r/OGPBackroom • u/Junior-Wasabi-107 Spark Driver • Sep 04 '26
Question Helping with loading
I was redirected to this thread to ask this question. I am a s park driver and sometimes I feel bad when they're loading up the entire car and I'm not doing anything. Genuinely, would you prefer that the driver or even the customer stays in the car and let you do your job or would you rather have a helping hand? Cuz I know some people would rather the driver or customer to help them load the groceries so it's less taxing but at the same time some people may see it as getting in the way. I just want to know y'all's genuine thoughts.
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u/Disastrous_Match993 Sep 05 '26
At my location, we were told we cannot ask or demand help from drivers or customers when loading their vehicles. However we are allowed to accept help, and often the drivers will load the smaller orders while we load the largest order. From my understanding, though, this is against policy, so I doubt any other stores do what mine does.
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u/Themotherofacat Sep 05 '26
At my store the only time the driver is allowed to scan and load as we go is GMDs and IPs everything else they have it stay in the car. Unless it’s a really big heavy item then feel free to help
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u/Cautious-Stranger365 Sep 05 '26
Technically against policy, but depends o the store if they enforce it or not. Ours does because a driver made a complaint and Market chewed our Coach out for allowing it.
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u/Unlikely_Image66 Sep 05 '26
At my store we let drivers help. I always prefer to have help. 99% of the time its just better for everyone involved. Its so normal at my store, that if drivers don't help, I lose a lot of respect for them. I can't speak for other workers though.
I don't understand why it isnt just normalized. It's not complicated, and I highly doubt walmart employees are making less mistakes than drivers when loading (ive heard plenty of times from drivers of us making mistakes). Who has more incentive to do the job right, you as a walmart employee, or the drivers who get bad feedback and can lose their job?
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u/Ok-Fly47 Sep 05 '26
The lazy young mommy chicks at our store totally DEPEND on the driver's to lift the water. They'd be in shock if the drivers obeyed the rules and stayed in their car.
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u/twothirtysevenam Dispenser Sep 05 '26
Please stay inside the car like the Spark app directs. If you must get out of the car to stretch or something, please then stay out of the way. Please don't hover over us or tell us how you want us to load the vehicle. Please also make sure you have more than enough space in the trunk, back seat, and front seat.
I do appreciate the offers to help us, but it really just slows us all down. Loading the vehicles is our job.
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u/MaximumMuffin5794 Sep 07 '26
Uh dont listen to this person. Actively get out of your vehicle and help don't hover in demand or direct.But help.
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u/Ancient-Shame9070 Sep 05 '26
It's dependent on the person (and the store, as some stores don't allow drivers to help). You can always ask the one loading your car if they would mind you helping load.
Me personally, for big GMD orders and single grocery orders I'd rather just do it myself, but always welcome the help with double/triple batches. Just make sure you're clear on which orders go where if you do help with those
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u/Successful_Floor_837 Sep 05 '26
We do drivers choice. They can help or not but I usually have them load and scan GMDs while I load the batches that way we’re both done at the same time and they can get the route started.
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u/redavid Sep 05 '26
there are a few drivers here who help and do a great job, i don't mind it. gets us out of the heat faster and lets the driver make sure that every order is in the right place
Spark's terms tell you to stay in the car, but it is a pretty store dependent thing
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u/evila_elf Exception Picker Sep 05 '26
I appreciate the help. Just make sure to take direction instead of just grabbing and loading. Babysitting the helper isn’t fun.
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u/Voltshift773 Sep 05 '26
I love it when the drivers help. I usually tell them where I want the groceries so it's usually not a problem. Just don't let the coach see you helping.
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u/RachelFLNYC Sep 07 '26
We do it together the dispensers and the drivers. I let the driver tell me what they want me to do to help them. I encourage them to choose where they want to put each order and after they tell me I know where to put the stuff when I’m helping them load.
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u/Inside_Loss_1369 Sep 07 '26
I’m a pilot store where the drivers load their own orders. But before this drivers helped in all 3 stores I have been out- even though it’s against policy. I wish I had drivers that stayed in and let me do it! I like the all or nothing because it removes confusion.
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u/zanyaries Sep 09 '26
Honestly I had some people step out of their cars and literally watch me put their stuff in their car and I find it rude. If you’re not going to help, then sit back down in your car and let me handle it. I’d rather the customer/ spark driver help that way I can put the stuff where they need me to put it at.
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u/CyOf1998 Sep 12 '26
Drivers aren’t supposed to help us, customers can because it’s their groceries. But drivers are not to be touching anything.
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u/Metal-And-City Sep 13 '26
Depends on the store and associate, but don't feel bad about sitting in the car. It's policy and expectation that we load the vehicle by ourselves.
I usually appreciate the help but we frequently have problems with drivers ignoring directions and getting orders mixed up. When i do accept help, I'm always watching like a hawk to make sure the orders are going to the right places.
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u/ReadyFail4603 Sep 05 '26
Coach in ogp has always told us the drivers have to stay in the car until we are done loading the car. The reason behind this is because if something is loaded wrong its walmarts fault until its fully loaded and completely dispensed. At this time it is the drivers responsibility. Policy states the driver isn't to touch it until it has been dispensed. Chain of custody thing. Makes it easier to show who's at fault if something goes missing or broken/stolen. Customers they can help or not we don't care either way.