dairymens

[newbie2828]

just wondering has anyone on here ever drove for dairymens?

if so how were they to work for?

also what is a good hourly rate for driving a semi?

i have about 6 months experience and am currently working for a smaller local bakery driving a semi for them for 4 days a week.i am their only semi driver.i am paid $18 an hour--salary 30 hours a week and the job takes me anywhere from 25 -27 hours a week and i still get paid for 30.everyday i work i make 1 run a day to the local schwebels bakery and deliver pita bread from our company to them.i only drive 45 minutes there 45 minutes back.the rest of my time is spent loading and unloading the trailer and distributing product per dock as needed.

the hours i work are from 5 a.m. to noon at the very latest depending on the day.my biggest thing with the company is that they are not very organized and dont seem to have thier stuff together if u know what i mean.the semi i drive is not the greatest and not very well maintained.it is leased through ryder so any maintenance has to be done through ryder.i can get benefits through them but probably not very good.one good thing is no log books cause within a 50 mile air-radius.

i told the company im at now that i was thinking about quiting cause of them only being able to give me 30 hours a week and they offered me another run with a smaller box truck they have for about another 5 hours a week.

i like the hours and hourly pay at the place now but the only 30 hours a week and disorganization on their part makes me wanna go elsewhere.

well to try and make a long story short dairymens offered me a job driving for them but for the first 4 weeks id have to be with someone else and make only $11.20 an hour while with them.

after that starting pay would be $15.90 an hour and after the first year $17.88 an hour.dairymens drivers are all union.they get good benefits--retirement plan. all their equipment seems very well maintained.guaranteed at least a minimum 40 hours a week probably more like 50.

the thing is is they cant give me any guarantees what runs i will have.they said for prolly at least the first year i wont have my own run i will just be bouncing around.so i could be going to like pittsburgh, columbus,west virginia possibly.if any of those they pay for u to stay in a hotel overnight and give u so much money for food allowance so u can be there the next day for your runs there again and not have to drive back.i believe all their runs involve unloading the trailers at like gas stations and such that carry their product.which isnt very easy i guess.but i dont think id have a problem with that im a pretty big guy at about 6 foot 2--270 pounds.a little overweight so maybe could use that excercise.lol. i am gonna be 29 this month and think i need to find a place and stick with it for possible retirement in the future.

well i got out of over the road and am trying to stay local cause when i was over the road for my 4 month stint id come home and my kid wouldnt want much to do with me and really still doesnt--mom has to do everything for him now.he is only 2.

i guess i am pretty much looking for some opinions on here from u great people on what u all think the best road to take would be and get some possible thoughts on dairymens.and how much is a good hourly rate for driving.then i can make a better decision from there. thanks all.

[The_Governor]

I dont know anything about the company but for 6 months experience that sounds like a pretty good local gig.

[Uturn2001]

also what is a good hourly rate for driving a semi?

A local tractor trailer job should pay at least what the average pay is for area factory work at the minimum.

[LSMR]

I dont know anything about the company but for 6 months experience that sounds like a pretty good local gig.

I have to agree it sounds like a pretty decent job.If you can survive with the temporary cut in pay you should really think about taking this job.For questions about being a union driver I would suggest checking out "the union house" board on this site.

Good luck to you :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:

[nitestar]

I know a couple guys that used to work for them.
One thing is you more than likely will be picking up at the FARMS.
If you do that you will have to worry about the clock as cows milk on the clock. can't pu if the milking isn't done. Got to get it done so the evening shift to be milked is ready for you .
You will have to learn the ins and outs of that and in the rainy season it just nuts.
find out if you have to be responsible for cleaning the wagon or not.
IF so where and when? do you get paid for it or is it (part of the plan)?

Your days will be LONG.

The longivity is not there from what I know of them. High turnover rate.

How ever, if you are looking for a challange , this is right up your alley.

It sounds like your part time job is a good one. I would think of just another PT to fill in the hours and it gives you a chance to look around with out changing co's or hurting your self financially.

I am not trying to steer you away as it has been several years since I had anything to do with them.
Just seeing if I can give you something to look for or at.

[newbie2828]

this all is driving a semi with a refrigerated trailer.all the products are preloaded by the time i come in.i would be going to like grocery stores and gas stations and such delivering dairymens products to them by way of me unloading product at each place per what and how much they request.the trucks they have that might have to be driven is anything from a straight truck all the way up to a semi with 48 foot trailer.