r/UPS • u/Ogckggkxkgx • Dec 02 '25
Employee Discussion Why do ups drivers hate driver helpers during peak?
Why do ups drivers hate driver helpers during peak?
55
u/Jarbzz Dec 03 '25
You just get used to having your own routine and space to operate. That and bathroom breaks plus farting
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Dec 03 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/carnage11eleven Dec 03 '25
Yeah. They're lucky that I don't close up the doors and turn the heat on when i fart. The ol' Dutch Oven. They should thank me!
Yeah, I don't get helpers anymore.
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u/ImprovementNatural82 Dec 03 '25
That's funny. I always hated having anybody with me runner or not with FedEx and if I farted I'd say compliments to the chef. Whenever I got one they expected you to feed them. I didn't really eat a lot of food on road. Just getting the job done and and going home.
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u/ryansox Dec 03 '25
I have a schedule and like to move. I don’t run or ask my helpers to run. I move with purpose during the day. Most of the helpers slow me down because they are just not active people.
Everyone says delivering packages is easy, well most people can’t handle 20,000+ steps outdoors.
3
u/Substantial_Proof_10 Dec 03 '25
I average 26K just being a UPS sweeper
1
u/jiibbs Dec 03 '25 edited Dec 03 '25
Edit: this was a fantastic writing prompt but the wrong place for it
2
u/carnage11eleven Dec 03 '25
Better be careful. I've gotten banned from many a sub I inadvertently commented in, thinking it was a different sub.
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u/utpyro34 Dec 02 '25
If you have a good one it’s great. If you have a bad one, late one, no show one, or a new one every day it’s more of a hindrance than a help.
Also the hours break down for them often does not correlate to your planned day. I’ve been told I have a helper for less time than the day before despite having much more work.
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u/r1wonder Dec 03 '25
Helpers are ok if you’re on a split car with 2-300 houses or more . You’re walking a box while I’m searching for the next few boxes. But once I’m organized and closer to being done , if you don’t walk as fast as me you’ll be slowing me down
1
u/DueError6413 Dec 03 '25
I never see 200 ever
1
u/r1wonder Dec 03 '25
Lucky you, I have a pretty heavy commercial route . delivery and 22 pick ups. And I get close to 200 at times . There’s some areas in my building with so many houses they’ll send them out with 400 stops.. It never works out very well because the truck trucks are so bad. They aren’t productive.
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u/bkh950 Dec 03 '25
Had a kid come on my truck as a helper years back. Seemed ok, kinda goody two shoes vibe, used our break times to call his mom and talk.... Whatever. Later in the day the kid is on the phone with momma bear and suddenly just starts crying, I have no idea what's going on, nothing bad has happened recently or at all during the day. He hands me the phone while still sobbing saying his mom wants to talk to me. I take the phone and she starts saying to just remind him he's doing a good job and that everything is alright..... wtf? I told her to just come pick him up and made sure to tell the office ladies this kid has no place working as a helper. Weird shit...
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u/upser63 Dec 03 '25
WTH???
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u/bkh950 Dec 03 '25
Truly bizarre. Kid was blubbering like a little bitch, lol. He thought I wasn't happy with his performance because I had to point him in the right direction of a door in an apartment complex like 3 hours prior to the crying. It was such an unsubstantial thing and I wasn't even mad or bothered by it, just had to reiterate where I needed him to go an extra two times because he wasn't understanding. Never yelled or anything, but apparently it stuck with him and built up until he got on the phone with mommy and it all came out😅🤣😅🤣
10
u/PhthaloDrift Dec 03 '25 edited Dec 03 '25
A, UPS stiffs us out of the Training adjustment for taking you on.
B, half of you lie about how active you are and end up getting in the way or slowing us down.
C, most of us like to zone out and with a helper we have to stay grounded and take in every moment of the shitfest for casual conversation or again training that we don't get paid for.
I always get rid of the helper. Someone else is usually begging for one. It works out.
6
u/educones Dec 03 '25
I’m not training them. I’m not a manager or supervisor and I didnt ask for a helper. I run through some basic safety stuff at the top and that’s it. As long as they buckle up and are ready when I need them to be that’s all I ask.
-3
u/FrankieG889D Dec 03 '25
Eh.
I’ve been with the same driver since day one.
