubolts, and push it inside. Repeat several times to get all product. Luckily we just push into the door and they take care of it from there. Typically there will be 5-15 stores per trailer load... Each stop varies in how much product they receive. Trailers can weigh close to maximum weight, and will sometimes even need the tandems to be slid all the way to rear just to be legal wieghts, so watch what states you go through like that, and as always, watch your tandems when turning and trying to get into these very tight stores. The next is the DC workers, and how they load the trailers... Common sense is a thing of the past, and these people prove it when loading trailers. Putting product in backwards, blocking the doors, not securing the bulk head, leaving straps loose, or not strapping things at all, and so on... That's my biggest daily struggle, is dealing with the mess the loaders leave me with. Oh, and they never have the load ready in time either. Also... Store managers. It doesn't matter if your on time or not, they gonna pitch a fit about you being there when you are. Your schedule, is never the same as there's, because Tennessee does all the scheduling, and by the time it gets to the driver, half the times are different or changed. And since you wasn't there exactly when they wanted you to be, your gonna hear about it. That doesn't matter if your too early, or too late. They think they live in a perfect world. But on the upside.. plenty of exercise, great pay(sometimes), in and out of cold and very cold temps(34 and -15)during the heat of spring and summer.

I'm on the DG Fresh, Berkeley,MO account. I can tell you, it's hard work, stressful, and tightest backing scenarios you're ever had. Them rolltainers full of milk, are over 1200 pounds, and that's when they don't try to overstack them like they do often. Them rolltainers are not meant for that much weight, nor are they meant for milk crates, that hang over one side. With them already being top heavy, be ready to get the heck outta the way when you hit the tiniest bump, Cause it's gonna roll over, hard. But the milk isn't the only hassle. It's the rolltainers in general. They never repair them, never stack them right, and they are just a pain to use. And then there's the frozen... It's not already on rolltainers or anything, and you don't have a lift gate for it. It's palletized pizza, ice cream, and whatever else. Pull out the ladder attached to the side door of the trailer, climb inside, find the pallet marked for the store your at, and then hand unload the boxes. Moving as much as possible close to the door, then down the stairs and load onto the ubolts, and push it inside. Repeat several times to get all product. Luckily we just push into the door and they take care of it from there. Typically there will be 5-15 stores per trailer load... Each stop varies in how much product they receive. Trailers can weigh close to maximum weight, and will sometimes even need the tandems to be slid all the way to rear just to be legal wieghts, so watch what states you go through like that, and as always, watch your tandems when turning and trying to get into these very tight stores. The next is the DC workers, and how they load the trailers... Common sense is a thing of the past, and these people prove it when loading trailers. Putting product in backwards, blocking the doors, not securing the bulk head, leaving straps loose, or not strapping things at all, and so on... That's my biggest daily struggle, is dealing with the mess the loaders leave me with. Oh, and they never have the load ready in time either. Also... Store managers. It doesn't matter if your on time or not, they gonna pitch a fit about you being there when you are. Your schedule, is never the same as there's, because Tennessee does all the scheduling, and by the time it gets to the driver, half the times are different or changed. And since you wasn't there exactly when they wanted you to be, your gonna hear about it. That doesn't matter if your too early, or too late. They think they live in a perfect world. But on the upside.. plenty of exercise, great pay(sometimes), in and out of cold and very cold temps(34 and -15)during the heat of spring and summer.

We may deliver a skid or two, or even just a box, to DG or FD, and they still ***** about what they are getting.

I am with Werner dg and helped out on the fresh account. I have talked to their actual drivers and they seem to be happy. Pay is about the same across the board. I think we may make a little bit more. They also seem to have more restrictions on where they can fuel and such but don’t quote me .

Fresh is a little less work than dry and you don’t have to deal with toppers. Also it’s not as hot in the summer.

There will be a lot more stops per day on the fresh account which can increase accidents. And from What I gather dry makes a bit more money than the refrigerated on this account.

Managers will Give you attitude because they have to stop what they are doing and stock refrigerated products immediately.

I will gross at least 74,000 on the dry account this year and I started on rookie pay. It’s profitable but you will earn every cent.

The warehouse and securement of load and bulkhead is an issue. Are you experienced or new?