All driver-merchandisers keep to a pretty regimented schedule.
For me, a typical day begins at 6 a.m. I report to the plant, check the assignment board to see which route I'll be handling that day and locate my truck.
Even though it's already loaded, I open each bay door and physically count the product on it. Then I report back to my sales support supervisor, who verifies the count and notifies me of any price changes or special delivery instructions I need to follow along the route.
Once that's confirmed, I grab my hand-held computer and printer (which are hanging in the sales room), upload my shipment information to the corporate database, and I'm free to start my run.
My procedure is the same at each stop.
When I arrive at my first account, I always print out a pre-sold order form which breaks down all the products I need to deliver to that location. Then I open the bay door containing the store's request, stack the product on the ground outside the truck and wheel it all 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.
Larger customers - like Walgreen's or Speedway - have charge accounts with PepsiAmericas and billing is sent separately. If a store doesn't have a charge account, I have to collect payment from the manager before I leave and put the money in the truck's safe which has a rotating drop box on top. After a quick check of the back room for any empty pallets, I'm off to my next account.
After my last delivery, I count of any remaining inventory on the truck to see if there are discrepancies between what's left and what I should have.
A thorough review process helps keep errors to a minimum.
Back at the plant, I open all the bay doors and a checker inspects the truck and prints out a final inventory list which we both sign. Each of us has a key to open the safe (it's a two-key lock) and I take all the money and my hand-held computer back to the office to complete my paperwork.
After printing a sales summary, which includes any invoice corrections or voids made along my route, I enter the total amount of money I collected into my handheld. I give our cashier my paperwork and the money and she prints out a deposit slip, which we both sign.
Finally, before I leave for the day, I hang my hand-held back up in its designated spot and plug it in, so all the end-of-day information is transmitted into the corporate system.
I know some new drivers get frustrated with all the checking and double-checking. But the technology and checks really help keep errors to a minimum.
Since I'm responsible for the shipment, I don't want any errors.
