UPS Freight going union??????(and other questions)

[dame94]

Are they going to go union? (i've heard yes and no)

I was quoted a starting wage of $18.04 does this sound about right? (considering UPS starts there class a's off at $30.00/hr)

Im seriously considering leaving my job of 10 years for this place even though i would be taking a pay cut since I heard they don't really have overtime (i work between 50-75hours/week at my current job) and ANY info would be much appreciated.

I've already done a road test for them as well as take a drug test- just waiting on them to process things.




Little backround: finally got my CDL 3 weeks ago (and all my endorsements) after procrastinating for quite sometime. I taught myself how to drive at my current job: no schools, no help, and NO I never hit anything (but I ran out of air more than a few times backing up a trailer way back when)

Thanks in advance

Dame

[Brown67]

18.00 an hour sounds about right for starting with UPS Freight.

Going union? Depends on the center. They have to vote it in. UPS Package just setttled a new contract with the teamsters and settled a new contract with the few UPS freight teamsters in Indianapolis. Just happened Sunday so I don't have many details.

UPS Package class A drivers don't start at 30 an hour. They make around $14 an hourt to start and it take 30 months to reach full scale which is $28.27 an hour ( package car drivers make $28.17). They then get an extra $.50 and hour for pulling doubles and an extra $1.00 for pulling triples. The extra for pay you get for all hours. So if you spend 2 hours pulling triples you would make the extra dollar an hour for every hour you worked that day.

Getting on as a class a driver can be very hard at UPS Package. Most Feeder (thats what we call them) drivers start as package drivers and move up. If they can't find a package driver to move up then they can go outside and hire off the streets. UPS employess get first shot.

UPS Frieght is easier to get on with right now. We were told they had a 10% jump in freight last quarter. They are really growing since UPS took over. I would go to Freight if there is a job open. PM me if you have more questions.

This is from www.teamster.org

Contract Will Serve as National Model to Organize Workers Nationwide

Contact: Bret Caldwell,
Leigh Strope,
(202) 624-6911

September 30, 2007

(Chicago) -- The Teamsters Union and UPS Freight (formerly Overnite Transportation) reached a tentative agreement for their first contract ever, an agreement that will improve wages and benefits and will serve as a national model to organize thousands of other company employees nationwide, Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa announced today.

The contract, which covers 125 drivers and dockworkers in Indianapolis, will also provide employees the protections of a grievance procedure to fight unfair management decisions, something workers have fought hard to achieve.

"For more than five decades, the workers at UPS Freight and its predecessor, Overnite Transportation, have fought for Teamster representation," Hoffa said. "Today is historic because an agreement has been reached for a contract that will finally give workers a strong say on the job and the protections our other freight members have. A half-century battle is coming to an end, and we have gained strong momentum to organize throughout the freight industry, and FedEx Freight is next."

The workers, who are members of Local 135 in Indianapolis, expressed relief about the tentative contract.

"I hope our coworkers at UPS Freight across the country will join us by forming a union with the Teamsters," said Jesse Nicholson, a road driver and 20-year employee. "Being a Teamster means protections, support and being part of an organization that fights for you."

"Now our protections and rights will be spelled out and guaranteed in a Teamster contract," said Neal Hylton, a hostler and 21-year employee.

"Having an agreement is a big relief," said Dave Osborn, a city driver and 24-year employee. "We've wanted it for so long and worked so hard to achieve it."

[Chris M]

Does the UPS website show where the openings are for UPS freight? I've also been trying to get info about O/O for UPS.

[dame94]

Thank you very much.... im going to do it..... I'll just keep my fingers crossed they have some (a little atleast) overtime

[Brown67]

Go to www.upsjobs.com. It will list jobs in your area, but be very careful with UPS Package jobs listed. A lot of those jobs listed will be for tempory christmas work. Infact if you ever get an offer from UPS Package make sure to ask if its temp or not. We use a lot of temps around Christmas and during the summer.

