Con-Way Freight or UPS?

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by Boonie, Nov 28, 2011.

  1. SHC

    SHC Spoiled Rotten Brat O/O

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    I left UPS after high school. I got hired on in July of '97 and was a permenant hire unloader. As a package handler you will actually be going on the route with the driver to assist them with deliveries. This is a seasonal temp-hire position and they will let u go after Christmas. They hire about 20 people per terminal for the temp help. So there is no future for you at UPS at this time. Just from my experience as I went thru 2 holiday seasons with them and watched the guys come and go.... Conway seems like your best bet.
     
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  3. Air Cooled

    Air Cooled Road Train Member

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    I started as a driver in 2009 during September which was to prepare me for the busy Xmas season. I was living in the Baltimore/DC area so freight was very high and they were desperate for drivers. Kinda odd bc I see the stories in this thread and I know first hand how the conditions are. However, after Xmas I was laid off and placed inside the building loading/unloading trailers and went from $20 an hour 50plus hours a week to 20 hours making $8 an hour. I did this for a while and became a swing driver begging guys with seniority to take a PAID day off so that I could run their route and make a decent wage for the day. Depending on your area you could be a driver sooner if you live near a large hub like Philly, Louisville, Chicago etc... but take it from me...go Conway. You will get your CDL YEARS sooner and make better money to start off. You can be a feeder driver and make $40-$60 an hour depending on your area but that takes YEARS and the bid list to drive a TT at UPS (other than a UPS Freight City Driver) is longer than Santa's Xmas list.
     
  4. Boonie

    Boonie Light Load Member

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    So, if you pass their driver apprentice program and make $18/hr as a driver, you don't make that same amount when working the dock?
     
  5. 7122894003481

    7122894003481 Bobtail Member

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    Not even close.

    Top pay is right around $32 an hour, regardless of what your cousins coworkers uncles friend told you.
     
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  6. 7122894003481

    7122894003481 Bobtail Member

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    Heres the thing, theres regular UPS, and then theres UPS Freight, which is an LTL company similar to Conway, Old Dominion, ABF, Estes etc... I work for the LTL, but I know alot about both sides of it.

    UPS Freight you can get hired on directly as a full time driver. At most terminals, you dont even have to start out part time and work your way into driving.

    UPS you will be waiting for years and years before you even see a truck, like I said before.

    Both companies will get you home every night, most of the time. Depending on the location of the terminal, and the run you are on, you may stay out for a night or two, but for the most part, you are home every night.
     
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  7. Boonie

    Boonie Light Load Member

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    Yours was the most informative post so far! Thanks! Does the Freight side hire CDL holders with no experience other than straight out of trucking school?
     
    Last edited: Dec 1, 2011
  8. 7122894003481

    7122894003481 Bobtail Member

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    Yes, they absolutely do. To be honest, it is a bad time of year to be looking for an LTL job. We are slowing down. Usually around April-May is when we start hiring drivers for the year.

    Where do you live? Thats going to be a major factor in if you have a chance at an LTL job.
     
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  9. SHC

    SHC Spoiled Rotten Brat O/O

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    My next door neighbor is the one who helped me get in at UPS back in HS. He currently makes $52hr as a doubles driver going from Tri-City to Indy, but he has also been working there since 1968
     
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  10. Air Cooled

    Air Cooled Road Train Member

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    As a package driver top scale is around $30-33 an hour I know I was a package driver. I was referring to the feeder drivers that pull doubles and triples from hub to hub. The bid list is very long to drive a TT and be a feeder driver. UPS freight is a different area than the feeders.
     
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  11. Boonie

    Boonie Light Load Member

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    What is a "TT"?
     
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