Anybody work for UPS as a part-time package handler? How is it?

Question

I need extra money. I have a professional day job and do not want to work in retail or any other job where I'm in the public eye. I thought about doing package handling to make some extra money and possibly lose weight. Anyone out there do this? How is it? It looks like I could make up to an extra $6k a year! That would be amazing since we just bought a house. Plus free benefits! That would help offset my other insurance.

Answer 1

I haven't worked there but I have applied and found out all about the position. It's not the easiest. I actually applied this summer and went through the whole application process before deciding that it wasn't for me mainly because of the time commitment and I just needed a temp job before school.

You HAVE to devote at least a year to the position, they will tell you that upfront and if you can't then more than likely they can't use you. And also there is a lot of bending, lifting, squatting, in a continuous sense. You're moving almost like a machine handling packages up to at least 70 lbs.

The pay really isn't that great for what you're doing, I can't remember the exact rate but it's not a double digit number, but they make up for it by giving you pretty good benefits, which is what attracted me to the job at first. After 6 months I believe they give you all the benefits of a full time employee even if you are working part time.

But for everything described and for the time commitment needed especially since I knew I wouldn't be doing it for the rest of my life, the pay wasn't worth it, or the working conditions.

You will be in the trucks where the packages are unloading with other crew members and the trucks are actually hotter than the outside temperature because they are sitting on asphalt soaking in heat from every other surrounding as well. Lower back pain may be a slight problem for you in the long run though and your body WILL hurt the first couple of days especially the first day because you're not use to it if you do so.

And if you do it part time you need to pick a shift that works well with your job hours which is at least 4-5 hours a day because they don't excuse you for any reason. If you're involved in activities and have another commitment that day when you're supposed to work forget it because you have to work. But if you're fine with all of that then you can do it, the benefits are good. Hope that helps.