I have no idea about o/o for UPS freight. I've seen some ads in those truck stop magazines for UPS freight linehaul maybe thats a place to start. UPS package doesn't use any o/o to drive linehaul. All teamsters.

[bigrigdriver]

The frieght div is trying to cut down on OT hrs so you wont get more than 50 in one week. But it has a lot of potential if you stick around for the next 3 yrs.

[dame94]

The frieght div is trying to cut down on OT hrs so you wont get more than 50 in one week. But it has a lot of potential if you stick around for the next 3 yrs.

forgive the ignorance..... but could you explain.


I have one of two plans: (whichever makes more sense!) get some experience pulling doubles (the guy that gives road test there said he could show hooking and unhooking fairly quick and offer some advice) and HOPEFULLY find a way to get my butt over to UPS (using my "a" - not driving a bobyail), then transfer down to atlanta.....

if in fact that doesn't work, wait until sysco is hiring again up here(they start there drivers of up here at 21.xx/hr and work 10+hr days), go over there, work a year, then transfer to atlanta. basically trying to make 60k/yr driving local- and i dont care what I haul, but getting a tanker job is almost impossible with no experience and NOT coming from a school :sad:



Also do you know how much (approx) the wage increase is every 6 months @ ups freight?



sorry for all the questions, any more i'll be sure to pm you LOL

[ibamars]

I just sent an email to the president of the teamsters up here. The response I received was, they are having a meeting in 2 weeks to organize.

I have only been with them a month. I like the job. I think a union may help with some of the issues I have seen here. I think management has some issues and I fear if I do something wrong, I dont want to feel like my job is in jeopardy. That being said I put in 100% everday cause I enjoy it. But if I make a mistake, which I already did, I was scared they were gonna whack me. They were somewhat cool about it. Yes, I did make the mistake and owned up to it, but I was worried.

It was over a COD account which held me up for 2 hours BTW. MY manager I feel is not to approachable. I have been in management for 15 years before I started driving truck, so I have a general idea of what a manager should be like.

Anyways. blah blah blah. I say yes to teamsters. Maybe they will make more sense of the health insurance I just got offered as well,

[bigrigdriver]

The frieght div is trying to cut down on OT hrs so you wont get more than 50 in one week. But it has a lot of potential if you stick around for the next 3 yrs.

forgive the ignorance..... but could you explain.


I have one of two plans: (whichever makes more sense!) get some experience pulling doubles (the guy that gives road test there said he could show hooking and unhooking fairly quick and offer some advice) and HOPEFULLY find a way to get my butt over to UPS (using my "a" - not driving a bobyail), then transfer down to atlanta.....

if in fact that doesn't work, wait until sysco is hiring again up here(they start there drivers of up here at 21.xx/hr and work 10+hr days), go over there, work a year, then transfer to atlanta. basically trying to make 60k/yr driving local- and i dont care what I haul, but getting a tanker job is almost impossible with no experience and NOT coming from a school :sad:



Also do you know how much (approx) the wage increase is every 6 months @ ups freight?



sorry for all the questions, any more i'll be sure to pm you LOL

If you gonna line haul for UPS frieght, thats fantabolous! Also a great way to learn doubles. Line haulers cap @ 70 hrs & can make more than 60K a yr. Either way, its a great place to start.

[CB JR.]

hey bigrigdriver.. does UPS Freight have a terminal up in Bellingham yet or are you out of the Package yard?

[dame94]

I just sent an email to the president of the teamsters up here. The response I received was, they are having a meeting in 2 weeks to organize.
,

organize for THAT region or a different region?