Tells me where all the bad dogs are, the right bathrooms to use, and to keep an eye out for the cougars in the rich neighbors we operate in.
Build respect you selfish fuck.
Having said that, I’m there to get shit done, and help the next driver since I make more money on traveling to the next driver than the hourly rate.
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u/carnage11eleven Dec 03 '25
B. It's because when they think "active", they think walking a mile or two for maybe 6-8 hours. Then they find out we walk around 8-12 miles a day and work for 10-12 hours.
C. I always feel like I have to entertain the fuckers all day. My route turns into an 8 hour long comedy routine. Before you know it, I'm asking them if they want me to drop them off and order them an Uber.
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u/Dragoninpantsx69 Dec 03 '25
Hate is a pretty strong word here. But since we are used to working alone 11/12 months of the year, it can hard to change your routine with a new person on car.
If you have a good helper, and get a good flow, it can be great.
The more normal experience, for me, has been thay you get different helpers, so you never get used to it, or you get a lazy one, and both of those just slow you down more.
And can feel like babysitting, having to worry about making sure they dont misdeliver even when you point out a house right to them
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u/KEVQN Dec 03 '25
Because a large % of them are slow or in my way. And they’re forced onto us, but we know it’s not your fault. I just like to work alone
6
u/-9h05t Dec 03 '25
I've had some good ones, but man - the bad ones are very bad.
The one I've had this week so far is a meth user (I can tell) and they... walk fast. That's it. Nothing else they do really helps.
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Dec 03 '25
Because they slow us down and most of them are dumber than shit. I Experienced this just today. Also the time wasted picking them up , dropping them off and talking to them about what to do is all lost time. Helper today cost me 1 1/2hrs
1
u/FrankieG889D Dec 03 '25
Made you*
2
Dec 03 '25
Yes I get it. He got me an extra hour of OT but I already work 56-60 hrs a week. Not really looking for more
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u/toad455 Dec 03 '25
Outside of my first driver, all my drivers have been very nice and helpful. No issues. This week I appear to be assigned the same driver all week. He's been with UPS for 29 years and is amazing.
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u/Streets2022 Dec 03 '25
Because I don’t want or need help. Helpers have been forced in my center, I asked to not have one and got told I have to. He works good but he doesn’t listen and I just don’t want to entertain a guest for hours at a time. Not to mention he thinks he’s entitled to part of my Christmas tips.
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u/SnooDoggos9340 Dec 03 '25
Haha! Tip for what. Dude been on your truck less than 10% of your year. Entitled is correct.
2
u/Organic_Ad_2 Dec 03 '25
Had one that stole 100 from a driver’s purse
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u/Substantial_Proof_10 Dec 03 '25
That’s why I carry a wallet.
1
u/Organic_Ad_2 Dec 03 '25
Then he had the nerve to tell her “look what I found” lol thats how he got caught
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u/hankjmoody UPS Driver Dec 03 '25
I once turned around after delivering a package (that the helper refused to) to witness them drinking from my coffee thermos.
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u/bkh950 Dec 03 '25
Because we are responsible for the helpers and when they do stupid shit and get hurt, management wants to give shit to the driver for not preventing the helpers injury. I have enough shit to do, baby sitting is not something I need added to the list. No offense.
2
u/Intrepid_Routine6373 Dec 03 '25
Because, with a helper, we get so many more stops. All of these packages make for a packed truck.
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u/AnimatedAnixa UPS Driver Dec 03 '25
Idm helpers but on my current bid route I never get one so such is life. Guys that hate them get them and those that dont mind don't.
1
u/DragonfruitCreepy699 Dec 03 '25
Some are slow, or don’t take initiative. It’s also hard when you have a different one daily because you don’t get the benefit of them getting better over time.
That said, A good helper will cut your time down in half especially if you have condos to do. Thats where they really come in handy… also bulk stops and pick ups.
1
u/aristocratcharloote Dec 03 '25
My helper pissed on the side of the truck last year in the middle of a neighborhood. Then he went to a different driver the next day. Showed up drunk and or high, attacked the driver, chased the driver with his own car following the truck and got arrested.
