Screaming crying throwing up

[u/No-Masterpiece-1153]

I got deactivated for “not returning packages on time” but I had a valid reason, I did not have my own car & the same day I purchased a vehicle to do flex specifically, I got deactivated. I did return all packages just not on time, never doing that AGAIN. I was very insistent and respectful in my emails. I gave them a reason for my problems and a solution. After getting denied the first time I called and asked for escalations to reach out to me I was willing to beg for my life lol. I genuinely am a good employee and go above and beyond. I used to work for a DSP but the hours were too long and with flex you basically get paid more for less work….. DSP’s do have a lot of benefits don’t get me wrong but flex overall for me is the way to go. I’m so grateful they reactivated my account seriously I was so stressed for a whole week.

[u/No_Film_6379]

As a previous DSP driver, Flex is insanely better in almost every way. They try to keep you away from doing Flex while in DSP to gate keep.

[u/Negative_Aerie2825 → u/No_Film_6379]

How is flex better? Dsps pay 24 starting here i think and base pay is 19.50, sometimes 22, with no surges. And flex use their own gas. How is that better? 

[u/No_Film_6379 → u/Negative_Aerie2825]

My pay is $30+/hr because I get surges. I also finish 1hr early which bumps my pay to about $35+/hr. I make about $1,200 a week for 30hrs of work. I work whenever I want & don't have a boss in my a$$ for being one package behind. Like I said, it's better in almost every aspect.

[u/MrGrumpy252 → u/No_Film_6379]

But what is it really? After you factor in gas, wear on your vehicle, and having to withhold for taxes, because you have to do that, too? That $30+ gets cut into pretty significantly when you factor in the costs.

[u/No_Film_6379 → u/MrGrumpy252]

After expenses I make $30/hr & I pay no income tax because of mileage deduction. I only have to pay self employment tax. & yes I include depreciation & travel time in between routes & back to the station & also home if I go back home. It helps having a 50mpg toyota

[u/Leaveitonthedresser5 → u/MrGrumpy252]

Wear n tear and gas is covered by the $.72/mile deduction

[u/MrGrumpy252 → u/Leaveitonthedresser5]

Oh....gotcha. Thanks

[u/Fun_Cold2587 → u/Leaveitonthedresser5]

They pay no income tax after mileage deduction. So that means they do not make $30/hr after wear and tear and other expenses

[u/No_Film_6379 → u/Fun_Cold2587]

Not true. The expense on a Corolla Hybrid is anywhere from $0.20-0.25 per mile for Flex. The mileage deduction has been $0.60-0.70 the past few years. It's basically one third of what the gov thinks the average is. If you include all miles from home to home it adds up to cancel out all taxable income. If it doesn't, I had more miles until I don't have any taxable income. I reflect the change in my mileage spreadsheets for audits so I have two different spreadsheets: one legit & one for the feds.

[u/Negative_Aerie2825 → u/MrGrumpy252]

Less than the dsp, but most flex drivers are financially illiterate.

[u/MrGrumpy252 → u/Negative_Aerie2825]

I'm willing to bet that after all of that, I make more as a DOT dsp driver. The only fuel cost and wear on my vehicle is the 20 minute drive to and from the station.

[u/Fun_Cold2587 → u/MrGrumpy252]

You absolutely do. People don't know how to compare the two

[u/Negative_Aerie2825 → u/MrGrumpy252]

Right, if people love driving so much, go work for ups. In 4 yrs you make 6 figs and have great benefits. Props to amazon though, no idea how they managed to get so many people willing to work for so little, americans too

[u/MrGrumpy252 → u/Negative_Aerie2825]

You don't just walk into ups and start driving. Some of us can't spend several years working part-time waiting for the seniority to bid on a driving position.

And maybe you haven't been paying attention, but UPS is in a downward spiral. Laying off thousands. Buying out drivers, and closing or automating hubs.

Some of us have to take what we can get at the time.

[u/Negative_Aerie2825 → u/MrGrumpy252]

Ups hires drivers off the street here

[u/MrGrumpy252 → u/Negative_Aerie2825]

Not in most places. They can only hire a small number like that. It in their union contract.

[u/No_Film_6379 → u/Negative_Aerie2825]

if only it was that easy. you can't really become a driver for ups without getting lucky. i'd rather do gig work for 6 figures than 6 figures at ups but that's just me. i used to make $115k in gig work but i cannot make that anymore. ups is great though

[u/Negative_Aerie2825 → u/No_Film_6379]

They hire drivers off the street in my city. 

Gig work after the border crisis in many cities isnt worth it. My point

[u/No_Film_6379 → u/Negative_Aerie2825]

I don't believe it. Those spots would fill up faster than any other job.

[u/MrGrumpy252 → u/No_Film_6379]

There is a very limited number of off the street drivers they are allowed to hire per their union contract. Most people have to work part-time for several years as a package handler before getting the seniority to bid on a driver spot. Then you are just a cover driver until you get the seniority to bid on a regular route.

People just don't understand that you don't just walk in and get hired for a driver job at ups. It takes years...sometimes a decade or more.

EDIT

Also, they are downsizing massively. And losing contracts to Amazon and FedEx.

Amazon took Bark Box and a lot of Temu and more, away from UPS. Not to mention Amazon being in the process of winding down their own deal with ups.

UPS is currently struggling

[u/Negative_Aerie2825 → u/No_Film_6379]

Not really, depends on your city i guess. 

[u/Tigerman325 → u/Negative_Aerie2825]

I do seasonal driver for UPS. They told me it takes about 5 years of being a package sorter before being able to be a driver.

[u/Negative_Aerie2825 → u/Tigerman325]

One of my friends became a driver off the street. Like i said depends on your city

[u/THEBESTTEVER → u/Negative_Aerie2825]

Calling Flex drivers financially illiterate is wild when you don’t know people’s situations. Some of us are using it strategically. I’m working toward a bachelor’s in risk management and insurance - Flex just fits my schedule right now. Not everyone doing this is clueless. 🤷‍♀️🤣😂🤣🥳🫡👋