2024 Annual Conference

Each year Amazon hosts a conference for DSP owners. I just returned from this trip and wanted to share some updates with you.

By far, the most exciting news of the conference is that our Minimum Pay is increasing to $21.25 per hour. That is a huge jump from our current Minimum Pay. Over the next week or so we will be finalizing our compensation structure. So please be patient as the details roll out. Focus on your Scorecard or eMentor data, attendance, uniform compliance, etc. As all of these will impact your overall compensation. We will make the change retroactive to 9/15/24!!

Amazon is also introducing some new technology for the back of the vans. Imagine having a small workspace in the back of the van where you can lay out all the packages in your next tote. Now imagine that red and green lights from the roof of the van shine onto your packages, letting you know which packages are at your next stop! This tech is exciting. Helping you identify the needle in the haystack. My description does not do it justice. I can’t wait for all of you to experience it in person. The program is rolling out this year and plans to be fully implemented before Peak next year.

Amazon continues to support an invest in the In Stride program. This is a tuition reimbursement program for those of you pursuing an accredited degree. It is an amazing benefit. Investing in yourself is always a good idea!

Amazon also announced that they have reduced route backtracking by 50%, which was a huge focus because you told us it was a primary routing pain point. Please continue to provide your feedback in the flex app end of day survey. Amazon does take action on your feedback.

They continue to design routes so that they are more manageable. They think about the type of location you are delivering to (apartments, residential, commercial), the walk distance between the vehicle and the delivery location, how many times you get in and out of the vehicle, package weight and size, and external factors, like parking and traffic. This has shown a 17% improvement in routes finishing on time and an 18% reduction in first-attempt delivery failure rates. Amazon continues to refine routes so that they can be successfully completed.

Amazon is also working to build routes where oversized packages happen earlier in the route, so drivers have more room to move around in the vehicle’s cargo area and use the shelves to sort smaller packages as you go. This is something we’re excited about ahead of Peak season.

A new-and-improved Amazon Delivery App home screen is coming. By the end of September, you’ll begin to see highlights on safety and delivery quality metrics, any upcoming route adjustments during severe weather conditions, and positive customer feedback about your recent deliveries. You can still access the info you’re used to, like the number of stops, locations, and packages on your route, on the Itinerary

We’re now using predictive models to provide you safety cues within the Delivery App. By end of this year, we’ll identify risk characteristics such as unpaved roads or railroad crossings for 200 million roads and 18 million safety cues for drivers across the network.