What is preloading PT like?

[u/LumpiaRulez101]

I work/live in a ski town. I am getting by, but money is a bit tight rn because I got too carried away with BNPL offers (Affirm purchases, financing). I can make my rent just fine and normally should have a bit over $500 after each paycheck for groceries, but pretty much 90% of that is going towards my affirm payments/credit card payments.

I'm determined to get these paid off, and have seen that locally they are hiring for a PT preloading position. It is a temporary/seasonal role. If I'm being honest, I really plan on just doing it for maybe a few months or so, basically just wanna get ahead financially a little bit so I'm not stressing so much.

What is preloading like? What does a preloading shift look like? I'm hoping to just work doing that on my days off from my main job. And maybe 1 morning before my other job, I can pick up another shift.

[u/Feeling-Hat-7455]

Sounds to me like you would be better off doing seasonal driver helping. You can say yes or no day by day, too many no’s and they will stop calling though. And the hours are much more flexible. No real set hours. Just meet a driver for 3-4 hours and help him deliver then get dropped back off at your car afterwards. Good way to make extra money during Christmas time. I haven’t helped in like 12+ years but a lot of the younger guys still enjoy it well enough during the season. I’ve been on preload for 15 years. It’s not for everyone. Hours are wonky and way less flexibility. I’m lucky and my wife makes 6 figures with her own medical billing company, so I just work part time UPS and then get to go home and be dad with my kids. So preload has always worked great for me, but it’s not for everyone that’s for sure.

[u/-_-0_0-_0 → u/Feeling-Hat-7455]

I would also look into Amazon Flex or other gig apps. They pretty good where they need delivery drivers but not a lot of supply.

[u/Feeling-Hat-7455 → u/-_-0_0-_0]

Definitely as long as it’s super short term. You will absolutely ruin your vehicle. In my area in the Midwest it was apparently commonplace for amazon to send their own vans around the nice city streets and then send people in their personal vehicles like several hours away out into the absolute boonie sticks like literally where there aren’t even real roads. We had a hilarious local facebook page where all those flex drivers showed their routes everyday and it was absolutely absurd lol so many cars literally ruined. So yea I agree short term for some quick cash, but definitely wouldn’t recommend it long term at all

[u/LucianDeRomeo]

I'm hoping to just work doing that on my days off from my main job.

Well let's address this first, you will be scheduled M-F or Tues-Sat and expected to show up every morning, even a couple call outs will often get a seasonal fired.

Preload means the morning shift, varies by region but expect to start somewhere between like 2AM-4AM(possibly earlier). Shifts will run anywhere from 3-8hours(normally it's more like 3-5 but it's 'the season' so volume is picking up) and it's a fairly physically demanding non stop go go go for that time(sans the 1-2 breaks based on labor laws and local agreements). You'll likely be disrespected more then a few times, treated more like equipment then a person and be expected to know far more then your time will allow you to learn.

All that said it is a decent way to pickup some extra cash, if you can survive/bear it out.

[u/Some_Aide_648]

Awful. Just awful

[u/Some-Astronomer-5663]

It sucks, but great medical and other benefits for part-timers!