On Sunday, September 25th, 2022, I quit my job delivering for a Amazon Delivery Service Partner (DSP), FTA out of DDV4 in Englewood, Colorado, due to disregard for the safety of drivers and the communities in which they deliver. This is the letter that I delivered to them with my Amazon vest and ID badge. If you were to search r/AmazonDSPDrivers for stories of Amazon DSPs across the country fielding vehicles that pose a threat to life and limb of drivers and the communities they serve, you’ll find plenty. So here’s the letter.
Corey,
Based on our conversation last night, I believe your irresponsibility poses a threat to my community. Not to mention Amazon’s reputation. Your insistence upon blaming me for the condition of YOUR vehicles really chapped my hide. So here are a few things that your blame shifting brought to mind.
- Time frames. Your time frames do not realistically allow for proper vehicle inspection. These could all be easily attained and verified or computed. Surely being the head honcho you’re aware of what the time frames are in a time intensive operation?
09:20 Drivers clock in through the Paycom app.
09:20 – 0930/0935ish Stand-up meeting, drivers log-in to the apps, get situated in their vehicles, move to their loading areas.
0933 – 0950 Drivers load up and address and issues with apps and packages.
0950/55ish Depart for delivery
Man, that doesn’t leave much, or any, time for a thorough vehicle inspection, does it? A driver can maybe find time to search for superficial or cosmetic damage, but you really don’t allow any driver the opportunity to actually ensure their safety, or the safety of others on the road, do you? Hmmm. I don’t know of anyone who has ever had the opportunity to road test their vehicles for proper braking, steering, engine temperature, etc., before departure.
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Your likely knowledge of this issue. C’mon man. These operations run on a schedule. At the very least there’s a pattern that could be identified by the times in which we all punch in, log into Flex and Mentor, departure from station, etc. Who, honestly, honestly now, Cody, looks at these schedules and patterns and believes that adequate time was allotted to ensuring the safety of the vehicle operator? I was a 91B (Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic) for a long time. I eventually went on to supervise teams and squads of mechanics. Preventative Maintenance Checks and Services (PMCS), checks done before departure and upon return, take 20 minutes if you’re doing them half heartedly and in a rush. You are not allowing drivers the time to conduct inspections that ensure safe travel. Plain and simple. How can you say you take safety seriously and create schedules that prevent drivers from performing proper inspections?
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Don’t bother pointing back at me on #2 and saying I was the anomaly. You aren’t going to be able to show that everyone else, or anyone, was doing thorough inspections in the zero amounted of time they’re allotted to do them. We’re all moving in the same direction out there at once. There’s no singling anyone out, here. Except you. In fact, I wonder how long you’ve been running a DSP and run things so tight that there is no possibility for inspections to be completed properly? Is there a pattern to be found? You tell me.
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Amazon might take it as a slap in the face if a DSP was telling their drivers to lie on the Flex app. Of course the DSP could deny it, but wouldn’t 1-3 kinda show that bypassing inspections is at least condoned? Maybe, even, expected? ::gasp::
You’ve got a pretty shoddy case denying any responsibility in the road worthiness of your delivery vehicles. I stated in no uncertain terms in my voicemail, don’t call or text me. That I’d bring back the vest and badge tomorrow. Just don’t contact me. Sending me out in a vehicle without working lights and expecting me not to return while there was still some sunlight out was a very, negligent(?!) thing to do. I think I had a right to be a little angry. But no. You just had to hop on a soapbox and blame me for the condition of the vehicles you are ultimately responsible for. Nah, man. Nah. You showed a disregard for human life last night by pointing a finger at me.
I’ve already filed a complaint with OSHA regarding the safety conditions of the vehicles you are putting on the road as head of the DSP. I think you need to start taking some responsibility. If I ever hear of an accident involving a driver in your DSP’s area, I will testify about what I’ve stated above in court.
Sincerely yours,
My Name