David's House

Pros

• A driver appreciated the driver appreciation bag from Wayne-Sanderson Farms.
• The company is good and has friendly staff.
• The facility is beautiful and the company is well-regarded.
• Staff are friendly and welcoming, often greeting drivers with a smile.
• The check-in process is easy with clear directions to shipping and paperwork.
• There are convenient food options nearby in Mt. Airy.
• Security staff are pleasant and the overall process is approachable.
• Some drivers experienced fast loading times, showing efficiency on occasion.
• The team is described as doing a great job and creating a positive atmosphere.

Cons

• The loading process dragged on for nine hours, while drivers' logbooks expired, leaving them legally unable to drive yet told to leave the property.
• The operation is described as extreme irresponsibility and complete disregard for drivers' time.
• Drivers are warned not to take loads because loading can consume an entire day.
• Even with an 11:00 a.m. check-in, drivers were waiting many hours later, sometimes into the evening, without being loaded.
• The shipping clerk reportedly spent several minutes discussing personal matters before acknowledging drivers.
• Restrooms are often unavailable or out of order, forcing drivers to seek alternatives.
• The trailer yard and grounds are muddy and full of potholes, making conditions difficult and risky for equipment.
• Long waits to be loaded (7?9+ hours) with little to no communication about progress are common.
• On some visits, drivers received only partial loading or wrong product, requiring reloads and additional delays.
• Many reviewers say to avoid this facility, with some calling it the worst place ever and criticizing its cleanliness and maintenance.

Review

The reviews portray a chicken processing and loading facility in Dobson, NC that elicits wildly divergent experiences from truck drivers. On one hand, there are calls that celebrate the site as a well-managed operation with friendly staff and straightforward procedures. On the other hand, a torrent of accounts paints a picture of maddening delays, rough conditions, and frustrating bottlenecks that can eat an entire day or more out of a driver's schedule. The spectrum of opinions centers on the pace of loading, the efficiency of the check-in process, and the state of the facilities and amenities behind the scenes.

A recurring theme is extreme wait times that clash with drivers' schedules and regulatory constraints. Several drivers report arriving well before their appointment windows - some at 7:30 a.m. for a 9:30?9:45 a.m. slot - and then watching the loading drag on for hours. One driver recounts waiting nine hours just to complete loading, with a logbook that expired long before the process finished and a directive to leave the property despite being legally unable to drive. Others describe checking in early and still not being loaded by late afternoon or even into the next day. The consistency of these long waits - sometimes extending past 7 p.m., 9 p.m., or even into the next day - has led some to warn others to avoid the site altogether, citing the risk of wasting a full day of work.

The sequence of events around check-in and paperwork frequently adds to the frustration. In several reviews, the shipping personnel are described as slow to acknowledge drivers or preoccupied with personal matters, delaying what should be routine paperwork collection. A driver notes spending about ten minutes discussing personal issues before being attended to, despite repeatedly polite requests for documents. In another account, the process requires navigating multiple steps: checking in at the gate, proceeding to an office, dropping the trailer in a gravel lot, waiting in a second area until the call is made, and then dealing with seal placement and paperwork. The sense conveyed is that administrative bottlenecks compound the physical delay of loading, turning a standard check-in into an elongated, often confusing, procedure.

The physical and logistical conditions of the site contribute to some of the negative impressions. Drivers consistently mention a muddy, pothole-ridden yard that makes maneuvering and parking challenging. Some describe the lots as dirt or gravel with noticeable potholes, contributing to a perception of an ill-maintained environment. The lack of adequate restroom facilities in certain areas is another recurring grievance; several drivers report that there are no bathrooms accessible from the bobtail area or that the restrooms are out of order, forcing drivers to improvise or seek alternatives. The combination of a messy yard, limited facilities, and slow loading creates an overall sense of an inefficient and uncomfortable experience for those whose primary objective is a fast, predictable loading operation.

There are mixed notes about the staff and the overall atmosphere inside the operation. A number of reviews highlight courteous, helpful personnel and a generally friendly environment. One reviewer says staff have always treated them nicely and that security is laid back and easygoing, with practical guidance on where to go and what to do. Several accounts describe security as reasonably accommodating, including allowing drivers to stay on-site or step away briefly to take care of personal business while waiting. In contrast, other drivers echo the opposite experience, describing unhelpful or indifferent staff, delays in getting paperwork, and harsh or dismissive attitudes when asked for information. This tension between occasional positive interactions and frequent reports of frustration contributes to an inconsistent overall impression of the site.

