Considering going to package car driving
- Thread starter Kevin222
- Start date
UpstateNYUPSer(Ret)
Well-Known Member
Kevin, the job, like any other, is what you make of it. I have 25 years in and have yet to break $75K--last year I made $68K and, yes, I am FT pkg car.
jumpman23
Oh Yeah
The money is real good. The rest of it sux. All you do during the week is work, you don't have time to do anything else. Don't have any kids with this job because youll miss out on them growing up and never being able to catch any of their functions. That's the reality of it. That's why me and my wife decided to not have any kids. Wouldn't be fair to her and to the kids to put everything on her. That's just my opinion anyway. Then you have to put in the factor of the wear and tear you are putting on your joints everyday. Its a lot to think about. If I were you id go driving not have any kids and stuff the 401k or Ira with the max amount every week and roll out of here in 15 to 20 years and work somewhere else until you can collect your pension at 55.
UpstateNYUPSer(Ret)
Well-Known Member
This may vary but in my local if you do not have your 30 years in you cannot start collecting your pension until you turn 65.
Well now you tell me! lol. I worked part time and quit. the company that I went to work for was bought out and I didnt make the cut. I am back and hve some serious decisions to make. In my early 30's, physically fit and married with children. I just need to work for a company that will be around and thta is why I came back. Seemed like a good idea at the time.
Notretiredyet
Well-Known Member
The Golden Handcuffs, someone told me that years ago. It affects you till the day you cut the cord and retire, keeps many here longer than they need too.
jumpman23
Oh Yeah
Its a great company to work for that's for sure. Pension, stability, great pay, good benefits but the big negatives are a boatload of hours, never have any time at home and the physical wear and tear on your body. That's about it in a nutshell. The most important thing brother is to have a long talk with your wife about the best decision for you and your family. Remember when your married with kids its more than 1 player on your team and you have to do whats best for the team in every sense of the word. Don't be selfish or unsensitive when your making your decision because it could be the best decision you ever made or the worst decision you ever made. That's the truth and the reality of it.
Brownslave688
You want a toe? I can get you a toe.
Actually by the time the OP hits scale. 10 hours a day would put u at over 100k
Jumpman, my wife is crosseyed. lol. not at your post, just that it seems its like at the same time this position is like bitter sweet, hot and cold, good and bad, rewarding and exhausting, great benefits with pay and not enough time to enjoy it...wow dichotomy? Again, thank you. I like the fact that union ppl help each other out!
UpstateNYUPSer(Ret)
Well-Known Member
Take everything you read here with a huge grain of salt.
The job is physically demanding with zero mental challenge. We are very well (some may say over) compensated for what we do. You will need a good support network at home, especially if the two of you decide to have children, as there will be late nights, especially during Peak.
whoopins almost everyday.
JL 0513
Well-Known Member
Most of the year, the hours aren't excessive by any means. Depends on the center but a typical day is 9 1/2 hours (not counting lunch hour). I believe the national average for PC drivers per week is 46-48 hours (off peak). Lot's of people outside of UPS work that much and more. Retail managers, for example, often work 55 hours a week on a salary (no OT). Many people have to work 2 jobs to get by - that can easily be 55+ hrs a week (I've always done it).
The pay is no secret. Top rate (achieved after 3-4 years) is nearly $33/hr. So OT is about $50/hr. You can do your own math with that info. The new contract will bring it to over $36/hr less than 5 years from now. At that point $100K+ will be common.
But a big components to our compensation we're not even talking about is very good health coverage with zero contribution out of our checks. That's very rare today. The other biggie, is a pension (that will hopefully be paid someday to us younger drivers).
You add full family health coverage and pension contributions and we are compensated in the neighborhood of $120-140K a year.
The pay is no secret. Top rate (achieved after 3-4 years) is nearly $33/hr. So OT is about $50/hr. You can do your own math with that info. The new contract will bring it to over $36/hr less than 5 years from now. At that point $100K+ will be common.
But a big components to our compensation we're not even talking about is very good health coverage with zero contribution out of our checks. That's very rare today. The other biggie, is a pension (that will hopefully be paid someday to us younger drivers).
You add full family health coverage and pension contributions and we are compensated in the neighborhood of $120-140K a year.
jumpman23
Oh Yeah
Even with a 9.5 hours of work, you ad up your time to work, hours worked, lunch, and commute home, your still looking at getting home between 7(that being early) and 10 every night. Like I said goodbye to seeing your family or having time to spend with your kids when they need you the most.
Cementups
Box Monkey
This!!!
Same story here except I've only got 20 years in, 18 of them driving package car.
Base annual pay is about $65k but with overtime can venture up toward that 6 figure range. I don't want or need to make that much. I barely cracked $80k this year.
Like Dave said, the job is only as hard as you make it. Other drivers think I'm crazy when I say there is little to know stress in this job. It's not that hard. Deliver packages, pickup packages, go home. It's really not that hard. The only "hard" part about it is dealing with management at times. As well as their sometimes lofty expectations.
Good luck in your decision making.
JL 0513
Well-Known Member
It's only mentally challenging covering routes you don't know. When you get a steady or permanent bid route, it's just a a matter of going through the motions every day. Barely have to think. Cover drivers have all the stress. Always in the map book, stressing out looking for addresses and businesses in a rush.
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