Hello, I'm new

[Cementups]

$65k-$70k+ is average for a package driver. I have heard of feeder drivers make upwards of $100k/year, but they seem o trade that for no family or personal life.

UPS offers up to $23k tuition reimbursement here for FT or PT employees and they will try to work around your class schedule.

I would recommend going to UPS and being able to make a pretty decent pay as a PT ad go to school in your off time at your local community college. For the $23k you should easily be able to acquire at least a bachelor's degree. If at 20 1/2 you decide you still want to be a driver, sign a bid list and try and qualify as a driver.

 

[UPSwannaB]

Holy crap, that's average for a package driver?? My parents combined don't even make that in a year. I'm definatley going to try and get a job as a driver, at least for awhile.

 

[Cementups]

a full time driver, might I add. And that is with overtime added in.

 

[helenofcalifornia]

You know, you just don't walk off the street and say "I want to drive." Most people have to wait through a seniority list of PTers. In some centers, if you started as a part timer, you would only have to wait 6 months to drive full time. In smaller centers, you literally might wait 10 years. And you don't start out at top wages, you start at $14 and change. It takes 2 1/2 years to get to top wages. And back to part timers, in our Teamsters contract, UPS must hire 6 "insiders" (part time UPS employees) before they hire and outsider. So it may sound nice and easy and good money, but there is a lot more to it. And I agree, college is not for everyone.

 

[UPSwannaB]

Yeah, I figured there was something like that. Now, on UPS.com under the job oppurtunities, they have listed in two areas pretty close to me that they are looking for a full time package driver. Can you apply straight to a driver, or do you definatley have to start part time. Also, are they putting it up online because none of the part time guys are interested, or just because it is available at the moment?

 

[canon]

My parents combined don't even make that in a year.

Do they have degrees?

I'm a fan of education, although I never finished. A bit over 90 hours in college then took a full time driving job. I have a lot of regrets about that. Money isn't everything.

And whatever you do... start saving now. Get with someone like Edward Jones or another financial planning center and set up something for retirement. If you started now... wow.

And don't run with scissors.

 

[jake_1996]

Best thing IMO is to move to Louisville and go to work in the Air Hub. We have to have employed EVERYONE in Louisville by now, so that should be easy. The Air Company offers a variety of programs for part timers to receive on site college instruction, Tuition Reimbursement (especially for PT sups), etc. to get your college degree. This is the easiest and cheapest way to get your degree, if you only want a degree. Only trouble is, it will be difficult to progress in the hourly ranks in Louisville since there are very few FT hourly jobs in the Air Company relative to the PT jobs...

If you want to drive, seek out a high growth area in the South (Franklin, TN or Roswell, GA come to mind) and move there and get hired as a part time hourly employee. Keep your mouth shut and show up to work on time and you will not get fired. Over time, you will gain seniority, and be eligible to apply for a FT job. BY NO MEANS do you want to accept a position as a PT supervisor, as this virtually eliminates you from a shot at FT hourly employment. Jake

 

[jake_1996]

Helen is right; we never advertise for drivers. I've only seen us hire off the street for DOT qualified tractor/trailer drivers, and only in very tight labor markets. Ohio does not qualify as a "very tight" labor market. Are you really looking for a job? Jake

 

[UPSwannaB]

I just got on the UPS site, I went under job opportunities. I did a search for my area and they had two cities close to me that said they were hiring a package driver. They also have package sorters advertised, and alot more of them. The city I'd want to work in, the one closest to me, that I know alot better, they're hiring package handlers. So you guys think it would be better to start out there and then work my way up?

BTW, no they don't have degrees. But they're living on the money. I figure if they can do that with two kids, if I'm smart about it, save my money and everything, it seems like really good pay.

I'm a little confused on going from part time to a full time driver. People are saying it can take from a few months to years. Is this depending on the size of the company? If so, how do I know the company's size to calculate how long it would take to move up?

 

[cino321]

Do yourself a favor... work part time first in the buidling, you have no idea what you are getting yourself into... you're opening a whole new can of worms.

UPS goes way beyond torturing your body physically, it also torments you mentally. You are dealing with a company that is in a very competative business, they're trying to make money, and has time commitments to meet. It creates a very stressful and fast paced workplace. Make sure you can handle it.

 

[helenofcalifornia]

See, you need to go to school still because you are misspelling "definitely." (Sorry, that was the mom in me coming out) Talk to several drivers in the area that you want to work in and ask them questions. Again, most centers or hubs do not hire right off the street. And, it is incredibly hard at your age to know what you want to be when you grow up. The teens that know what they want to do professionally are rare. Talk to some drivers. And don't stop with just one driver, because I am sure a few will think of you just as a "kid" and not really take you seriously. They can tell you the hiring situation in your area. I have often wondered why UPS doesn't recruit at high schools as there are tons of good kids who are not "book smart" but are great kids and deserve an opportunity at a good living without college.

 

[UPSwannaB]

Lol, I don't really take the time on my spelling on here, but I do really well in school. I'm an A and B student, I only take a few advanced classes though. I'd take more if I was planning to go to college, but I'm terrible at math. In geometry I got D's, the worst grades I've ever recieved. Just not good at that subject I guess.

I know I'm not certain on what I'm doing after school yet, but I'm trying to look into things I'm interested in as much as possible. We are pretty much expected to know what we're going to do after high school by now. I kind of think that going to college and taking basics and all of that is a waste of money. I think tech schools or courses where you go exactly for your job is. I'd consider going to one of those too, it's just that I haven't really found anything I enjoy to do.

