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TForce | UPSF or FedEx Freight, which to choose.........

Elendil

Elendil

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I am fortunate enough to have an interesting dilemma. I have gone through the hiring process for both UPS and Fed Ex. I have passed the driving tests for both companies and have taken the physical and drug tests for both (no worries there). I am awaiting my background check to come back from both (again, no issues there) and then I will be given a start date. I am on the fence about which one to take. Here is a brief rundown of each position and I'd like to hear thoughts from experienced drivers about which they would choose.

UPS Freight

Position consists of driving a day cab w/ 28' trailer within a 30 miles radius of O'Hare airport picking up and delivering. Will also run doubles to another UPS facility about 35 miles away.



  • Will be 90% heavy city driving.
    Home every day only work M-F with rare exception but the hours I can and will work are all over the place can start at 6am or 10am or not until 8pm, or anything in between. Can and will vary from day to day
    Teamster union membership after 90 days
    Company paid retirement vested after 5 years Plus 401(k) with some company match.
    NOT guaranteed 40/hrs per week until I am out of the bottom 10% on the seniority list. If I take the job there will be 85 drivers on the board and I will be 80th on the list in terms of seniority
    Excellent Medical and Dental(BCBS/Aetna) that costs $150/month for family coverage (I pay $140 per WEEK right now)
    Pay starts at $15.50/hr and tops at $24.82/hr after 3 years. OT paid after 8 hrs worked in a single day.
    It is a 75 minute commute for me each day to get to the terminal.



Fed Ex Freight

Position consists of driving day cab with doubles from my home terminal to and from other Fed Ex terminals.

Until I move up in seniority, I will absolutely be working the overnight shift. Start between 8-10pm and back by early next morning. There could be day shift work if subbing for a more senior driver who is on vacation, but 90+% of the time it will be nights. Some city driving, but that is offset by it being done overnight.
There are 2 ways I will be paid: When behind the wheel I will be paid .4861/mile to start and it tops at .5791 after 3 years. Anytime I am drop/hook, fueling or working the dock I am paid $19.51/hour to start and it tops at $23.02/hr after 3 years.
One run per night(out and back) Home every day. Work week is Mon night through Friday night. Sat & Sun night are weekend.
If the run does not take 8 hours (many don't for less senior drivers) then the remainder if the shift will be spent working on the dock at the hourly pay stated above.
Like UPS, I am not guaranteed 40/hrs 5 days/wk. However, if my run takes less than 8 hours I will spend the remaining time working on the dock. On a night that I do not have a run, I will be able to come in and put 4-5 hours in on the dock so I am not earning nothing for the day. FYI-working on the dock consists of loading and unloading trailers with a forklift. Dock is covered but not temp. controlled.
Company paid pension with optional 401(k)
Benefit cost is about $200/month
Non-union
The terminal I would be working out of have 24 drivers now with 6 more to be hired, including me as 1 of the 6.
Terminal is 30 minute commute each way from my house.



My instinct is to go with Fed Ex, but maybe I am not seeing something, that would make UPS a better choice................
Thoughts?
 
Your no where close to the job benefits you posted about ups freight, there is more wrong than right. I am in a hurry right now and do not have time to post the details if someone else doesn't I will later, but I can say don't listen to either when it comes to job description becuase that will change, so will start times, freight and service levels dictate that and that changes daily, 1 or 2 large accounts come or go and that could change just about everything.
 
Elendil: ups freight also offers health insurance at no cost to you and its not bad insurance at all

There is no 401k match

Starting pay is $15.05 driving $14.63 for dock.

In 3 years when you hit top pay it will be higher than $24.82. Should be around $27-$28/hr.

Work is very incosistent but from what i hear the chicago area stays busy
 
Overnite said:
Your no where close to the job benefits you posted about ups freight, there is more wrong than right. I am in a hurry right now and do not have time to post the details if someone else doesn't I will later, but I can say don't listen to either when it comes to job description becuase that will change, so will start times, freight and service levels dictate that and that changes daily, 1 or 2 large accounts come or go and that could change just about everything.
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BubbaSkinner said:
Elendil: ups freight also offers health insurance at no cost to you and its not bad insurance at all

There is no 401k match

Starting pay is $15.05 driving $14.63 for dock.

In 3 years when you hit top pay it will be higher than $24.82. Should be around $27-$28/hr.

Work is very inconsistent but from what i hear the Chicago area stays busy
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As far as my info goes, I am repeating only what I was told sitting in front of the HR person. I wrote everything down. If my info is incorrect (and it could be) it is because I was told incorrectly. As far as dock work with UPSF, I was told there is not dock work for drivers. Either get a run or sit home..........I don't object to working the dock, however I was told that wasn't an option. I would assume top pay will be higher for both positions by the time I top out as COLA and contracts change......The rates I quoted were as of today per HR.
 
