As temperatures drop and snowflakes start to fall, most of us bundle up and hunker down indoors, but for Amazon’s vast logistics network, our busiest season is underway. The arrival of winter weather in many parts of the country creates a unique set of challenges that require careful planning and execution, with our top priority always being safety. One of the many people at the helm of this effort is Ty Smith, one of our meteorologists. Smith and his team examine seasonal forecasts, assess the potential weather impact on Amazon’s operations network, and identify specific opportunities to help Amazon and its partners always put safety first.
While winter weather is particularly difficult to predict, our meteorology team’s goal is to provide accurate and timely information to help Amazon and its partners make informed decisions to ensure everyone is prepared before, during, and after extreme weather. We sat down with Smith to understand how he partners with teams across Amazon to predict and prepare for severe winter weather.
Winter weather is just around the corner, and in some places, it has already arrived. Can you share how you and your team prepare Amazon for harsh winter conditions?
Our approach to preparing for any severe weather is trying to anticipate all possibilities to minimize risk and help keep everyone safe. As you can imagine, winter weather is one of the largest disruptors to a transportation logistics company, which is why we leverage meteorology to inform our operations network.
In addition to regular training exercises, predictive forecasting allows us to prepare employees and partners with action plans so they’re ready to respond safely and effectively to diverse weather conditions. Teams across Amazon’s transportation network are in constant communication with critical incident departments, enabling comprehensive tracking and response planning. This, paired with closely monitoring travel advisories, informs adjustments to delivery drivers’ routes, along with changes or reductions to employees’ shifts working at our operations sites.
We communicate in real-time with our delivery partners and their teams via text messaging and in-app notifications before, during, and after weather events, so they have the latest forecasts and mitigation plans. The same goes for leadership teams on-site. In addition to these adjustments, we’ve developed protocols to aid decision-making around opening and closing operations during inclement weather—prioritizing safety above all else.
How exactly does Amazon equip employees and partners to adeptly handle winter conditions? What kind of measures are they taking?
In preparation for winter, we ensure we have the right equipment and gear for various weather conditions for employees in our buildings as well as our Delivery Service Partners (DSPs) and Delivery Associates (DAs) on the road. For instance, Amazon equips operation sites’ employees, who work outdoors, with winter-weather apparel, including gloves, caps, outerwear, hand warmers, and ice cleats. We also install ice plates outside our buildings to help avoid slips, trips, and falls. While all of our operations sites are climate-controlled, some employees spend a good part of their days working outdoors. If temperatures drop below freezing, they’re required to take breaks in warm indoor areas, and we ensure they’re using the aforementioned supplies.
For those on the road—all of our DSPs’ vehicles must have functioning heat, or the vehicle is grounded and their DAs cannot drive it. This helps ensure DAs have the option to use delivery vehicles as a warm place to take breaks. DAs also have a list of indoor break spots, like gas stations or restaurants, outlined in the Amazon Delivery app. They can take breaks to warm up any time they need to, in addition to the existing 30-minute meal break and two 15-minute rest breaks that are already built into routing logic, every day. It’s also important to note that routes are adjusted if the wind chill drops and/or precipitation increases to help ensure drivers are protected from the elements.
Having the right gear is also important for drivers. In 2024 alone, we’ve invested more than $8 million in winter supplies for DSPs and their DAs, including ice scrapers, ice cleats, snow shovels, warm-up kits, snow removal roof rakes, first-aid and roadside emergency kits. Winter doesn’t just bring colder temperatures, there are also fewer daylight hours—so we equip drivers with flashlights for deliveries in low light, and reflective safety vests that help them stay visible to other vehicles and customers while out delivering.
Does Amazon provide any safety training to ensure people feel prepared for inclement weather?
Absolutely—we believe training is key to preparedness. In addition to our mandatory safety trainings and sitewide drills, operations site leaders undergo training programs and practice exercises covering various aspects of winter weather safety. This includes understanding risk factors for cold stress, recognizing signs and symptoms of cold-related injuries and illnesses, and knowing how to report incidents promptly. Employees are also encouraged to reach out to their managers or HR if they have concerns about getting to or from work.
For all of our delivery partners on the road, we emphasize that drivers should never make a delivery if they feel unsafe, and they’re empowered to return to the station if at any time they feel their health or safety is in jeopardy. We provide DSPs training for their DAs on how to walk on snow, ice, slippery surfaces (in their ice cleats), and how to exit a vehicle safely while using three-points of contact to prevent slips, trips, and falls. This also reduces strain on the lower back, knees, and ankles. At our Last Mile Driver Academy, we even have a simulator where we spray a glass floor with water to simulate ice and use that method to teach DAs how to stay focused and avoid distractions. This, coupled with continuous learning tools on winter safety best practices, empowers drivers to make safe decisions when faced with a winter weather situation, while always knowing that no delivery is more important than their safety.
Can you share any specific examples of how your team's weather forecasting and early warnings have helped prevent accidents or disruptions in the past?
Just recently, the meteorology team detected early warning signs of a significant snowfall event, Winter Storm Anya, in the southern Rocky Mountains in southern Colorado and Northern New Mexico. Several days before storm’s arrival, the team communicated forecast timing, impact areas, and disruption probabilities to help us make adjustments to our operations. Anya deposited over three feet of snow along the I-25 corridor from northern New Mexico to the Denver metro area, causing numerous road closures. Because the team had predicted these impacts, we were able to proactively adjust driving routes to help ensure partner safety and minimize customer disruptions.
Why are these measures so important to Amazon and its operations?
Because nothing is more important than the safety of our employees and partners.
Why are these measures so important to Amazon and its operations?
As winter weather begins to ramp up, Amazon's dedication to safety remains steadfast. Amazon recognizes its broad responsibility to help keep employees and partners safe and aims to set the standard for safety in the industry.
Are there any tips for Amazon customers to help keep delivery drivers safe when they’re delivering?
Yes—we can all play a role in safety this winter. Now that it’s darker earlier, customers can help keep delivery drivers safe by turning their outdoor lights on sooner, salting their driveways, and keeping their dogs inside. With deliveries occurring through the day and evening, customers are able to track their packages, see estimated times of delivery, and plan accordingly.
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