UPS Employment Building 11: What You Need to Know Before Heading to Philadelphia

UPS Employment Building 11: What You Need to Know Before Heading to Philadelphia

So, you’ve seen the address—1 Hog Island Road—and you're trying to figure out what actually happens at UPS employment building 11. Maybe you’re looking for a job, or maybe you just got an interview and you're frantically Googling how to get there without getting lost in the massive maze of the Philadelphia Air Hub.

Honestly? It's a bit of a trip.

This specific building isn't where the planes land or where the big brown trucks get loaded for local deliveries. Instead, it’s the gateway. If you want to work for Big Brown in the Philly area, particularly at the Air Hub, Building 11 is likely where your journey starts. It’s the human resources and recruitment nerve center for one of the most vital logistical hubs on the East Coast.

Where Exactly Is This Place?

Navigation can be a nightmare near the Philadelphia International Airport. Most GPS units will take you toward the main terminals, but you need to veer off toward the industrial edge. The official address for UPS employment building 11 is 1 Hog Island Rd, Philadelphia, PA 19153.

If you're driving down I-95, you’ll feel like you’re entering a fortress. You’ve got the Delaware River on one side and endless rows of shipping containers on the other.

Once you get onto Hog Island Road, look for the signs specifically pointing toward the "Employment Center" or "Building 11." Don't just follow the general UPS signs, or you might end up at a security gate for authorized vehicles only, and those guards don't always have the patience for a lost applicant.

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What Happens Inside Building 11?

Basically, it's where the paperwork lives.

When people talk about UPS employment building 11, they aren't talking about sorting packages. They’re talking about the hiring process. This is the facility where:

  • New hire orientations take place.
  • Identity verification and I-9 processing happen.
  • Drug screenings and background check authorizations are handled.
  • Badging and security clearance for the Air Hub are issued.

Because the Philadelphia hub is an "Air Hub," security is way tighter than your average neighborhood UPS warehouse. You’re working near aircraft. That means the vetting process is strict. Building 11 is the filter that decides who gets onto the tarmac and who doesn't.

The Reality of Working at the Philly Air Hub

Working at the hub isn't for everyone. It’s a workout.

If you get through the doors at UPS employment building 11 and land a job as a package handler, you’re looking at shifts that often start in the middle of the night. The "Sunrise" shift is famous—or infamous—for starting around 3:00 or 4:00 AM.

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The physical demand is real. You’ll hear people on Reddit or in the breakroom talk about "embracing the suck." It’s loud, it’s fast-paced, and in the winter, that Philadelphia wind coming off the river is absolutely brutal. But, there's a reason people stay for decades.

Why People Actually Stay

The benefits. UPS is one of the last few places where a part-time job can get you full-time health insurance. We're talking $0 premiums for many employees after a certain period of service.

Then there’s the "Earn and Learn" program. If you're a student, they’ll help pay for your tuition. It’s a massive perk that many people utilize to get through Drexel, Temple, or UPenn while working the night shift.

Common Mistakes People Make at Building 11

Don't just show up unannounced. UPS employment building 11 isn't really a walk-in center for "Help Wanted" signs. Most of the process starts online at the UPS Jobs website.

  1. Check your email. They’ll send you a specific appointment time.
  2. Bring your ID. Because this is an airport-adjacent facility, they need government-issued identification. If your ID is expired, you’re going home.
  3. Dress "Industrial-Casual." You don't need a suit, but don't show up in pajamas. Wear something that says you’re ready to work in a warehouse.

The parking situation can be tight during peak hiring seasons (like October through December). Give yourself an extra 20 minutes just to find a spot and walk to the entrance.

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Once you're past the orientation in Building 11, you're officially a UPSer. Most people start in the "inside" roles—loading or unloading.

The "inside-to-outside" pipeline is the gold standard. You work the warehouse for a few years, build up seniority, and then you bid on a driver position. Driver pay in 2026 is nothing to sneeze at; with the latest contracts, veteran drivers are clearing six figures when you factor in overtime.

But it all starts in that small building on Hog Island Road. It’s the gatekeeper.

Practical Next Steps

If you’re serious about a career at the Philadelphia Air Hub, start your application on the official UPS jobs portal before even thinking about driving down to Hog Island Road. Make sure your resume highlights any experience with physical labor or night-shift work, as those are the biggest indicators of whether someone will last past the first week. Once you have an interview date, map out your route to UPS employment building 11 specifically, avoiding the main airport passenger traffic, and ensure your physical documents are ready for the I-9 verification process.