As some of you have read I just finished feeder school at UPS and got my CDL. School was a week and half; followed by 1 week with a supervisor doing a regular route. After a couple of weeks on my own I have a few thoughts about the whole process.

The Bad:

School is too short. Would have liked a couple of more weeks of training. However, the school is designed to sink or swim. During my one week with a supervisor he told me they had a gal out of Casper, WY down training and washed out on the 2nd day. Broke down crying.

Sleep. After 15 years of days, going to nights nearly killed me. Wasn't sure I could handle it. Did get better after a week, but still stuggled sleeping during the day.

The Good:

Physically it is much easier than package cars. Still work hard, but its just a different type of work.

Other drivers. Feeder drivers are usually very high in seniority and don't take a lot of BS from anyone. Bit of a grumpy lot. However, they bend over backwards to help out a new driver like me. Down at the hub I had a few questions about different things. I just walked over to another feeder driver and asked for help. They were all great. Would answer my questions, but also show me little tips and short cuts to make life easier. Very impressed.

Dispatch. Were excellent and helpful. Not sure if thats company wide, but in Denver they were great.

Equipment was all in good shape. They seem to do their maintenance. I have to say I've never had a problem with UPS and fixing trucks. If you write it up they will fix it.

Money. Feeders pays a little more than packages and I was working a few more hours so the pay check was about 150 to 200 more per week.


All in all I think things are going well. Driving, backing, and shifting are all improving. I'm just vacation coverage right now, but should move to feeders full-time in about 18 months. That's when our center's most senior driver is planning on retiring. I have more seniority than the other 2 two feeder drivers ,so I can choose whatever route I want of the 3. I'll take the retiring drivers route. He works from 345pm to 300am. Nice shift. Can get home and still go to sleep while its dark out.

 

That's cool, Brown.
It will take a little while to get used to the night shift. Before you know it, you will be used to running nights.

Sounds like it's working out for ya.
Keep us updated.

 

So your saying that there are only 3 feeder drivers at your terminal B-67?

 

I have found the following tips help when I drove at night:

1. Sleep in a totally dark room, which means no sunlight. The body can sense sunlight, and thinks it's still daytime, which is when it's suppose to be up.

2. Tell your family not to bother you while you sleep. This was my biggest problem that I had, every little thing was a excuse to wake me up. There have been days when I was woke that I flew off the handle for stupid things. I'm not saying you should do it too, but your family have to learn that while you are asleep, not to go around raising hell.

3. Eat regular meals during the night like you would during the day. I ate breakfast at 7 PM, lunch at 12:00 am, and dinner around 5:30-6:00 am. Your eating habits are a big part of you being to stay awake during the night. And that includes your days off.

4. I don't know about others, but once I started on the night shift, I was on the night shift 24/7. That also means on my days off as well. It was too hard for me to go out during the day, and sleep during the night on my days off, then try to readjust back to the night shift. So I kept it the same way weather working or off, slept during the day, and stayed up during the night.

5. Avoid Energy drinks. That's just something I did...you can do what you want.

I hope these tips help. It's just something that I do when working the night shift.:thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

That's what it sounds like Stan. The other thing I caught was sounds like he retains his seniority. In Freight if we change classifications (road to city or vice versa) we go to the bottom of the new board, regardless of company seniority. Those 2 junior men made the decision to bid feeder when he obviously passed it up and now that he has decided to do it he gets his seniority back and goes above them. There's pros and cons to both. Most guys argue in favor of whichever way helps them the most. We have a 19 year guy who transfered to our terminal and he is at the bottom of the board like a new hire.

 

Yes only 3 feeder routes at my center. I'm in a smaller center not a hub. We run around 50 or so package routes out of here. Yes, I retain my seniority. Different areas of the country have different rules, but here its total years of full-time seniority no matter what job you do. If I was in Utah then my seniority would go to the bottom of the feeder seniority. Since I'm the vacation cover driver now I can't bump the other 2 feeders drivers off their routes. Once a feeder routes opens up then I move to feeders full-time and then I can chose the route I want. Feeder routes are bid every year, package routes are bid once and held til the driver moves off of it.

 

Instead of 3 meals you might try several light ones to keep your energy up. Fresh fruit and peanuts as snacks inbetween are great for maintaining your energy and keeping your weight stable. Stay away from candy. The sugar high and crash in the middle of the night can kill you.

 

I have a question. I participated in a skid pad exercise this past week and the instructor informed us that UPS teaches their drivers to use the "Shuffle Steer" technique. That is hands on the bottom of the wheel. Did they teach you that in your training because everytime a UPS truck passes me I notice they have their hands on the regular position of the wheel.

 

No they didn't teach me that. Always told me to keep hands at normal 10 and 2.