UPS or FEDEX?

[MoDee]

Which company is better from a pilot's point of view (i.e. which would you fly for)?

 

[satpak77]

"from a pilots point of view?"

dude

both are international/domestic B727 to heavy class freight operators, with new or near-new equipment (and older equipment) in the fleet.

both are profitable companies and are "the" cargo operators in the biz (with DHL/ABX, etc next)

a quick glance at airlinepilotpay.com shows that FDX guys earn more, but I dont work at either so who knows

both fly daytime and night time

it is my understanding that FDX got started as a pure next-day-air air cargo company, then ground transport and relating businesses came into the scheme

UPS got started first as ground transport, then air cargo came later

either one would be a good career in my opinion

i hope when i retire from my Part 91 job at age 50 they will hire an "old man" and let me make coffee and hold Jepp charts for 10 more years

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

(i.e. which would you fly for)?

The first one that offered me a job.

 

[C77MD80]

If you really have a choice I would think about where you want to live. An airline job is so much better if your not wasting time commuting. You could also sit reserve ocassionally at home with the kids, wife, neighbors wife or whatever. Memphis, Louisville, Orange County, Anchorage, Philly(?).

Seems like both of those companies will be around for a while.

 

[Clutch_Cargo]

An airline job is so much better if your not wasting time commuting.

C77 hit that one on the head... there is no such thing as a 'good' commute! They are both good companies though and I bet you could have a great career at either.

 

[maddoggiestyle]

Which company is better from a pilot's point of view (i.e. which would you fly for)?

Without a doubt - FedEx because they are paying my bills!

 

[sandman2122]

I like the answer: "the first one that offers me a job"

True, so true






Geez, it's 07:30 am, got to go to bed..

 

[Big Beer Belly]

Seems like both of those companies will be around for a while.

Here's an annual ranking of the world's 100 most sustainable corporations. Guess which one made this GLOBAL ranking? "A company that makes the Global 100 literally means that it is part of a select group (companies whose sustainability performance falls within the top five per cent of their sector) chosen from a universe of 2000 of the world’s largest corporations. Of these 2000 companies across 53 sectors, The Global 100 are sustainable in the sense that they stand the best chance of being around in 100 years because of their demonstrated performance and strategic ability to manage the triple bottom line (society, environment, and economy)".

www.global100.org

BBB

 

[Dave Siegel]

I like the answer: "the first one that offers me a job"

True, so true






Geez, it's 07:30 am, got to go to bed..

If sandman said it, then it MUST be true! Ask the people who were called by United before FedEx whether it was a good move. Do what you think is best for you. This is one of those times where you'll need to use judgement. Since you're a pilot, I'm assuming that you'd rather make the decision yourself.

 

[capt. megadeth]

The first one that offered me a job.

ha ha, that was my first thought when I read the question.

 

[Big Beer Belly]

a quick glance at airlinepilotpay.com shows that FDX guys earn more, but I dont work at either so who knows

Not sure where you're looking on www.airlinepilotpay.com to arrive at the above.

A common metric in the industry is "minimum annual guarantee". Using this metric:

FedEx $206 x 74 x12 = $182,928
(15 yr widebody capt pay x mo guarantee x 12 months = MAG

FedEx $178 x 74 x 12 = $158,064
(15 yr narrowbody capt pay xmo guarantee x12 mos = MAG

UPS $190 x 81 x 12 = $184,680
(12 yr capt pay x mo guarantee x 12 months = MAG


Pay is difficult to compare because there are many metrics by which to measure. Using MAG, the difference is negligible when comparing FedEx's widebody pay. Pension under the current contracts strongly favors FedEx, however.

BBB

 

[satpak77]

Not sure where you're looking on www.airlinepilotpay.com to arrive at the above.

A common metric in the industry is "minimum annual guarantee". Using this metric:

FedEx $206 x 74 x12 = $182,928
(15 yr widebody capt pay x mo guarantee x 12 months = MAG

FedEx $178 x 74 x 12 = $158,064
(15 yr narrowbody capt pay xmo guarantee x12 mos = MAG

UPS $190 x 81 x 12 = $184,680
(12 yr capt pay x mo guarantee x 12 months = MAG


Pay is difficult to compare because there are many metrics by which to measure. Using MAG, the difference is negligible when comparing FedEx's widebody pay. Pension under the current contracts strongly favors FedEx, however.

BBB

good post, thanks for the info, esp the pension stuff

 

[GoABX]

No one wants to answer your question.

I don't have a dog in the fight but I'd say UPS.

Both are great companies, but UPS has the edge in my mind. UPS is much larger and has the massive ground side to subsidize other operations like the air side if something bad should happen. Pay is moot, both are in contract talks and hopefully both will "Go Big" when they finish. You will die a rich ba$tard either way. FDX is much more debt leveraged, but perhaps a little more innovative. With respect to pilot unity again the edge goes to UPS (though it might not be where it was a few yrs ago.) FedEx is more politically connected, but GW is on his last term and that factor may not be an issue in the future.

To everybody else, rather than flaming.....A.T.F.Q.

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

To everybody else, rather than flaming.....A.T.F.Q.

G. F. Y.

 

[slowto250]

Which company is better from a pilot's point of view (i.e. which would you fly for)?

Neither. Hold out for Zantop

 

[capt. megadeth]

Pay is moot, both are in contract talks and hopefully both will "Go Big" when they finish. You will die a rich ba$tard either way.

Until the rise of the Low Cost Cargo carriers anyways. Let's hope this never happens.

Sorry, I am just waaaaay to skeptical after these latest airline shenanigans.

 

[Purpledog]

Until the rise of the Low Cost Cargo carriers anyways.

Delivery infrastructure is too big for a penny pincher. Read something in the WSJ that said DHL will have to dump 3-5 billion more in the US to be competitive with UPS/FDX.

 

[klhoard]

Until the rise of the Low Cost Cargo carriers anyways. Let's hope this never happens.

Sorry, I am just waaaaay to skeptical after these latest airline shenanigans.

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Sorry, don't think they can cherry pick just the sweet routes. Your customers won't ship with you if you don't cover the whole country and most international. Good luck if you want to start one, though!!!
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[sandman2122]

Dave Seigal said:

If sandman said it, then it MUST be true! Ask the people who were called by United before FedEx whether it was a good move.

Thanks for the referral Dave, just for your info I turned down a United training date for FedEx..

I believe the post compares UPS to FedEx, geez, talk about a coin toss.....but what I didn't finish getting across is to take the first job offer you get ( like no s**t sherlock) AND if you're fortunate enough to get a second offer, you decide what's best for you......hence, why I chose FDX over UAL........UAL they got their kick ass contract in 2000 and my buddies thought I was nuts to turn down a pax job to fly freight.........PM me Dave in 24 years when I turn 60 to see if that was a good choice......

Later

 

[capt. megadeth]

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Sorry, don't think they can cherry pick just the sweet routes. Your customers won't ship with you if you don't cover the whole country and most international. Good luck if you want to start one, though!!!
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Seeing that I am praying every day for the call...I hope not.