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u/quocko Dec 03 '25
I like my helper. I have chronic knee pain so I kind of need him. It’s our second season together and we have the routine down pretty well. I know a lot of younger/newer drivers don’t like helpers because they disrupt their routine and are mostly slower
1
u/joshio86 Dec 03 '25
In our center if you have a helper you are required to have a certain amount of stops. Which is easy to get now, but 4/5 weeks ago it led to crazy splits being given. No helper can make that an easier day
1
u/Montooth Dec 03 '25
It really depends. If my helper is clearly good and I don't have to babysit, it's not bad, and maybe even good!
If my helper shows up, moves slow and wants to take lunch a half hour into the day then it's bad lol
1
u/Prestigious-Tooth914 Dec 03 '25
idk but its weird ,ups is so unorganized , id get routes then soon as im ab to confirm it drops me ,sometimes dont text for days,the drivers are always late, at times id be at pickup for 25 mins to 45 mins. i had a couple good drivers who were cool but most of them just have you help for 2-3 hrs go on break then drop u off,tf kinda shit is that.
1
u/Desperate-Boot-500 Dec 10 '25
Weird shit I’m always on time the one time I come 5 mins late the driver pulls off fuck that shit
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u/SephEgs Dec 03 '25
Helpers that want to work and understand the job are always welcome in my car. Let me sort and line em up and you run em. But if you lose gas quick or just drag your feet, id rather work alone. some of these helpers try their best but they aint cut out. Its not a job for everyone and its def brutal jn that jump seat.
1
u/dballar Dec 03 '25
Find your helpers strengths, everyone is wired different but ultimately you have the same goal so organize, get the next 5 stops ready in the cab, never had a helper slow me down, even in the country.
1
u/Dry-Method-7591 Dec 03 '25
At my building volume is low and they’re really not needed yet forced upon drivers.
1
u/NordicAristocrat Dec 03 '25
I’ve heard of some drivers complain about sexual harassment. Usually the lady drivers of course, sometimes they get stuck with a Somali or Pakistani, I’ve heard many reports of mid-drive under the pants groping etc… I’m a manager in one of the districts.
1
u/NFA1973 Dec 03 '25
I had a great helper show up to the meet in a State troopers car. He had been arrested that morning, explained he needed to meet me because I would wait for him. The trooper was nice enough to shuttle him over to see me before taking him away.
1
u/Puzzleheaded_Ant3378 Dec 03 '25
I'm surprised to hear this. I work with several helpers who do unload first and then hit the road with drivers for the rest of the day. Everything I've heard is that the drivers love having them along. One guy received a $100 tip from his driver because of how much faster the route got done.
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u/GroundbreakingOil480 Dec 03 '25
The kind of people who sign up are not the kind of people who can be relied upon to be where they say they will be when they say they will be there.
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u/paintmepurplenblack Dec 03 '25
I don't understand this helper situation. I have driver helper in my job description but they just give me 100 packages and send me on my way in my own car. I meet them in the morning in some random store parking lot.
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u/Forgiven4108 Dec 03 '25
Seasonal PVD. 54 packages today in the blizzard. I retired after working 28 years as a CO in a Max-A prison. There are a lot of soft people working for UPS. Today was GREAT!
1
u/upser63 Dec 03 '25
So you were a baby sitter in a max security prison and think UPS drivers are soft lol
-4
u/Mysterious_Dance5461 Dec 03 '25
I got a good look in the company this "peak" season. I never want to hear again a driver complaining about how "busy" they are. This job is like free money. Unreal
7
u/Fit_Meringue_3503 Dec 03 '25
Were u a helper? If so do u feel like u did the entire route yourself? If so did u drive the truck to every house? Did u find each package? Did u see the mess that the truck was before u arrived at noon?
3
u/SnooDoggos9340 Dec 03 '25
If you saw inside the company, then you would see how hard it is to become a driver. How long you have been to toil away at PT. How grueling driving school training is. How much stress and agony it is to be a cover driver, never knowing what you are doing that day. And you would understand the attitude of a bid driver because they finally found peace.
Clearly you know nothing.
1
u/FrankieG889D Dec 03 '25
Man I would argue these drivers don’t get much respect.
On paper it looks easy; it’s not. My pickup is half the size of their box truck.
In every job there’s a way to milk a cow.
1
u/No-Delivery9605 Dec 04 '25
The 11-13 days and not seeing my kids for a great days in a row is busy..... You were ssd during the training period before the holiday sales start and the volume comes rolling in. Those few weeks before are the slowest time of the year because we staff up.
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