TikTok’s all upset about Amazon’s AI-powered delivery van scanners
Back in October 2023, Amazon announced its installation of new tech-driven fleet equipment: an AI-powered vehicle scan tunnel. After a shift, drivers creep through the scanner.
The camera instantly captures and builds a high-test 3D rendering of the delivery van. The machine immediately delivers a report summarizing any damage detected. A TikTok account shared its interpretation of the scanner this spring. Commenters raged. However, actual Amazon drivers don’t seem to give a hoot. Here’s why.
Amazon said the AI technology is meant to assist fleet managers spot safety issues
“The new Automated Vehicle Inspection (AVI) technology offers reassurance to fleet managers who previously had to rely solely on the human eye and manual inspections for daily safety rounds,” Amazon shared in a press release.
It goes on to explain that the scanner checks for tire defects and uncarriage problems.
TikTok thinks it’s all about micromanaging drivers
FactasticFeed posted a TikTok of the AI tunnel in action. The account captioned the post, “Delivery drivers hate this AI tunnel but Amazon is saving millions with it.”
The message was basically that Amazon really installed the scanners to catch drivers who damage its vans.
The comment section lit up in anger.
“2 million dollar equiment just to blame someone making 30k.”
“don’t have money to pay decent wages for skilled labour, but boy howdy, so we got money for cameras, managers, and AI to keep the poors we hire in their place”
“Why would anyone want to work for Amazon”
And on and on…
But actual drivers say they don’t care, and pretty much don’t get in trouble over dents and scratches
The interesting thing is that, from what I can find, actual Amazon delivery drivers don’t really care about these scanners at all. Oh, and they aren’t used everywhere, either.
In fact, they don’t really care about dents and scratches in general. And neither do their managers.
Here’s a few from that same TikTok:
“Meanwhile our managers tell us not to mark any damages on our app and to tell them instead so vehicles don’t get grounded”
“I worked for them and they could care less about damages!! It’s just a front to make it look like actually care!! Amazon doesn’t even hire drivers directly. They subcontract via DSP!”
“It’s called a uveye, we have one at the dealership I work at and called the company to come take it out bc it’s always down, and Amazon pro masters get way too much abuse”
“worked for a company delivering for amazon, everyone lies about damages they cause. if it’s ever reported, the reporter is assumed guilty. this is both good and bad”
Amazon drivers say it really just depends on the Delivery Service Partner (DSP)
Since the company delivers so many packages, it relies on DSPs to bring a good chunk of its sales to customers.
DSPs are subcontractors that manage a fleet and drivers.
I found a Reddit thread from an OP asking if they’d those their job driving after admitting to scratching an Amazon van on their first day.
It got 75 responses, mostly from other Amazon drivers. Dozens of them assure the OP that they’re totally fine, as long as their DSP understands that this stuff is inevitable.
“Depends on your dsp. My boss will never fire anyone for damage as long as they tell him and are honest. I’ve damaged 4 vans lol.”
There was one, however, that confirmed the worst: “Same thing happen my first week they fired me the next day.”
So then, it seems an overwhelming majority don’t care about these AI-powered scanners. In the end, Amazon delivery vans will get scratched and dented as part of the job. And if a DSP needs the driver more than a pristine delivery vehicle, drivers can probably keep their gigs after an oopsie. Of course, that’s not a guarantee. It depends on how the DSP handles damage.
