What does an Amazon DSP delivery driver actually do?

If you have seen a van with Amazon branding pull up on your street, there is a good chance the person driving it does not work for Amazon directly. Many of those drivers work for small, independently owned delivery companies called Delivery Service Partners, or DSPs. Level Logistics, LLC is a veteran-owned DSP based in Toledo, Ohio, and we are hiring delivery drivers. This guide explains how the DSP model works, what the job involves, and how it differs from other kinds of delivery work, so you can decide whether it fits you.

How the Amazon DSP model works

Amazon launched its Delivery Service Partner program in 2018. Amazon describes DSPs as independent businesses that hire and manage their own employees. On its logistics site, Amazon states that "each DSP is independently responsible for the hiring, performance management, and termination of its employees," and that drivers are employed by the DSP rather than by Amazon.

In practical terms, that means the company you apply to, and the company that sets your schedule and pay, is the DSP. Amazon provides parts of the delivery system that the DSP plugs into. According to Amazon's own description of the program, that includes route design built around package volume and address complexity, technology that helps identify the right packages for each stop, and in-vehicle camera technology and driver-assistance features in its fleet.

To be clear about our own position: Level Logistics is an independent business operating in this model. We describe the model here because it helps job seekers understand what they are applying for, not to suggest any endorsement from Amazon.

What the work involves

A delivery associate, the term Amazon uses for DSP drivers, drives a delivery van along an assigned route and brings packages to customers' doors. A few details are documented in Amazon's own materials:

• An app guides the work. Amazon's onboarding guide for DSPs says new associates download the Amazon Delivery app, upload their driver's license and a photo of themselves, and watch required training videos.
• Routes are planned for you. Amazon says its route design takes package volume and address complexity into account, rather than leaving each driver to work out an order from scratch.
• Packages are matched to stops with technology. Amazon describes a system that uses cameras and lights to identify the packages for each stop.
• Breaks are built into the plan. Amazon says its routes are designed to include two 15-minute rest breaks and one 30-minute meal break.

Beyond those points, the specifics of a shift, including start times, the type of van, and which part of the Toledo area a route covers, vary from one DSP to another. At Level Logistics, starting pay is $21.50 an hour, with full-time and seasonal positions available. Ask us about schedules when you apply.

The physical side of the job

Delivery driving involves a lot of getting in and out of a vehicle, walking, and lifting and carrying packages. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) offers general safe-lifting guidance that applies well to this kind of work: keep your back as straight as possible, lift with your leg muscles, avoid twisting while lifting or carrying, plan the path before you lift, and use lifting equipment such as a dolly when it is available. NIOSH also advises that one person should not lift an object weighing more than 50 pounds. Our article on staying safe on delivery routes in an Ohio winter covers how cold and ice add to these demands.

DSP driver vs. Amazon Flex: the main differences

People often mix up DSP driving and Amazon Flex, but they are different arrangements.

• Who you work for. A DSP driver is employed by a DSP, a delivery company. Flex is a separate Amazon program in which people deliver packages using their own vehicle.
• Whose vehicle. Amazon's Flex page says delivery partners deliver "using their own vehicle, on their own schedule." The DSP arrangement is different, because you are an employee of a delivery company. At Level Logistics, drivers use Amazon cargo vans and electric delivery vans (EDVs).
• How work is scheduled. With Flex, Amazon says you choose delivery blocks in the app, up to a week in advance. A DSP job is a position with an employer, so scheduling is set through that employer.
• Eligibility. Amazon's Flex page lists being 21 or older with a valid license, a qualifying vehicle and a smartphone. Amazon's DSP onboarding guide lists being at least 18 and passing a background check as requirements for delivery associates. Individual DSPs may have their own additional requirements. At Level Logistics you must be 21 or older, with fewer than 3 points on your license and no criminal record within the last 7 to 10 years.

Neither is better for everyone. If you want to use your own car and pick your own blocks, Flex is built for that. If you want to be an employee of a local company and work with a team, DSP driving may suit you better.

Is delivery driving a good fit for you?

The job tends to suit people who are comfortable working independently, like being on the move rather than at a desk, and take pride in being reliable. You will spend much of your shift alone in the van, but you are part of a team and a company that depends on everyone showing up. Safe driving and careful handling of packages matter more than speed alone.

Some things are worth thinking about before you apply:

• Are you comfortable on your feet and lifting regularly through a shift?
• Can you drive confidently in all four Toledo-area seasons, including snow and ice?
• Do you have, or can you get, a valid driver's license that meets Ohio requirements? Our guide to delivery driver requirements in Ohio walks through the basics.

If you served in the military, you may also find our article on delivery driving as a career for veterans useful.

Questions to ask any DSP before you accept a job

Because every DSP sets its own terms, it pays to ask. Good questions include: What are the pay and schedule? What type of vehicle will I drive? What training will I get? What areas do routes cover? How does the company handle bad weather? We are happy to answer these for Level Logistics when you apply.

Ready to take the next step?

Level Logistics is hiring delivery drivers in Toledo. Apply with Level Logistics and we will walk you through the details.