A Step-by-Step Process to Becoming a $170K Driver for UPS

• UPS drivers are sharing pay stubs online, and a recent agreement for a pay boost has people talking.
• The Teamsters union secured a contract for a new pay boost for UPS drivers in August.
• UPS drivers are set to make $170,000 when including benefits — here’s how to become one.

Getting behind the wheel of a big, brown-and-gold UPS truck suddenly has become more desirable — for about 25,000 more reasons. 

UPS ratified their contract with the Teamsters union in August that’s set to bump full-time driver salaries — when including benefits — to $170,000, a $25,000 increase from their previous total compensation of $145,000. 

The agreement avoided a UPS strike that could have had huge implications for the economy as a whole. Since the news of the higher pay, the spotlight is on UPS drivers — some of whom have been posting their pay stubs online. The rest of the workforce is realizing just how highly compensated top UPS drivers are.

While the exact breakdown between base salary and benefits hasn’t yet been disclosed, UPS CEO Carol Tomé said by the end of its five-year contract with the Teamsters, full-time drivers “will make about $170,000 annually in pay and benefits.” 

Top UPS drivers earn an average of $49 per hour under the new contract, according to the Teamsters. There are drivers — like the one who went viral on Reddit for his $2,400 weekly checks — who earn well over six figures in their roles.

When UPS came to an agreement in August with the Teamsters,  searches for UPS delivery driver jobs on boards like Indeed increased by 50%.

A UPS spokesperson said at the time to Business Insider: “Hiring at UPS works pretty much the same as with other companies,” adding, of course, candidates would need to pass the interview process and be selected.

Here’s a breakdown of the process involved in scoring one of the hottest jobs of the moment:

Step 1

Check UPS’s site for available job listings or inquire at your local UPS. There are two types of package delivery drivers: combination positions that include working from a warehouse on occasion, and strictly driving roles. 

Ensure that you meet the requirements, which are provided in each listing and can vary based on the location of the job. These requirements are typically listed as the following:

• The ability to lift up to 70 lbs
• Possession of a valid driver’s license — no CDL is required
• Successful completion of a US Department of Transportation physical exam
• The legal ability to work in the US 
• Compliance with UPS appearance guidelines, including wearing the company-provided uniform

Step 2

After applying online, selected candidates can expect to receive an interview after the completion of a background check. 

Step 3

The next step, after going through the interview process, is to pass the DOT physical exam. These exams are conducted by a licensed medical examiner and are valid for up to 24 months. 

Prospective drivers who make it to this step can register for an exam through the company’s site. UPS pays for it.

Being physically capable is crucial to delivery drivers, considering they work through extreme conditions at times, such as blistering heat. 

Full-time drivers can also expect to put in eight to 10 hours a day, on any given shift. 

Step 4

Up next is the training process, as candidates proceed through a program facilitated by one of UPS’s Integrad driving schools. 

During Integrad training, candidates learn how to haul UPS packages across slippery surfaces such as icy pavement and how to effectively manage packages and driving routes. 

Instruction at Integrad incorporates methodologies from UPS’s 79-page manual, which breaks down everything from pre-planning stops, to safely exiting a UPS truck. Ultimately, the training is supposed to help candidates complete their tasks as efficiently as possible. 

Step 5

Finally, selected candidates can expect to go through a 30-day probation period, which functions as a monthlong trial.

UPS can terminate employment during the trial, as it is meant to gauge the fit between the driver and the company. And, don’t expect to make six figures right away. The company’s highest earning drivers have said it took years at the company to reach top rate.

Are you a UPS driver with advice on how to become a driver? Contact Jordan Hart via email ([email protected]). Check out Business Insider’s source guide for other tips on sharing information securely.