WHATEVER HAPPENED TO ... THE MILKMAN : Different routes, same fresh product
Posted on Monday, September 1, 2008
Daily Record photograph by Charles Fowler Supervisor Steve Burrell, left, stood with driver Ronnie Cronn next to Cronn’s delivery truck in Bentonville.
BENTON COUNTY - A few folks may remember when milk was delivered to your home by a hard-working friendly fellow wearing a crisp uniform. That was the milkman. Delivering the dairy to your doorstep was his job.
There are still milkmen around today, but their routes and responsibilities have changed. They no longer go from home to home, but stop at retail outlets such as grocery stores, convenience stores and coffee shops. Steve Burrell of Bentonville has been a Borden Dairy employee for three years.
"When I started, I had a route that included Bentonville, Decatur, Gentry and Siloam Springs," Burrell said. "I'm a supervisor now, but I've been training a new guy on a route, making stops with him. I always enjoy visiting with the store owners. I really like working for Borden's. I grew up drinking Borden's milk, and the company has been around for so long. They have good benefits and some great incentives. I'm happy."
One stop on Burrell's route is Coffee Corner at 813 W. Central Ave. in Bentonville. While he was making a delivery there in 2006, the owner mentioned he might be selling the shop. Burrell knew that his wife, Cecilia, was interested in running her own business and asked her if the coffee shop might be something she would consider. A deal was struck, and since May 2006, the Burrells have owned Coffee Corner.
When Burrell had a route, his workday began at 3 a.m. and typically ended around 1 p.m. or 2 p.m. A physical job, requiring lots of lifting, Burrell said he just figured that was a good workout routine. As a supervisor, he stops at businesses to see how the drivers are doing and if customers need more product. A small Borden's staff of five takes care of northwest Arkansas and a portion of Oklahoma.
A big Borden dairy is in Tulsa, Okla., and products from there are delivered on a transport trailer to Tontitown. That's where the milk and dairy items are loaded onto the route trucks for delivery to customers.
"Most places get deliveries twice a week, some maybe more often," Burrell said. "On days Wal-Mart, a big customer, doesn't get deliveries, we stop in and restock the product in the back and make sure everything is clean. We try to check on all our customers often.
Ronnie Cronn is a fellow milkman and a co-worker of Burrell's.
"I have his old route," Cronn said, pointing to Burrell. "I've been with Borden's about two years. I was looking for something stable and I feel like this job is. I like it, and Borden's treats us well."
Burrell agreed.
"They do, and there are so few of us working in northwest Arkansas that we're kind of like family," Burrell said, smiling. "We help each other out when we can and we watch out for each other. Safety is an important part of our jobs. We talk about safety at all our monthly meetings and encourage each other to drive safely. Our incentives are based on our safety records, and if one of us messes up, it affects all of us. We really try to avoid accidents so we can earn our incentives. It's not like the old days, and I guess things have changed a lot, but I like being a milkman."
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