UPS drivers prepare for holiday rush with boot camp

>>> back now with a look at how all your holiday presents and online purchases get to where they are going. it's a daunting task that takes a special operation of sorts and some very sophisticated training. nbc's kristen dahlgren is at the ups sorting facility in los angeles . kristen , good morning.

>> hey, good morning, willie , yeah. take a look at all of these boxes, all of these trucks. this is a busy place here this morning. everyone loading up to head out for the day. if you thought being a ups delivery person was easy, i am about to change your mind. you may never look at that ups driver the same again.

>> perfect job.

>> this time of year, the only people as busy as the big man himself may be the men and women in brown.

>> i'm like santa claus 's elf.

>> the week before christmas ups will deliver 300 packages a second, a massive operation run about military precision.

>> we like to say the customer is going to set their watch by the time the ups truck man gets there.

>> so to get drivers ready ups literally runs boot camp , basic training , to make sure perspective employees know exactly what they are getting into.

>> all right, kristen , here's your uniform. go ahead and get changed and we'll get start ed.

>> okay.

>> it turns out it takes much more than a uniform.

>> this has all your delivery stops in it and pickups for the day.

>> i'll wear this on here.

>> other way around here.

>> i'm doing well.

>> there you go.

>> for ups time is money . no time to fumble for keys.

>> always want to keep your keys on your finger.

>> on your finger.

>> 24/7, that way we make sure we don't set them down at any point.

>> every second counts.

>> so right hand key, left hand seat belt .

>> the method is as you're clicking it, you start it up.

>> ups researches how long everything takes.

>> the method is to have it all done in 15 seconds.

>> i think i was like 45.

>> from sorting packages, to making stops.

>> how many packages would i be delivering in a day?

>> depending on the route, up to 200, 300.

>> 200, 300.

>> absolutely.

>> good luck.

>> and just when i thought i was getting the hang of things.

>> no idea what you were in for, did you?

>> the slip and fall track.

>> slick tile and teflon shoes.

>> ups, special delivery .

>> meant to teach trainees how to navigate an ice sidewalk.

>> just small steps.

>> okay.

>> so you feel like you're in control.

>> it's the one time-ups encourages drivers to take their time.

>> the goal was to reduce accidents by 15% and reduce injuries by 20%.

>> that also means high-tech lessons in how to reduce stress on your joints, lifting with your legs and using the hand rail on the truck.

>> over the course of a career, 20 years, you're talking almost 75 million extra pounds or a cruise ship .

>> at the end of the week, trainees are ready for their final exam.

>> five minutes.

>> a time trial in a fake town.

>> one ups trainee to another here, advice to me?

>> you can't give up. nothing is impossible here.

>> easy for him to say.

>> if you want to help, sir, that's perfectly fine with me.

>> for ups it's a way to make sure drivers know what they are in for.

>> turnover has reduced tremendously and talking 10,000 to retrain somebody, rehire somebody, the savings is astronomical.

>> for a new generation of drivers, it may be best way to learn.

>> could you have learned all of this in a classroom by a book?

>> there's no way.

>> hands and feet-on training.

>> getting a new class of drivers ready for the holiday rush. signed, sealed, delivered, i'm yours

>> i swear i'm not that uncoordinated. they did give me a graduation certificate, willie , but i have a feeling they were just being nice.

>> kristen , we love. not sure i want you delivering my packages this holiday.

>> you know what, willie , you guys better be nice. i can make a few phone calls here and things will be a little late to your house.

>> throwing down.

>> get a little bit of power and it goes straight