[Snowman7]

The only organized terminal at this time is Indianapolis. The teamsters have been negotiating on their behalf for more than a year now. At the same time UPS was also negotiating a new contract for the parcel guys. It was announced this week that they have tentative agreements for both contracts. They will be presented to employess within the week for approval. The rest of UPS Freight has been waiting for this contract, and if we like it we will join the teamsters along with INDY. Most everyone wants it and believes it will be a good contract so chances are you would end up being a teamster if you take the job at UPS Freight. Depends on how they vote at that barn. I am surprised you got offered a job there with no experience. Is it a dock w/cdl position? Doesnt matter. Whatever it is you should jump on it and consider yourself extremely lucky. You will have a very good job, possibly your last. As for now, your pay will increase roughly .50/hr every 6 months plus COL raise in Jan. Currently top rate is 21.50 after 3 yrs, not counting COL raises. Our dock and city guys get alot of OT at my barn. Road is by the mile (tops at .5415) and pays even better. All this should improve some with a contract, we'll see. As for now transferring between divisions is not allowed. Getting on at parcel is very difficult and takes years of part time and package car in most cases. Their tractor trailer guys are paid well but they earned their stripes. Hope this helps.

[dame94]

Thank you for all the information guys........but now it looks as if it was for naught: Got a call today that my driving record disqualified me :evil: :sad: ........ just as i was getting my hopes up- i'll try and reapply in 6 months i guess.

[eoplocust]

i work the ups now (package) and i can tell you if you are not already a pkg driver (union) then its tough i am a dispatcher for the pkg drivers(non-union). tried to get in but have been waiting forever and a day so not i am looking elsewhere.

[syl77dar]

another good paying company is yellow freight they are union

[feederfred]

I just sent an email to the president of the teamsters up here. The response I received was, they are having a meeting in 2 weeks to organize.
Thats pretty interesting since the IBT has NOT "received" emails for over 2 years, due to "Virus issues"....yeah,sure Jim...It's funny how all the "non-union" freight guys suddenly are displaying the brown logo...and yet, no contract. http://www.teamster.org (read the FINE print)...Methinks Jimmy tied the new contract in to some back door deal to get freight signed up....We will see. But hey Brown67 those Western Conference pension checks ARE nice.....How's life on feeder ? I TOLD you it would be better....
I have only been with them a month. I like the job. I think a union may help with some of the issues I have seen here. I think management has some issues and I fear if I do something wrong, I dont want to feel like my job is in jeopardy. That being said I put in 100% everday cause I enjoy it. But if I make a mistake, which I already did, I was scared they were gonna whack me. They were somewhat cool about it. Yes, I did make the mistake and owned up to it, but I was worried.

It was over a COD account which held me up for 2 hours BTW. MY manager I feel is not to approachable. I have been in management for 15 years before I started driving truck, so I have a general idea of what a manager should be like.

Anyways. blah blah blah. I say yes to teamsters. Maybe they will make more sense of the health insurance I just got offered as well,

Our HEALTH AND WELFARE ROCKS !!!! Go for it...I get the retiree package which is pretty much the same as when I was working.....See above, somehow I really screwed up my comments in that quote....Oh well..but then the Op was FREIGHT, NOT package...big difference still..

[ibamars]

Quick update for you all. Our barn is meeting with the teamster this Sunday. I think its gonna be a questions and answers type of session I am not sure.

Talking to the drivers here though. 75% of them are on board with signing in with the teamsters. I will update you all and let you know next week how our meeting went.

[bigrigdriver]

Quick update for you all. Our barn is meeting with the teamster this Sunday. I think its gonna be a questions and answers type of session I am not sure.

Talking to the drivers here though. 75% of them are on board with signing in with the teamsters. I will update you all and let you know next week how our meeting went.

I believe that Kansas must vote for all....thats how I understood the process. Unless your terminal was union before the buyout, we must wait for Kansas to decide for us!!

[ibamars]

Why would we have to wait for Kansas? What do they have to do with us. Just curious.

[Snowman7]

Where do you work? You need to check your information on that. I think you got your wires crossed somewhere. The contract was negotiated for the Indianapolis terminal and your terminal can elect to be represented and work under the same contract as INDY if you guys like the contract they got. Kansas isnt even a terminal it's a state! Did you mean Kansas City? What they do has nothing to do with you unless you work there.