route sales representative

merchandiser

shipping and receiving clerk

transport driver

route service merchandiser

Blue Bell Creameries

Were to begin. stay away from this company. been here 6 years and they only pay a flat salary that is around 350 bi weekly but they say by the time you add commission its worth it but wrong again. they start with only 3.5 percent for any under 14,500 but once you go over that 14500 your commission drops to 1.5 percent. You also do not get proper overtime. I work around 20hrs overtime and get only 150.00 for it. You only get promoted if they like you so its not based off experience or knowledge. I know because they promoted a guy that had only worked there 1year and admitted to cause a accident because the was trying to beat a light and hit someone from behind who stopped at the light and admitted to hating people who dates outside there race. they allow supervisors to yell at the drivers in stores and people in order to push them to quit but if you say anything to management there in Richmond, Va. they push in under the rug and then go after you harder. Also, if your a woman you will not get any respect with them and you will not make any money with them even if your running the offices. Plus, this company will no allow any type of paid leave if you have a baby but they allow you 3 weeks of leave but no pay. It was also said from someone who heard the management there say that they will not hire anyone with young children because they would take to much time off due to sickness or no school to be with their kids, and they said they would never hire anyone over the age of 50 for drivers position because it is to much of a risk and would simply through away that persons application or loose it. Also, if you get hurt with them and are unable to return to work they give you about 6mths to maybe a year on workers comp and then they fire that person. Its a privately owned company that treats anyone they do not like unfairly or garbage and if you mention anything about a union they send out emails to be posted around all offices that they will come in and shut that branch down and fire everyone. So, if your in a interracial relationship or believe differently than them or a woman who is looking to have children stay far away from this company.

What is the best part of working at the company?
I have worked for Blue Bell for 40 years. They are a  fair and wonderful company to work for. I will be retiring very soon and have enjoyed my whole 40 years. Their wages are fair because they have a pension plan and other company funded benefit’s which make Your income on the front end of your job good . This way like myself you still have an income at the tail end of your job when you retire. The room for advancement in your career is totally dependent upon your own abilities. The company strives to do the best they can do with the equipment they provide. Their maintenance program is top-notch. Their open door policy is legit. Lastly, they truly do try to keep  the company like family. There are many people in the company. I will truly miss and will keep in touch with.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
The most stressful part of the company it’s like any job. You have to work hard when it demands. We start early hours and sometimes work long hours.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
They strive to keep a family atmosphere. But like any job, there is no perfect job. But the company will listen at the issues.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Depending on your route and company position you may start your day at between 4 and 5 AM. You have a list of stores for each day that you deliver to. You merchandise the store to see what they need. You go to your truck and pull the order and bring it into the store to get checked in. Do you then put the product in the shelf. Then you go to the next account and the process starts over.

Route Driver - Began working as a route delivery driver.  Long hours competitive pay.  Not much time for family as you wake up at 3 am and sometimes do not finish until 4 or 5 pm in the afternoon.  Exhausted and ready for bed by the time you get home.  Split days off which is needed since doing that 5 days in a row could be taxing on the body and mind.  However working Saturdays puts a damper on family life.

Tough position for a family person.

- Supervisor - Was promoted to Supervisor and I thought being a driver was taxing on the body and family.  Supervisors do everything a driver does and then some.  Benefit is an occasional odd job to mix up your routine and also getting paid hourly is nice.  Even longer hours than a driver so no breaks in family life here.  Split days as well.

Tough position for a family person.

- Territory Manager - Was promoted to Territory Manager which was a lifestyle change for sure.  Traded in my steel toes for dress shoes and my company shirt and hat for slacks and a tie.  Monday - Friday schedule for the most part except when they ran big ads and had to merchandise for free on weekends (Salaried position).  It was worth it though.  Much less stress better hours and flexiblilty and even got to travel every year to the corporate office for an annual sales meeting.
They even let you take home a company car which is very nice.
Not much of a pay increase but with the perks you get you come out on top.

