Hello, I’m 22 years old and have been a 22.4 driver for close to a year now and looking for advice from fellow UPSers
I started working at UPS when I was 18 and was a loader until I turned 21 and became a 22.4 driver. After the grueling 30 day probation and a couple months of driving I thought I’ve really gotten the hang of things and this was going to be the beginning and the end of my working career. Fast forward to a year later I have had no problems being a proficient driver but the physical toll (thus turning into a mental toll) is starting to weigh on me.
I love being a driver with all the good and bad that comes with it but I’m getting to a point where I don’t think my body can take doing 200-220 stops with 300-350 packages 10h avg every day 5-6 days a week. I know this is the norm for a lot of drivers out there but I can’t see myself doing this for years. My lower back and shoulders feel like they’re slowly deteriorating into irreversible damage as the months go on.
I’m conflicted on quitting because although I believe I’m doing fairly well currently financial wise and have no worries about that I feel like I’m throwing away a very good career.
I’m mainly posting this because I’m wondering what my options are going forward. Best case scenario is I’d like to go back to the hub and continue driving part time.
Thank you for reading this far. I hope none of you think I’m just lazy. I believe I’m a very hard worker and that’s what’s even got me this far but I am prioritizing my current and future physical well being.
So some serious advice from a management.
If you feel like this now and do not leave, you will be trapped, you know you do not want to be here. It does not change, same stops, same work same everything. It does not matter if you work package, inside, feeders you will be trapped.
Go to college, don't go to college, do something different. Look around you where you live, how do people afford to live in your area? They obviously seem to be making it and not working at UPS.
A UPS job is not the only one out there and there are thousands of jobs you can be doing and have a real work-life balance.
I hope this helps.
Dragon
minimum wage. McDonald’s ain’t a career dude. I bought my house in 2016 so…. And it’s worth 50grand more now so… And um don’t go to college they rip you off. Get a job at ups and make more, plus it doesn’t cost anything! Looks like your argument falls apart there bro.
