Helpdesk: Erratic Management & Little Advancement Opportunity
The position I worked at Love's Travel Stops was Helpdesk Technician 1. It was an overall OK place to work at first, and I was appreciative of the opportunity to get some familiarity with various computer systems, but there was little concern given by management to actually cultivate technical knowledge. Management was also very questionable to say the least.
+ = Positives
- = Negatives
~ = Neutral
+ Relatively high rate of pay compared to other call center positions I have worked at ($18-19 per hour)
+ Free fruit and soda provided by the company in the breakroom
+ Very good insurance options provided for corporate employees
~ 24/7 job, consists of three shifts (6am-3pm, 2pm-11pm, 10pm-7am) with varying days off
~ Some opportunities to pick up new technical knowledge on the job
- ...but don't expect these opportunities to be actively facilitated by management
- Very little chance of negotiating both weekend days off save for extenuating circumstances on your part
- ...even smaller chance of actually keeping those favored days off if you manage to get them
- Minimal training past the initial two week training and orientation
- Stingy dress policy for what is ultimately a position that is seen physically very little by the rest of the company (Business Casual, no jeans, no T-shirts, no sneakers or tennis shoes)
- Additional functions frequently added to your scope of responsibilities with minimal or straight up non-existent training provided to cover said resp
I gave Love's in Lost hills an overall 3 because of the very confusing and stressful work place management creates. As for their work and life balance I gave them a 2 because when I applied one thing that caught my eye was they promised flexible scheduling which is not true. As the weekend Mechanic it was rare for me to get a day off approved and even harder for me to switch shifts with another mechanic. They even forgot to approve the week of my wedding and was hassled by them for two days before management remember. They offered apologies but never fixed the schedule which is why I left. I had to speak to the region manager before things started changing. The compensation and benefits are good not great. Mechanics get paid minimum wage with outrages goals in order to get a commission check. Everyone else makes above minimum wage which is nice. Health insurance runs normal rates and is affordable while dental, vision, and life are VERY affordable. As for job security it is almost impossible to get fired from Love's in Lost Hills unless you are completely incompetent and even then you have a good chance of retiring there. The Management is the worst thing about this store. The main problem is the tire shop mechanic is a completely lazy and incompetent person. The General Manger works very hard but since he is seen with the shop manager people assume he is just as lazy. As for job culture, well, it's just horrible. The cashier don't know how to greet customers and they don't c
I moved to work for Love's. When I first started the previous manager was great. He encouraged me, he respected me, he helped me learn how to do my job, and it was a joy to work for Love's. Than he decided to quite because of a flawed policy.
I can only speak about the Deli Department. My typical day was simple come in check the hot cases, start breakfast, put things in the oven, put those items when ready in the vendo cases, and make tacos (they are really burritos but Love's calls them tacos) I would from time to time do ordering, explain company policy and help the cashiers when I had time. Its a very fast pace job and at the end of the day I always felt like I was a one man show. This was because Management is slow on doing anything. Again while the old management team would pitch in and help make tacos, wash dishes, put things out for the guests, the current management staff thinks its beneath them to even wash a dish or roll a taco.
The worst part is the fact that Love's lies to its employees. When I started the Store Manager wanted to know how his employees were doing, he pitched in with the work, he made sure that everyone smiled and it was great to work for the company because you felt included. Yet, the new management staff they started showing the lies. You have one manager their that acts like he is interested but isn't, the manager cant handle a stressful situation, micromanages like crazy, and makes the whole work environment stressful. While I could say more
ProsGreat benefits, great starting pay and if lucky good employees
ConsPoor management, micromanagement, stressful work environment
Initially, I had a great interview! I interviewed with someone who was moved to another store about two weeks after I was hired. Being a transgender individual was stated to be no problem and I felt confident about transitioning using their benefits to get started.
