Well, I've only been in feeders for two years, so if that makes me an old grumpy feeder driver, well I guess so. But facts are facts. Not just feeders, but also package car; so many new drivers come into driving with their foot hammered down. They skip their lunch, find and take every shortcut in the book, and act like they are on an island all by themselves. As a result, the rank and file becomes a huge group of individuals. Injuries become commonplace, and drivers become intimidated by management demands.
Now, to be completely honest, a lot of the blame for this falls at the feet of the union and the drivers already here. Ever since Hoffa became our President, there is a hands off approach to our union. Drivers come in and "just do their job". The union stopped standing up for the rank and file and let UPS roll all over our contract, there is a unhealthy apathy towards the union process. That is not a coincidence either.
But, until we fight to change our union, we have to band together somewhat and talk to the newer drivers and drivers who burn up routes. It is what we do now, and it is frustrating when those drivers ignore common sense advice from senior drivers. It was the same story in package car.
Yes, feeders is cutting back. UPS runs in cycles. When EDD came on line, there was a huge push to keep everyone under 9.5. Then that petered out. Most likely, the feeder push will ease too. As far as feeder drivers going back to package car...maybe in your building. It's always a joke where I work when they post a package car bid in the feeder room. I don't know one driver in our district who ever went back to package car. I never got the hours in package car that I get back here.