by Max Novick, Operations Development Coordinator 

When you think about delivering food, you might picture a quick drop-off and a wave goodbye. But for Novick drivers serving childcare centers, it’s a whole different story. Every stop matters because every child matters—and that means safety, accuracy, and care are non-negotiable.

Training That Goes Beyond Driving
Before a driver ever hits the road solo, they spend three weeks with a trained instructor. It’s hands-on, with daily evaluations and constant feedback. After training, drivers are gradually introduced to routes so managers can learn where they excel—whether that’s navigating tight city streets or handling longer suburban drives. And it’s not just drivers who learn. Our warehouse team shadows drivers during training to understand the client experience firsthand. Why? Because every pallet built impacts a child’s day.

Making Delivery the Easiest Part of the Day
Our goal is simple: every client should have a positive experience, every time. That means more than just showing up on time. Drivers act as Novick ambassadors, going above and beyond— helping clients who need it by separating dry, cooler, and frozen products, moving slowly around children, and being conscious of blocking parent pickup lines. Safety is everything. No overstacked hand trucks, no leaving items where little hands can reach. We want delivery to be the easiest part of a client’s day.

Challenges? We Handle Them Together.
From tight parking lots to steep stairways, childcare deliveries come with unique challenges. Drivers pay extra attention to pedestrian safety and never leave product unattended. If a client isn’t available, they work with our Customer Service Group and transportation managers to find solutions. Inside, they collaborate with kitchen staff on special requests and even help put away heavy items for those that need help. And when issues arise—like missing or damaged items—we dig deep to find the root cause in weekly error review meetings. It’s all about accountability and teamwork.

Looking Ahead
We’re proud of the care our drivers take, but we’re not stopping there. Novick is exploring a new Childcare Plus Certification program to provide additional training in food safety, first aid, CPR, and customer service. Because when it comes to serving children, there’s no such thing as “good enough.”

The Bottom Line
Every delivery is a promise—a promise that Novick will do the hard work behind the scenes to make life easier for our clients. From rigorous training to constant quality checks, we go the extra mile (literally) to exceed expectations. Because for us, it’s not just about food. It’s about trust.