Amazon rolls out safety tech, pay bump for delivery providers

Amazon has begun deploying surround-view cameras on electric delivery vans to provide more visibility on the road, representing the latest investment in vehicle and driver safety, and boosting driver pay by a $1 to support recruiting and retention, the logistics-forward retailer said this week.

The 360-degree cameras from Netradyne can identify vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians from all directions and notify drivers. By the end of the year, the technology will be installed in 50% of Rivian electric delivery vehicles across Amazon’s (NASDAQ: AMZN) network, said Beryl Tomay, vice president of transportation, in a blog post.

All Amazon-branded vehicles — whether from Rivian or another manufacturer — are equipped with in-vehicle camera safety technology. The cameras have helped decrease distracted driving, speeding, and stop sign, stop light and U-Turn violations, according to Amazon. The new cameras have more capability.

Amazon used more than 40,000 electric vans to deliver packages to customers across the United States. The fleet also includes gas-powered vehicles.

Tomay said Amazon is also using more advanced AI techniques to identify driving habits that are more likely to lead to accidents and reporting those insights to independent fleet owners so they can provide early coaching for their teams.

Amazon has invested more than $543 million in safety initiatives, programs and technology for independent business owners that operate delivery fleets for Amazon. Combined with contractor safety efforts, the investments helped reduce serious vehicle crashes by more than 23% last year, she said.

The mega-retailer is also launching additional dynamic hazard alerts in the Amazon Delivery app to give drivers real-time notifications about accidents, road closures and construction ahead on their route.

In addition, navigation will now automatically adjust routes during inclement weather or when hazards are detected, without van drivers having to take any action. Meanwhile, Amazon continues to utilize AI-backed software systems to help fleets with their operations.

Amazon’s Wellspring generative mapping technology, for example, learns from each trip to a location and builds an increasingly accurate model of the physical world over time. Since 2024, the company has identified 202 million parking locations, mapped 2.

8 million building entrances, and cataloged 85,000 mailrooms and lockers, which helps contractors in the Delivery Service Program more efficiently and accurately deliver to customers, Tomay said.

Amazon also continues to invest in AI-based routing technology that dynamically adjusts for real-world conditions, accounting for considerations such as reduced visibility after sunset, or the extra time a downtown delivery might need to find parking during busy lunch hours.

Last year, Amazon introduced AI-powered smart glasses to help delivery drivers work better. The glasses use computer vision to display real-time navigation suggestions and delivery details directly in a driver’s line of sight, creating a hands-free experience that helps them stay focused on their surroundings rather than looking down at a phone.

New features added since then include an LED headlamp, hands-free scanning, and proactive address verification. The company said it expects to have more than 20,000 devices in the field by the end of 2027.

In other developments, Amazon has installed simulators at 30 Integrated Last Mile Driver Academy locations since last year and is on track to reach its goal of 40 simulators by the end of the year, spokesman Steve Kelly said. The Delivery Service Program also received a $1.

9 billion injection of funds that will be dispensed to owner-operators to increase driver pay by an average of 16% nationwide, with national average earnings rising by about $1 to nearly $24 per hour, said Tomay. The money will also help DSP providers pay for healthcare coverage, tuition reimbursement and other benefits offered at the local level.

Why It Matters: Amazon sets technology trends and is also becoming a dominant competitor in the parcel market, so what it does with technology deployment and driver pay bears watching. Click here for more FreightWaves/American Shipper stories by Eric Kulisch. Write to Eric Kulisch at ekulisch@freightwaves. com.

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