yard specialist

delivery specialist

recruiting specialist

kitchen designer

home assistant

Carter-Lumber

This review is for the Carter Lumber location at 870 S Main Street in Chambersburg, not the lumberyard on 316/Wayne Ave.

That's right, you'll be stuck here. Pretty monotonous job, load trucks the day before, deliver it the next, load it when you get back (that's if you're not getting back late in the afternoon). I had a pretty short stint here, but I already knew some of the employees from prior jobs and got to know some of the other ones who all are pretty much miserable because of the management and no growth potential. If you want to move up in the company you need to have family in a management position. Other than that there is no growth opportunities. The other drivers have been there almost a year and were told they will not get be getting any raises. The management team pretty much stays in the office all day and will only come out to scream at you or complain about something you did wrong but will never tell you what you did right. If you get back from your route early you'll be expected to sweep floors or rake stones from the parking lot, and if you don't do it, well you better bet management will hear about it because of the nepotism that runs rampant in there. I've talked to other employees at other Carter locations that said they all get monthly bonuses from day one.

Research discrepancies daily with purchase orders against invoices from vendors (A/P matching), research negative on hand report, identify future sales against current inventory and working with management in generating orders accordingly (track selling trends and anticipate fluctuation in demand). Monitor inner-store transfers, and pair purchase orders with cost confirmation from vendor. Verify inbound freight’s POD against purchase order. Tag non-stock product with “unique ID” identifier and assign a location to place product. Receive product into system, consistent activity of filing paperwork. Work closely with corporate A/P department researching inventory and ledger discrepancies. 
     This company lacks a “team” attitude. From the individual employees to management, and all the way to the corporate office is concerned with how does the outcome effect “me” rather than the company as a whole.
     The hardest part of job is seeing the potential for this location to become more profitable but the management team is short sided, (not getting the right people on the bus and in the proper seats).
     The most enjoyable part of job is knowing what I do has an big impact on helping the company’s profitability.

Outstanding staff. Very knowledgeable and respectable people who care about eachother and there customers. I started with some remodeling and maintenance background and soon Realized how much I did not know about construction and building project from The ground level up and the job requires you to sell thousands of products required to complete this process. You make more by selling more but it's up to you to know/ learn what you can on the go or on your own time because although the staff is very supportive and cares about your success... the training you receive depends on you asking questions and them having the time to teach you between projects, phone calls, and customers. To succeed you need to accept constructive criticism, multitask, retain a lot of Information in a short time, continuously improve, care about the company you represent, and the customer you serve. Flexible schedule and family oriented work environment. Good for anyone experienced in the industry but challenging if you lack the knowledge and expect a structured training program. This job is what you make it.

Work-life balance
Typically work set schedule throughout the week. rotate working Saturdays. Always have Sunday off. Managers will work with you if you need a specific day off.

Pay & benefits
401k and insurance available

Job security and advancement
As long as you show up and do your job, you'll do fine.

Management
Yard foreman can be...abrasive. Store manager is a good guy though.

Culture
During summer months can get pretty hectic. Yard personnel/Drivers feel under appreciated and under paid some days. Can cause low moral and aggravation. Really not a bad job but pay isn't great.

Overall
Well it's a job, comprised of loading customers vehicles down with lumber, plumbing, roofing supplies etc. Or building loads to be delivered to bigger contractors. Not that bad really. As with any job that involves working with the public, you'll have nitpicky and/or rude customers that will try your patience. Overall the people that work for the company are decent and management will try their best to get you raises when possible. Just don't expect alot due to corporate constraints and final say in the matter.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Nothing! One of the absolute worst employers in Michigan!

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Extremely poor leadership from the top down. Chaos would be an understatement.  Profits above all else!

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Horrible! Ineffective management, criminally understaffed, and unacceptable working conditions. The trim warehouse is an oven in the summer and a freezer in winter. Not a good environment for wood products. Yard in full or potholes and broken concrete.  Any employee that has been there for more than a year is lazy and shifts as much work as possible to newer employees. The vast majority of contractors that do business with Carter Lumber are rude, unappreciatetive, low life scum!

