Takin' the Blog for a Walk

will work for peanuts

Posted by Brien Lee on Oct. 30, 2011

ODW Logistics

Been stocking up on peanut butter lately. Due to heat and drought in the South, we'll be seeing huge increases by November.

Pick 'N Save ran a one week sale on the larger size of Skippy: two for $6.00. Bought a couple 26.5 ounce jars of Extra Crunchy Skippy Natural Super Chunk. Since a cash register coupon for a dollar off our next shopping trip printed out with the purchase, effectively making it two for $5.00, I bought a couple more before the sale ended Wednesday.

I love that Planters finally came out with peanut butter; their chunky is chunkier than Skippy's. Though all Pick 'N Saves didn't immediately carry it, the price was slightly lower than Skippy. But once the Planters coupons ended and Skippy became more competitive, Skippy got our business back. 

I typically will eat two pb&j sandwiches a day. If we're having chili for dinner I'll have a pb&j minus the j, because nothing goes better with chili than a peanut butter sandwich, except crackers maybe.

I've been working a lot lately. Some days I meet the third shifters coming and going. Dark when I arrive and dark when I leave.  Had a busy last week due to inventory. Haven't had the time, energy or anything interesting to blog about. Averaged over 10 hours a day in the last seven - Sunday through Saturday. That's a lot of peanuts!

As long as I'm talking about work I'll mention I'm finally right where I want to be. I like the work and am competent at it. The warehouse is clean, well lit, and safe. It's in Waukesha, which is a huge benefit to me because I'm so tired of rush hour driving. I've been there a year and got hired on permanent a while back. So happy we now have insurance and benefits! 

The ODW Logistics warehouse, at the east end of Pearl, is a food grade warehouse, so when I say it's clean, I mean it's clean!  We have daily and monthly safety meetings, a fire station right next door, and trained first responders among our crew. We have severe weather shelters, a portable defibrillator on premises and we all wear safety glasses, so when I say it's safe, I mean it's safe!

We enjoy a diverse workforce with generous and friendly leadership open to suggestions on safety or efficiency improvements. (I'm not paid to say this.)

Fortunately pay isn't everything, don't expect to make a lot in a warehouse, because the balance swings in favor of having a good job with low pay versus no job.

Saving the best for last, the number one reason it's a pleasure to work where I do is the people. We are a team, constantly helping one another. It's almost embarrassing to be chosen employee of the week, because it's all about teamwork.

There are so many good people at ODW who lighten the load and make my job easier: Tod, Perry, Mariselda, Scott, Dave, Tommy, Jen, Travis, Max... but the main man, the guy I work closest with and who's shown me more patience and encouragement than ever I'd expect, the coolest dude I know: Jesse. I admire Jesse's work ethic and sense of humor. He's taught me so much yet I continue to learn. He's different in the best sense. Tattooes, bald and muscular, his kind and gentle manner is practically opposite his exterior appearance. His smile and helpfulness immediately gives him away.  

I'm fortunate in that ODW saw something in me and had patience to train me completely in the job. I now am comfortable on all the equipment and confident in many different areas of the business. Because patience was shown me, I try to reflect the same patience toward new employees.

As busy as we get, you won't often find people losing their cool. Politeness is usually more like it. Besides the dress code we also have a language proscription; swearing is rarely heard.

We are the warehouse for a manufacturer in New Berlin - ABB Company. ABB makes power conversion drives for windmills, so add the good feeling about working toward a renewable resource to the other reasons for working there.

If you're out of work, looking for other reasons, or just want to work a fast pace at a great place, ODW is hiring. Stop in at 1717 Pearl to apply or email your resume to lambrose@odwlogistics.com. (Don't waste your time if you're not clean - a drug screen is one of the first tests you'll have to pass.)  Tell 'em Brien sent you.