With all due respect to all the other delivery persons who deliver items on Park Street, there is but one king, one legend, one exalted driver of both vehicle and hand truck. His van is brown, his head is bald, and for 25 years he has brought home the goods with a smile, with confidence, and with a distinct panache. His name is Derrick Reynolds and I’m not exaggerating when I say that he has the verve of a Formula 1 driver and the presence of Cary Grant.
We don’t quite have sleet and snow for Derrick to conquer, but on all days hot or cold, through foggy drizzle or rain, he’s been out there parking his whale of a truck, loading boxes onto his two-wheel chariot, and then making his way down the sidewalk, maneuvering past strollers, skaters, and phone distracted teenagers like a crafty skipper working his boat through whitewater rapids.
Jerry Thompson, Event Coordinator at Books Inc., had this to say about the Delivery King: “Derrick carries a light of good vibes, good times, and memories. As soon as he smiles, all troubles seem to fade away.” A true Park Street treasure Let’s get to know everyone’s favorite delivery driver with his answers to 5Q4 King Derrick.
How long have you been driving for UPS, and how long have you been delivering on Park Street?
I started at UPS in 2000, mid-year. I worked for a manufacturer’s representative corporation that was moving out of the Bay Area and my UPS driver convinced me to stay in the Bay and lined me up with an Interview with UPS. That was 25 years ago this June. I’ve been on Park Street for 20 years.
You seem to have a classic East Bay vibe about you, are you from here?
Where are you from? You just made me laugh, I get that a lot. Fremont. I’m the youngest of five other military brats born all over the world. Fort Devens in Massachusetts is my bragging right from my father’s 20 years of service. So, born in Massachusetts, then five years at Fort Ord (Monterey Bay) before the end of my father’s service, and finally Fremont, where I grew up (kinda).
Your job is physically demanding. How do you stay in shape and have you ever been injured from your work?
You’re making me laugh. I’m not in shape, but as long as you think I am and as long as I think I am, let’s convince some people. Around Park Street I do about 10 miles a day walking with UPS, lots of stairs to conquer. Cycling and chasing a 4-year-old around also helps.
You drive for UPS, sort of the grandfather of all the delivery companies. Do you get along with the other drivers of other companies who deliver on Park Street? What about the food delivery people?
Thanks to Alameda Public Works, I do get along with drivers of the food delivery. It’s been a process on Park Street that I’ve been watching for years, to make Park Street and Alameda safer, and it’s actually working. Public Works has opened a lot of parking, allowing all of us drivers to avoid blocking the bike lane on Park Street. But if you see me blocking the bike lane, just know I’ve tried not to and remember I’m a cyclist, too!
Ever have a Santa Claus experience, where your delivery makes someone’s day? And what about the opposite, any less than great experience with your job?
Several. I would say everyday people are happy to see UPS pull up, but not as happy as the passport delivery. Short film coming soon. Before all this technology that we have at UPS to find and locate drivers on your UPS app, you had to wait at home for us to come to you. I had a Time Commit Passport delivery one morning and the customer was leaving the country the very same morning—I didn’t know any of this ahead of time. When I pulled up to the house there was a cabbie leaning on his car, a lady standing on her porch, and luggage on the sidewalk that was not being loaded. It was like someone yelled “Action!” when they saw me coming. I was part of this plan and I didn’t know it. She slammed the door and locked the house, he loaded the luggage and slammed the trunk. “You have my passport! Thank you! Thank you!” Honestly, I think I was happier than she was because I wasn’t late.
My route has a lot of challenges all day long, from high school lunch hour on Park Street to the Park Street bridge going up at the wrong time, heavy lifting, and deadlines. This is no secret—I’m on this route because of my customers. All of them. Residential and Park Street included. I’ve been treated extremely well by these folks for many years.
Gene Kahane is the founder of the Foodbank Players, a lifelong teacher, and former Poet Laureate for the City of Alameda. Reach him at [email protected]. His writing is collected at AlamedaPost.com/Gene-Kahane.