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Total chaos, between prepping order for delivery and waiting on customers, most employees will have a difficult time getting their work done. Management in the affected areas is almost nonexistent.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Getting to know the regular customers.  Been gone 5 yrs most still recognize me and tell me how the yard I worked has gone down hill since I left.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Dealing with demands of the managers constantly trying to get more deliveries into a day and not taking into account the time required to build them

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Harsh. Hot in summer, cold in winter and you have to be out in the weather no matter what.  Winter does offer a break no much building going on, which means reduced hours. To the point that you work just enough to be considered full time which means most of your paycheck goes to cover your health insurance.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Constant running either to help customers or build loads, if you're  lucky by 1 or 2 you can actually star getting loads ready for the next day. Only to be given more the following day that must go out same day.

No personal life availability, if you get hurt they will send you to a quack of a doctor. In their contract states you will only lift up to 80 Lbs yet sends you with a 500 Lb windows with only one other teammate along with half a box truck full of trim. Caution for this company will send you to a place with lots of mud, strongly suggest boots for this job. They will pay but not allot. You do get overtime all the time but the vibes from some higher ups might make you reconsider the job entirely. I lasted almost 2 years, most of those who get this job will leave in 2 weeks to a month.

When I joined it was hard work with jokes but now that everyone has left within my 2 years the job got harder. They will also tell you that there's always room to grow higher but never bring you up to the top. This company will make you work 14 for drivers and more for strikers (helpers). So if you're a striker (helper) then you will work from 5:30 - 6:00 AM till possibly about 8:30 - 9:30 PM and have you return the next day at same time. You will loose sleep and they won't let you sleep along the way to stop.

If I could give this company zero stars I would!! This was the worst excuse for a "family-friendly" company. The managers won't like you if you aren't just like them. There is not one thing family friendly about this place at all. The management is always walking around yelling and cussing at the employees and belittling them. If you do one thing wrong you better be prepared to get called every name in the book. The management along with the employees are very judgmental and closed minded individuals. Everything they tell you at orientation and your interview is the complete opposite of how they treat you once you are hired on. I should have known that it was going to be a total bust when my first day there, the person I interviewed with was acting like a completely different person. Then the manager over the whole operation came out and started yelling and cussing everyone out. I don't see how this company is even allowed to still be open.

The management was poor, to say the least,, they don't listen when you have a complaint or constructive ideas, and they will throw you under the bus to save themselves. After 7+ years, you learn to keep your mouth shut and do your work or you will be targeted as a "problem" and will be fired. The work is easy, but if you do your job and other don't, YOU will get more work to do. Upper management doesn't watch their staff, therefore the supervisors don't monitor their people either. A stressful and hateful work environment is horrible to go to everyday. If you are not the favorite of the month, you will be ignored and blamed for others mistakes. The work is easy, busy, and lots of multitasking, but if you do a good job - you will not be thanked or recognized for it, but you will be give more to do, the work of the ones that are lazy and slack off. They are not a "family oriented" company at all, they want you there from 8-5 and no talking to each other, that isn't productive.

I often wonder when walking into the building what year is it. Is it the 1970s? No 1980s? Maybe a combo of the two. Yeah that's it. The thing is the company is very much stuck back in time just like the building itself. I don't believe the air vents/ducts have ever been clean so you really are breathing in the past as well as living it every day you go to work. Training? Who needs training! You will figure it out on your own. Well they hope you will. High turnover in a many of the departments. So you are always meeting new people. Worried about being bored at work? Don't worry they got you covered with a massive workload that you will never be able to keep you head above water. Feel like crying from being too overwhelmed or maybe your allergies are acting up from the layers of grime and dirt? Don't worry those tall office cubicle walls will keep anyone from seeing your tears of regret. I made a bad life decision and so will you if you accept a job here.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Yard specialist 1 salary reported	$15.50 per hour
Delivery specialist 1 salary reported	$15.00 per hour
Recruiting specialist 1 salary reported	$45,000 per year
Kitchen designer 1 salary reported	$40,000 per year
Home assistant 1 salary reported	$34,000 per year

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