The variability in outcomes appears to be tied to the plant's operational realities and the nature of the load. Some reviewers stress that this is a processing plant where live chickens are delivered and processed per customer orders, not a simple storage or cross-docking facility. They emphasize that delays can occur due to upstream feed and processing issues, equipment hiccups, or a lack of ready product, which can cascade into long waits for drivers. A few entries acknowledge the challenges of the workflow and plead for greater patience and mutual respect between drivers and plant staff, arguing that everyone is performing a difficult job within a highly structured system.

Despite the frustrations, there are consistently positive notes about what makes the site workable for some drivers. Several reviews praise the ease of navigation once you understand the layout: parking a trailer in the gravel lot, checking in, and then waiting in a designated area until the load is ready. Drivers who have had good experiences mention ample on-site parking options, nearby food choices, and the capacity to stay on-site or come back after a break. Some recall clean trailers and adherence to basic safety checks, including seals and reefer temperature considerations, as the process progresses. A few even reference specific, constructive tips about the check-in flow and patience, suggesting that with the right expectations, the site can function more smoothly.

Ultimately, the body of reviews conveys a cautionary message to drivers: approach this site prepared for significant variability in wait times, be ready for a lengthy process, and plan for contingencies if you're on a tight schedule. The stories range from praise for courteous staff and straightforward procedures to stern warnings that "don't take this load" if you're trying to optimize a single day's work. The sentiment coalesces around one central truth: this facility operates within a demanding, high-volume environment where loading can be slow, logistical chokepoints abound, and the impact on a driver's day can be substantial, with occasional bright spots of helpful service balancing the ongoing concerns about efficiency and amenities.

Dobson, North Carolina, offers a variety of amenities for seniors looking to settle in the area. There are several dining options nearby, including Coppola's Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant and Cracker Barrel, as well as convenient pharmacies like Health Mart Pharmacy and CVS Pharmacy. For medical needs, there are multiple physician offices within a reasonable distance, such as Primary Care Of Mt Airy and Northern Pediatrics. In terms of recreation, residents can enjoy parks like Riverside Park and Blue Ridge Parkway for outdoor activities. Additionally, there are theaters like Creekside Cinemas and Twin County Cinemas III for entertainment options. With hospitals such as Surry Community Health Center by Harborview and Twin County Regional Hospital nearby, seniors can have peace of mind knowing that quality healthcare services are easily accessible. Overall, Dobson provides a comfortable and convenient environment for seniors looking to retire in the area.

Restaurants

• Cook Out (8.8 miles)
• Coppola's Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant (8.9 miles)
• Cracker Barrel (8.9 miles)
• East Coast Wings + Grill (8.9 miles)
• Wendy's (9 miles)
• 13 Bones (9 miles)
• Pizza Hut (9.2 miles)

Places of Worship

• Woodland Baptist Church (8.9 miles)
• Sanctuary (9.7 miles)
• Jehovah's Witnesses (9.8 miles)
• First Presbyterian Church (9.9 miles)
• Bannertown Baptist Church (10.1 miles)
• Southern Baptist Convention (10.3 miles)
• Flat Rock Church of God (11.5 miles)

Theaters

• Creekside Cinemas (9.4 miles)
• Twin County Cinemas III (21.9 miles)

Physicians

• Primary Care Of Mt Airy (9.7 miles)
• Northern Pediatrics (10.2 miles)
• Rhoden Carl-Ray D MD - Novant Health Surry Medical Associates (10.7 miles)
• Medical Associates of Surry (10.7 miles)
• Novant Health Cardiology (11.4 miles)
• Heart & Vascular Center (11.4 miles)
• Heart & Vascular Center (21.4 miles)

Pharmacies

• Health Mart Pharmacy (9.8 miles)
• Medicine Shoppe (9.8 miles)
• Epic Pharmacies (10.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (21.8 miles)
• Walgreens (21.9 miles)
• Galax Pharmacy (21.9 miles)

Cafes

• Pages Books & Coffee (10 miles)
• Stringbean (21.4 miles)
• Crooked Creek Café (21.5 miles)
• Crossroad Cafe (21.7 miles)

Parks

• Riverside Park (10.3 miles)
• Blue Ridge Parkway (11.6 miles)
• Granite Quarry Overlook (16.9 miles)
• Crooked Creek Fish Management Area (20.9 miles)
• Matthews State Forest (21.4 miles)
• Mountain View Park (21.9 miles)
• New River Trail (21.9 miles)

Hospitals

• Surry Community Health Center by Harborview (10.8 miles)
• Rogers Plumbing (17.1 miles)
• Horizon Medical Equipment (21.9 miles)
• Twin County Regional Hospital (22 miles)
• Mountain High Chiropractic (22.1 miles)
• Life Point Hospitals (22.1 miles)

Transportation

• Enterprise Rent-A-Car (21.8 miles)
• Alamo (21.8 miles)