Latest news with #AmazonFlex
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Amazon Ends Speedy Delivery by Kia Soul in Favor of Gig Workers
(Bloomberg) -- Inc. is ending an experiment that saw drivers in Kia Souls make same-day deliveries and will rely on its network of gig-economy workers instead. Security Concerns Hit Some of the World's 'Most Livable Cities' One Architect's Quest to Save Mumbai's Heritage From Disappearing JFK AirTrain Cuts Fares 50% This Summer to Lure Riders Off Roads NYC Congestion Toll Cuts Manhattan Gridlock by 25%, RPA Reports Taser-Maker Axon Triggers a NIMBY Backlash in its Hometown In the test, Amazon contract delivery firms in several US states deployed drivers for four- or five-hours shifts in the boxy little Kia Corp. hatchbacks. The trial, which began to roll out in 2023, gave the world's largest online retailer more control over deliveries. If widely deployed, it also could have reduced the company's reliance on Amazon Flex drivers, who use their own cars to ferry orders to customers' homes. Those gig workers will now pick up the affected routes. Owners of the participating Delivery Service Partners, as Amazon calls its contract delivery firms, were recently notified that the quick-delivery program will be winding down over the next few months, the company confirmed. 'After more than a year of gathering feedback from customers, DSPs, and teams at Same-Day Delivery facilities, we've determined that the DSP model isn't currently the right fit for Same-Day Delivery and we'll be moving away from it,' Amazon spokesperson Steve Kelly said in an emailed statement. 'We appreciate the contributions from participating DSPs and their teams, and we'll provide support throughout this transition.' Amazon tested the concept in Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Ohio, Texas and Washington. Kelly said the affected DSPs can operate other Amazon routes and that the company will help drivers get jobs with other firms, if necessary. The program's vehicles were rentals and will be returned to the vendor, he said. Amazon, which started out relying exclusively on the US Postal Service and other carriers to get goods to customers, in the last decade built a sprawling logistics operation centered around small businesses. These DSPs lease blue Amazon Prime-branded vans and employ the drivers, who might deliver 200 or more packages a day. Flex drivers opt in via a smartphone app and typically deliver packages from Amazon's same-day delivery depots. Both programs have been criticized by workers' advocates who contend that the drivers, operating at Amazon's direction, should be classified as company employees. Luxury Counterfeiters Keep Outsmarting the Makers of $10,000 Handbags Ken Griffin on Trump, Harvard and Why Novice Investors Won't Beat the Pros Is Mark Cuban the Loudmouth Billionaire that Democrats Need for 2028? The US Has More Copper Than China But No Way to Refine All of It Can 'MAMUWT' Be to Musk What 'TACO' Is to Trump? ©2025 Bloomberg L.P.
Bloomberg
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Bloomberg
Amazon Ends Speedy Delivery by Kia Soul in Favor of Gig Workers
Inc. is ending an experiment that saw drivers in Kia Souls make same-day deliveries and will rely on its network of gig-economy workers instead. In the test, Amazon contract delivery firms in several US states deployed drivers for four- or five-hours shifts in the boxy little Kia Corp. hatchbacks. The trial, which began to roll out in 2023, gave the world's largest online retailer more control over deliveries. If widely deployed, it also could have reduced the company's reliance on Amazon Flex drivers, who use their own cars to ferry orders to customers' homes. Those gig workers will now pick up the affected routes.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Yahoo
Amazon Flex delivery driver has car stolen while dropping off packages in North Austin
The Brief An Amazon Flex delivery driver said her car was stolen while she was dropping off packages The thief is now using the woman's EBT card that was left inside the car Amazon responded to the incident AUSTIN, Texas - An Amazon Flex delivery driver said her car was stolen while she was dropping off packages. Local perspective Stephanie Board was delivering packages for Amazon early Sunday morning. "I took the route that was from 3:15 a.m all the way until like seven o'clock, and I was almost done, so I was excited when I was on my route because I was like, ok, it's about 6:30-ish, I'm almost done. So here I am just determined to get it done and get back to my kids," delivery driver Stephanie Board said. She said she pulled up to a home in the Quail Creek Neighborhood in North Austin, her car was still running. "I'm just thinking, you know, I'm going to hop in and out real quickly," Board said. Board said she grabbed the package out of her car, walked to the front door, dropped it off, and scanned it. When she turned around, Board said, "I look up and I see a guy that I've never seen before. He hops out of a Mercedes, I think it was, and he gets into the driver's side of my car." Board said she tried to stop the man. "I kind of try to get in front of him to stop him from taking the vehicle, but he still goes around and leaves in the vehicle," Board said. She said it felt like a movie. "Panicking, nervous, just disbelief and distraught that something like this was happening," Board said. Apparently, her car had all of her personal items inside, including her credit, debit, and social security cards. "I see that they are currently using my EBT card. They were at the local Sam's that was out south, and it looks like they were at some supermarkets here in the East Austin area, so they're all over Austin, so you might want to just be mindful," Board said. Board and her son have a message to whoever is behind this. "Just do the right thing and return the car because you've taken away from a mother that's trying to support her kids and have a survival for them and stable living," Board said. "I would just like for the person to just give us our car," Board's son, Demarion Ewing said. What they're saying Amazon spokesperson Steve Kelly released a statement on the incident: "Our team has reached out to Ms. Board to offer support and assistance relating to this unfortunate incident. Safety is our top priority, which is why we continue to innovate and invest in comprehensive safety measures that help keep Amazon Flex delivery partners and the communities they serve safe. In addition to contacting law enforcement, Amazon's 24/7 Emergency Assistance Helpline stands ready to provide support to delivery partners if unexpected situations arise." Amazon does provide various forms of assistance when situations arise, including filing insurance claims to help drivers and pay for missed delivery blocks. The Source Information from interviews conducted by FOX 7 Austin's Meredith Aldis
