UPS Package Handler

[LVG]

Has anyone had this job?  I’ve applied to over 20 jobs, and have had UPS officially hire me, but have yet to hear from HR.  The entire process is online, so all I’ve gotten so far is an email stating my start date.  I have also heard back from a hotel for a housekeeping position, and meeting with a coffee shop next week for a Barista position.  I’m worried about holding out for the UPS start date, and then realizing they won’t give me enough hours to make it worth my time, or enough pay (it’s an hour drive one way), or it won’t be as long term as I need it to be (at least 18 months).  Just wondering if anyone has worked this position and what your experience was, what’s the pay like (it says up to $16 an hour, but not what the starting pay is and how quickly you move to that upper hourly rate…This is in NC), how many hours were typical for a week, and will I be working with only teens and college kids, or are there older people there too? I’ve read reviews online, but would be nice to hear from others! 

[Katy]

My DH worked there in college.  It’s a union job, so the pay goes up automatically according to a specific structure. Once you get benefits they’re pretty good. There were plenty of older people at the location he worked at, and plenty who kept the job only for the benefits. It’s hot and dirty and got him in good shape.  He described it as forcing him to grow up, almost like boot camp. There was plenty of yelling because of the noise. He’s glad he worked there and wouldn’t object to our kids working there. 

[gardenmom5]

Do you mean loading and unloading trucks?   my ds did that briefly several years ago.  He'd gotten in as a driver's helper for the three months before christmas.  He then worked as a package handler, and quickly developed tendonitis in his thumbs.  He had to quit.

[Storygirl]

I don't know about package handling, but my cousin's husband was a career UPS driver and retired from there after more than 30 years. He supported his family as mostly the sole earner while his kids were growing up. UPS can be a good, stable job for some, at least in some positions. Best wishes with your job search!

[Melissa B]

I had this job while in college. The pay was decent then, not union in Florida though. At our center it was 16 hours a week. 4am - 8am four days per week. There were all ages there. It was a part time college job for many, but also a second job or extra income for many people 30s to 40s. It is loud as there are lots of belts running and semis unloading as you load all the trucks. Some of the packages are heavy. You have to be able to quickly read zip codes/addresses in order to sort/load the packages quickly. It was a little stressful, at least where I worked, because there is a supervisor standing on a deck above all of the workers. The supervisor takes daily recordings of your loading speed (number of packages sorted or loaded in a specific amount of time) and if you aren't working fast enough you will be fired. I believe you could take one five minute break per shift. I have no idea whether all of that is standard or just the way it was run where I worked.

[KungFuPanda]

I once spoke to a female park ranger who had changed careers from UPS delivery because of an injury.  She said it was the most stressful job she ever had.  She said they were so relentless about their accuracy statistics that everyone was on edge and afraid to make any mistakes.  When she watched Castaway she absolutely understood the compulsion to sort the packages after a plane crash.  She said she would have done the exact same thing.  🤣 Finding a job with equivalent pay and benefits but with much less stress was a game changer for her.  She doesn't know how long she would have continued pressing on if the injury hadn't benched her.  She as ALL IN with the UPS work culture.  It could have just been a personality mismatch, but she was a pretty motivated, high-energy type of person.

[gstharr]

6 minutes ago, Melissa B said:

I had this job while in college. The pay was decent then, not union in Florida though. At our center it was 16 hours a week. 4am - 8am four days per week. There were all ages there. It was a part time college job for many, but also a second job or extra income for many people 30s to 40s. It is loud as there are lots of belts running and semis unloading as you load all the trucks. Some of the packages are heavy. You have to be able to quickly read zip codes/addresses in order to sort/load the packages quickly. It was a little stressful, at least where I worked, because there is a supervisor standing on a deck above all of the workers. The supervisor takes daily recordings of your loading speed (number of packages sorted or loaded in a specific amount of time) and if you aren't working fast enough you will be fired. I believe you could take one five minute break per shift. I have no idea whether all of that is standard or just the way it was run where I worked.

Pretty much how it was a long time ago when I worked  the same shift at a UPS faciilty outside Boston. It paid 5x the salary of the college bookstore.  I was a trailer unloader.  Had to unload a trailer in 2 hours.  I got fired before the end of probation.  Just couldn't get the trailers emptied.   I would not recommend working at UPS unless you are in top physical shape.  You might want to consider a job at an  Amazon SORT CENTER, not a fulfillment center or grocery.  I know a bunch of college kids at Amazon,  The SORT CENTERS are like UPS  warehouses, but a much more relaxed pace. There is some lifting but not for prolonged periods or distances.   The kids all quit the fulfillment centers and groceries because of the pace.  Amazon pays a miimum of $16.50  across the country. Good part-time benefits. lots of oppotrunities to pick up 4 hours extra shifts.  Hiring is all on-line and automated.  Pass a simple "sorting test", and an immediate offer is made. 

[LVG]

Thank you all so much!  This is super helpful! I’m not exactly sure which job they would put me on…loading/unloading or sorting or whatever else.  I’m really in the dark since I haven’t spoken to anyone!  Sounds like I may need to go with one of the other positions that I’m interviewing for if offered a job!  I’m almost 40, and in decent shape, but certainly not in top shape with the occasional back spasm, which may become daily in doing a job like this!

[Ottakee]

Just wondering if places like Subway or similar are hiring in your area.  Here it is up to $18/hour and might save you a long drive.  Then again, I am in an area where there are tons of jobs available.

[Katy]

You might check factories too.  Many of the ones around here have billboards about hiring bonuses. 

[Scarlett]

4 hours ago, Ottakee said:

Just wondering if places like Subway or similar are hiring in your area.  Here it is up to $18/hour and might save you a long drive.  Then again, I am in an area where there are tons of jobs available.

Wow, Subway here in my small town pays $7.25.  I was reading FB posts about it just yesterday.

[Ottakee]

13 minutes ago, Scarlett said:

Wow, Subway here in my small town pays $7.25.  I was reading FB posts about it just yesterday.

I live in an area where they are struggling to find workers.....for all food service, most factories, etc.

[Scarlett]

5 minutes ago, Ottakee said:

I live in an area where they are struggling to find workers.....for all food service, most factories, etc.

Same here.  There are daily complaints about the lack of workers in all of these fast food places in town.  It is crazy.  

[itsheresomewhere]

I got transferred to this job in January after my seasonal position was done. left that job in April.  I am about your age if this helps.  Where I am the pay is good- 23 an hour plus a 100 bonus a week for showing up each day.  I was part time so only up to five hours a day.  It is not just unloading/loading trucks.  You can load/unload trucks, small packages area or watching the belts.  I did the small package area.  Honestly, it was a good job and my hub worked with people to help them be in an area that you could be successful in.  The smalls department where I was, was a fantastic bunch of people so that made it even better. It is physical but if you need help lifting or it is above a weight you are comfortable with, you can get help. Most in my department were ladies over 35.  It did help me get in better shape. The benefits were good ( free health care, 401k, stock options and tuition reimbursement even for part time).   I left as I had a chance to go to school for something and couldn’t do both.  Otherwise, I really enjoyed it. 

Edited July 16, 2021 by itsheresomewhere

[fairfarmhand]

1 hour ago, Scarlett said:

Same here.  There are daily complaints about the lack of workers in all of these fast food places in town.  It is crazy.  

My daughters both work at the same fast food restaurant. This is SO TRUE. They run short staffed CONSTANTLY which means that its not unusual for them to close the dining room or the drive through on any given day.