I will be starting at the day sort position within a few months. My ultimate goal is to become a driver and I know that in this economy it’s going to be extra challenging. So once I take this job can I possibly continue to "shop" for other positions that could possibly get me into a package car faster then what my current route will be? I'm adaptable so if I have to move 1,000 miles away then so be it. I just want to make sure that be taking this position I’m not stuck at this location forever.
It's all seniority. A full-time inside job popped up and I had enough seniority around 5 years part-time to bid on it, pass driving and DOT physical and get the job. That was almost 3 years ago.
The longer you have with the company and union, the more authority you have to bid into these jobs. Your best bet is to find another job aside from UPS (maybe early morning 6-11, or night 6-11) for years to come if you REALLY want to hold out for a driver job.
Yes, there are rare cases where someone gets LUCKY and gets into driving without going the hard way. Unfortunately, with the economy the way it is and drivers being laid off, they will return to work to fill the jobs that were consolidated or altogether removed before new drivers can bid in as they have the seniority and rights to those jobs.
I suggest going to school and getting a degree, or a trade, and persuing something else. Or, you could work the day sort and again find somethign else to get by until you have the "juice" to get into friend/T driving and on the friend/T seniority list.
Just my 2 cents