Driver keeps the shelves stocked

Milk, it does the body good. But how does it get from the cow to that nice, refreshing glass in your hand?

It all starts at four in the morning when Glen Kraus climbs into his truck.

Kraus, a transportation driver, has been working for Cream O’ Weber for 27 years.

He starts off his day separating his work orders by store. First stop on the list is one of the biggest of the day – Wal-Mart. The store accepts much of the load the truck starts out with in the morning.

Kraus continues on to the 7-Elevens in the valley from 400 North to 1400 North and then out to Smithfield.

One of the biggest delivery days is Monday. Kraus, on average, will deliver more than 600 gallons of milk throughout the valley.

“You never know what you’ll see at this time of the morning,” he said.

Kraus said working at four in the morning may seem like you never run into people, but there are a lot out.

“You see some of the same people every day at about the same time,” he said.

A few years ago while in the back of the truck organizing the load, Kraus said a kid came up to the door and asked if he knew how to run a fire extinguisher. He said yes, and asked why. The kid explained he didn’t know how to run one and that his car was on fire.

Kraus said the best thing about his job is that he never has to stay in one place very long.

“I can get out on early retirement in about three years. That is a motivating factor for me to stay,” he said. “The hardest part of the job is being mindful about your activities the night before, you think twice before you go to a ball game.

“It’s a good living, good wage, life is comfortable,” Kraus said.

(John Zsiray )