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The world of ground express deliveries is a multibillion dollar industry and growing. And with that growth comes the opportunity to get paid about $25 per hour. The basic requirements? Driving well and getting packages intact to eagerly waiting consumers.
Driving Forward
At United Parcel Services (UPS), "the driving jobs are some of the best in America for what you earn and what you get," says Daniel McMackin, a UPS spokesman and former driver for the company. "You get the pay range and benefits package and a lifetime career." The hourly rate is about $24.69 and full-time pay can range from $51,000 a year on the low end to $75,000 with overtime.
UPS's 80,000 drivers receive full benefits packages and company-paid insurance; each truck is serviced by a designated mechanic, and the trucks are loaded by a part-time workforce, says McMackin.
At FedEx, some 14,000 drivers are independent contractors. They work for FedEx's Ground Delivery sector or FedEx Home Delivery, a division of FedEx Ground. There are two categories of independent drivers:
- Pickup and delivery (P&D) contractors are FedEx Ground's primary link to customers who ship or receive packages. P&D contractors own or lease their own delivery vans.
- Linehaul contractors haul packages between terminals and hubs, as well as the "long haul" routes between hubs. Linehaul contractors provide their own power units (tractors). FedEx Ground provides the trailers.
FedEx Ground contractors use their own vehicles to pick up and deliver packages and move packages between hubs and terminals. They earn income -- in the form of weekly settlements -- based on their individual pickup and delivery performances, as well as their business-management abilities. For P&D contractors, the settlement formula includes the number of pickup and delivery stops, packages handled, van availability and the density of the zone in which they deliver. For linehaul contractors, the settlement formula is based primarily on miles driven.
FedEx Ground also offers contractors performance-based incentives and service bonuses, and it makes a retirement plan and other savings options available. As entrepreneurs, contractors may have the option to purchase additional delivery routes, add vans and tractors, and hire their own drivers and helpers to expand business and increase income potential. They also have the option to sell their routes for a profit.
DHL also offers both in-house driver jobs and independent contractors who will hire drivers. "Given the extent of the DHL network across the US, compensation for drivers, including pay, hours and benefits, will differ from region to region," says Glenn Walters, manager of field recruiting for DHL Americas. "Another factor to consider is that compensation is based on either union contracts or independent contractor wage and benefit scales."
Job Requirements
In general, you should be at least 21 years old with a clean driving record to apply for small package delivery jobs. At DHL, you should already have a commercial driver's license with a Hazardous Materials Endorsement, but at UPS and FedEx, you will receive in-house training with an emphasis on learning to use scanners and other handheld devices. UPS will expect you to pass a driving test with a 75-point checklist and a written test administered by the US Department of Transportation.
If you're an independent contractor for FedEx, you must sign an agreement to adhere to various company principles. Among these are: you agree to wear authorized FedEx Ground uniforms and your vehicle shows the required logo, you become knowledgeable about FedEx Ground's services and operating procedures, and you take responsibility for maintaining your vehicle and following federal regulations.
What to Expect
In general, these drivers work eight to 10 hours a day, five days a week. McMackin estimates a full-time route will include 100 stops on average; half that for rural areas and up to 125 stops in dense urban areas. You'll handle up to 150-pound packages, but anything more than 70 pounds can be handled by specialized power equipment in your truck.
The personal touch can be one of the job's big fringe benefits. "I've gone to weddings of customers' kids," says McMackin. "We have drivers who get keys to the city upon their retirement."
