truck driver

sales representative

order picker

merchandiser

driver

Sheehan Family Companies

WORKPLACE CULTURE

For Starters.... Working in the Beer distribution industry is a very dog eat dog world, so if you're not comfortable being surrounded by a lot of type-A personalities this field may not be for you. That said.... Being a sales rep at Union Beer is ideal for a single individual with no personal life outside of work. There's a lot of opportunity for growth for a number of reasons. 

WHAT I LEARNED / MANAGEMENT

Firstly, there's a high turn-over rate with the company, especially in the Deli & Bodega segment due to the job requirements which can be burdensome for those looking for work/life balance. Expect to work 10-12 hour days (Sometimes more) Monday-Friday and sometimes on weekends depending on Holiday schedule. This can vary based on the proximity of your home to all assigned territories as well as the size of your account base. Management is actually pretty good with granting opportunities to work territories close to home when available as long as the numbers on that route stay in the green or flat at the very least.
Secondly, there are many entry-level positions that can lead to a well paying career all without the requirements of a college degree. Most positions are accompanied with lucrative monthly and quarterly bonuses.

TYPICAL WORK DAY

As a sales rep you're fully expected to service on average 13-25 accounts daily starting at 7:30am while getting all orders in before the 5:30 cut-off. This includes taking full inventory, rotating and organizing coolers & back stock while gaining more cooler space if not maintaining the impact standard 50% minimum requirement. Some accounts are held to a lower standard of 35% based on Area Sales Manager expectations. Each sales call also includes packing and submitting pick-ups for any expired or close to code beer which sales reps may even be charged for (sometimes 3x case cost) if deemed by superiors "expired as a result of negligence", which as far as I'm aware is not a policy practiced by any other Beer Distributor in NYC. You are also fully expected to collect and deposit balances by way of cash and check payments in accordance with the accounts delivery terms and calendar established by the New York State Liquor Authority. In addition you must set aside time to discuss selling in new placements and products that are on your monthly and quarterly bonus as part of every sales call.

It is your responsibility to tend to all your accounts with Point Of Sale materials which I personally feel with such a large account base should be handled by a separate team dedicated to P.O.S. Union Beer doesn't seem to have the P.O.S budget of it's direct competitor Manhattan Beer Distributors. Nonetheless, you're expected to meet the 50% P.O.S minimum per account and compete with MBD who has a whole team dedicated to P.O.S ranging from 3-5 people on a daily basis. In an effort to prioritize order entry before the cut-off all P.O.S is encouraged by most to be done during the sales call or done after all orders are in which sometimes spans far beyond the 5:30pm order cut-off resulting in the aforementioned 10-12 hr work days.


HARDEST PART

The hardest part of the job is the time management aspect. Depending on the territory and consumer demographic you may be assigned a larger account base (85-100 accounts/wk) that pump greater volume while selling the more budget friendly products in Unions portfolio or you may receive a route with a slightly smaller account base 
(75-85 accounts/wk) that move more pricey high-end craft products. I'm not even accounting for time taken to collect cash and end of the day deposits. Collecting cash can be time consuming due to the amount of the balance collected and type/quality of bills issued by customer. Double and Triple counting large lump sums as well as checking for bills with no rips or tears which aren't acceptable by ATM's can increase time at ATM at the end of your day. I spent 40-45 minutes  at the ATM on numerous occasions making deposits related to large lump sums or lot's of singles as well as plain old unacceptable bills. 

THE MOST ENJOYABLE PART

The work perks and events are usually pretty cool. Some are more underwhelming than others. The smaller suppliers seem to offer better perks and throw the better events with a need to make a greater lasting impression in hopes that reps will sell in their product.

There’s a part of me that’s grateful for my time at Beechwood, and there’s a part of me that’ll never forget my time at Beechwood…

I’m grateful that they’re actually willing to bring people on board and TRAIN them to get a Class A CDL. I was one of them. BUT, this is because anyone that already has their CDL wouldn’t even consider a job like this…

They’ll bring you on with their driver-in-training program and you’ll go on routes with their drivers, as more or less a driver assistant while you learn the ropes. HOWEVER, IF they need you to do a straight truck route for whatever reason, you WILL be forced to do it, often with zero warning, and it can be a MAJOR shock when it happens…. I was forced to do it multiple times before I got my CDL and it absolutely stinks because everything goes down a ramp off the back of the truck rather than a liftgate on the trailers…

