At the surface level, driving for Amazon might seem like an appealing job. Amazon delivery drivers get to spend their days on the go, delivering packages around their community and helping people receive the items they require. However, delivery drivers at the company have lodged countless complaints, allegeding that they were held to unreasonable quotas, forced to work long hours, and subjected to write-ups for the most minor of errors. In some cases, Amazon delivery drivers suffered avoidable serious or even fatal injuries while on the clock.
In this article, we discuss some of the issues drivers allegedly had with the company in the past. By shedding light on some of the reported issues faced by Amazon delivery drivers, it is possible that conditions may improve for current and future employees.
Amazon Attempts to Reduce Liability When an Accident Occurs
Amazon, and other large-scale delivery companies of a similar nature, often take every step possible to limit liability if one of their drivers is in a crash or other incident. One strategy that delivery companies use to limit their liability in the event of an unfortunate situation is by using contracted delivery drivers. If a driver is contracted to deliver Amazon packages but does not work directly for the company itself, it is likely that the delivery chain would not be legally liable for any injuries or deaths caused by their drivers.
While this policy of contracting Delivery Service Partners (DSPs) to deliver packages to a consumer’s door undoubtedly benefits Amazon, the delivery drivers themselves frequently find themselves on their own if they are unlucky enough to get into a crash or other bad situation. Drivers that have gotten into a collision while on the clock have reported feeling “abandoned” by the delivery giant as legal troubles mount following their crash.
Delivering for Amazon Can Be Dangerous for Drivers & the Public Alike
According to Business Insider, Amazon delivery drivers were involved in no less than sixty crashes since 2015. At least thirteen people, one of whom was a nine-month-old baby, suffered fatal injuries in a collision where one of the company’s drivers was involved. Pressure to meet delivery quotas may have played a role in some of these collisions. Despite some delivery drivers not working directly from Amazon, work orders obtained by The Times/ProPublica spanning eight states indicate that all drivers were required to deliver 999 of 1,000 deliveries on time.
While it is reasonable to expect delivery drivers to get parcels to their destination on time, Amazon’s quotas seemingly encourage couriers to speed or drive recklessly to clear all the packages on their schedule. In some cases, pre-departure vehicle inspections are reportedly skipped so that drivers can get a head start on their day. This lack of safe practices significantly increases the odds of an Amazon delivery accident lawsuit in the event of a crash.
Not only is the public at risk from harried Amazon delivery drivers, but the drivers themselves are at risk from their parent company’s policies. Multiple couriers have suffered fatal injuries while on the clock, from a driver who was fatally mauled by dogs to a man that was shot while delivering groceries for Amazon Flex. While these incidents are rather extreme, they highlight the very real risks that delivery drivers face on a daily basis. In some cases, delivery drivers have faced the threat of termination for being unwilling to work in dangerous weather, such as during a tornado.
What Has Amazon Done to Prioritize Safe Deliveries?
In fairness, it would be practically impossible for any delivery service to entirely mitigate the risks faced by their employees. Entirely eliminating the possibility of a car accident or sporadic act of violence by a stranger is virtually unachievable, for example. Amazon has highlighted some of the policies and actions they’ve taken to protect their drivers and the public, including:
- Improving the company’s mapping and navigation systems
- Implementing mandatory driver safety training
- Auditing the Amazon fleet and delivery vehicles of DSPs for unsafe conditions
- Implementing cameras to help couriers drive and park safely
Amazon policies additionally require drivers to carry out a daily vehicle safety inspection before they can begin their route. If the driver’s vehicle is not safe, they are instructed to get the problem corrected before they start delivering parcels. However, drivers have reported skipping this mandatory inspection in order to give themselves enough time to accomplish their delivery quota. This increases the chances of unsafe vehicles being on the road.
Mitigating Risks for Amazon Delivery Drivers
Carrying out deliveries for Amazon seems to carry a degree of risk for the drivers and the public at large. Hopefully Amazon will continue to enhance their safety policies and develop strategies and technology to limit the dangers to their workforce and general public.