As online shopping has taken over a big chunk of the retail market, Amazon has become a giant in the e-commerce industry. With a vast customer base and an ever-increasing demand for fast deliveries, Amazon started its own delivery system instead of relying on other shipping companies.
This is where the problem began – Amazon’s delivery demands have negatively impacted trucking safety. In fact, many people have been injured by an Amazon truck collision. Let’s explore what might be causing this rise in accidents on our highways by examining the root causes.
The Pressure of Meeting Unrealistic Delivery Demands
Amazon’s commitment to “Prime” service means they must meet their customers’ needs with two-day deliveries, leaving them with little to no time for proper shipment handling protocols or driver rest times.
To cater to this increasing demand, Amazon has employed independent drivers who are paid according to their performance and delivery speed rather than timely arrivals at destinations or complying with legal driving standards. These workers often resort to long hauls without adequate rest breaks or roadside checks since they do not want to lose out on incentives that could help boost their income.
We can all empathize with such drivers who operate under high pressure as they struggle to keep up with the increasingly strict specifications required by e-commerce companies like Amazon. Unfortunately, however understandable it may seem, this leads us further down a path where innocent lives and road users bear the brunt of these unrealistic expectations.
Undertrained Staff
Devoir entailed operating large vehicles loaded with complex freight shipments should require specialized skills and training. Yet, reports suggest that some contract firms working under Amazon have little consideration for such requirements – hiring inadequately prepared staff without proper certifications and experience. These inexperienced and unprofessional drivers pose risks not only for themselves but also for other road users. Though we all make mistakes behind the wheel every once in a while due to our own human factors, hiring managers taking shortcuts during recruitment makes it worse and only further exacerbates the risks.
Truck Maintenance
Despite the vast amount of money that Amazon pumps into logistics, some reports indicate that due diligence is not extended to checking the trucks and other delivery vehicles for proper maintenance. We can all imagine how dangerous it is for drivers working with improperly maintained vehicles, particularly in extreme weather conditions when temperatures are high or low. One driver testified that his brakes failed on an Amazon truck mid-drive, leaving him little choice but to swerve off-road at high speed. The resulting injuries were painful, leading to hospitalization. Unfortunately, this speaks to a larger theme of companies that outsource their transportation rather than an employee-based fleet system – insouciantly doing things “simply” as opposed to “right.”
Working Conditions
With no regulation or provision protecting them against long hours managing heavy loads with complicated delivery schedules, these last-mile drivers struggle to balance sleep hours as they also manage family obligations. And then there’s always the issue of road fatigue. Transporting goods demands focus and attention – requiring alertness on a consistent basis which takes us back again toward burnout challenges inherent in demanding tight schedules. And once burned out or impaired, life can take a turn for the worst, already piling up and triggering factors towards accidents.
Summary: An Unfortunate Paradigm Shift
Given Amazon’s significant reliance on contractual last-mile delivery workers who operate despite limited resources, it’s hard not only to view safety as an afterthought but regard this new era of commerce, beginning with unfair regulations. Consequently, helpless civilians end up paying the price on the roads. E-commerce entities should prioritize investment though they may face pressure from stakeholders demanding better Return On Investments (ROI) – risk management systems prioritizing truck driving regulations training and well-maintained vehicles. This would prevent careless negligence through renewed perspectives on worker welfare programs while guaranteeing consumer satisfaction through timely deliveries – without having a recourse situation whereby families have lost loved ones following such tragedies.
Do you know what we can do in our capacity to effect change? We can begin choosing companies that prioritize safety while transporting orders and behind the scenes during warehousing and handling – emphasizing consumer welfare while instilling legitimate consideration through responsible hiring protocols. It is paramount for both consumers and regulatory bodies to keep track and hold accountable cooperative entities that may value satisfying demand timeframes over keeping road users safe.
