UPS Freight Diary:

Discussion in 'LTL and Local Delivery Trucking Forum' started by Russian Rabbit, Jan 3, 2016.

  1. LtlAnonymous

    LtlAnonymous Road Train Member

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    I suppose it's that way anywhere. All part of being a responsible employee.
     
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  3. BigDog Trucker

    BigDog Trucker Heavy Load Member

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    I hear ya. It was def eye-opening when I worked for that company.
     
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  4. LtlAnonymous

    LtlAnonymous Road Train Member

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    Were you freight or small package?
     
  5. BigDog Trucker

    BigDog Trucker Heavy Load Member

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    I was freight. My time there was brief, about 8 months. The hours I got used to actually, but after seeing how the company treated the freight guys with the new contract, I said F it. The combo of working 60+ hrs a wk along with being treated like a piece of trash with the contract negotiations was enough for me. I actually had a spot to get in as a feeder full-time also, but turned that down. The way small pack worked seniority meant that if I came in as a feeder and worked my way up after a few yrs, at any time a delivery driver could come over and bump me on the list if they became a feeder driver and had more years at that terminal then me.

    UPS is a very solid company and does offer good pay and benefits. Cant fault anyone for working there as it can provide a great quality of life as far as a home and cars and providing for a family goes. But in my opinion if a good work schedule is more important for you along with valuing yourself and being able to spend time with the kids and all, then its not the best job. It'd be a phenomenal job if someone was early 20s with no family or anything like that. Then by the time theyre 40, they have plenty of seniority and most likely a good bid.
     
    Last edited: Jun 24, 2020
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  6. Bob Dobalina

    Bob Dobalina Road Train Member

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    There are two schools of thought regarding the Roth. One is that you should opt for Traditional instead because your tax bracket should be higher during your earning years than it will be in retirement when your income needs are lower due to your house being paid off, kids out of the house, etc.

    However, current income tax rates are very low historically speaking and the budget deficit is out of control. At some point, taxes will likely be raised to compensate for that. If income tax levels are much higher at the time you retire, it may not even matter that you withdraw a lot less to live on; the taxes you end up paying on the distributions from a Traditional IRA/401k might be a higher percentage than tax rates were during your working years. In that case, the Roth would've been better. @Banker also pointed out the added benefit of tax-free growth in Roth accounts.

    My ultimate goal is to eventually max out both my Traditional 401k and Roth IRA. The way I see it, my 401k offers a guaranteed immediate return in the form of my employer's match and my reduction in taxable income, and the Roth account guarantees that none of its growth will be taxed (as long as the securities in it are held for 5 years and not traded). Even if I maxed both of those out ($25,500), my current income less those contributions is higher by far than I ever made at any other job, so I don't see why I couldn't live off that amount just fine.
     
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  7. Banker

    Banker Road Train Member

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    My financial planning goals for nearly 30 years have been to double my income when I retire. 59.5 and some change is my target date and still very close to being on track. @LtlAnonymous will also if he plays his cards right with his great income and future pension.
     
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  8. LtlAnonymous

    LtlAnonymous Road Train Member

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    Those are all fair points. I was also surprised by how negotiations went this past contract. I know Freight is one of if not THE highest-paying LTL companies, but I guess they wanted to let the competition catch up a little. Shame.

    And yes, the hours can be insane, and seniority at certain terminals is insane. I wouldn't say UPS is for everyone at every terminal. I'm lucky I'm just crazy enough and at a good terminal to make this work.
     
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  9. LtlAnonymous

    LtlAnonymous Road Train Member

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    All excellent points. And of COURSE we're going to have to pay the piper for all this debt. The way this country runs is nothing short of insane. I'll pay the taxes now and not deal with that mess later on.
     
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  10. LtlAnonymous

    LtlAnonymous Road Train Member

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    It will be an amazing feat, to retire in style. My wife and I need to make the best of the hand we've made for ourselves. She was unbelievable in the early going at UPS. Gotta do right by her.
     
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  11. BigDog Trucker

    BigDog Trucker Heavy Load Member

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    Ups is in the review now. Im over at the water company making as much in a paycheck as what it'd take 5 yrs at freight to get to. Def a little more physical work for sure, but pay is real good and I have a M-F schedule and am done by 4, with all the OT I can soak up if I want.
     
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