Former express courier. Early 2000s to early 2010s. I dont want to give the exact dates. Left after just short of 10 years making less then $19 an hour. One day had enough and took a shot in the dark at UPS as a seasonal driver. I had enough of the 4 hour mid day breaks because they had nothing for me to do before my pup route. Major gamble and it paid off. Been at UPS for 5 years. Did 2 in package and now I am in feeders. Was making more hourly at UPS after 12 months then i did at FredEx after 9 years.
Company is a joke. Fred is the devil. Very similar mentality to Walmart. Keep wages down and keep employees impoverished. If you werent at FredEx in the very early days there was no chance of ever hitting top rate. Here’s all you need to know about the joke that is top rate at the Devil’s joint better known as FredEx. When i left, my friend was a 22 year employee. All courier time. And was not at top rate. Let that sink in. 22 friend’ n years, and was not at top rate. I had enough. I could only take so many $.19 yearly raises.
I took a major risk and it paid off. I busted my arse at UPS and was lucky enough to be one of the few at the time to get hired off the street. Now from what I have been told it is very easy. Package guys are hired permanent year round where I am, mostly because now it is a very long wait to make full rate, and with 22.4s those employees will never make what we make. It would have taken me 85 years to make what I make now at UPS. $37+ an hour.
So it can be done. You guys and gals can change your situation. It’s possible. It is a major gamble but it can be done with hard work.
You get it. UPS is way easier to get into than previously. In some areas, you can even go straight into feeders off the street. Unheard of just a few years ago.
I worked PT in real estate for years, building a clientele, and also fixed-up houses. Not for everyone, but it can pay off nicely after a few years of no weekends, not much of a social life, and very little sleep.
A side hustle that works into something FT is a good deal for some, maybe not for others. I left FDX a few years ago now, and life is good.
IMO, the biggest part is getting off your butt and deciding to make a change. When my buddies were watching the NFL and drinking beer, I was painting and doing drywall, or hauling debris to the dump.
At some point, you need to commit to getting out of FedEx and into a better career.