40 years of service and a lifetime of UPS pride

Sabrina Montgomery started working at UPS in 1981 as a part-time parcel 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 is 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 am 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 Honour with 28 years of accident-free driving. 

From the start, she was determined to be a delivery van driver. The only problem was she could not drive a manual car, which was a job requirement back then. True to form, she did not 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 manual car. So, he helped teach me and I got the job.’

Not long after, she earned a driver position and drove an iconic brown delivery lorry for years before switching to UPS’ articulated lorries.

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

‘The safety training at UPS is unmatched – that is 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 has 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 more than 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.