 Great position for family person.

They do work with you for school functions, sick kids, or emergencies. And the people I work with directly are great. But there is little or no room to grow, transferring is offered to some(upon your managers discretion and they can refuse), NO internal job postings, they expect you to keep your head down and mouth shut(they don't want any input), you are ONLY a number, and they praise offering insurance to their employees (which is well and good, but they will argue any point to not pay for every day things or surgeries). They don't seem to care how many great employees they run off during to internal politics or lack of effort to work with folks. But it is wonderful they are following the CDC guidelines to a T. So anyone that doesn't have the shot HAS to wear a mask while vaccinated folks don't.  I feel they care for my personal health, because they are punishing those that don't want to get the shot. 

They could do more in ways of appreciating their employees with get togethers, an occasional lunch, being recognized or something. Those were done before for the office folks(and I know ..Covid). But appreciation seems to be the last thing on anyone's mind. There is only time to work and that's all. It isn't extended to the plant side of things. 

Typical Day At Work - We start between 3-5am. The days are anywhere from 8-13 hours, average is probably around 11. 47-54 hours per week. It’s pretty simple work. Just delivering, selling and stocking ice cream. Loading your truck and doing end of day paperwork. Sundays and Wednesdays off, Saturday is a short day. Can be physically taxing, especially during busy times like summer. The pay is decent but not incredible. A route here will bring a little over $60k per year.
Management - Here at the Lubbock transfer station and the West Texas branch as a whole I’d say we have good management. They trust you with your work and give you independence. Honesty goes a long way. They give credit where it’s due and will notice your good work. It does feel like a family to an extent. The RSR position is not micromanaged at all.
Workplace Culture - It’s more laid back than other jobs I have had. Majority of my co-workers and I enjoy showing up everyday. Everyone gets along well.
Hardest Part of the Job - The physical labor and some days can be stressful if you get behind or have a set back. The truck is -20 degrees. It’s very cold.
Most Enjoyable Part of the Job - Driving all day on my own. You spend most of your time out at stores by yourself. A fair amount of the days are pretty easy once you get a routine down. It’s dedicated routes. Everyday and every week is the exact same driving route and the same stores. It’s consistent. Your start times are the same each week. 

What is the best part of working at the company?
Not much,  but I guess the best part was being out driving around town and not stuck in a warehouse for the entire day. 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
The trainer stressed me out.  The time constraints for delivering the product was difficult. No lunch, no breaks, just keep on working non stop. 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Warehouse guys were really nice.  A couple of the office people were very nice.  
But the job itself was extremely physical and they have no mercy for the new hire. 
Go as fast as you can.  Speed...

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Get to work at 3:45 am, do a pre trip on the truck, drive to each stop and go in and rerange the ice cream on the shelves,  check the back stock, load the cart with product from the truck bring it in, check it in with receiving, and then stock the shelves and back stock if needed. Do that 10 to 12 times in about 6 to 7 hours. Then on certain days you go back to the warehouse and sweep the freezer plates off inside of the back of the truck, and stock the truck with more product for the next day,  get fuel in the truck, and plug the truck freezer in.  
Hurry as fast as you can with everything.  
Some days my trainer didn't even let me get my full 8 hours in.  Training is hourly and not much above a fast food workers pay for training.  You work extremely hard for that fairly small check. 
The whole day the trainer tells you how you're not going fast enough.  Basically making you feel like shiz all day long.

My day begins with reviewing the previous days load sheets and DVIR's. I then monitor the underground fuel storage tanks and record the readings. Once that is completed, I see what PM's are due and schedule the trucks for their routine maintenance and order any necessary parts if needed. I then go over that days load sheets to check for product outages. I order my next load of product and check driver's load orders as their trucks are being loaded. I will also do any minor repairs to the trucks if needed.

I have learned through the years how to streamline the loading process to get each driver in and out in a timely manner and how to troubleshoot truck repairs.

