Route Sales Trainee

Flowers Foods, Inc. (NYSE:FLO) is one of the leading producers of packaged bakery goods in the United States, with 2024 sales of $5.1 billion. Our portfolio includes beloved brands like Nature's Own, Wonder, Dave's Killer Bread, Canyon Bakehouse, and Tastykake. We foster a culture rooted in Honesty & Integrity, Respect & Inclusion, Sustainability, Passion, and Humility.

About the role

The Route Sales Trainee (RST) is training to learn the required skills to become a successful Route Sales Representative (RSR) or Route Delivery Driver (RDD). In this role, you will learn to sort, inventory, build, load, deliver, and merchandise daily orders of products to retail customers. You will also learn to accurately invoice products at the time of delivery while meeting customer expectations and following established best practices.

This position requires servicing accounts during customer-designated service windows, which may include non-traditional business hours, weekends, or holidays. There is potential for overnight travel outside of your normally assigned location. You will interact with the general public and customers daily, and a neat, professional appearance is required, which may include a specific uniform.

The Company is registered with the Department of Transportation (DOT) as a private motor carrier and is subject to State and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) rules and regulations. As an RST, you will be required to safely and efficiently operate a Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV)—a vehicle exceeding a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 10,000 lbs.—to deliver products in interstate commerce.

Responsibilities

• Obtain and maintain DOT medical certification to drive a CMV.
• Meet Fleet insurance Guidelines regarding your Motor Vehicle Record (MVR).
• Perform daily vehicle inspections, maintain accurate vehicle records, report maintenance issues, and complete driver's logs and time records, including hours of service.
• Safely and efficiently operate a CMV while adhering to all FMCSA/DOT and local regulations.
• Cooperate with DOT roadside inspections.
• Maintain cleanliness and organization of workspace and vehicle.
• Secure and organize inventory to prevent product damage.
• Leverage internal sales data and company marketing plans to drive growth through proper planning, ordering, and execution.
• Operate company routes and provide coverage for RSRs and RDDs during time-off.
• Learn all tasks and objectives outlined in the Route Sales Operations Manual.
• Establish and maintain strong customer relations to improve satisfaction and communicate sales solutions.
• Order product using an online order planner to ensure customers receive the freshest product.
• Increase sales through shelf space expansion, in-store promotions, and displays.
• Adhere to assigned route structure, stop sequence, and service times to ensure efficiency and customer satisfaction.
• Follow retailer/account standard operating procedures, including check-in/check-out and service windows.
• Adhere to the fresh market policy by rotating products and removing damaged or out-of-code items.
• Follow the shelf-life cycle of each brand/product to maximize shelf life through proper rotation.
• Perform daily route settlement requirements, including verifying product quantities, accurate invoicing, and cash collection.
• Perform accurate weekly inventory in the handheld computer device at select accounts.
• Support the introduction of new products based on retailer playbooks, gaining shelf space and promotional displays.
• Obtain authorization from accounts' key decision-makers for promotional displays.
• Properly place and assemble displays to maximize consumer exposure and sales.
• Review weekly route analysis to identify sales opportunities and reduce costs.
• Adhere to customer-required shelf schematics/plan-o-grams to meet brand team objectives.
• Master best practices of the Route Sales and Route Delivery training program.
• Ensure compliance with all company policies and procedures (Safety, Equal Employment Opportunity, Harassment, Sarbanes-Oxley, etc.).
• Perform other duties as assigned by management.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.
• Minimum of 1-year related experience in retail sales, DSD sales, and/or business-to-business sales (preferred).
• Must be able to acquire and maintain a DOT medical card.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health and medical benefits.
• 401(k) Retirement savings plan.
• Professional growth and leadership training.
• Paid vacation, holidays, and parental leave.

Benefits may vary depending on your work location.

Pay

$22.88 per hour.