CONSORTING AT THE CONSORTIUM

TUES 12 APR 2011 3:50pm  The second day delivering to the Consortium in Mississauga, and again tomorrow. It's called that, I guess, because they couldn't think of a more pretentious name for a Wal-Mart warehouse.

And, as you might suspect, it's a big one. Maybe about a city block long, with 57 loading docks on the one side. You come in and drive past those, turn left and go about half that distance again, turn left again and go down the other side, which is near identical. But, first you stop at the security kiosk so the attendant can check your papers. Oh, and don't be too eager. Although you have to be on time for your appointment, you also can't be early. If you are you can pull over and wait.

After you chat to security and maybe hear about his vacation, you can proceed to the office. There you park and walk in to a tiny vestibule about the size of an elevator, with a single washroom off to one side. There are four small benches. You slide your papers through the hole in the glass and wait til they tell you what bay to go to. All the flower trucks are on the far side near the entrance. So, you drive back, wave at the security guy on the way, find your spot and wait.

This is when you really settle in, because it could take up to two hours before they get to you. But, then the green light turns to red and someone hollers, "How much of this is ours?" And, once you're unloaded you drive back to the other side, wave at the security, and go back to the office. And wait. Lately, for me, this has been only 15-20 minutes but it has been up to 2 hours. Other drivers, with much bigger loads, can be there most of the day.

People sit or stand, look at each other, or try not to. Some talk on phones, or to each other. Some sigh and moan a lot as the time drags on. Some even brings books to read. I tried that once but someone insisted on talking to me. I guess some people think the only reason someone would read is because they don't have anyone to talk to.

Some are waiting for a door, some for completed paper-work, some are lumpers waiting for a call to go unload a truck by hand. They are hired by truckers who don't want to handle things like bags of potatoes by themselves.

Then, finally, your number is called and you can leave. So, once more around the building, but first a stop at security so he can look in the back of your truck to make sure you haven't lifted anything.
Then, to the exit and off to do another 7 deliveries.