Anyone work for UPS?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by morgothaod, Nov 26, 2014.

  1. morgothaod

    morgothaod Bobtail Member

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    What's a typical day driving for UPS like? How many hours do you work? What was your starting pay? Do you get overtime? How do you transport heavy packages (Like if you need to use the stairs)? What do you do if your vehicle breaks down? Do you have to work in any other positions in the company before becoming a driver? If yes, what position and for how long? What do you like and dislike about your job? How many days do you get off each week/month? What advice would you give to someone considering this job? What benefits do you receive? Lastly, what are the differences in job duties for someone driving [​IMG]

    and

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    ?

    Thanks a lot.
     
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  3. zaptear

    zaptear Medium Load Member

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    I'm going to just.guess but truck 1 you bust your ##### and truck 2 not so much
     
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  4. kemosabi49

    kemosabi49 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    Two different operating companies in these pics. #1 UPS may drive either type vehicle, are union, and you probably start as a casual employee and work your way up. #2 is UPS Freight, a regular freight hauling company, non union, I believe.
     
  5. SHO-TYME

    SHO-TYME Road Train Member

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    There are also the feeder drivers which go into the UPS portion, they run from hub to hub.
     
  6. lagbrosdetmi

    lagbrosdetmi Box Monkey

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    Flip that. Freight is union, parcel not.
     
  7. Marksteven

    Marksteven Road Train Member

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    Sorry but they are Both Teamster companies and parcel pays better
     
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  8. Lark

    Lark Bobtail Member

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    Years ago UPS came to my company to make a presentation on logistics. We were an aviation company and they made a pitch to see if they could help with logistics. Afterwords I mentioned I'd never seen a delivery person driving slow or walking slow making a delivery. I knew they were union so it seemed a little strange. He said UPS knows exactly how long it takes to do every task in the company. Whether it's delivering packages or changing a starter motor on a company truck. He indicated they use conservitive numbers and when drivers exceed the numbers they get more money. Guess that explains why I've had packages dropped off at my house at 8:00 pm.
     
  9. wyldhorses

    wyldhorses Medium Load Member

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    Yep, UPS has every little thing down to a freaking science. There was a story on CNBC about how they spend thousands of research hours on routing and what routes for their trucks to take. The report said they calculate routes to make right turns instead of lefts when possible, and every dog gone little thing you can think of and that is has saved them millions upon millions of dollars in fuel for doing their routing research.
     
  10. Bucky

    Bucky Light Load Member

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    UPS has three very separate and very different trucking companies.

    Parcel - this is the package cars and tractor trailers that supply package cars with freight. Driving a tractor trailer in this division is perhaps the highest paying trucking job in the US. XX per hour and time and a half after 8 (eight) hours. The downside - it is rare to almost non existent that you get hired off the street to drive tractor trailers (aka "feeder drivers") full time for the parcel division. You can however, work this division for a month or so at Christmas, but it is made very clear from day one that when 1/1/new year rolls around, you are gone. To get full time tractor trailer jobs in the parcel division, you must go up through the ranks of dock worker, package car driver, then eventually if at all on to feeder driver. Position is Teamsters with Teamsters health insurance and pension.

    UPS LTL - This division began after the acquisition of Overnite Transportation. It is a union job at far less pay than the parcel division, but still a decent job once your seniority falls in place. This division often runs single axle tractors pulling doubles, with multi color paint jobs and stripes on the vehicles. Some Overnite logos are still in the mix too. Job is also teamsters at far less than parcel driver rates, but comparable in pay and benefits to other union LTL carriers.

    Truckload - This job is not what I would call among the best in the TL sector. No APUs, low pay, and zero union benefits as the division is non union. I will leave it up to the individual to verify my negative comments by their own research, but if one thinks "Oh, it's UPS so it must be a good job" I think that individual will be surprised at how dismal the job really is. It is my very strong belief that if one wants a TL driving job, there are many many other companies offering MUCH better driving jobs than UPS truckload. *

    It is my belief that UPS wanted into freight hauling only to supplement their traffic pattern needs to their jewel in the crown -- the parcel division. Why else would a high profit entity want to get into break even at best commerce? So far their attempts at integrating freight cartage into parcel traffic lanes have been less than successful. The parcel division is standing firm at "no how, no way."

    Before we even think about making this a "poor UPS and the nasty Unions" know that in the history of UPS, it was the UPS founder who went to the Teamsters at day one and said "I need drivers - please help me."

    *Note about those who drive for UPS TL - Our choice in driving jobs is very often dictated by geography, as in, where I live vs, who has a terminal where. I don't fault UPS TL drivers for their choice to drive there. Perhaps it is the absolute best choice for them, and it could be I would be in that same groove. I just want to repeat myself that if one thinks because the UPS logo is on the door, UPS TL must be an awesome job, please research it thoroughly before you sign on there. You just might be surprised at how not so good it really is there. Just my two cent...
     
    Last edited: Nov 27, 2014
  11. Grouch

    Grouch Road Train Member

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    Bucky, glad you sit some of these people straight. I find some of the comments about UPS right down ignorant. Yes, both UPS and UPS Freight are union with the exception of a couple of terminals in the freight division(bunch of "parasites") The truckload division is not union. Both UPS and UPS Freight are "prime" jobs, excellent pay and benefits.
     
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