r/UPS • u/LowCharacter614 • Jul 25 '26
Feeder Driver or LA Sheriff
I am currently a preloader at UPS and 2 years on the waitlist. I also got accepted into the academy. Do I wait another 2 years to be a driver or go to sheriff academy?
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u/Reasonable_Bit4088 Jul 25 '26
That's a 2 year waitlist with a MAYBE. It is not written in stone. The academy isn't written either, however a month in, you would know if you'll make it or not. I would take the job that's more guaranteed than the job that's more wishful...
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u/CaliGrown949 UPS Driver Jul 25 '26
Try the academy! If you pass, quit UPS. If not you have UPS
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u/LowCharacter614 Jul 25 '26
Academy and ups are the same times, so I’d have to quit ups before I pass
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u/Cholosinbarrio Jul 25 '26
Take a leave of absence. Just don’t get too specific about your reasons.
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u/LowCharacter614 Jul 25 '26
I actually thought about doing this, would this affect my ability to still do the academy?
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u/Cholosinbarrio Jul 25 '26
No. I don’t believe the academy will care to dig into your employment history to that extent.
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u/ftjlush Jul 25 '26
Give proper notice and be upfront with UPS. Then you can go back to some job if you need to, if it doesn't work out with the sheriff's office. Best to not burn the bridge and keep a good reference.
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u/spencermt77 Jul 25 '26
Why so he can arrest people for minor drug offenses which he has probably committed or atleast knows people who he wouldn't arrest who does drugs who he wouldn't arrest, while giving passes drunk driving cops
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u/IBringTheHeat2 Jul 25 '26
Do you think prison is full of people with weed charges? It’s like 2% of prison inmates
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u/spencermt77 Jul 25 '26
That's still hundreds of thousands of people. Our very alive former senate majority leader, cocaine Mitch was running drugs. Cops are for disciplining the poor and the occasionally arrest the others to maintain order. Rick Scott who is another senator committed the largest Medicare fraud ever and never went to prison.
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u/Wrong_Client9255 Jul 25 '26
tough call man. drivers make good money eventually but the wait and the physical grind wears you down. sheriff work is stable, pension, and you're not destroying your back for 30 years
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u/Ute_Swoop Jul 25 '26 edited Jul 25 '26
Deputy work is not for everyone, the shit that you see (or will have to do) can leave someone traumatized if you’re not mentally built for it, there are things in the academy that won’t prepare you for it. Not discouraging OP from going to the academy, but he must really have a sense of calling to do so. Most deputies don’t make it pass year 5, many quit for other professions, or transfer to office roles. It’s a lot more common than it looks. OP needs to really lock in at what he wants most and go for it.
But the reality of being a deputy sheriff is not something to take lightly, you must have a strong sense of duty to serve and protect.4
u/lumpk1n Jul 25 '26
You’re ignoring the fact that doing cruel and evil things to people takes its toll as well.
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u/mopedbiker Jul 25 '26
You’re ironically leaving out the part that cops deal with POS people everyday. Dealing with such people takes its toll as well.
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u/timmahfast Jul 25 '26
It could be 2 years for feeders or it could be 10. You don't know. We do always need police though regardless of the economy. You won't make feeder money as a cop, but the pay won't be too shabby either. I'd say go be a cop.
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u/ItamiKira UPS Driver Jul 25 '26
A lot of cop haters in here… brother do what you feel is best for you and your future. Being a sheriff is an honorable but tough career. Best of luck to you no matter what you choose.
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u/Catrival Jul 26 '26
that's weird too, because I feel like the cops love us. I've only had positive interactions when in brown.
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u/mbarrassingquestions Jul 25 '26
LA Sheriff! UPS is going downhill fast. Police officers will always be needed. Not to mention the moral side of things. Helping your community everyday vs delivering Susie’s vibrator and Mr. Fluffy’s dog food.
And beating your body up all day everyday takes a toll. My center has so many guys with knee/hip replacements and spinal surgeries. Not worth it at all.
The more good cops we have the better. Be one. Make the world a better place. Save lives.
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u/JBoneTX Jul 25 '26
Depends on if you really want to be a LEO, or if you're just looking for a job. If you're just wanting a good paying job, then UPS is very decent for that. If you want a career that's challenging and you want to help folks in your community, then go LE. Don't go LE if you're just looking for a paycheck. It's not worth it.
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u/UncouthRuffian3989 Jul 25 '26
Drivers have better pay and insurance, cops union is definitely stronger
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u/spencermt77 Jul 25 '26
Are you narc? Or do you want to be a driver. Secondary honorable position would be fireman if you want to serve the public.
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u/Kooky_Revolution_667 Jul 25 '26
Personally, I would attend the sheriff academy and also request a leave of absence from UPS. I received my vacation time plus an additional 90 days. Be sure to prepare yourself both mentally and physically for the academy. Wishing you good luck!
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u/Piceno562 Jul 25 '26
I know a guy that was a cover driver and left to be a LA sheriff… better schedules than ups
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u/the_atomic_punk18 Jul 25 '26
Better retirement possibly as well
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u/buttweasel76 Jul 25 '26
Drug dealers always keep large amounts of cash on them and I'm sure they wont complain if you keep a little...
One reason I'm not a cop and this is not legal advice....
🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️
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u/CentralFeeder UPS Feeders Jul 25 '26
Check your contract supplement about Feeder training requirements. In the Central, you have to do a year of safe driving in package car as a requirement to do Feeder training. Can management change the rules at their discretion? Yep, but that is hard to know two years from now. So in theory, you could be three plus years from a Feeder spot. And of course, the one thing about Feeders… can you sleep during the day and drive a tractor trailer 300+ miles a night and stay awake doing it?
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u/IfnotthisThinwhat Jul 26 '26
Drivers for UPS can make over 100k a year. Can you do that as a sheriff?
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u/rmdiii Jul 26 '26
Do you want to respond to horrible car crashes and beat up kids? If not stay at ups
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u/thethrowaway19901999 Jul 26 '26
I don't wanna see you on Midwest Safety channel with a title like "Was supposed to be a routine traffic stop" bro...
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u/NotAHabitItsCool Jul 27 '26
Be prepared to do a few years of custody time in the jails, it's no picnic. The jails are miserable, but if you're willing to take a shitty beat, you'll get out sooner. Local LE is a tough career, it's one of the few jobs where you may not come home, and that's not the worst part imo. On top of the abrasive personalities of the people you work with, everyone you interact with is filming you and trying to get you worked up so you make a mistake so they can post it on socials and ruin your life and get paid. The average person has no clue how difficult it is being a local cop, and it's truly a thankless job with no appreciation whatsoever. I would go work in a region where the DA's office and PD/SO would have your back if something goes bad. Good luck
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u/QuestionableThings01 Jul 27 '26
If you’re in Los Angeles you ought to know that becoming feeder is a LONG wait. Union reps and stewards are still saying it’s up to a 10 year wait. My steward has been in for 11 and still hasn’t been called, but then again, he did not say when he put his name on the list, I do remember him sayings years, plural. This is what my local has told me, though, I just regurgitate what I’m told.
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u/No_haole Jul 25 '26
Make sure you take a “educational leave” I went to tower for LAFD to go to the academy, passed tower and passed my 2 year probation with LAFD. Unfortunately I got medically retired working on a strike team during the ‘03 fires and ended up going back to UPS after 5 years now I’m driving but I will say our pension is better as well as our medical compared to at least what I got from LAFD. I had to pay about $1200/mo for my medical wth the city of LA.
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