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Is UPS the Best Driving Job You Can Get Without a CDL?
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UPS package drivers can reach the mid-$40s an hour with a pension. Here's what the job is really like, and how people get in.
For drivers with a regular license, a full-time UPS package car job is hard to beat on paper: union pay, no-premium health care, and a pension.
The pay
Under the 2023 Teamsters contract, new package drivers start lower and move up to the full-time top rate over about four years. Top-rate drivers earn in the mid-$40s per hour, and UPS has said full-time drivers average about $170,000 in pay and benefits by the end of the contract.
The job
- 9.5+ hour days, with overtime common in peak season
- 100+ stops a day and packages up to 70 lbs
- Clean driving record, age 21+, and a DOT medical card
How people actually get hired
Many UPS drivers start as part-time package handlers and move into driving through seniority. Seasonal driver helper and personal vehicle driver jobs (October through December) are another way in.
Alternatives if UPS isn't hiring near you
- FedEx Express courier: direct FedEx employee with benefits.
- USPS carrier: a path to a federal career and pension.
- Amazon DSP: quick hiring, lower pay.
A realistic path in
- Apply for a part-time package handler job or a seasonal driver helper job.
- Show up reliably and learn how the building runs.
- Sign the driver bid list when openings are posted. Seniority often decides who gets the next driving job.
- Pass the driving test and complete driver training.
Some locations hire drivers from outside, especially in tight labor markets. Check your local listings.
The physical side
Package drivers are on their feet much of the day, climb in and out of the truck constantly, and handle packages up to 70 pounds. Many drivers say the first few months are the hardest.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a CDL? Not for package cars. Feeder (tractor-trailer) drivers need a Class A CDL and earn more.
Is it full-time right away? Many new drivers start as "cover drivers" who fill in for others until they get a regular route.
What about FedEx Ground? FedEx Ground drivers work for independent contractors, so pay and benefits vary more.
Bottom line
UPS is one of the best non-CDL driving careers there is, but it takes patience to get in. Start part-time or seasonal if you're serious.
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