UPS 10 Point Commentary PDF: Why Drivers Fail This Safety Test

You've probably heard the horror stories about Integrad. It's that grueling week where UPS driver candidates are pushed to their mental and physical limits. Among the heavy lifting and the endless drills, there is one document that causes more panic than almost anything else: the UPS 10 point commentary pdf.

Drivers call them the "tens." Basically, it’s a list of ten defensive driving rules that you have to recite. But here is the kicker. You can't just know the gist of it. In many hubs, you have to know it word-for-word, down to the punctuation, or you’re out. No job. No brown truck. Just a long drive home.

What is the UPS 10 Point Commentary PDF Exactly?

At its core, the 10 point commentary is a subset of the UPS Depth of Knowledge (DOK). While the "5 Seeing Habits" (Aim High in Steering, Get the Big Picture, etc.) focus on broad mental states, the 10 points are specific actions.

Think of it as a script for your eyes and feet. When a supervisor sits in the passenger seat for your check-ride, they aren't just watching you drive. They want to hear you narrate every move. It’s called "commentary driving." If you see a stale green light, you don't just slow down; you explain why you are establishing a point of decision.

The 10 Points You Have to Memorize

If you're looking for the contents of that UPS 10 point commentary pdf, here is the breakdown of what is actually in there. These are the rules that keep those big package cars from clipping mirrors or, worse, hitting pedestrians.

1. Clearing Intersections: Before entering, you look left, right, then back to the left. Why? To keep you alive at intersections.
2. When Stopped in Traffic: You leave enough space between your front bumper and their rear bumper so you can pull around them if they stall. This is your escape route.
3. Count One-Two-Three after the vehicle ahead starts to move: This builds a space cushion and keeps you from being distracted by the "billboard" of the truck in front of you.
4. 4-6 Seconds Following Time (<30 mph) / 6-8 Seconds (>30 mph): This buys you time to react to the unexpected.
5. 8-12 Seconds Eye-Lead Time: This is the depth where your eyes should be focused most of the time to center your car in the lane.
6. Scan Steering Wheels: Look at parked cars. Is there a driver? If so, they might pull out or open a door. Take the path of least resistance.
7. Stale Green Lights: This is a light you didn't see turn green. You must establish a "point of decision" where you can safely stop if it turns yellow.
8. Eye Contact: Use your horn, lights, and signals. You need to know the other person sees you so they act predictably.
9. Pulling from Curb: Check your left mirror and look over your left shoulder. Don't just wing it.
10. Use of Mirrors and Gauges: Check them every 5 to 8 seconds to stay aware of your surroundings.

Why Do People Struggle with the Tens?

Honestly, the wording in the official UPS 10 point commentary pdf is kinda weird. It’s written in a very specific corporate "UPS-speak" that doesn't feel natural to say out loud. For example, instead of saying "don't get too close," the document might say "keeps you away from billboards."

The pressure is the real killer. You’re standing in a room, or sitting in a truck, and a supervisor is staring at you with a clipboard. One "um" or "uh" in the wrong place, or swapping the word "car" for "vehicle," and some instructors will make you start the whole list over from point one.

Verbatim vs. Summarized

There is a huge debate on forums like r/UPSers about whether you need to be verbatim. Some older drivers will tell you to just "get the point across." Don't listen to them.

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The current standard at most Integrad sites is word-for-word for the titles and the "Why" sections. The middle descriptions can sometimes be summarized, but why risk it? If you're going for a job that pays six figures after four years, you might as well learn the script.

Strategies for Memorizing the 10 Point Commentary

If you've downloaded a UPS 10 point commentary pdf and you're staring at it like it’s a foreign language, you need a system. Reading it once a night isn't going to cut it.

• The 1-2-3 Method: Learn point one. Once you have it, learn point two. Now, recite one and two together. Then add three. If you mess up on point seven, you go back to point one. It’s brutal, but it works.
• Audio Loops: There are YouTube videos of people reading the 10 points on a 10-hour loop. Play this while you sleep. Play it while you're driving your personal car.
• Write It Out: Don't just say it. Get a legal pad and write the entire thing out by hand. There is a weird brain-hand connection that helps things stick better than just reading.
• Narrate Your Own Drive: When you're driving to the grocery store, start doing the commentary. "Clearing intersection, left-right-left. Checking mirrors. Stale green light, approaching my point of decision."

The "Point of Decision" Trap

Point number seven, the stale green light, is where a lot of people trip up during the actual driving test. In the UPS 10 point commentary pdf, it explains that you need to pick a spot on the road. If the light turns yellow before you hit that spot, you stop. If it turns yellow after you pass it, you keep going.

In the real world, people hesitate. They slam the brakes or they gun it. UPS wants to see that you’ve already made the decision before the light even changes. It’s about being proactive instead of reactive.

Is It Really That Serious?

You might think, "It’s just driving, I’ve been doing this for years." But a UPS package car is a 10,000-pound weapon. The company spends millions on these training materials because their data shows these ten points prevent accidents.

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When you look at the UPS 10 point commentary pdf, don't just see a test to pass. See it as a professional standard. The drivers who last 25 years without an accident—the "Circle of Honor" drivers—actually use these habits. They aren't just words on a page; they're the difference between a long career and a very bad day.

Actionable Next Steps for Candidates

1. Get the Latest Version: Ensure your UPS 10 point commentary pdf is the 2020/2022 update or later, as some "Why" statements changed recently.
2. Focus on the "Whys": Even if you stumble on the description, nail the "Why" for every point. That is usually a non-negotiable for passing.
3. Find a Study Partner: Have someone else hold the sheet while you recite. It’s much harder to catch your own mistakes.
4. Practice the 5-8 Second Rule: Start timing your mirror checks now. If you aren't looking at your mirrors every 5-8 seconds in your own car, you'll forget to do it during the test.

Don't let a PDF stand between you and a career. It's just ten points. Learn them, live them, and get those keys.

Next Steps: You should now find a quiet place and attempt to write out the first five points from memory to see where your gaps are. Once you can do that, move on to the "Why" statements for all ten points._