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New Amazon facility coming to Davenport
Amazon is expanding in Davenport with a new facility. Growing customer demand led to a second facility in Davenport, a 114,000 square-foot last-mile delivery station near the current Amazon Robotics Fulfillment Center at 2022 Research Parkway. This type of facility typically creates over 100 direct and indirect job opportunities, including driving opportunities through the Delivery Service Partner (DSP) and Amazon Flex programs as the company serves thousands of customers in Scott County and beyond. Construction just started on the facility, which is expected to be completed in late 2025. Employees in Amazon's U.S. customer fulfillment and transportation earn an average of over $22 per hour.'The City is happy to see Amazon grow its footprint in Davenport's Eastern Iowa Industrial Center,' said Davenport Mayor Mike Matson. 'We're grateful Amazon chose to do business here, and we're proud of the Davenport community for supporting this expansion.' This new last-mile facility will be the final stage of Amazon's fulfillment process and ensure fast, everyday delivery to customers' doorsteps. The facility will bring even faster delivery for customers throughout the region, including neighboring rural communities. 'Opening our second Davenport site in three years and our sixth in the past two years across Iowa is a testament to expanding the great communities we serve and the new jobs we're bringing across the region,' said Jason Vangalis, Amazon economic development manager. 'Davenport's strategic Midwest location with direct access to major highways and talented workforce also played a key role in this area's expansion.' 'We are thrilled that Amazon has chosen to expand at their current campus in Davenport,' said Peter Tokar III, Quad Cities President & CEO. 'The expansion will bring new jobs as Amazon continues to serve the Quad Cities area and beyond.' Amazon's Robotics Fulfillment Center, also in Davenport, opened in October 2023 and employs about 2,000 people. The facility features the latest generation of Amazon robotics, including over 5,000 robots helping move products through the 2.3 million-square-foot building while fulfilling about 130,000 customer orders daily. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Epoch Times
01-05-2025
- Business
- Epoch Times
Amazon Announces $4 Billion Rural Delivery Network, Estimates 100,000 New Jobs
Amazon will invest $4 billion by 2026 to expand its network in rural America for delivering packages faster in densely populated areas, the company said in an April 30 'This investment will also grow our rural delivery network's footprint to over 200 delivery stations, and we estimate it will create over 100,000 new jobs and driving opportunities through a wide range of full-time, part-time, and flexible positions in our buildings and on the roads,' the company said. 'Once this expansion is complete, our network will be able to deliver over a billion more packages each year to customers living in over 13,000 zip codes spanning 1,200,000 square miles—an area the size of Alaska, California, and Texas combined.' The effort focuses on small towns in the United States. Amazon plans on expanding at a time when many logistics providers 'have backed away from investing in rural customers and communities.' Amazon estimates that by the end of next year, its rural delivery network will triple in size, with average delivery times being cut in half. For each new facility opened as part of expansion, an estimated 170 new jobs on average shall be created at the delivery station level, Amazon said, adding that other job opportunities would be extra, such as those created via the Delivery Service Partner (DSP) and Amazon Flex programs. Related Stories 4/29/2025 4/29/2025 DSP is a program in which small businesses set up delivery services to transport Amazon goods. Flex is aimed at individuals who want to make some extra money delivering Amazon packages using their own vehicles. The flex program has been caught up in legal conflicts involving driver contracts. In June last year, lawyers representing thousands of Amazon Flex drivers announced they 'As Amazon exerts considerable control over the Flex drivers in their deliveries and the deliveries are part of Amazon's usual business, the drivers qualify as Amazon employees, not independent contractors, and should be paid accordingly,' Joseph Sellers, partner at Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC and attorney for the drivers, said at the time. In an emailed statement to The Epoch Times, an Amazon spokesperson said the Flex program enables individuals to make 'competitive pay' while setting their own schedules and being their own boss. 'We hear from most of the Amazon Flex delivery partners that they love the flexibility of the program, and we're proud of the work they do on behalf of customers every day,' the spokesperson said. In its April 30 statement, Amazon said it is the leading job creator in the United States, having created more than 500,000 jobs over the past five years. The company cited a UPS Delivery Cut, Tariff Rumor Amazon's decision to expand rural delivery comes as the United Parcel Service (UPS) recently said it was aiming to cut half of its Amazon business by the second half of the year. During a Jan. 30 earnings call, UPS CEO Carol Tome 'Our contract with Amazon came up this year, and so we said it's time to step back for a moment and reassess our relationship because if we take no action, it will likely result in diminishing returns,' she said. In an April 29 conference call with Wall Street analysts, Tome 'This volume is not a healthy fit for our network. The Amazon volume we plan to keep is profitable and is a healthy volume,' she said, adding that Amazon currently makes up 11.7 percent of UPS revenue. Meanwhile, Amazon recently The report had triggered comments from the White House, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt saying on April 29 that such a move would amount to a 'hostile and political act.' 'Why didn't Amazon do this when the Biden administration hiked inflation to the highest level in 40 years?' she said. Amazon denied that it would be carrying out the plan, saying it never considered displaying tariff information on its website. 'The team that runs our ultra-low cost Amazon Haul store considered the idea of listing import charges on certain products. This was never approved and is not going to happen,' Amazon spokesperson Tim Doyle said in an emailed statement to The Epoch Times. Katabella Roberts and Andrew Moran contributed to the report.