The management at Blue Bell, which includes all personnel of shipping/dock workers, drivers, Route Supervisors and Territory Managers work together to reinforce and insure each load of product leaving the branch reaches its destination on time and in excellent condition.

I enjoy all aspects of my job and have established a good working relationship with many truck repair shops in and around Central Texas. The hardest part of my job would be to leave the company which has been very beneficial to me and my family for the past 26 years. I have maintained the position of Shipping Manager since my date of hire with no job advancement and I am now eligible to apply for early retirement. I am still very active and would like to begin to use my past experience and knowledge in another company.

Been at this company for 20 years and pay is still way to low to live on nowadays for how much they ask of the drivers. My job is sell ice cream which I like doing but the management only favorite the people who are lazy especially our supervisors. Management doesn’t help the drivers at all. In fact they look down on drivers and treat us like kids in preschool with no trust. The management team here tells people we can’t help or make it easy on the driver at all. So no help from anywhere!!!!Then the worst part of this job is that they make us load and defrost our trucks every 8 weeks  after running your route all day; used to be every 6 and you had to come in on your off days. Our job is to sell ice cream as a sales representative not load and swap trucks all the time and god forbid the truck break down or compressor breaks then you got to swap your truck extra for the same pay. Blue bell needs to hire people to load and swap trucks instead of making drivers do it after they have been selling and running a route all day. I wouldn’t complain about it if we got paid fairly like atleast give the drivers $35 an hour and that isn’t asking for much considering how expensive the world is right now and supporting your family. Please help us!!! Please I beg you help the drivers because we are barely surviving. I’m speaking for all our drivers when I say this!!! WE NEED BRENHAMS TEXAS TO HELP US!!! 

An ordinary day. Wake up at 2:30am, be at work at 4:00am. I like to be the first guy there being a supervisor, I feel its necessary to get in and make sure all my guys have exactly what they need. I am on call at all times to run routes out of Sylacauga or Birmingham. If everyone is at work then I can get out in the field and talk to customers, try to gain customers, also evaluate the drivers and customers. I have to keep a very close eye on inventory control. So, a random inventory is done once a week. By me. I have a great group of guys. They are generally easy to manage. I will sometimes ride along with them, just help them out a little. I have learned so much over the last 13 years of being in sales and warehouse (loading/unloading). The importance of being dependable, the importance of customer service and satisfaction. Upper management has always been very thorough and goal oriented. Again, great group of guys there too. The hardest part of the job to me was getting the 4:00am call to drive an hour to Birmingham and run an area that I am unfamiliar with. When the route is suppose to start at 4:00am. I'm based in Sylacauga, live in Talladega. What I enjoyed the most was dealing with customers and getting our brand out there. I have always liked my job. I have recently given myself to The Lord and I have two wonderful children. Married. I would love to become part of your companies team, I believe I could be a great addition.

My bosses are great people that care about their employees like family. I may not agree with every decision that gets made, but I have no doubts that they are trying to do what they think is right. The pay could be better starting out and I wish there was a shift differential for the harder shifts, but the raises are good and the benefits are great. My two main issues are that it is not an easy place to advance and the culture in my department is not ideal. Regarding advancement, management positions pay pretty well and are genuinely good jobs, so those individuals typically stay until retirement leaving little room for advancement. Regarding culture, I wish they would implement a better system for garnering employee feedback. In my experience, managers do truly care about your opinion, even if they do not or can not act on it, however not everyone is comfortable going into a managers office and saying how they think things should be different. More could be done to address the bad attitudes and negativity. My advice for someone who is going to work here is, get comfortable with speaking to your manager and do not listen to the negativity you may here from others who aren't brave enough to. They will care what you have to say.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Route sales representative 106 salaries reported	$59,844 per year
Merchandiser 36 salaries reported	$17.49 per hour
Shipping and receiving clerk 12 salaries reported	$15.71 per hour
Transport driver 2 salaries reported	$62,500 per year
Route service merchandiser 3 salaries reported	$17.67 per hour

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