What are the chances for a UPS pilot being assigned to the 747?

Is it possible for a new hire to be assigned to one, like with Atlas?

If no, how long would one have to build seniority in order to get a spot in the 747? I'm also assuming a Boeing aircraft type rating would work in one's favor.

New hires get the 747 all the time. It helps if you have previous experience in it. If you don’t get it then it will be at least 1 year before you can switch due to seatlock.

It is possible to be assigned any aircraft and base. In the past UPS has been splitting classes and placing those with heavy/international experience in a "heavy" class (74/MD) and everyone else in a class the next day for 75/76/A300. I believe the initial seat lock is 18 months; so you would be able to bid to anything you can hold on the next system bid. If the 74 is where you want to be and you didn't get it initially it would be safe to assume (today) that you would be on it in 2-2.5 years. YMMV and all that stuff...

If you live in ANC the chances are zero.

Why is that?

He’s kidding. Sort of. We had a new hire who lived in ANC get assigned the A300. Seriously.

Initial seat lock is 18 months. One pay scale so bid whatever you want, wherever you can hold it. Airbus, ONT, and 757 domestic are a bit more junior than the rest, but it’s pretty level overall.

Initial seat lock is 18 months. Keep in mind if the company sticks with 2 bids a year you need to be prepared for up to 2.5 years in your initial assignment.
For example January 2019 hires will most likely have to wait until the winter bid in 2021 due to the timing of their lock running out. Then the wait for class could be over 6 months. I believe they have a class from the December bid that starts in August on the 74.

Actually there have been more than a few who live in ANC flying for Polar or Atlas or the other commuters up there that have been assigned the lower 48 initially.

I just shared a jumpseat with someone who flys the Z out of SDF, he flew for Polar and lived in Eagle River. Bidding ANC when able.

Very true. Several recent newhires who happen to live in Anchorage (and have int’l and heavy experience) ended up in lower 48?
Why you ask? ..because they can.

Training is free. So when he/she bids where they live in 2 years, its no big deal.