Not sure what variant of SQL you're using, but you ought to be able to simplify the query:

SELECT s.*, o.waybill, o.shipvia

FROM shipto s, oe o 

WHERE trans_id = $form->{"$form->{vc}_id"} AND
      to_date(s.shiptophone, 'YYYY-MM-DD') >= to_date(to_char(current_
+timestamp,'YYYY-MM-DD'), 'YYYY-MM-DD')

    UNION

SELECT s.*, o.waybill, o.shipvia 

FROM shipto s
JOIN oe o ON (o.id = s.trans_id)

WHERE o.$form->{vc}_id = $form->{"$form->{vc}_id"} AND
      to_date(s.shiptophone, 'YYYY-MM-DD') >= to_date(to_char(current_
+timestamp,'YYYY-MM-DD'), 'YYYY-MM-DD')

    UNION

SELECT s.*, a.waybill, a.shipvia

FROM shipto s
JOIN $table a ON (a.id = s.trans_id)

WHERE a.$form->{vc}_id = $form->{"$form->{vc}_id"} AND
      to_date(s.shiptophone, 'YYYY-MM-DD') >= to_date(to_char(current_
+timestamp,'YYYY-MM-DD'), 'YYYY-MM-DD')
[download]

If you explain what each of those tables has in it and what you're trying to generate, I may be able to suggest a better query structure. Incidently, is there a particular reason why you're storing your dates as timestamps? Dates are easy to manipulate using INTERVAL commands.