Careers
A Day in the Life of a Delivery Specialist
Physically Demanding
"At each account, you must physically lift the order off the truck, stack it on the ground, put the cases on a handcart, and drop them in the store. After they've been checked in, you'll merchandise the order, stock the shelves, and stack the remaining cases in back. So, if you begin with 300 cases, you'll easily lift the equivalent of 900 cases that day."
30-45 Day Training Period
"During your first 30-45 days on the job, a certified trainer will teach you how to use your handheld computer, how to merchandise your products, and how to check your truck in the morning to make sure it's operating properly. Once the trainer feels you're ready, you are now qualified to run a route on your own."
Rotating product is your responsibility.
"You need to be aware that each of these products has a shelf life date on it. So it’s important to rotate your products by bringing the oldest to the front of the shelf. Pepsi Bottling Ventures never wants our customers to sell product that is out-of-date. As Delivery Specialists, it’s our responsibility to make sure that never happens."
For me, a typical day begins at 5:30 a.m. I report to the facility, check to see which route I'll be running that day, and locate my truck.
Even though it's already loaded, I open each bay door and physically count the product in it along with a checker who verifies the load for accuracy. Once the count is confirmed, I grab my handheld and I'm free to start my route.
My procedure is the same at each stop…
When I arrive at my first customer, I always print out a pre-sold order form which breaks down all the products I need to deliver to the account. Then I open the bay doors containing the store's request, stack the product on the handcart, and wheel it into the store so the manager can verify the order. From there, I fill the coolers, rotate any stock left in the back storeroom, and fill the shelves.
After a quick check of the back room for any empty shells, I'm off to my next account.
After my last delivery, I count my remaining inventory on the truck to see if there are discrepancies between what's left and what I should have (based on the handheld computer). Once inventory is confirmed, I organize my shells and remaining inventory.
Back at the facility…
I open all the bay doors and a checker inspects the truck and prints out a final inventory list which we both sign. I take my handheld computer back to the office after parking my truck.
Before I leave for the day, I place my handheld back in its designated spot and plug it in so all the end-of-day information is transmitted into the corporate system.
Our process of checking and double-checking, along with the technology really helps keep errors to a minimum.
Since I'm responsible for the shipment, I don't want any errors.
Lionel, Delivery Specialist, Greensboro
