- Around Amazon’s Prime Day, delivery drivers are faced with long shifts and mountains of packages.
- One driver spoke to Insider about his experience working during the busy sales event.
- He shared how this season compares to most other times of the year – and the steps he takes to make sure he can last through the rush.
This as-told-to story is based on a conversation with an Amazon Delivery Service Partner driver in New York. He described what it’s like working Amazon’s massive Prime Day sale, which took place on July 11 and 12. He spoke with Insider the day after the sale and asked to remain anonymous to protect his job, but Insider has verified his identity and employment. The following has been edited for length and clarity.
It started picking up, I would say, this past Saturday.
I noticed a big increase in the number of packages and stops, and they say that it’s gonna go on this way up until the end of next week. So this week and next week especially are really heavy.
With the surge in ordering during the 11th and 12th, it takes like a week and a half to two weeks to keep up with the backlog of all the orders.
Today, I have 173 stops, and that’s a little bit less busy than yesterday. Yesterday, I had closer to 250 locations, and I have 308 packages today. Typically, I would say it’s like about 50 to 75 more packages and maybe like 30 more stops.
We show up at 9:30 a.m. but we normally don’t leave the station until 11:00 a.m. It’s not uncommon to reach our first stop at 11:30. Usually I finish at like 6 or 7, but last night for example, I didn’t get finished until like after 8. It just takes a lot more time.
The amount of packages and deliveries are crazy but we use bungee cords to keep all the packages in place
We’ve had way more totes that have packages in them. There’s different ways of loading our vans, and they’re encouraging us to triple-stack the totes. So there’s a vertical column of three in a cargo van and that’s kind of messy unless there’s a way to restrain them.
So they supplied us with bungee cords so we can lash the totes to the sides of the van so the totes don’t tip over while you’re driving. They gave us those tools, at least, to make it a little bit easier with all the increased packages.
I don’t think it’s as bad as it could be, but I mean, I’m just speaking for myself. For other people it might be worse: more stops, more locations, more packages.
I try to take care of myself by taking breaks, staying hydrated, and taking ibuprofen and Tylenol for my body aches but the work is draining
It’s gotten busier and it’s really hot and humid.
We have AC but we’re not allowed to run the engines during stops. So whenever we turn off the engine, get the package, bring it to the door and go back to the van, it’s really hot.
Breaks are optional. They don’t discourage us from taking breaks, but they don’t necessarily encourage us, if that makes any sense. But since it’s gotten busier in the past week or so, we’re allowed two 15-minute breaks and an unpaid 30-minute lunch. I’ve been giving myself those 15 minutes to cool down and drink fluids.
Our owner and dispatchers, they encourage us to stay hydrated and take a break here and there if we need to.
My advice to other drivers
Be sure to be well rested and well hydrated, and just mentally prepare yourself for more stops and more packages so you’re not completely overwhelmed when you’re going out on the route.
I take ibuprofen and Tylenol if I’m aching during the route.
It’s definitely, really draining me. I’m already feeling really kind of run down, just very hot and sweaty and achy towards the end of the day. I spend time with my family, watch TV, take a nice shower at the end of the day, and just take my breaks, to not allow myself to get mentally and physically overwhelmed.
I get paid time and a half for overtime, but don’t think I would want to work during Prime again
We’re getting paid overtime for like the extra days that we’re working anything over 40 hours. But we don’t have any other bonuses or incentives aside from that.
Yesterday they gave us a brown bag to have a bag of chips, an apple, and like one of those meat and cheese stick packages. So that’s something they did for us that they normally don’t do. I think it’s a nice touch, but I mean, I don’t think it’s anything major, you know? Like, oh wow, look how well they’re treating us. But it’s a nice touch, I guess. A good gesture.
But it’s something that I don’t know if I would like doing it again. I just don’t think for the amount that we get paid, that the work is really worth it sometimes. I make $19.50 an hour and time and a half for overtime.
Read the full article here