Re:Amazon Is Testing Its Own Delivery Service to Rival FedEx...
by drusepth on Friday October 06, 2017 @06:23AM
(#15415660)
I wonder what the actual cost-difference would be to pay 7 guys working 2-hour 5pm-7pm days instead of every one guy working 14-hour days.
If it's too high, I assume things like drone delivery will eventually replace deliverymen since they are more likely to not mind working evenings, nights, and weekends.
Re:Amazon Is Testing Its Own Delivery Service to Rival FedEx...
by BrentOzar on Friday October 06, 2017 @07:24AM
(#15415878)
> I wonder what the actual cost-difference would be to pay 7 guys working 2-hour 5pm-7pm days instead of every one guy working 14-hour days.
It's less about the guys, and more about the support infrastructure required for more delivery vehicles (even rented ones via the guys' salaries), insurance, more loading bays to get 7x more vehicles ready, more loading staff (or robots) to load 7x more vehicles, etc.
Re:Amazon Is Testing Its Own Delivery Service to Rival FedEx...
by piquadrat on Friday October 06, 2017 @07:50AM
(#15416015)
While the drones won't mind working at night or on weekends, I would certainly mind the relentless, high-pitched noise of drones delivering groceries and the latest new tech gadgets to my neighbours when I try to sleep or relax.
Honestly, I dread the thought of hundreds or thousands of drones buzzing around the city on a daily basis. It's already pretty bad at many touristic spots because everybody needs their own little aerial video that nobody will ever watch.
Re:Amazon Is Testing Its Own Delivery Service to Rival FedEx...
by maxerickson on Friday October 06, 2017 @08:00AM
(#15416066)
Yes, convenience demands that jobs be organized into 10 or 14 hour weeks. At least we can be confident that the people taking such shitty jobs have lots of leverage and will be well compensated!
Re:Amazon Is Testing Its Own Delivery Service to Rival FedEx...
by DougWebb on Friday October 06, 2017 @07:31AM
(#15415914)
They'd need to maintain seven trucks instead of one truck, with the much larger support system that would entail. Also they'd need more people working internal functions like HR due to the higher headcount. It's a lot more expensive than just the driver's salary.
Re:Amazon Is Testing Its Own Delivery Service to Rival FedEx...
by brewdad on Friday October 06, 2017 @04:08PM
(#15419987)
Maybe a 7-9pm shift could make sense. A 5-7pm shift would result in drivers sitting in rush hour traffic and delivering very few packages. Or they could try a 5-7am shift. I'm sure no one would mind an early doorbell.
The driver has a 200-250 stop route optimized for efficiency, they attempt delivery when near your house. At 7pm a driver has been on the clock for over 10 hours; this is unlikely to change due to air delivery commitments. Over peak season 14 hour days (DoT limit) is very common, with a 14-hour delivery window it's simply not possible to get everyone's packages to them in the evening.