Amazon Flex is a program where independent contractors can go pick up delivery routes and make extra money. A report from The Information, a tech and business publication, found that five Flex drivers had been shot in four separate incidents since 2022, raising questions about their safety. NBC News’ Stephanie Gosk reports.
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#Amazon #Shooting #Drivers
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My advice to the drivers, PLEASE TURN YOUR FLASHERS ON AND WEAR YOUR VEST! I drove for Amazon as a company employee and for Flex as well. In both jobs I’ve had incidents where people didn’t know I was even from Amazon, because sometimes Amazon would give me an unmarked white van to drive. The looks some people would give me before I even got out the van let me understand that I had to make it known that I was from Amazon. I’ve had incidents where men would follow me. I’ve had incidents where I would deliver to places where I had no signal both on my phone and gps and had to figure out how to get back to the main road. Please be careful, be aware. Bring something for protection like pepper spray. Something to deter someone. Call or text the customer when you are there. Let them know it’s you. Please try to make it as obvious as possible that you are from Amazon. Unfortunately this will continue to happen unless everyone is educated about these drivers arriving in unmarked vans and cars. Please protect yourselves out there.
Uber has those light in the window. Amazon can't invest in lights?
I appreciate the news coverage, but this is also not telling the whole truth. People are aware when we are on our way to their home. The app tells them how many stops we are away and they know the color of the Amazon vest. We all wear them for safety. We can't even pick up packages at the fulfillment center unless we are wearing them so thats bull crap. Amazon also provides stickies that says Amazon for your car or we can buy decals.Yes we are independent contractors. That is the purpose of a 1099. You wouldn't call a sole proprietor a regular person. We are also covered up to $1Million commercial coverage while delivering provided by Amazon which is more than any other company offers. We can also report customers and their dogs because people are aware that dogs are not to be out while we are delivering. We even have a feature in the app where we mark which customers have dogs on the property. If their dog is out, they are not getting their package. It's just that simple. Lastly, we are able to take routes at 3:30am, which is actually dangerous. That is why I never take any of them. It's your choice. You schedule yourself. I've done 6:30am routes and haven't had any issues. I've done Amazon Flex for four years and never have any issues besides their crappy map and their crappy customer service taking our complaints. I've encountered many dogs in my four year journey and never got attacked by any. My car has gotten scratched up by many. I'm sorry this happened to people. I'm not sure where they live but I've delivered with Flex in Indiana, Michigan, Tennessee, and Alabama. No issues during the day.
🛑🔵Nice video, trading come with a lot of benefits And I have just bought my first house through it. As a beginner I was scared of Loosing my savings but I'm glad I took the bold step that is now favoring me.
I use to be a flex driver I had a route around 5 am one day and was dropping off a few packages to like 3 different houses on the same street went and delivered the first one went and deliver the second package and had to go back to my car for thee 3rd package and when I turned around I saw this man holding a metal baseball bat asking me why I’m walking up to his house at this time and I explained I was with amazon and he wasent having it he finally went back in and I called driver support and they could have cared less that I was threatened
It’s Chicago.
Were you expecting civilised people?
😂😂😂
Family is great
They need to have a marking like a UPS taxi light for identification….and ..stay away from CHigago..
Dumb America
amazon doesn't care about flex drivers
I've literally emailed & called driver support multiple times about sending drivers into certain areas that aren't always safe & secure. There's no recourse for drivers because of them being independent contractors & all they ever ask is, "Were you wearing a vest?" What does that mean? These people don't care who you are on their property, or if they want the packages in your car. There are areas in Indiana where it's completely dark,with no street lights. Most of these areas have water or ditches right along the roadside, and you can't see it once the sun goes down. It's very scary pulling up on a property with no way for the homeowners to know who you are, or why you're approaching their house. Amazon claims to care about driver safety, but all they really care about is the bottom line, which is more money for them.
I'm a flex driver. They start blocks at 3:30 am. I refuse to do early am, I accept offers starting at 6 am, and I do not accept offers past 6pm. I wear an Amazon vest which you can pick up at the warehouse for free. Im also a former Amazon Truck Driver. Stay safe everyone.
AMAZON NEEDS TO DO A BETTER JOB AT INFORMING CUSTOMERS ABOUT PACKAGE DELIVERY. Is it that hard to put a disclaimer before they push "order" that their package may come at odd times by an unmarked vehicle or a independent contractor. The amount of gun threats and even unsecured animals is way higher than Amazon claims! Spend some time in the forums online!
Privileged person doesn't think the world could be dangerous, asks us to hold his beer.
A quintessentially 2020s American story
I'm just going to say it – you AMAZON DRIVERS (incl. ALL), if no one has told you, please know that you are all LOVED, APPRECIATED, and are VERY IMPORTANT to a lot of us! And while your job is often a Thank-less job, I want to tell you all THANK YOU for your hard work and services! FWIW – whenever I receive my package from Amazon, I always fill out those delivery surveys with 5/5 ratings! I just hope that this can help in any way! 🙂
NBC has know credibility with this report.
By not involving incidents of ups, and FedEx delivery drivers in their report.
"I honestly feel disrespected," the former driver, D'Monterrio Gibson, 25, told The Associated Press shortly after he received an email from FedEx about his termination.
Shot at while driving a delivery truck for FedEx in Mississippi
Meredith Miller, manager of global network communications for FedEx, confirmed Monday that "Mr. Gibson is no longer employed at FedEx," but did not respond to other questions from AP.
when you live in country where right wing politicians worship guns, and literally sold their souls to the devil that is the NRA, this is what you have happen. you cant even pull in the wrong driveway in the middle of the day in this stupid country without some intellectually deficient fool pulling a gun, just because they have one.
Three hours and 5 minutes to deliver a package this story ain't adding up 👀
Home owners are scared? Mf we scared
Portland OR and the surrounding area i have not had this issue. but i am worried about the metro. i refuse the downtown shifts.
Not sure of the cause but I’m sure defunding police is the remedy ✊🏿✊🏿✊🏿
White supremacist preasuring jeff bezos to support their right wing group, they need his cash
Dude I am just two days into this job and already three times people rush out their house angry and confused that some random pulled into their driveway, not realizing it's for their package. This job dangerous AF.
Independent contractors=slaves
All contacts are robotic…..can't speak to an actual human when working with Amazon. Calling out is hard you get "points" if you don't show up but you only have a difficult robotic contact to inform sometimes doesn't work
WHAT???.
Wow almost the most American story, independent contractors hired by giant corporation shot at, and giant corporation takes no accountability
i tried amazon flex. really not worth it. lots of bad routes, etc. then one day i cursed out customer service and they banned me from the flex program.
Welp he’s going to be deactivated now
Nobody should be making deliveries to homes after dark, especially in a private vehicle.
'murica ✌
WE DID NOT ASK FOR THIS SERVICE
Culturally there is no difference between Sikhs and Sikhs in India or anywhere in the world. They live i the same community and intermarriage is common. So I don’t understand what these demand for a separate state is coming from.
High majority of Sikhs are against this nonsense.
America and your freaking gun fanatics. Your rights are killing your neighbors.
My boy a free mason
People are really becoming a Society of Dumbazzez. It time to put Artificial Intelligence in charge of this World.