And on the insurance, I think I was told it is no cost for an individual. The cost I quoted was for family (Wife and children) coverage. Are you saying family coverage is also no cost at UPSF?
 
Elendil said:
And on the insurance, I think I was told it is no cost for an individual. The cost I quoted was for family (Wife and children) coverage. Are you saying family coverage is also no cost at UPSF?
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I think u need to look over our contract. Im pretty sure there is a free family insurance plan.
 
BubbaSkinner said:
Elendil i am on my phone cant link you the contract but go to google type in ups freight contract pdf and check it out
Click to expand...


Here it the appropriate section


Article 25
Benefits
Section 1. Medical Plans
Effective within ninety (90) days of ratification for employees outside of the Indianapolis facility, seniority full-time and casual employees will be provided health coverage pursuant to the United Parcel Service Health & Welfare Package Select. Eligibility requirements for and detailed descriptions of the medical plan is contained in the Summary Plan Description (SPD). Each covered employee will be provided a copy of the SPD.
Employee premium costs for coverage, once the new plan becomes effective and thereafter for the life of the Agreement will be as follows per month: Individual coverage--$50.00; Employee/Plus--$100; and Family--$150. There shall be a second level of coverage offered through the Plan which will be made available to employees at no cost.
Life insurance, dental coverage, short term disability and long term disability benefits will be as described in the Summary Plan Description.
Medical coverage shall be provided pursuant to the terms of the United Parcel Service Health & Welfare Package Select to those employees who retire after ratification who are immediately eligible for a retirement benefit pursuant to the Section 7 below. The Retiree contribution for health coverage per month for the life of this agreement shall be $250.00 for individual coverage and $500.00 for employee plus spouse coverage.
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Elendil said:
And on the insurance, I think I was told it is no cost for an individual. The cost I quoted was for family (Wife and children) coverage. Are you saying family coverage is also no cost at UPSF?
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Yes there are two options, one where you pay and one where you don't. I have the second option, pay nothing, and my wife is covered same as me. The deductibles are higher and benefits a little less.
 
Elendil said:
As far as my info goes, I am repeating only what I was told sitting in front of the HR person. I wrote everything down. If my info is incorrect (and it could be) it is because I was told incorrectly. As far as dock work with UPSF, I was told there is not dock work for drivers. Either get a run or sit home..........I don't object to working the dock, however I was told that wasn't an option. I would assume top pay will be higher for both positions by the time I top out as COLA and contracts change......The rates I quoted were as of today per HR.
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I'm guessing you applied out of the aur terminal. Not Chicago , wouldn't be working at ohare unless your at aur. (previous not directed at you but what someone said previously)
The HR guy may have lied , they tend to just to get you to join. Hr was correct when they told you ,you don't have a choice to work the dock. Cgo, aur, pal, and Soh have two unions, one for the city, and one for the dock and road. Highly unlikely you would be working the dock. Also don't know about other terms but if you applied at cgo, you would be working till about the end of August , covering for vacationers. After then you would be sitting at home mostly till next summer. But then again things may be different at other terms.
 
laid off 90% said:
I'm guessing you applied out of the aur terminal. Not Chicago , wouldn't be working at ohare unless your at aur. (previous not directed at you but what someone said previously)
The HR guy may have lied , they tend to just to get you to join. Hr was correct when they told you ,you don't have a choice to work the dock. Cgo, aur, pal, and Soh have two unions, one for the city, and one for the dock and road. Highly unlikely you would be working the dock. Also don't know about other terms but if you applied at cgo, you would be working till about the end of August , covering for vacationers. After then you would be sitting at home mostly till next summer. But then again things may be different at other terms.
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It's not cgo. It's pal.
 
Wouldn't be a hard for me to figure out. I'd go with UPSF. But then I work for UPSF. Or another way to look at it. Go with the one that is bad mouthed the most. I've found it usually is the opposite. Lot of men don't like to work now days... I will also say UPS and FedEx IS very demanding and expect 100%. If you want a more laid back job don't go with either...
 
Skeeter said:
Wouldn't be a hard for me to figure out. I'd go with UPSF. But then I work for UPSF. Or another way to look at it. Go with the one that is bad mouthed the most. I've found it usually is the opposite. Lot of men don't like to work now days... I will also say UPS and FedEx IS very demanding and expect 100%. If you want a more laid back job don't go with either...
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I hear ya. Although reading in both the UPSF and FXF forums here, it seems like nobody that works at either place is real happy.........
 
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