The work itself is ROUGH. Not only do you have to deal with barrels that can weigh 160+lbs up and down stairs, stacking in tiny coolers in dungeon basements, but you’re also dealing with customers that KNOW you’re there to SERVICE their store/bar, and some customers want to take FULL ADVANTAGE of that service and make you do absolutely everything, including moving other vendors products because they’re too lazy to do it themselves. Deny them, and it’s almost a guaranteed call to the supervisor to try to get you in trouble because you didn’t cater to their every demand…

You can fully expect to work 10-12+ hours if you’re solo for the day, and you usually are if you’re taking out 600-800 cases and 20-30 barrels. Any more than that and you might have a helper…unless of course they call off which isn’t uncommon because most drivers make their helpers do most of the heavy lifting so they either quit or call off…

The pay for the workload is WELL BELOW AVERAGE, but it’s par for the course in the industry when you’re just starting out and don’t have many options, and they know that…. They paid $27 an hour when I worked there. The pay SHOULD BE closer to $35 an hour but that’ll never happen…

The equipment was ok… the tractors are very basic and ride like junk. Trailers are nice and the pallet jacks and hand trucks can be nice IF you can get a good one…

The benefits are good…because they basically have to be with a job this physical. Injuries happen all the time because you’re lifting and moving 15,000+ lbs of product every day as well as bending, pushing, pulling and reaching. Often in very tight spaces where you just have no room to move, so you have brute force things a lot and it can absolutely mess you up!

My recommendation, IF you HONESTLY think you can handle the work, is to go for it and get that CDL. Then get some experience and MOVE ON! You WILL get some great driving experience with this job because it’s local and some areas are tight.

This is NOT a career, it’s a stepping stone into a CDL career but you have to REALLY want it because if you don’t, I guarantee you won’t last 3 months…

If you are interested in working at L Knife, please take the time to read this review. 
If you are not being hired as either a Sales person, or a CDL-A driver you are not going to be properly compensated for your time. Even then the pay is below market average. I worked at L Knife for the time span of 1 year. My shift as a pallet builder was a revolving door, most people would not make it even 3 months before quitting. The work load is not properly distributed, the managers are often extremely nepotistic, favoring the employees they like and giving them easier work. The warehouse is not union, meaning you have no protections, and your pay is restricted because you aren't allowed to make more then spare union drivers. For reference I busted my hump day in day out for a year only to receive a pay raise of .25 cents. I don't know how much you know about economics but that is a pay cut. The warehouse is filthy, the air quality is extremely poor, half of all the equipment is broken or unusable. Management does absolutely nothing beyond what they specifically need to do to improve any sort of quality of life in that warehouse. 
If you're a fresh faced 18 year old with no work experience to speak of, its a great place to work for a couple weeks on break. If you're interested in starting a career, look elsewhere LKnife has nothing to offer you

If you haven’t been here for 10 plus years, don’t bother applying for a driving position here. The equipment is unfairly distributed among the same 4 to 5 favorites. Often times, you as a new driver, will go out with 700 to 800 cases plus kegs on a straight truck with no helper while the guy next to you has 140 and 1 keg and a lift gate, helper and pallet jack. 

The second thing is the routing is terrible. The router does not care at all about making routes that make any sort of sense. There are lack of drivers at all times so they just combine routes. 25 to 30 minutes between stops. 

The final thing is the pay and lack of fair raises by management. Little known fact about this company is that it went corporate last year, and it shows. There was no union in place and now, under corporate, they are taking full advantage of it. Between the lack of reviews for a raise, the “ 3 percent” across the board with not so much as a phone call, and the “fixed yearly budget”, getting a mid year raise is impossible. Management is fixed on the fact that everyone is replaceable and often times when drivers give their two weeks notice, instead of counter offering the employee with an increase in pay, the response will be “good luck”. They mistreat every employee they have there. From ware house to drivers. If you’re not applying for front office jobs with this company, STAY AWAY. 

I've worked for Sheehan Family Companies for a little over four years. It is a really fun place to work and the people are great. We get to try new beers and spirits and the work environment is friendly. 

Benefits are amazing and it really makes you feel like a valued employee when you don't have to worry about health insurance and things like that. The pay is good and there are a lot of opportunities to advance in the company. You can apply for jobs across all the different companies and even move from one department to another if you are the right fit and want a change. I believe that loyalty and hard work are rewarded accordingly here with yearly reviews and raises, though some departments are better than others at giving these on time.

