40 years of service and a lifetime of UPS pride

Sabrina Montgomery started working at UPS in 1981 as a part-time package handler while she was a student. After she graduated, Sabrina turned down a job offer from another company because UPS had better opportunities and benefits. That decision paid off.

After 40 years, Sabrina retired with a pension and health care. Now, she’s taking care of her 91-year-old mother, spending time with family, volunteering at her church and looking forward to her big trip to Italy.

“I put in my time at UPS because I loved it. I miss the job and the camaraderie,” she admits. “But my dad always said, ‘Life is to be lived,’ so now I’m enjoying retirement.”

A full career: In her remarkable four-decade career, Sabrina racked up a long list of achievements. She was a safety and wellness leader, community service champion, trailblazer and proud member of the UPS Circle of Honor with 28 years of accident-free driving. 

From the start, she was determined to be a package car driver. The only problem was she couldn’t drive a stick shift, which was a job requirement back then. True to form, she didn’t let that stop her from achieving her goal.

“UPS people are built differently … we figure out how to get things done,” Sabrina reminisces. “I was 30 years old when I told my Daddy I needed to learn how to drive a stick shift. So, he helped teach me and I got the job.”

Not long after, she earned a driver position and drove an iconic brown delivery truck for years before switching to UPS’s tractor-trailers.

Next generation UPSer: Sabrina’s daughter Tiffany knew UPS safe driving methods even before she got her license, so it's no surprise Tiffany became a UPS driver too.

“The safety training at UPS is unmatched – that’s why I taught the driving methods to my daughter, and I still use them today … nearly four years after retirement.” Author’s note: Even though she’s been retired for years, Sabrina recited, word-for-word, the 5 seeing habits that are taught to every UPS driver.

Did you know:

• More than half of our delivery drivers have been with UPS for 10+ years. 
• In 2024 alone, UPS contributed more than $9 billion to employee health, welfare and pension benefits.
• Paid pensions like those offered to UPS retirees are rare. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 15% of private industry workers have access to a defined benefit plan.