I accomplished that goal and came out after about 9 months working there. It was all downhill after that. At the end of the day, it's a company that still hires and promotes 'Good ol Boys' and unless you fit in with their culture, you will never see a promotion. They state themselves as a family-owned company, but ultimately they are run by CEO types who are behind the times compared to competitors like Pilot or TA.
The training was okay, but left me confused and disoriented when the designated trainer would teach me things one way and then my shift manager would complain and tell me I was doing things wrong. The attitudes of managers are not checked and you are subject to being snipped at when asking for help. I felt that the GM of the store that eventually made me quit was a puppet who just raked in the money while doing the bare minimum and shoving most responsibility to the manager just below him. That manager has verbally admitted the same, and complained that she was not getting the pay that she should be getting for doing most of his job.
The enjoyable part of the job was having some people who were actually decent folks. For the most part, my area suffered from Small Town Syndrome, and felt thre
Walk the lot and get an idea of what needs to be done and begin to prioritize tasks.
Verify safe and perform shift change, check highest selling merchandise and stock (cooler, oil additives, roller grill, etc.)
Organize my area by dusting cleaning and front facing all products.
Assisting customers at the register and with any questions they may have, both on diesel and gas checkout stations.
Verify deliveries from vendors and check them in, scan merchandise and count inventory.
Give out breaks to employees, and check on their task list to make sure they hare completing duties.
Organize back stock and break down product to make space for deliveries.
Count down registers and create deposit for the shift for GM.
Upkeep restrooms every hour and keep shower stalls clean and ready.
I have learned allot about running different areas of the store at the same time, I have learned how to keep items organized and in their right place.
I have learned the importance of knowing your inventory precisely by keeping up with daily counts and making all invoices and and products are accounted for.
I learned the importance of running reports to track sales and profits and losses in different areas of the business. Performing monthly audits to go over all aspects of the store in detail numbers.
Making sure to perform employee reviews to help stay within employee retention targets.
I learned the the tools and techniques required to run a successful business.
The management are v
ProsBusiness development skills, how to run multi million dollar business, public relations, customer service
Never a dull moment! More that "Just a Truck Stop!"
A quick drive around the store, quick check of the pumps and lot and then a quick quick of the cooler and restrooms starts everday! Then a shift change and some reports to review and then the entire rest of the shift is hustle hustle hustle! In a good way though. Restock cooler and shelves and work any freight that came in help cashier, check laundry help cashier. Help maintenance with showers help cashiers, run a break run a report work somw freight and help a cashier. check bathrooms and cooler help cashier check lot and pumps and trash cans then help cashier. Run lunches and make sure maint. is caught up then check bathrooms and cooler and help cashiers. Restock cooler check laundry and showers then help cashiers. There is a pattern here if you didn't notice, but it helps to pass time and helps eith overall customer perception. I learned how to be patient all over agian. Someone always needs your help as a manager and sometimes your help is actually needed. I learned that people very much responded better to me once I showed them I do everything I ask of them and I am thankful that they are there to help me. The managment was not the best in the world when I was there but I was fortunate enough to have good districk and divisional managers which did get things under control after a little while. My coworkers were another manager and several FT employees. Some were good some great and some needed a lot of mentoring and training. Hardest part was dealing with call-ins that t
Pros4 day workweek, benefits and bonuses
Consextra days, extra hrs and no bench for call-ins youre it
Truck drivers are Love's primary customer. They take care of customers, consistent cleanliness of showers and bathrooms. The company has cashiers giving courtesy checks every hour ensuring bathrooms, showers and fountain bars are stocked and clean.
Love's also is franchisee with certain fast food restaurants such as Subway and Chesters. Salary managers are expected to stay hands on with both gas and restaurant sides incase something unexpected happens such as call ins.
Co-workers are generally long term associates. Still having to deal with call in especially the restaurant side of the business. Generally when all do show up Love's stores is a fun place to work.
