Feeder drivers, is UPS the place to begin a career?

[Rick Ross]

FYI, you need to be 25 to get into feeders in my area... I assume that is nationwide.

 

[UpstateNYUPSer(Ret)]

Do they hire package car drivers off the street?

Yes and from my experience they are usually among the best drivers.

 

[UpstateNYUPSer(Ret)]

It almost surprises me that they wouldn't prefer hiring drivers who already have years of experience driving the big rigs. But nothing at UPS surprises me. Nothing.

Thank you all.

They would actually prefer that they learn how to drive "the UPS way" first rather than having to break years of bad habits.

 

[UpstateNYUPSer(Ret)]

I would be very surprised if Walmart offers better pay and compensation that UPS, got any numbers to back that up?

I have also heard that Walmart OTR drivers are better compensated than our feeder guys.

 

[trickpony1]

Yes and from my experience they are usually among the best

YAWN

 

[barnyard]

Because now they have to train the SWIFT out of you

Exactly.
Do not think for even 1 second that having Swift on your resume looks good to any legit trucking firm.

 

[barnyard]

would be very surprised if Walmart offers better pay and compensation that UPS, got any numbers to back that up?

Walmart has been cutting pay and benefits to their company drivers for the past 5-8 years. They used to pay fairly well, in an effort to keep out union organizers. They still pay better than most OTR outfits, but that is because of accessorial pay and you only get that if you know how to do your timecard correctly. I have read a few online accounts of drivers losing out on pay because they did not code their timecard correctly.

 

[Rick Ross]

I have also heard that Walmart OTR drivers are better compensated than our feeder guys.

I know a guy who is the most senior driver out of one of their distribution centers. He makes close to $110k but is gone 5 days a week. Our compensation is why most OTR drivers hate us. Many OTR drivers are lucky to make $40k a year living in their tractor. Most of us make $100k+ and sleep at home every night.

Some of our mileage drivers are around $160k and they pay for nothing. Most owner operators are lucky to gross $200k and have tons of expenses to pay out of that amount.

 

[brownmonster]

Yes and from my experience they are usually among the best drivers.

FACT!

 

[Pooter]

OP, never settle.

Get the CDL, probably will be forced to quit ups, Don't burn the bridge, give 2 week notice.

Complete your contract, and keep hunting for the better paying job. Keep checking UPS and other carriers.

...I haven't settled; just waiting for my seniority to balloon so I can bump some losers in feeders.

 

[MrFeeder]

So you think you're just going to waltz in and get a gravy feeder route. Who do you think you are @UpstateNYUPSer?

UpstateNYU ain't nobody but a old grumpy hag.

 

[pickup]

It almost surprises me that they wouldn't prefer hiring drivers who already have years of experience driving the big rigs. But nothing at UPS surprises me. Nothing.

Thank you all.

Years of experience that you dont have. If it were the actual experience of UPS hiring mostly drivers off the streets. There would be a waiting list of drivers with over 20 years of big rig experience ahead of you for the job.

 

[pickup]

No I'm from Florida. I have so many questions because I see so, so much misery around me and need to know how to avoid becoming so. I.e. with debt, a divorce, child support, grim employment prospects. I want to work hard to become a professional driver. Thus having a skill I can be proud of. And not burn out at one job only to take a worse one to pay off debt from kids I never intended to have etc.

With what you're gonna make with Swift, you are better off going back to UPS at a big hub where there is a lot of movement of package drivers into feeders. Get a part time hub job and supplement that with income from another or job until you get a chance to drive a package car.

Make your way through wage progression and you will be at top rate which is a dime an hour lower than the top rate of a feeder driver. After that , you wait to go into feeders.


You're going to regret Swift. Don't believe me,?, just type in Swift sucks in a google search box and see what pops up. And whatever you see goes triple for you because you are on the hook for the 5 to 8 grand for the truck driving academy if you leave before the year is up. They'll have you by the balls and they know it.

 

[pickup]

And to the Original Poster, considering you left UPS after only 6 months, you just might have a permanent no rehire mark on your record. Something to think about.

 

[UpstateNYUPSer(Ret)]

UpstateNYU ain't nobody but a old grumpy hag.

...who will be enjoying a very secure retirement within 10 months...playing Grandpa...

 

[JackStraw]

In my center we had about 10 transfer to feeders in the past 5 years And a few more are on the list. Nobody wants to do package any more.

 

[jaker]

In my center we had about 10 transfer to feeders in the past 5 years And a few more are on the list. Nobody wants to do package any more.

Wow that's it , here in the last year we have hired 100 feeder drivers

 

[silenze]

If your location offers earn and learn tuition reimbursement you can get your cdl at a local technical college and they will reimburse you. Some locations have a system for part time qualified employees to go straight to feeders. Contact your local union

 

[olroadbeech]

if you did your homework you would never sign up with Swift. You don't want misery? well, you'll be miserable with Swift. Check out truck driver discussion forums.

The trouble with their program and others like it you receive free training and then are committed to work for them for slave wages for one year whether you like it or not . If you bail early you have to pay for the training.

My son in law did this with Knight and hated every minute of it.

 

[robot]

Swift = See what I ed-up Today

SWIFT = Sure Wish I Finished Training


Swift drivers are always getting clowned on. I heard that one on the CB when I first started driving.