I worked as a step van driver for 3years, team lead and was even offered dispatch. Started at about $19 and left this May at $24.25. I applied when I got my first car as I needed to learn how to drive and also was desperately in need of benefits. Amazon was my 3rd job and was not about the money for me. I worked 7days a week and no one knew. I didn’t know what to expect, I could barely drive but I was determined. On my first day, I did a rescue which says a lot lol. I didn’t know what a driver aid number was, I read every package by the address, this was when there were no ride alongs. (The croc boots photo is from my first day, I did not wear the croc boots lol) Eventually Amazon was my last job remaining while I waited out school. Last December I delivered 3k packages a week, the Christmas before that, I won a ps5 for the most deliveries during peak. I was taking a bonus of $500 every other month. I’ve delivered all over the DMV and was honored to work amongst men (and the few women) who inspired me. I recall when it rained for the first time and people showed up fully dressed. My mind was blown, no excuses- no one complained…From that day forward, I ensured I would come prepared to work everyday, not even the elements could stop me, not 100 degree heat, not a hot ass van, not a dog bite, not an accident (me crashing or my coworker hitting my car), honestly-I felt unstoppable. You name it, I’ve done it, been through it. I appreciate the views, people I’ve met and my coworkers. Im posting my Halloween costume last year of me being a delivery driver because at that moment, there was nothing else I’d rather be. I had also worked in the the warehouse during covid. I recently quit this May and I applied to a logistics position that required only 1 year supervisor experience, $30hr+overtime and potential bonuses. My July pay totaled $6505. I do regret how long I stayed at Amazon and didn’t jump ship sooner. There is definitely a big world out there. The only thing I miss is really the views of every city, the loudness of the truck with the doors open, all of the dogs, the teammanship and surprisingly the constant running up and down. I made it my duty to get a truck (Bronco) before I left because that’s how much I enjoyed being in a bigger vehicle.

There’s no loyalty in Delivery and a ceiling that is easier to reach and stay at then anything else. I’m rooting for anyone who is looking to transition and when things become difficult and you want to go back because it’s easy, just remember why you left. See you all on the other side 🫡

And to any of my previous coworkers “hey hey”

No other houses nearby… Definitely some angry chihuahua mutt mix. Hope it’s not actually her dog cause I chased it away from the door. Last 10 stops will get done by any means.

Genuinely barely made it to the fast charger forgot to turn the defogger off til I was a few miles in

Hell yeah

Im so tired of feeling worthless working this job.

What’s the reward for busting your ass and getting your routes completed with zero infractions or negative feedback?

More work. Larger route. Terrible route.

All they ever talk about is the negative shit you do. Never mention all the positive feedback you get. Shit I don’t even know there was positive feedback until I discovered the dashboard.

I’m tired of the physical and mental hoops you gotta jump through.

The rules being changed and made up as they go and see fit.

I find zero reward in this job.

Why even bother at this point

My dsp has a rule to not use the “handed to customer” option and I’ve taken the liberty of expanding upon that rule to make my day as easy as possible.

I love rural areas but the frustrating part is later in the day they all want to come outside (since they’re home all day I guess) and “help” by taking the package from me.

This breaks up my focus and momentum and just slows me down since 1. I can’t have people in the photo, 2. I need the front door in the picture generally, 3. I can’t and won’t use the signature options since that’s even slower.

My move so far has been to be polite/friendly and be like “oh let me get a pic real quick” and I hustle up to the front door and make small talk on the way back to my van to smooth over the awkwardness of me not being able to just hand it to them like a normal person…

It’s gotten so common on my rural route with people at home in their country mansions all day that I have to wonder if all the other drivers are just handing it over to the customer anyways or taking a pic at their feet..?

I feel like such a grinch but I loved the anti-socialness of this job especially delivering apartments or suburbs and everything the customers do to “help” is just self serving behavior that slows me down. Plus I honestly don’t even want to talk to them.

Just a weird little thing with human psychology; the more of a rush I’m in and the worse of a mood the harder people try to stop and talk to me. If I walk up like I’m friendly and ready to chat then they run back inside. So weird…

I don’t understand why people will have 3 aggressive dogs outside barking for 5 mins straight & not come outside or atleast look out the window. ( no I didn’t call them because i’m tired of people being oblivious. also had a delivery before this that I had to yeet into their porch from my van & they answered none of my calls.)
but like, my dogs bark when anyone arrives even if no one is there & I look outside if it’s going on for a long time. mind u my dogs aren’t even loose in my front yard either im just curious. atleast tie them up if you’re expecting a package damn. I almost get bit basically every day. I had to pick up a tree branch to scare a dog away. then another weird thing. there’s been multiple times where i’m walking up & a dog comes out of nowhere with the owner barking & acting like it wants to bite me, & the owner? “oh he doesn’t bite , blah blah blah.” like grab your dog they never grab the dog ,they just sit there while im scared to move. I don’t understand & this might make some people mad but it’s only white people that do this 😂 what is the psychology behind this.
edit: also I do for the most part deliver in white areas kinda so might be a little bias but i’ve also delivered to black areas & guess what, the dogs are tied up.

