West Michigan Delivery Drivers Are Swamped: Here’s How You Can Help

If you’re anything like me, the Amazon truck is basically part of the neighborhood scenery at this point. And, over the next few weeks you can probably expect to see even more blue vans cruising down your street as holiday shopping and shipping hits peak chaos. (Especially if you live in my neighborhood.)

Amazon’s delivery stations across West Michigan are preparing for a huge seasonal surge. One local station in Walker told our friends at Fox 17 that they’re moving 20,000 to 30,000 more packages than usual, pushing their weekly total to around 750,000 packages.

That’s more than 100,000 a day above average. That’s a lot of doorsteps, a lot of walking, and a lot of long days for drivers who don’t always get the appreciation they deserve.

So, what can we do to help the folks who keep our holiday season moving?

One of the biggest things drivers need from us is simple: a clear, well-lit path.
Turn on your porch light. Clear your steps, walkways, or porch of snow and ice. Put down some salt if you can. It’s the easiest way to keep drivers safe and make sure your package actually makes it to your door the first time, instead of requiring a second (or third) attempt.

Be patient! Drivers are covering more miles, carrying more weight, and stopping at more homes than any other time of year. A friendly wave, a “thank you,” or even just keeping pets contained goes a long way. And if you’re someone who leaves out snacks or bottled water? Trust me, they remember.

What about when Your Package Isn’t What You Ordered? It happens: especially during the holiday rush. If a wrong item shows up, the quickest way to fix it is to contact customer service directly. They can get the replacement process started immediately so you’re not stuck scrambling before the big day.

Mailing Gifts? Here Are Your Shipping Deadlines If you’re shipping gifts through USPS, FedEx, or UPS instead of Amazon, you’ll want to double-check each carrier’s holiday cutoff dates to make sure your packages make it in time.

Bonus: leave them a treat. After all, they're away from their families working hard so you can celebrate with yours. If you're able, there's nothing wrong with leaving a snack (especially if you know they'll be by your house a lot.)

But, don’t wait until the last day because those last minute packages sometimes move slower as things get busier.So, happy holidays and happy ordering. Oh yeah, and try your best to appreciate those who make it easier to celebrate with those we love, by bringing it all to our doorstep.