FT Package finally!!!!
- Thread starter Kylew
- Start date
helenofcalifornia
Well-Known Member
Congratulations!! Did you drive at all before you went FT?
satellitedriver
Moderator
Great news, and congratulations!!!!
Good way to start a new year.
May your years at UPS be prosperous.
My only advice is that you do everything possible to come home safe and sound each day.
BrownArmy
Well-Known Member
Congratulations Kylew...
Like Sat said, the most important stop is the last stop, which is home!
Welcome to the brown army...
helenofcalifornia
Well-Known Member
And what the heck is Sat doing home so early???
Catatonic
Nine Lives
Still on his Peak Season assignment.
whiskey
Well-Known Member
Congrats!! It gets easier, but it's always hard.
Congrats Kylew! Some advice I have is to turn on your hazard lights while pulling up to the stop, not after you stop. Also honk your horn a couple times while rolling up to your next stop, then while walking to the delivery point yell "UPS"! This gets the attention of your customer as well as any dogs that may be in the area. I don't do anything with the infonotice until after I'm at the door and have knocked and rang the doorbell. What else are you going to do while waiting a second to see if anyone is home? If there is no answer by the time I fill out the infonotice, I knock and ring the doorbell again, then fill out the service cross on the package. If by this time there is no answer, I am on my way back to the truck. The walk back to the truck is a good time to glance at EDD if needed to plan your next stops. I always try to keep moving packages forward on the shelves to minimize the time and distance I'm walking in the back of the truck. Riding in an elevator is the perfect time to sheet packages or scan ahead in your EDD to make a gameplan for your upcoming stops. I organize my entire truck right before it gets dark, so that I don't have any trouble finding packages. If I have ground packages for an address that has an air stop, and I have time and am able to get to the packages easily, I deliver them at the same time. No sense in revisiting the same place later. Maglights work good at night, since the beam of light can be focused and pointed at house numbers. A quick way to verify that you are at a correct address that you are unsure of is to check inside the mailbox. Usually the residence name will be printed inside or there will be mail with their address on it. These are some methods I utilize to get my job done in an efficient manner. Most important thing though is to protect yourself and your truck, and do not break UPS's rules...work as though there is a manager by your side at all times...management and/or the public is always watching you whether you see them or not. Good luck in the future!
I found this a post that I replied with some time ago to someone else who had a similar question. Some of it is redundant, but there are a couple other tips here for you.
"in general just having the ability to plan ahead makes the biggest difference. Being flexible in your route to adjust for unusually large stops or traffic etc. Deliver ground with air if possible including the nearby area. Try to never back track for any reason. Hide the package on the porch before you ring the doorbell to avoid customer contact. Don't waste alot of time looking for hidden packages if you will be in that area again later during p/u's. EDD is great, but never perfect..surely there's a few shortcuts for each route. In our area entire areas are traced poorly. Break EDD wherever you can save time unless it will be a problem with where the packages are loaded in your truck. When you have to take more than a step or two in your truck to grap the next package, slide a group of packages towards the front of the shelf. Never waste time using the diad if you'll get a chance to do it while walking back the the truck etc. When riding elevators I scan the packages I'm about to deliver. I find the COD's first when I'm at a bulk stop, so they can get the money while I unload all their stuff. Use the bathroom at places you're delivering to. Multi-tasking can save alot of time. Before driving to a stop that is out in the boonies, I find the package before going there, so I know it's not a wasted trip. Be nice to everyone at business even if you don't like them. Having your customers on your side can save you lots of time. Maybe last but not least, set goals for yourself. I always try to have certain areas done by a certain time, if I don't pace myself that way, I just get lazy.
"in general just having the ability to plan ahead makes the biggest difference. Being flexible in your route to adjust for unusually large stops or traffic etc. Deliver ground with air if possible including the nearby area. Try to never back track for any reason. Hide the package on the porch before you ring the doorbell to avoid customer contact. Don't waste alot of time looking for hidden packages if you will be in that area again later during p/u's. EDD is great, but never perfect..surely there's a few shortcuts for each route. In our area entire areas are traced poorly. Break EDD wherever you can save time unless it will be a problem with where the packages are loaded in your truck. When you have to take more than a step or two in your truck to grap the next package, slide a group of packages towards the front of the shelf. Never waste time using the diad if you'll get a chance to do it while walking back the the truck etc. When riding elevators I scan the packages I'm about to deliver. I find the COD's first when I'm at a bulk stop, so they can get the money while I unload all their stuff. Use the bathroom at places you're delivering to. Multi-tasking can save alot of time. Before driving to a stop that is out in the boonies, I find the package before going there, so I know it's not a wasted trip. Be nice to everyone at business even if you don't like them. Having your customers on your side can save you lots of time. Maybe last but not least, set goals for yourself. I always try to have certain areas done by a certain time, if I don't pace myself that way, I just get lazy.
NycAirDriver
Member
HAHAHAA you ARE SO RIGHT!!!! THATS UPS FOR YOU
UpstateNYUPSer(Ret)
Well-Known Member
Flashers are only meant to be used to alert others to the possiblity of an unsafe situation, such as not being able to pull the PC entirely off of the road or double-parking. Using them at every stop defeats the purpose. The same goes for the horn.
L
Luis Milan
Guest
What part of the country r u in? That needs so much help. I want to know so I can move there. Too many lay offs in main st.(Los Angeles)
I disagree. Using your horn and hazards at every stop is the best way to make sure everyone in the area is aware of you and your package car. This will keep you and your package car safe as well as occassionally getting a customer to their front door before you do. It also alerts a vehicle that is following you that you are about to pull to the side of the road, so they don't rear end you. Besides, if you do this while rolling up to the stop, there is no time wasted at all.
brownmonster
Man of Great Wisdom
4 ways on every stop here. I have seen drivers in other cities without them on and wondered why. Boss wants me to use my horn in every parking lot I drive through. I guess my job is to annoy the general public.
Anonymous 10
Guest
That's the right way.
UpstateNYUPSer(Ret)
Well-Known Member
I blow the horn at every residential stop per the methods but use it with discretion in my commercial areas. I also use it to alert other drivers who either may not see me or appear to be distracted. I only use the flashers if I am unable to get all the way off the road or am double-parked. Over use of the horn and flashers tend to diminish their purpose.
