Thanks for the replies everyone,
So now my center manager is on this no 9.5 bit, as I go in (at 9 now because lately I've been refusing to touch this truck before start time) my truck is continuously blown out with the post office.. which adds damn near 2hrs to my day because of the sheer amount of packages.
Previously the post office was loaded onto a separate truck which was brought out to me around 11am by an air driver.. Ok great, without the post office 'loaded' on my truck I'd routinely knock the route out and be on my way back by 5. Now that the post office is on my truck for whatever reason, I can no longer do any ground with airs and my load quality has suffered greatly because of the extra 200+ packages on it everyday. Keep in mind that I'm in a p10.
So now because the post office won't all fit on my truck the little bit (maybe 10-30 or so pieces left over from the post office) that won't fit is brought out to me by a supervisor (because someone doesn't want the air drivers to do it anymore).
Now what gets me is because of the extra 200+ pieces that are loaded onto my truck I can do no ground+airs, no sorting the truck in the am, and because the preload sups are pressured to fit everything in they throw it all in and everything on the ground gets scattered. Oh and whatever comes down the belt after it (be it 1000 Pal.. 5000 Pal) is thrown in the back because it becomes impossible to load. So because of this one hiccup I'm routinely coming back to the building anywhere between 8-7pm. My center manager acts like I'm doing it on purpose and it's my fault. Even though I let them know in the AM before we even get on road that if they want me to make 9.5 I'll need help, of course no help ever comes.
So now, my supervisor told me that he's ready to begin discipline. I said let em. If anything this past month has made me into one of the most 'follow the method' drivers in the entire center. Speed is no longer my concern because you know what, when I tell you the reason I'm coming behind and you blame me I begin to care less and less about my OT. Which I might add has begun to beef up my paycheck. The target on my back is what I'll have to get used too.
I don't know how long you've been driving, but your daily routine should ALWAYS be by the methods, by the book. This is a case where UPS's advice is very useful, turned on it's head. You know how they will talk safety, and tell you to always do this or that--EVERYTIME--just in case? Good advice, particularly when it comes to the methods. Do it by the book everyday, all day, then you won't need to worry about when they come after you and your job. There will always be days when you could, and can, easily take a shortcut to save time or avoid a hassle. Don't do it. Stay in the habit of doing things by the book.
While they are pressuring you about numbers, maybe even threatening you about them, that's not what will get you fired. If they want you bad enough, they will just wait until you make a mistake, and fire you for that. It seems like so few drivers do the methods to the letter, every single day. Another thread can debate the reasons for that, but it is true. And for the most part, unless it involves an accident or service failure, UPS will never say anything about it. But once the target is on your back, you better be sure you're working flawlessly.
A lot of drivers will moan about it, and say what a pain in the ass it is, but again, it is just a habit. It only takes a few weeks to get your methods in perfect order, but what torpedoes most routines is the shortcuts and lazy habits. Try it one day, no shortcuts, everything by the letter. Then start adding those days up. Like I say, a few weeks later, it will be your new routine. Then they can ride with you, bitch about numbers and harass you in every way you might imagine. That's ok, because when you start filling a file of grievances on them, you will be safe, knowing your methods are bulletproof. But you better be sure you're serious about it, because this isn't something you can just turn on and off for a few weeks at a time. If you do it only when they pressure you, I can guarantee that you will make a mistake, because you will be thinking about being perfect, instead of working like it.
Now, you WON''T be absolutely perfect, but if your methods are airtight, any mistakes that may happen, should be very minor, and probably undetectable by the man.
