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America's doorsteps would look different without Amazon's 275,000 delivery drivers.
Drivers typically have between 170 and 350 packages to deliver per shift, depending on their location.
Just like Uber and Doordash drivers, Amazon delivery drivers are not employees of the company they work for.
Amazon drivers are independent subcontractors hired by third-party courier companies known as Delivery Service Partners. These logistics firms work out of Amazon shipment facilities and employ the drivers, while Amazon provides drivers with branded uniforms and vehicles.
Individual DSP companies are in charge of Amazon driver wages and benefits such as healthcare and paid time off. Both pay and benefits can vary depending on the location. Some DSP drivers earn hourly wages and work part-time or full-time hours. The average hourly rate for Amazon drivers is $19.48, according to Indeed. Drivers can work up to 10 hours daily, four to five days per week.
Some drivers earn salaries and work a typical 40-hour week. According to ZipRecruiter, annual salaries for Amazon drivers can range between $29,500 and $40,000.
An Amazon delivery driver is responsible for last-mile deliveries or getting packages to their final destinations — customers' homes. At the beginning of each shift, drivers load packages from an Amazon fulfillment center into their vans or trucks. Large packages are loaded individually, while small packages come in large totes. Each package has a code, which tells the driver what order to load so that the first one to go in is the last to be delivered.
Drivers tend to have consistent routes based on their area, so they deliver to the same customers weekly. In a blog post for Amazon, one driver who worked 9 to 5 said he made anywhere from 170 to 190 stops and delivered about 250 to 300 packages daily in the South Boston suburbs.
To become an Amazon driver, you must apply for open positions at a DSP in your area and have a valid driver's license in your current state. The job can be physically demanding, so you'll need to be able to haul heavy packages.
If you are an Amazon driver or fulfillment center employee and would like to share your experience, please email this reporter at jortakales@insider.com or text (646) 768-4742 using the Signal app.
