September 11-17 is National Truck Driver Appreciation Week and the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina is taking the opportunity to celebrate our amazing fleet of drivers, dispatchers, and transportation staff.
A typical day for a Truck Driver at the Food Bank can start from anytime between 3:30 AM to 6:30 AM. They check to see if their trailers are loaded and if they aren’t, will load them themselves. Our trucks come in a range of sizes, carrying either 11, 16, or 24 pallets of food. Once the trucks are loaded, the drivers will conduct a pre-trip inspection of their vehicles then hit the road.
Depending on the type of driver, one’s route could look very different. We have retail drivers, delivery drivers, and branch transfer drivers. Retail drivers will go to different stores, like Food Lion, and pick up donations. They will sort the donations and make sure they remain in a temperature-controlled environment as they are transported back to a branches. Delivery drivers will take pre-packaged/sorted food to our Partner Agencies so that they may distribute it to their communities. Our branch transfer drivers commute between our 6 branches, usually pulling our largest trailers, to make sure the branches are fully stocked to best serve our Partner Agencies.
Though we try our hardest to maintain our driver’s schedule, it could change at a moment’s notice. If a donor calls, saying that they have food that must be picked up as soon as possible, we will do our best to get there. That food, if not picked up, could help someone that really needs it, which is why we push to be there.
“You can get a job to support your family anywhere. There are not many jobs where you help someone every day and get to go home with a good feeling that you helped somebody. You’ll be leaving a spot, and it is almost like you are an athlete or movie star. They will stop you as you’re driving away, thanking you and waving at you. Money can’t buy that feeling,” says Jeremy Morgan, Transportation Supervisor at the Food Bank, who has been with us for over 16 years.
We extended our sincerest thanks to our transportation staff. Without them we could not distribute the millions of pounds of food every month. Our drivers work in all kinds of weather conditions, from beautiful sunny days to the rainy, strong winds from hurricanes. We are so grateful to have a dedicated team that works towards making sure No One Goes Hungry.
Driver Spotlight: Shadaa Jones, New Bern Branch
Shadaa Jones is one of our delivery drivers that operates out of our New Bern branch. She is also our only female truck driver on the team.
“As the only woman CDL driver at the Food Bank’s New Bern Branch, it has its challenges and rewards. I am empowered to be able to do things that many people can’t do but there are times when it is difficult. Thankfully I have a strong team that supports and helps me when I need it, especially when it comes to physical tasks. Driving trucks is not as simple as sitting down and driving all day. You must be careful when maneuvering and keeping your surroundings safe. I am blessed to be able to work and take care of our community while also being able to come home to my family instead of being on the road for long periods of time. I am seeing more women in the trucking business, and it is encouraging to see! If there were more opportunities to let drivers be back at home with their families at the end of the workday, I think more women would be able to pursue a career in truck driving.” says Shadaa of her experience driving trucks for the Food Bank.
Before she started working towards obtaining her CDL, Shadaa says she knew nothing about the process. When discussing how truck driving opportunities aren’t usually advertised to women she says, “Some women might be scared to get out there, but it is so rewarding for everyone! We can do it all!”
Monday through Friday, Shadaa has about 2 truckloads of food a day that she deliveries to our Partner Agencies. She travels all over the coast of North Carolina, about 40-50 miles every day to get food to everyone that needs it.
“My favorite thing about being a truck driver? I just love the challenge. Having that time to drive and think.” Before coming to the Food Bank, Shadaa drove trucks and dump trucks. “The Food Bank fits me the best. Being able to help others and engage in the community while being able to serve people. It makes me feel good,” says Shadaa about the job.
When asked what it was like working in a position that is mostly male dominated, this is what she had to say: “It is…different. But I like it. I like showing that I am able to keep up with the challenge. Everyone shows respect and my team is great. No one is singling me out because I am a female, which is how it should be.”
She encourages other women to become truck drivers as well because it is a rewarding career, especially if you don’t mind driving. “We [women] can do everything and anything anybody else can do. Let’s show them!”
