T4210 - Soft drink distribution as a business

Operational Details
Soft drink distributors are under contract to pick up and deliver for soft drink manufacturers. The process involves operating a tractor-trailer that is specially designed to haul crates or cartons of soft drinks. The trailer may be an open or closed van body. The products are loaded by the soft drink manufacturer onto the truck and the driver delivers and off-loads the product to the customer’s place of business.

The manufacturer’s representatives and marketing personnel decide when and where the soft drinks are to be delivered and the responsibility of the driver is to deliver as directed. Non-performance may mean the cancelling of the contract for hauling the beverages.

This industry does not include the storage or processing of the product.

While soft drink distributors may put forth the argument they should be classified the same as soft drink manufacturers, they cannot be considered to be in the same industry. This is on account of the fact the soft drink manufacturer’s risks and activities are far more broad. The distributor has the specific risks of delivering the product and off-loading it.

SIC Codes
000000818 - Soft drink distribution