UPS Freight Basic Questions for 2019

You couldn't have said it any better. Freight and customers don't matter....numbers do. That's actually why I left, it just became nuts where I was at and it wasn't for me anymore. In package we were paid 06 in the diad (bonus) so you made your money by coming in under dispatch and getting that pay in OT rate but they just kept squeezing more and more out of the time study to make their numbers work. I made more money when I hit top rate at like $24/hr than I did when I left at $37/hr and worked less back then too. It's a great company as far as pay, benefits, and retirement but you need to know what you are getting into first. It's not for everyone...hell I was all about it for 15 years but the last two I wasn't anymore. I remember going to the overnite terminal when the buy was going down to get them on board for joining our local and got thrown out of the place. We were told to #### off because they haven't been union for 50 years and weren't gonna start now and we were idiots. NONE of those guys work there anymore...they were all worked into the ground or fired. That gives you an idea of how things work there lol.

 

There is no not getting it done. You get it done no matter what. Unreasonable? That's subjective as to what you consider unreasonable. The pay is awesome and I always said I get paid to get #### on, that's why they pay well. When I was in package there were countless times I would have to punch out on road to not go over my 14...I would be paid for it because of said bonus pay like I stated earlier but what would the consequences be if I got pulled over? Is that unreasonable...I didn't think so when I was younger because I was making a ton of money but now being 40 and having a family.....I decided to move on. Will management try to find a way to fire you if you don't hit their numbers? absof#ckingloutly! You do not matter, your customers do not matter, the freight does not matter, as stated above the laws do not matter.....the shareholders matters. Hell, management stabs themselves in the back constantly to try to get a step up, they are like assistant district attorneys... everything is a stepping stone in their personal career and it doesn't matter what lies are told and who gets hurt in the process. When I left parcel my supervisor was a 22 year old.....that should tell you something lol. Now I don't want to sound super negative here because I had many great years with UPS and that job allowed me to make the money I needed to set myself up to do whatever whenever I want at 40 years old. It's just most people don't realize what it's like to work for one of the world's largest corporations, everything you hear about "big, evil, greedy, corporate America" sounds like it's coming from the tinfoil hats but it's real and you will see it. Back to are they unreasonable....they pay you enough to stop asking that.

 

20 stops probably ain't gonna happen. You'll never have anytime to make pick-ups. You may have a combination of both pick-ups and deliveries that'll add up to 20...now that's possible.

How many deliveries and pick-ups depends a lot on what area you're working in. Could be urban, metro, rural, etc...or if you're just bumbing docks all day in an industrial area, or doing mostly residential deliveries or bulk deliveries and bulk pick-ups.

Obviously using a 48' or 53' trailer doesn't make any sense if you're making deliveries in the city or residential areas. Pups or straight trucks is more sensible. But dispatch for the most part will know what length trailers to use because most P&D drivers will have bid runs or dedicated locations or areas that they work in. So they tend to get to know their area and customers pretty well over time...except for residential deliveries. For the most part, you want to empty out as much of your trailer as possible making deliveries, so you have enough room for pick-ups. Pick-ups will constantly change on the DIAD scanner, as dispatch will add or remove pickups. You'll be able to communicate with dispatch through the DIAD, so they'll have a good idea whether if you can make these pick-ups or not. You also have to let dispatch know how much space is left in the trailer after each delivery or pickup, so they have a good idea of how much freight they can pickup at each stop. Time management is also important too. You don't want to hang around too long at one stop, as there are many other customers that also need their freight picked up or delivered too.

 

All the basic stuff for the road test will get you thru. NO coast to a stop, it stays in gear but that's pretty standard. Stay checking your mirrors every 3-5 seconds because they will most likely be looking for that, 3 points of contact in and out of the truck. Leave a decent amount of distance between you and the car in front of you when stopped. 3-6 seconds following distance under 35mph 6-10 seconds over 35mph. UPS bought license rights to the Smith system so if you know that you are golden. Good luck! Make that $$$

 

Im sorry to interrupt this, but I'm also interested to hear more about ups freight,

1. Thought they had free insurance, someone said one plan is free but the other plan you pay for is better.

2 when you first start what should I expect, their hiring for road drivers here in Buffalo NY.

3. How is the pay progression.

4. How does their pension work?

 

North reading, MA terminal?

 

The freight contract is available online. Also after doing a quick search looks like parcel is taking apps for feeder drivers in Buffalo.