Merchandise Managers are expected to merchandise by following emails, assist the General Managers with hiring and coaching. Loves sends McLanes and DAS merchandise labels via mail. The company seems not to have a hand held system to change and print labels on the spot resulting in procrastination with price changes.
Make sure the facility has a good Administrative Assistant. This person can make or break the Marketing Manager. The divisional marketing manager double checks merchandise entry under correct category. Love's has trouble with Administrative Assistants putting merchandise delivered entries under wrong categories.
Upper management visits each store once a quarter. Store management picks them up from the airport in a van. We have a meeting as we drive to the facility about numbers, custo
Was fun at first, but just got way too stressful for a cashier position
Love's could have been a good place to work at for a long time if you especially like staying on your feet and keeping busy. However, they expect way too much out of one person and hardly give you the resources to succeed.
They expect you, if you're working the gas desk, to get your end-of-shift chores done in a half hour - an hour while attending to customers, cleaning the bathrooms, and doing anything else your manager asks of you, which can quickly become overwhelming and demanding for a simple cashier position, ESPECIALLY if your co-worker drags their feet and refuses to help. The diesel side isn't too bad and is a lot more manageable at times, but may God have mercy on your soul if you're training someone new on the diesel desk - which involves a lot of technical cash handling that can easily be screwed up - while the showers are turning non-stop and you have five truckers waiting on you.
The management doesn't punish lazy or bad co-workers, no matter how often you tell them that you're constantly picking up their slack. Instead, they'll deliberately pair you with that employee. They end up expecting you to stay after your shift ends to a half hour - an hour, sometimes more if they're short-staffed. It was so frustrating having to stay there for up to an hour and a half because your co-worker leaves without completing their part. When I was paired with somebody who did their job, we were almost always out on time. The bad eggs just got a slap on their hand.
Managame
ProsMostly fun coworkers, discount on food, flexible schedule
ConsToo demanding, little to no resources, poor scheduling
Love's Truck Solutions not the best not the worst.
This is a new company that delivers tires to love's tire shops. A lot of drivers come up to me on the road thinking it must be a great job but it's really not. I honestly don't think Love's cares about this company at all. My experience at Love's is that Love's tries to use the bare minimum amount of people to get the job done . Whether it be the store, the tire shop or Love's truck Solutions . My personal belief is that love's created it to intentionally lose money as a tax write-off. I can't think of any other reason a company would be so dysfunctional. Management knows nothing of the trucking industry and I mean nothing! Which is surprising to me since the company is affiliated with Gemini who has been around for quite a while . Your loads are almost always wrong and the tire shops you're delivering to are definitely not the smartest people. Some of them are great others treat you like dirt. You don't ever know what you're doing week-to-week. All they care about is what looks good on paper, not the actual driver or other employees. There needs to be more trucks more drivers. The ad says home 3 + nights a week sometimes that's true. When it gets to be a busy season which is summer they don't care they'll run you all week into Saturday. The pay is ok but really not acceptable for the type of work you're doing and how much you are gone. Comprable companies such as Bridgestone or Goodyear doing similar things pay significantly more. My suggestion for this job if you're
So I want to love working here. But I can't suggest it, as I can't anymore. I love my general manager, he's an amazing individual. But the team...leaves a lot to be desired. For full transparency, I lack a driver's license, so I rely on external means to get to work. That said, the person that I relied on recently beat breast cancer, which conflicted with my getting to work on time, and now is enduring a process in which she is aiding another person she cares for with a legal fight that they did not commit, posing another issue in getting there on time, all of which my GM has been okay with. But HE has been the only one, creating a somewhat toxic environment to work in for me. That said, he has also been potentially discriminating me in the workplace, withholding training for a promotion that he told he intended on providing me from me...because I lack the aforementioned license. When the position does not require that I have it. Additionally, recently there was a thwarted school shooting at my nephew's high school locally in which we were concerned for his safety, causing me to be late to work. When I called in to alert them of this situation on the way in and that I was late, one of the management staff scoffed at me and said that I was making excuses and she was tired of it. She sends her kids to a school in the same district, and was well aware of the crisis. This is to say nothing of the complete LACK of proper training, in which you essentially train yourself, as well a
