truck driver

trailer mechanic

yard hostler

shop foreman

fleet manager

Foodliner

This job is not for everyone and I think that’s a good place to start. Trucking is a lifestyle not just a career. Loads are all by apt. times. I seldom wait to load or unload but being in the trucking industry it does happen. There are only a few times a year that I have a day with no load and it usually is due to the production plant going down or  doing maintenance, rather than the lack of loads for us. I think it’s fair to say I stay out 3 nights a week but some weeks it’s 0-2 nights. (I live 20min from the yard and I manage time well) We also receive quarterly and annual bonus’s. The quarterly bonus is dependent on how hard you work. It is a percentage of your loads gross that quarter and the percentage increases the longer you stay with the company. Usually I get $500-$600 every quarter but some of the long timers get $1500-$200 every quarter. The annual bonus is based on how long you have been with foodliner and is not affected by your work productivity. If you make poor choices and drive like a you know what, these bonuses can be taken from you. They are performance based so it’s up to the individual to do their job well, and with pride. It’s not that easy to loose a bonus but it does happen. The vacation and PTO is combined and just starting off you get about two weeks paid time off. The company and management is very understanding for anything coming up, you know like “Life” when it pops in. Dispatch is pretty simple and some complain a lot in this area. I get along with my dispatcher well and we have a working, functional relationship that makes us money (that’s the main point). Benefits are on the better end from what people tell me but I am not a expert in this area. I have had a few visits to a chiropractor, ER, and doctor. None of this has cost me tons of money. They also offer 401k and life insurance. I have looked at other tanker companies and done lots of comparisons. In the end we all make close to the same money but I seem to come out on top with Foodliner. The trucks are currently going through updates and some terminals have 2021 trucks and some have 2015 trucks, a mixture of auto and manual transmission. (I drive a older manual and love it) mechanics stay on top of the trucks and I hate to say my terminal is one of the harder places to get the truck fixed but all equipment is DOT legal and I have always felt safe in my equipment. If I breakdown on the road dispatch get you taken care of quickly. I’m very happy with Foodliner and have no plans on working for anyone else. The two things that I would look for in another company that Foodliner doesn’t offer would be, passenger/pet and faster trucks! (We go 65mph) there are many things I didn’t touch on but I think this would be a accurate view of what it’s really like. FYI, weekend pay has gone up and cents per mile has increased.

There are some genuinely decent people that work there at all levels of the organization. Trucking definitely attracts some very interesting people as well. The company gave me a ton of experiences that I will not soon forget. I lost count of the amount of stories I heard that began with, "You're never gonna believe this..." The thing you must consider before joining this company is that it is trucking - an industry that fights over fractions of a penny to secure business. Turnover within the driver market is unlike anything I have seen before or since. As a manager, you will spend most of your time filling the same trucks with different drivers throughout the year. 
Regarding the culture, you will find every possible way to squeeze more out of a human being or a piece of equipment. There was about 6 months out of the year where I would be told, "don't spend money." Have a truck down requiring a specific torque wrench for proper repairs?  You'll need to wait till another shop in some other part of the country is done with it so they can mail you the ONE wrench the company was allowed to purchase. Going on vacation? Keep your phone on you, it will be less painful when you return as the person backfilling you personifies the "This is fine" meme. Feel like getting 4 hours of consecutive sleep? The night coverage team forgot how to look at notes on an excel sheet and called you 4 times because a driver started their clock to early. Maybe next week you'll have better luck. 
In my experience, drivers - particularly the ones that could manage their clocks effectively and run over the road- were paid better than industry average. However if you were a manager, you're coming average or below industry standard and should be thankful for the opportunity to work 60+ hrs a week. Not entirely just a Foodliner problem. More how the industry has evolved over the years.  

You set yourself up for success. Build relationships and get to know your internal and external customers. 
 Job entailed constant communication and problem-solving.
I learned time management, quick decision-making, and relationship-building skills.
It is a department vs. department atmosphere and a lot of cover your bases.
The hardest part of the job is dealing with your internal customers.
I often found that I got along with my external customers better than my management team, especially upper Management. This is a weird dynamic but 
 it worked because I still helped make the company money. I cared for and built lifelong relationships with external customers.

The most enjoyable part of the job is getting through the chaos with your coworkers. Instilling humor wherever you can to get through the day.
And taking care of difficult requests at a whim notice.

5 years worked did my job until the last day. Gave ~3 weeks notice, Put a body in place to replace me, and helped train. Was given no discretion on 19 days of PTO payout because I put my notice in before my Anniversary date. 
Was not given a thank you from Upper Management for my time with the company. No announcement was made at my departure.