Now once again I am in no way trying to argue, but everyone is saying how hard the job is. I'm just wondering as opposed to what? I can only imagine a factory job would be worse, but I've never worked in one so I can't say. I would only imagine that a job you get from graduating from college (ex. doctors, lawyers, architects, etc.) would be even harder.



Like I said, I'm not trying to argue, or seem like I know it all, because I admit I don't. I haven't really had a part time job yet, I'm probably going to apply to a pizza shop near me though, and eventually deliver when I get my license. It seems to be good money for teens around here.

 

[Committed Lurker]

This may sound like an echo of the other posters here, but:

My advice to you is if you want to get into that driver's position, start off with a PT position inside one of the centers near you and let the next few years go by without incident. Since you have to be at least 21 (?) to drive with the company, even if you get on with UPS at 17 or 18 you'll still be in the ranks of the part-timers for at least three years before you can even get your first shot at driving. Also as others mentioned depending on your center you'll be waiting years (talking 5-7+) just for a driving position to open up. If you decide to join the company, I suggest that after High School either go to college or pick up a second job (or both.....depending on how you like it).....it may be a long wait here.

 

[Lizzard Toungue]

UPS wanna B ,do yourself a big favor and go to college.Everybody that I know who went to college has a better job than me. Listen to this advice that ;you get from this site.Check out the facts college grads earn a lot more than non college grads.

 

[svgal]

Most of the UPS administrative jobs; accounting, payroll, customer service,etc. has been outsourced.

I've heard rumors about outsourcing some tec support positions.

Your right they have outsourced our jobs at the DO in the last 10 years and TSG is next. I would go to college and then go in a completely different direction than UPS. I wish that I would have done something different with my career, but feel I'm stuck working here since I have 21 years in with the company right now and just waiting for the next downsize so we can get the severance pay. UPS wants to get rid of all Admin employee's and make them Specialists or Supervisors. I thought I would retire from there, but in reality it's not going to happen because we probably only have 1-2 years left before the DO closes. I could opt into being a Part-time Supervisor, but I don't want the stress that comes along with being in Mgmt. I've seen and heard all kinds of things in the last 21 years.

 

[trickpony1]

UPSwannaB-
Have you ever thought about a trade that will always be in demand?
I know several nurses that are making as much if not more than this union truck driver.
Hospitals are warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
Hospitals don't have snow, ice and idiots in the hallways.
Hospitals don't have a 18-24 inch high step to climb into and out of 110+ times a day.
Hospitals don't have 70-150 pound packages to hoss around. Hospitals do have 300 pound patients but if you'll get help to "pull them up" or "turn them" you won't blow out a disc in your back.
The nurse tells the hospital what shift/days they will work.
Nurses can get a job anywhere.....no hassles to transfer.
Nurses won't get outsourced to Pakistan anytime soon.
There is a PT preloader on this board that is going to nursing school and, I understand, doing quite well.
Check with your local vo-tech school and see what they offer.
When she gets her license the world will be laid before her.

 

[dragracer66]

8700 dollars a month pension???? Who you workin for?????

Mechanic's in my district aren't teamster's we are machinist's totaly seperate pension plan

 

[txmomof2b2g]

I remember reading about the driver helper questions that other people had posted on here and that most of all the replies were the same that you are getting.
Even the day that I went to get my helper uniform after walking out some guy made the reply," hurry turn them back in and run as fast as you can!"
I did it and it was okay, sure I was sore , but I made it through. I was not expecting to get a job after the seasonal temp. Since I was told that I couldn't work there since my husband works there. Needless to say I am working there as a sorter and will get my seniority next week. I did that first week talked myself to go to work! I am 40 and haven't worked for 6 yrs.
There is a guy that is probably around early 60's that has just about 2 weeks ago got his seniority. Then in the last 1 1/2 weeks 3 people finish training and quit. So it really only matters how much you want something. That would be with any job. If you want a non physical job then go work at a fast food or retail.
I feel that if you want to work for UPS then go for it! I told that to my 17 yr. old son, who thought he might like to be a driver. But I think he has decided to become a plumber.
I know couple of drivers last year was hired off the street.
Seems that if everyone took advice and ran from UPS then there would be no future for UPS. Somebody has to replace the people that quit either as part timers or as drivers.

 

[toonertoo]

And, it is incredibly hard at your age to know what you want to be when you grow up. qUOTE]
And some of us that are drivers still dont know what we want to be when we grow up.

 

[Griff]

I worked parttime at UPS from the age of 18 till 22. I've been a fulltime package car driver since I was 22, I'll be 24 in the summer. Both my parents are college educated and I knew halfway through highschool that I would never go to college straight out of highschool. My parents were shocked and very scared for my future. I respect education but I prefer to be outside and work a physical job that keeps me in shape. Becoming a driver wasn't a tough decision for me, I love driving and it fit the bill for what I wanted to do. It didn't make financial sense for me to go to college, I already had the toolset to do what I wanted for a living. I'm not a veteran driver by any means, but I never find myself out on the truck asking myself "Jesus, why didn't I go to college?". Yes, if I lost my job at UPS I would be in bad shape but I'm sure it wouldn't be the end of the world.

I salute you for reaching out and researching other viable options. I've noticed a scary trend of people going to college because it's been drilled into our heads that it's a way of life on this planet. Highschool kids go "just to go" and get their diploma and think a $250k/year job will be waiting for them the day after graduation. Life isn't over and you aren't limited to McDonalds, or UPS for that matter, if you decide not to go to college. Just think long and hard about what you'd like to be doing in 12-20 years, not 2-5 years from now and you'll find your answer.