How To Get Into Food Service
Topic 34251 | Page 1
I’m not sure about US foods but PFG requires a minimum of one year experience, Sysco may have been 6 months. Not really starter companies for someone without a CDL or experience. PFG does have driver training programs but that’s for current employees which would require you to start in the warehouse or similar position.
I want a career change, how do I get a job driving for us foods or Cysco? Do I get my cdl on my own then apply?
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
McLane has two divisions, restaurant and retail. I know McLane both hires drivers and can train their own people. At one McLane location I trained four individually that were hired specifically to be drivers, but weren't when they were hired.
But getting CDL training from a food service company is a cr@p shoot. The bigger gamble would be to get your own CDL from a school then look for that job.
The safest way for you is to hire on to an OTR company that will train you, work out that contract (1 year or so) then knock on US Food's door.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
I heard that Sygma (a Sysco company) trains new drivers or they did in the past. I have no idea if this is accurate information, but it might be worth a phone call.
Just a heads up. Youll have to get in some pretty tight spots with food service. Some deliveries are even to houses in housing developments
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I want a career change, how do I get a job driving for us foods or Cysco? Do I get my cdl on my own then apply?
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles: