15 Real Truths About Becoming a UPS Driver

In August 2023, UPS and the Teamsters Union reached a labor deal that raised the starting minimum wage for part-timers to $21 an hour. The average top wage for full-time workers will gradually increase to $49 an hour.

The deal was made to avoid an employee strike, but the result has been a major buzz surrounding jobs at one of the world’s largest shipping companies.

Before you look to join UPS in the hope that you can stop living paycheck to paycheck, here are 15 things you need to know about becoming a driver.

Thanks to the new deal with the union, part-time and full-time UPS workers should see a nice boost to their bottom line.

The top pay for a full-time driver after four years is $44 an hour, and the average year salary is $95,000. According to UPS, that’s the best pay in the industry.

However, with the new deal, things get better: The highest-paid drivers are now on track to average $49 an hour, giving full-time drivers a six-figure income.

So, working for UPS can help you get ahead financially.

UPS workers have to go through a progression system before they can earn those high wages. Specifically, it’s a four-year progression to reach a position’s top rate.

According to the Teamsters union, the $49 top rate will not be reached until Aug. 1, 2027. The first increase, a bump of $2.75 per hour, already went into effect.

While FedEx drivers aren’t allowed to take tips or gifts, there’s no such rule in place for UPS drivers.

However, UPS encourages drivers not to accept tips.

Drivers can't know what their day will look like until they get to work. It can be very unpredictable because they never know how many packages need to be delivered or what traffic will be like.

This unpredictability extends to daily schedules. Some days can be eight hours, while others can be longer. That poses challenges to a life outside work, especially for those with families.

Locking down a good delivery route is key to enjoying the job, but it isn’t easy. Dedicated routes don't become available often.

When they do, drivers can bid for the route by putting their names on a list. The most senior driver is usually offered the route. If that driver doesn’t take it, the route is offered to the next most senior driver, and so on.

UPS drivers are asked to avoid making left turns whenever possible.

Avoiding left turns means you won’t cut across traffic, which lowers your chances of getting into a crash. It also saves time and gas since you don’t need to wait to squeeze through a break between vehicles.

Those delivery trucks you see heading through cities and neighborhoods across the U.S. are not luxury vehicles. And they get hot during warm weather.

Workers frequently complain about the heat inside the vehicles. In 2022, two drivers died in their trucks on hot days.

Starting in January 2024, all new UPS small package delivery vehicles now come installed with air conditioning.

Training when joining a new company is pretty standard. UPS does it a little differently, however.

Its “Integrad” program is closer to a boot camp. Drivers learn how to manage heavy boxes, of course. The training also goes over potential hazards, how to operate vehicles efficiently, and even how to navigate across ice.

Hitting the road and cranking some tunes is a time-honored tradition for many people, but UPS delivery trucks don’t have radios.

So, while you certainly can listen to music while delivering packages, you’ll need to find a way to provide your own soundtrack.

Dogs may be man’s best friend, but they aren’t always so fond of delivery drivers. That means dog bites are a real hazard.

Sometimes, the injuries are bad enough that drivers have to be hospitalized. One driver was hospitalized in Mississippi when he was attacked by two dogs in 2022.

If you stick with the company long enough, UPS will give your delivery truck a bit of personalized flair.

Drivers who put in 10 years get a nameplate for the side of their vehicle. Drivers who maintain a safety record for 25 years or more get a “Circle of Honor” emblem.

UPS is all about logistics. After all, it’s at the core of their business. It also means the company needs to know where its drivers are at all times, which means you’ll probably be watched if you join the team.

A DIAD — delivery information acquisition device — is a handheld computer that drivers mount to their dash. It keeps track of their routes.

Some UPS drivers have expressed frustration with how management and supervisors operate.

In particular, drivers have said that they are made to feel guilty about taking time off despite being owed sick days and personal days as part of their union contract.

As you might guess, UPS delivery trucks do not have bathrooms onboard. And if you’re on the road delivering packages all day, you’ll eventually need a bathroom break.

On the plus side, UPS has stated on the record that routes are designed specifically to give drivers the opportunity to go when nature calls.

Except for getting their truck loaded before a shift, drivers spend the day alone. Once they’re on their route, that’s it: It’s just them, their packages, and the road.

Some people may prefer that. But if you enjoy being with colleagues and having supervisors nearby, a driving job might not be for you.

There’s no doubt that UPS offers competitive wages. However, potential drivers should be prepared for the unique challenges of the job.

If you're willing to meet those challenges, the new union agreement has created extraordinary gains for workers. No wonder a lot of folks are looking to score a job there. Working for UPS might be a great way to boost your bank account.