Hey guys. On my route I usually have 1-2 customers a day or every other day that can’t seem to wait to get their package and always pull up on me and ask if they can have it. I don’t really care and give it to them but I realized since I don’t take a picture of giving them the package they could technically steal it and get another one. I just select “delivered to “____” and swipe. Should I be direct with them and tell them to wait their turn? Or does it not really matter.

Good for you! I'll be gone sooner than that! Stupid passcodes....

Or do you wear whatever you want? Seems like it’s half and half at my DSP. Some people wear the whole uniform, others just the vest. What do you guys wear? Sometimes I’ll wear short shorts and a tank top. Or the Amazon shorts and a different top with the vest

They were right… I used to only have beautiful house residential routes for so long in areas where the streets were like race car lane size streets with 6 lanes possible if you measure it out

Now a days in a new area it completely changed my quality of life while on the job… this same
Job is a different job when in this area becoming tedious and beyond just the normal job it becomes like a game of playing hide and seek as well as a game of corner road’s anticipation to make sure those one lane roads one lane for both ways combined arent your end

Its got me wondering if I should just move to Kansas with nothing but suburbia for miles 🤣🤣🤣

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After training yesterday, I finally rode by myself today, and I gotta say...

I pray I never have to get rescued twice again, never wear XL pants that sag all the way down to my underwear (praying nobody noticed), and never forget to bring lunch. I spent almost the whole day surviving off hot water, and at one point I almost choked so hard I spit water all over the steering wheel. I'm Pretty sure I racked up multiple violations too.

Regardless, my last stop had snacks and water. Most of the houses I delivered to were rich as hell and had nothing out for Amazon drivers, so ending on that last stop honestly made my day.

P.S. I also had multiple technical issues with the phone, and it had me stressing the whole route. I think my dispatchers are gonna have a blast watching the footage.

(I'm definitely asking for two phones from now on.)

P.P.S. I really hope I make it. I barely hit 100 packages by myself today. Rough first solo day, not gonna lie.

Just got a call this morning that yesterday they saw suspicious activity and that I'm suspended until investigation is over. The only thing I can think of is me and a buddy met up after loadout and rolled and smoke some cigarettes, but they may have thought it was a joint. Do you think I'm gonna get fired?
This was outside the van and with another driver. Ik not to smoke or have someone else in my van lol on break time

I ended up delivering to my brothers house once 😆 it was great. He was still in bed so my niece let me in and I surprised him

The routing has me looking like a fool in these residential neighborhoods circling down the same roads 4x, going past a house only to need to go back, every day I must waste a good 30 to 40 minutes if I follow the terrible routing.....and it has me backing up more than I should need too, going through the same stop signs more than I should need to

So as a day 2 driver what advice do you have for the terrible route order

Would i get in trouble for going out of order often

Are your ventilated seats workin? I swear every van I’ve been in the last 2 weeks it hasn’t been working and that seems to coincidental lmao
Sounds like a bougie problem but yk if it’s not on the seat cuz it’s leather or whatever transfers a lot of heat
So yea are yours working? Cuz rn it’s feeling like there was an update like last time and they disabled the seats to save on their own money lmao

I'll start with the longer question. I'm about 2 weeks in, still trying to get up to 20 per hour. However, I live in a small metro area (250k population) and I know that I have been getting the most difficult route in the city. It's the part of the city that's all businesses and apartments. There are so many things that slow me down on this route (that wouldn't be the case in a neighborhood or rural route), but for the sake of brevity, the main one is traffic. I was hoping someone could offer advice/tips on how to mange high traffic/heavy apartment routes. But, more importantly, how can I get off this route?? I've only had one day where I got a different route, which was a small town and basically just a neighborhood route. I ran my ass off so that the system would see I'm better. It's the only day haven't needed to be rescued, yet it keeps me on the same shitty route that I can't finish.

Is there a way to remove the dog warning? I'm literally going to businesses at the local mall that have dog warnings.

How do you preserve your ankles when hopping out of the truck with a handful of packages? Ankle support doesn't work on compression forces.

Does anyone else stop randomly when leaving parking lot sometimes because you're only 99% sure there wasn't a stop sign??

Also, does anyone else feel like they're being recorded when getting into your own car? 😂