correspondent

truck driver

customer service representative

clerk

caller

BWI Companies, Inc.

I worked here briefly, maybe for about 6 to 8 months. In my time working at BWI I learned that the Warehouse Manager and the Warehouse Supervisor we're playing favoritism towards certain individuals on the team. It's very hot in the warehouse, and they have no form of air conditioning to keep their employees cool during the summer months. After working in the heat all day, one will naturally become sweaty and the management will use this as an excuse to claim that you aren't maintaining good hygiene. They will use this as a scare tactic, and tell you that you could lose your job over this. I experienced this and they proceeded to question my home life with rude, personal questions like "Do you ever shower", or "Do you wash your clothes". They threatened my job and tried to humiliate me in front of the other employees, who we're just as sweaty as me, however some of these employees we're good friends of theirs, therefore they never got the same unfair treatment as I did. Also, they put in very little effort to train their new hires, and expect them to keep up with the seasoned employees. The equipment we were expected to perform our duties with were old, beaten up and barely worked half of the time. 

The work itself is difficult, but when they had an entire crew there is was bearable. When I first started on night shift, there was around a 15 man crew. By the time I left, there were 6. Now there’s less than 5. Turnover rates are the worst I have ever experienced and it’s almost 100% due to poor management (more specifically the warehouse supervisor). Shifts exceeding 15 hours, working on railcars no matter the temp or weather, the company doesn’t care at all about employee health or their life outside of work. In 2020, we worked an entire shift in the dark when the power was knocked out, and were still forced to drive forklifts and pallet jacks in the pitch black warehouse. You’re constantly asked to climb up rusted racks and stack thousands of pounds of product, and they’ve only recently started implementing harnesses. Overall, management has ran that place into the ground and I do not see it getting better until management has changed.

This place has a constantly swinging door with a continuous supply of temporary workers that are readily replaceable in the eyes of management. The "good ole boy" system is hard at work, at least at the Memphis location. There are unethical business practice, unsafe work practices, and a general disregard for employee well-being. The management applies the rules and regulations as they see fit, ignoring them most of the time and honoring them when it is convenient. They micro-manage everything, and the first-line supervisors are extremely unprepared, unprofessional, and incompetent. The managers never take any responsibility for anything, and they are incapable of addressing issues until things are bad. The only redeeming quality this place has is that they guarantee 40 hours and sometimes the workload is very light. Other than that, stay away. They want only low-ambition, unskilled, and gullible workers.

Hired on as a transportation coordinator/driver. Went thru 2 transportation managers in 6 months. Decided to take the role myself. Got very little training on what Corporate expected so I was left to my own devices for a lot of my management decisions. I received my leadership training in the military and when my maintenance team and drivers started committing appalling amounts of DOT violations I was labeled the bad guy for writing employees up and trying to train them back to the path of safe and legal operations. Division manager valued the opinion of the drivers over my experience and knowledge of DOT regulations.
So 3 Transportation Managers in a year that I worked there.

With inside sales the day varied from day to day. We never knew what would walk in the door. I did alot of research comparing chemicals, and benefits of different vendors. Overcoming a male dominated work enviornment gaining the respect of colleagues was the most challenging and rewarding. I had to learn the seasons and remind the dealers what they would need for the next season. I was able to bring value to make sure the dealers were aware all promotions saving as possible. I was also a liasion between the ouside sale force and inside office. We put many new procedures in place.

Although the starting pay is $10 per hour for day shift and $12 for night shift, it's not enough to live on. The pay is better than some alternate employers in the area, such as restaurant and fast food chains... but for the amount of work done(especially on the night shifts) you would expect better pay. Work/Life balance is poor. 10-14 hours a night, depending on the season. Some of the work is "not safe" as the warehouse is clearly not up to OSHA codes. Safety is a secondary when is comes to working on Rail Cars.

I worked in a division of BWI, where the location manager is does not lead well.  The atmosphere in the office is heavy and very low morale amongst the team members when the manager is in the office. If you like to be micro managed, work in this office..if not, work at another location if possible.  Lots of turnover in this role and office.  The company  overall is great, good benefits, corporate employees and employees in general are super helpful. The have the entire company a holiday bonus which was really cool.  Recommend the company, just not really the one location. 

Many team members have long careers at BWI. Not just 20, but 30 and even 40 years. That says a lot.

BWI is the industry leader, successful and loved by their customers. 

The entrepreneurial spirit permeates the company from the corporate offices to the load crew. Working for BWI will be the greatest opportunity of your working life, if you apply yourself to challenge! I started in the warehouse, and worked my way up. I believe those kinds of opportunities still exist at BWI. 

You are told you will work a certain number of days, with a limited amount of hours if you are hired onto night shift. THAT IS NOT TRUE. Immediately after being hired into nights and being told you would work, 4 days a week with ten hour days, that quickly turned to 5 days a week, and 14-16 hour days minimum. Every day, every week. Management says they are trying to hire more workers but they make no effort in doing so, and then it is put on the employees fault that they can not hire anyone. It is a horrible place to work, and management has no idea how to run anything.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Nothing they mad the trucks out with alot of stops and expect you to get them all off

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Pallets be double stack and they fall over and you have to restack the product

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
It would be a ok job if you got paid weekly 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
12 hours everyday I promise and if you don't have a load for that day you don't get paid anything

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Correspondent 3 salaries reported	$29.00 per hour
Truck driver 1 salary reported	$80,000 per year
Customer service representative 1 salary reported	$16.31 per hour
Clerk 1 salary reported	$14.74 per hour
Caller 1 salary reported	$42.50 per hour

Working at BWI Companies, Inc.: Company Overview and Reviews

BWI Companies, Inc.

BWI Companies, Inc. Ratings

Popular jobs at BWI Companies, Inc.

Salary Satisfaction

Job Seeker Tools

Employer Tools

Browse

Stay Connected