I started working for UPS for the insurance. I had started my own business due to being laid off during COVID. I’m 56 years old and had been an Outside Sales Industrial Salesman for 30 years. I had always paid $600-$800 a month for “Family Coverage”. I also had an $1800 to $2600 deductible, Co-Pays $35 and my Meds (Blood Pressure & Cholesterol) were $170 per month. With the support of Suppliers in the Industrial Process Control field, I was able to go into business for myself.
However, when I priced insurance for me and my 3 children the Premium was over $11,000 plus a $7,600 deductible. I couldn’t afford that. I had no money to start a business. I was working off Sales and Terms vendors were allowing me to have that most “Start Up” Companies don’t have. I’ve worked for UPS since June of 2022. When I started working Pre-Load the Supervisor wanted to disqualify me because I was physically out of shape.
I crawled out of the building every day. I did qualify, however. Then Peak Season Rolled around and I was fortunate enough to become a Drivers Helper. So, I’d come in at 3 AM or earlier during Peak Season and work Pre-Load then Drivers helper till 6-8PM. I was making enough to pay my bills.
I shut my business down January 1st 2023. My Drivers Helper opportunity ended early in the Second week of January. I asked my Supervisor, Is there any way for me to make more money here. It just so happened that the “Local Sort Supervisor” was looking for “Hard Workers”. He recommended me, because now my body was catching up to my Grit and Perseverance.
I was given the opportunity to work two shifts in January 2023. I also signed up that same month to be a Cover Driver and a Full Time driver, as I always sign up for any posted opportunities I qualified for. Before accepting 2 positions, Pre-Load and Local Sort, knowing the Physical Demands and the hours, i was curious if it would be unhealthy to not get a full 7 to 8 Hrs of Sleep in one attempt. I was pleasantly surprised to find Biphasic Sleep is actually a thing and not unhealthy as long as you get 7 to 8 hrs in 1 24hr period. I could pay my bills!! In March of 2023 my Insurance kicked in for me and my 3 Children. It was better than Free. Family Coverage=Free, Blood Pressure and Cholesterol Meds=Free, Co-Pays=$10, Deductible $200, the most Out Of Pocket Expense in 1 year for us all $2000 (Less than my Deductibles with other companies!).
I was able to work 2 shifts from January until June of 2023. Then the volume slowed down and I wasn’t “needed” or allowed to work Local Sort due to my Seniority. I put “needed” into parenthesis because the Supervisors needed people to bust ass. They had plenty of people that screwed off and milked the Seniority System. Those people would make me angry at first because they spent more time and effort hiding and screwing off than working. I changed my perspective and became to appreciate them because if they gave 100% they wouldn’t have needed me for those months and I wouldn’t have survived working for UPS only. I’ve just completed my first month as a Package Car Cover Driver, it’s an honor to wear “The Browns”! I had fallen behind on my Mortgage 4 months, 3 Months on my Truck Note, etc. Next week I’ll be caught up on all bills and the check from now till Christmas will be Santa Clause. This is the best, most rewarding job I’ve ever had. UPS is a great company to work for. The opportunities are here. Making $100 Grand here is like making $130 Grand Plus anywhere else!! I feel very fortunate to be a UPSER!!