I've had some really outstanding managers who helped me grow in my career. That being said, there are some management issues from the top that cause a little stress in the workplace. Specifically, there are often 'emergencies' or projects that need to be completed right away that come down from corporate. These instances often do not warrant such a response and end up wasting time. It seems like steps are being taken to address this kind of thing, but it's my one complaint about an otherwise wonderful workplace.

An average shift usually starts on an okay note, management would go over the numbers the previous night & over breakage(dependent on the volume & number of staff that shift there would be a lot). Now don't get me wrong the workers can be very chill & down to earth people however depending on the the factors at hand it feels like everyone is solely out for themselves & this false sense of hope when it comes to getting the incentive. The headsets were horrible when it comes to comprehending what it was saying. The electric pallet Jack's had some wear and tear on the wheels which would affect the stability of your pallet and that would hurt your number that apparently mean the world to the higher ups. Now they can be very accommodating  and lenient  to you so long as you do n n the work but even then sometimes it feels as though they don't care for you as a person, you could get injured due the lack of maintenance at the job. Honestly there's so much that could go wrong at the job but I wouldn't blame the people entirely. If you need the experience and a brutal workout this could help you, would advise a back brace and proper stretching everyday to not feel broken after the workday.

The best part of this job is the excellent health/dental/401K/discount benefits and the opportunities you have for advancing your career and relocating. If you work hard, do not making excuses or cause drama, you are recognized and rewarded. Senior management is accessible to their employees, not as if you cannot reach them or talk directly to them. Management issues are at the individual locations where manager's particular styles and personality come into play- but again, there is always opportunity to relocate. Executive management can be slow to embrace change, but that has been steadily improving with the new CEO in place. Regardless, the Sheehan family genuinely cares about their employees and understand the company is built on the backs of its people. Communication from the executive to senior to location management to end users needs to be more thorough and transparent. Overall an excellent place to work!

It's an okay place to work, imo. You get weekly pay of $600+, overtime after 8 hrs, and most of the guys there are pretty cool. I will say this tho... this ain't no job where you official from the start. In other words you on a tryout and I believe they make cuts every month (I think). Just be sure that you can pick at least 1k or more cases a night. If not your job may not be safe no matter how hard you work/try. They don't care. Mind you, unless you a union worker it's hard to make 40 hrs a week because so many workers be rushing/racing to be in the top of the rankings and don't realize the quicker they rush through the work the less money you making! Also, do you wanna work for a job that tells you to pick faster to keep your job, especially when you not even getting 40 hrs a week as it is? 

Who wants to work at a job knowing they can be let go a few weeks later because they don't think you fast enough or pick enough nightly? The choice is yours. You're safe (kinda) for your 1st month and then once they give you your 1 month review, depending how you've done after 1 month, you can be let go or given an opportunity to see if you improve more. 

I have worked as a Driver Helper for Tri-Valley Beverage for the past year and so far, it has been a pleasant experience.  I am a part-time College student and they are flexible with my schedule.   I am graduating in May 2016.  It is a physical job and can take a toll on your body;carrying kegs, going up and down the ramp with cases/kegs on your cart, going up and down stairs with a loaded cart, going down into low ceiling bar basements with a loaded cart,bending over and picking cases through pallets to stack.  Hours pick up during the summer and they pay overtime (time and a half) which is a nice perk.  I have learned a lot about the business, from sales to delivery. The job requires me to come in early, some days as early as 4 a.m., depending on the route.  Overall, it is a great part time job and has taught me a lot.  The most enjoyable part is the team like setting among the drivers.  I enjoy the challenge of the routes and working through them with the driver. I also enjoy the interaction with the clientele.  I met a lot of great people and had some good times on the road.

When started was never given any other training than one ride along with manager to "show me the ropes" and to introduce me to accounts. Was never told a growth goal or any real information of what they expected from me. If I emailed, called, or texted me ASM it was a few days before I got a response and even then my questions were never answered. I spent 8 hours a day, 5 days a week trying to hit 170 accounts, some of which never ordered beer from us because they didn't want to deal with the frustration which was the delivery department. (Either trucks didn't go out, or drivers were so spread thin they couldn't make all their stops in one day) This company used to be the pinnacle for craft beer in NJ but has slowly become a big house for brands like Carlsberg, and became our main focus. If you weren't hitting those numbers, even if you grew your territory for every other brand they hold you were in hot water.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Truck driver 101 salaries reported	$22.80 per hour
Sales representative 57 salaries reported	$55,965 per year
Order picker 48 salaries reported	$21.23 per hour
Merchandiser 29 salaries reported	$18.48 per hour
Driver 21 salaries reported	$21.86 per hour

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