UPS plans to sign up 982 seasonal workers in Louisville during the next few weeks, an increase of 122 over last year's holiday hiring, a spokesman said yesterday.
The package-delivery service typically requires extra help between Thanksgiving and Christmas, when holiday gift giving pushes shipping to its peak. Normally, UPS Worldport in Louisville -- the company's main air hub -- handles about 1 million packages a day. On Dec. 22, expected to be the top day for air-package deliveries, the hub may take in twice that number, spokesman Mark Giuffre said.
UPS will need about 800 extra package handlers and ramp workers at the Worldport sorting hub. An additional 163 workers will be needed to assist package-delivery drivers on their rounds. There will also be jobs for 19 over-the-road tractor-trailer drivers.
Most of the jobs will end Dec. 23, but workers can apply for ongoing employment afterward. UPS typically keeps on many of the seasonal workers, Giuffre said.
Much of the hiring growth this year comes from additional daytime positions, Giuffre said. Last year UPS needed 86 daytime package handlers, but it's raising the number to 210.
Also, in the past "we typically didn't hire additional people to work out on the ramp," loading and unloading planes. "Most of the people were all inside hub workers." This year the company will hire 80 people for nighttime ramp operations and 54 for the daytime ramp work, he said.
Peak-season hiring has been on the rise in recent years as volume has grown at Worldport. Two years ago, the company hired 386 seasonal workers. Last year, UPS initially planned to employ 425 seasonal workers but hired 860.
Before the highly automated Worldport opened in 2002, UPS had needed as many as 1,700 extra workers for the holidays.
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