If you do not want to grow and do not care about harmful situations regarding emotional self-worth; then this job is ok to do. I would warn you to be physically fit and pay attention to potential hazards of working with out dated equipment that is falling apart at times or not correctly hooked up. I also will say to get anything important like hours you want to work in writing if that matters to you because the business of this should not be advertised as a FIRST SHIFT full-time job. It is more like an at-will on-call if work is available type of job. If you don't come in you jeopardize other hours you may had because someone else will be slotted to come in and push your hours down. I do not know if it was me not understanding the role of the job or if it was corruptive management. I do know it was a waste of time trying to be an asset to this company. So before heading down this yellow brick road, remember to not believe everything the man behind the curtain says. Just as like a Military recruiter trying to get you to sign the papers for his own profit.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Nothing really , Other than working for a rate of $28. an hour off there per load rate and $22. an hour if you miss your 6th day at every other week.  Be ready to work 60-70 hour weeks and with NO overtime on the Guarantee of $1500. A week. Working those hours a driver is loosing $250 plus a week of overtime if one was paid an hourly rate at $28 an hour. So basically it's just $28 an hour straight on your clock. Good luck 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Dealing with no garage and waiting hours for road service at $21. an hour on breakdown. Your only garage is 2 1/2 hours away in Albany,  NY 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
I love waiting hours for your 2nd load cause the Mill is behind. And then get paid $21. After 2 hours. But then expected to finish your delivery. Other wise you loose you Guarantee pay.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
12-14 hours a day, 5-6 days a week, Start early like 2am getting done 2-4 pm. Or Starting late 5am getting done 6-7 pm

I was thoroughly pleased with the equipment and maintenance of the equipment at Foodliner, Inc.  If ever I had a problem with my equipment it was unforeseeable unless not reported by the previous driver on his or her route delivery.  
I got along with virtually every member of our team and was encouraged and supported by my superiors and trainers during my training period as well as in the progression of my employ.  I would have to say that Foodliner was, without a doubt, the best trucking company I have ever worked for and they took pride in their operation and equipment.
The hardest part of the job was probably the time lost being controlled by the DOT regulations which, at times, were not conducive to productivity.  There were many times that, after taking a 6-8 hour nap, I was ready to work but had to wait another 2 hours to meet the 10-hour mandate before driving again and, that just made me tired from waiting.
The most enjoyable part of the job was meeting other drivers, customers and completing tasks on time and on schedule.
I loved working for Foodliner, Inc.

When the best things you can say about a workplace is your co-workers are great and the pay is OK, that's a problem. You are on call all the time as a fleet manager, every night and every weekend. There is after hours dispatch, but they are clueless. The company provides a cell phone for you to use, which is good but do not expect to have any time away from it. In the office, the work is fast-paced and fun, but as time goes along you will be expected to take on more work responsibilities without any additional compensation. If you want to get a promotion, plan on working here 10+ years to move up. Those direct supervisors do as much as they can to help you, but they are limited in what they can do by the upper management team, who like to turn a blind eye on the day-to-day operations. If it wasn't for the people you see everyday (unlike those in upper management) like other fleet managers and dispatch supervisors, this company would be unbearable.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Constantly lied too even when doing the work of 3 people worked into the ground with no support even after having a corporate trainer work you for a week and having there written recommendation

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Terminal manager forcing things to get done on paper withoit completing tasks and then holding it against ya for taking time to do things right 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Loved my coworkers but was forced to rush things out of standards by term manager so he would look good to upper management. Even after going through corporate training I was told to follow those standards while they were there but go back to cutting corners after they left

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Go non stop fro start to finish and then once you reach the goals get forced to double that. I was doing more alone than was expected when having 2 employees

What is the best part of working at the company?
Assigned your own truck. Can take tractor home with you. 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Favoritism. Loads are not ready causing delays in your route and interfering with personal and home life. Among other non sense that I never encountered in any other trucking company that I have worked for. Stay far away from this company. You have been warned 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
A very stressful place to be. Environment is terrible with no mechanics  or on-site shop for truck repairs. Must drive to other state for maintenance on truck. 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Changes every day. One day your start time will be 1:00am and then the next day could be 1:00pm or any time in between and vice versa.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Working 60-70 hours a week when your not paid by hour. But your paid by load so any extra time completing the delivery in and around Boston traffic, delivery tie ups. or even on waiting for your load. Isn't reimbursed at all. So wasting your time is no big deal. 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
All the responsibilities are on the driver. And having holidays as a part of your work week. 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Could be better all the way around.  More team players when getting equipment serviced would be nice. As long as the delivery's are completed you are good.  

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
It's the best , waking up early like 1-2 am . Basically it's like the same old day . Day after day.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Truck driver 558 salaries reported	$95,030 per year
Trailer mechanic 2 salaries reported	$29.31 per hour
Yard hostler 15 salaries reported	$73,500 per year
Shop foreman 20 salaries reported	$77,675 per year
Fleet manager 11 salaries reported	$63,795 per year

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