ProsHalf off on lunches, free drinks
ConsINCREDIBLY toxic environment for those who are late for work for factors out of their control, workplace culture and environment, complete lack of both training and communication
on a typical day at work id come in and clock in at the shop and then find out what hasn't been done on the shift before mine and attempt to do it so the person who follows wouldnt have to worry about it, along with remembering the 8 hour rule. in the time i worked there i learned the least time consuming fashion of changing truck tires and patching them for drivers along with other work done on trucks and trailers. management? was a joke, always stressed following the task list but at the same time expected you to finish everything they said do even though it would ultimately keep you from following the task list period and when it came to weekend scheduling, there usually was only two people working it who were given more things to do outside the task list than any other worker who worked during the week knowing the weekend was the busiest time frame. you also have to keep in mind that we were working two jobs in the course of an 8 hour time span. working on big truck tires changing/patching, mudflap work, etc. plus keep up with store maintenance and whatever little thing the workers inside the store and management in the shop felt they had no time to do but you always caught them standing around doing absolutely nothing. co-workers for the most part weren't hard to deal with, some even would go out of their way to help you finish things. so id say most were pretty useful cool people. the hardest part of the job was doing maintenance, mainly because of the fact that no one
Prosnot too far from my home, weekly pay
Questions And Answers about Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores
What would you suggest Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores management do to prevent others from leaving?
Asked Mar 17, 2017
I would tell the upper management at the Watts Oklahoma location to stop showing such favoritism to the employees, to treat the employees like they are human and to at least act like they appreciate all the hard work that the really recent former employees. They hired a bunch of new ppl used the older employees to train the new ones worked us like dogs then through us out like we were yesterday's leftovers. The GM and the OM there are very rude, heartless, and go out of their way to make you feel like you are less than they are because of their job title. I wish that the owners of loves knew how the management gets away with treating only certain employees like complete trash even tho we worked very hard and took pride in our jobs there.
Answered Jul 8, 2020
These people clearly show favoritsm to people who are bad employees and loyal ones are fired.
Answered Feb 14, 2020
What is the interview process like at Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores?
Asked Sep 23, 2016
Short and straight forward
Answered Mar 11, 2020
My interview was super easy. I am guessing that since my interaction with the manager was pleasant, either I caught him on a good day or perhaps he had gotten a good talking to. I got a job offer that day. What I was offered as starting pay is a little less than my previous job, but I see it as a great opportunity for me to learn some new skills and have the chance to advance within the company and that is priceless.
Answered Feb 9, 2019
What is the most stressful part about working at Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores?
Asked Apr 6, 2017
What was horrible for me is the way I was treated by upper management. I was constantly having to go to work when I wasn't scheduled. I had to work really hard while they let other employees do nothing. The employees that caused the most drama and started rumors and talked about everyone is the one that ended up getting a company award. While the rest of us got worked to death. They would treat employees unfairly like demanding that one employee bring a doctor's note for missing while another employee missed constantly and never had to have a doctor's note at all. The favoritism shown there was very stressful along with the promises of promotions and pay increase and after doing the work for the promised position for a month but still never got the title or the pay increase but they still expected me to keep doing the extra work. The upper management stressed me out on how poorly I was treated.
Answered Jul 8, 2020
The treat of being fired and not having the managers support. Long hours working to cover for those who either aren't at work or goofing off during work day. Manager was very bias and discriminatory against age and ....
Answered Feb 11, 2020
What benefits does Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores offer?
Asked Jul 20, 2016
Ok benefits for the average employee, but upper management get great perks the average worker will never personally achieve, but they do help upper management get theirs.
Answered Feb 11, 2020
Doctor visits and vision and dental to a limited extent dependents and spouse can be on the policy too.
