Delivery Service Partners and Workers' Comp Concerns: 9 Issues To Be Aware Of
For small and medium-sized delivery businesses, employees often operate vehicles alone, navigating busy streets and unpredictable conditions. Whether it’s extreme heat, slippery roads, or heavy traffic, the risks drivers face are real, and they can’t always count on another team member being there to help in an emergency.
For example, in 2023, a UPS driver in North Texas lost consciousness due to heat exhaustion while delivering packages in extreme temperatures, causing a vehicle crash. The driver required hospitalization, which underscored the very real risks that extreme weather poses to delivery drivers.
In another case, an Amazon delivery driver fell backward on a customer’s steps while delivering packages in 2021, hitting their head on the concrete. Despite wearing approved footwear, the injury was severe—showing how even the most careful drivers are at risk from everyday hazards.
Lastly, a 2022 report by the Strategic Organizing Center revealed that nearly 20% of Amazon delivery drivers sustained injuries in 2021, a staggering 40 percent increase from the year before, largely due to high-pressure delivery quotas and tight deadlines.
Providing employees with the right tools and knowledge - such as how to handle extreme weather, stay safe while loading and unloading, or avoid common road hazards - can help prevent accidents before they happen.
Establishing clear safety protocols ensures drivers know how to handle emergencies on their own, making a significant difference in keeping teams safe and operations running smoothly.
One bad accident or lawsuit could wipe out months, even years, of progress. But here's the good news: you don't have to go it alone. With proper planning and support, these safety concerns can be mitigated. Let’s dive into some of the top safety concerns for delivery service providers and how to stay ahead of them.
Top Safety Concerns for Delivery Service Providers
1. Driver Fatigue
Fatigue is one of the most common safety risks in the delivery industry. Long hours behind the wheel can take a toll on a driver’s ability to stay alert. Fatigued drivers have slower reaction times, impaired judgment, and can make errors that lead to accidents. This concern is particularly impactful in industries like food delivery, where drivers are under constant pressure to meet tight deadlines, or in long-haul transportation, where drivers are on the road for extended periods.
To address this issue, businesses should encourage realistic scheduling, mandate regular breaks, and implement rotating shifts to ensure drivers aren’t working beyond their capacity.
2. Vehicle Maintenance
Regular vehicle maintenance is critical to safety. Poorly maintained vehicles can break down unexpectedly, causing delays, accidents, or even worse. This risk affects every type of delivery service, from last-mile couriers who are delivering parcels within city limits to those transporting larger items like furniture or appliances across longer distances. A vehicle breakdown not only costs time and money but could also be a serious safety hazard if the vehicle is not in optimal condition.
To stay ahead of this concern, businesses should establish a strict maintenance schedule and ensure their vehicles are regularly inspected. Educating drivers on basic maintenance checks is also essential to help spot potential issues before they escalate.
3. Unsafe Loading & Unloading
Improper loading and unloading is another significant safety concern, particularly in the transportation of bulky or heavy items. Drivers and workers who have to lift heavy objects in unsafe conditions are at a high risk of injury, especially if the ground is uneven or weather conditions are poor. Delivery services involving furniture, appliances, or large packages are particularly vulnerable to this risk.
To mitigate this concern, it's essential to provide your team with proper training on lifting techniques and to supply the necessary equipment, such as dollies or forklifts. Ensuring your staff is adequately trained in safe handling and loading practices will reduce the risk of injury.
4. Distracted Driving
With the rise of smartphones, distracted driving has become a significant issue in the delivery industry. Drivers often have to juggle multiple tasks: navigating using GPS, communicating with dispatch, and occasionally handling customer calls. These distractions can lead to accidents, as drivers may take their attention off the road for even a split second. For food delivery services, this is a particular concern, as drivers are often rushing to meet tight deadlines.
To combat distracted driving, establish clear policies regarding device usage while driving, promote the use of hands-free technology, and foster a safety-first culture. Make sure that your drivers are well-trained in safe driving practices and understand the importance of keeping their focus on the road.
5. Accident & Injury Reporting
Accidents are inevitable, but mishandling how they are reported can lead to serious legal and financial consequences. In the delivery world, a failure to report incidents properly can result in lawsuits, insurance problems, and complications with worker’s compensation. Companies need to establish a clear and effective reporting protocol to ensure that all accidents are documented and addressed quickly.
Promoting a culture of transparency where drivers feel comfortable reporting incidents without fear of judgment is crucial. Implementing an efficient reporting process ensures all incidents are logged correctly, and your company remains compliant with all legal requirements.
6. Preventing False Claims & Ensuring Accountability
When employees work alone, there is often no one around to witness accidents or incidents, which opens the door for potential false claims. Without witnesses or evidence, companies can face situations where employees may exaggerate or fabricate injuries, leading to financial and legal challenges. Preventing this requires clear strategies to ensure accountability and protect both the business and its workforce.
Drivers should be required to report all incidents immediately, no matter how minor they may seem, and provide a detailed account of the situation. This documentation should include timestamps, GPS data, and photographic evidence whenever possible, which helps create a record of events. Additionally, using telematics systems in vehicles can track routes, speeds, and stops, offering another layer of proof that can be invaluable in case of a dispute.
7. Extreme Weather Conditions
Weather can be one of the most unpredictable and dangerous aspects of the delivery industry. Whether it’s icy roads, heavy rain, or extreme heat, poor weather conditions can severely affect a driver’s ability to navigate safely. For services that require long-distance delivery or operate in regions with volatile weather, the risks associated with extreme weather conditions are heightened.
The best way to stay safe in extreme weather is by providing drivers with up-to-date weather information and equipping vehicles with emergency supplies. Ensure that your drivers are prepared for any weather-related challenges they might face on the road.
8. High-Crime Areas
Delivering in high-crime areas can put drivers and their vehicles at significant risk. Whether it’s theft, carjacking, or vandalism, delivery drivers face potential dangers, especially when working in unfamiliar or unsafe neighborhoods. Delivery services operating in urban areas, particularly during late hours or overnight shifts, are more likely to encounter these types of safety concerns.
To mitigate the risk, businesses should implement safety protocols, such as avoiding late-night deliveries, using GPS tracking, or pairing drivers up when making deliveries in high-risk areas.
9. Customer Interactions
Customer interactions can sometimes escalate into safety concerns. Whether it’s an aggressive customer or a miscommunication about delivery details, these situations can quickly turn problematic. For delivery services, especially those interacting with customers face-to-face, the potential for conflict is always present.
To reduce these risks, training employees in conflict de-escalation techniques and customer service protocols is key. Ensure your drivers are equipped to handle difficult situations professionally and safely.
Why Partner with Alloy?
Managing a delivery service is already complicated, and when safety concerns like driver fatigue, potential injury claims, and the risks of working alone are added into the mix, it can feel overwhelming. As an employer, it’s not just about keeping things running smoothly, it’s about navigating a maze of legal and financial risks that can put the entire business in jeopardy. The challenge of ensuring safety, preventing false claims, and maintaining a reliable workforce is daunting, and one mistake can have serious consequences.
That’s Where Alloy Steps In.
Alloy provides expert safety training, proactive injury management, and ongoing support to help companies stay ahead of potential issues. By partnering with Alloy, you ensure your team is prepared to handle the risks of the road, so you can focus on growing your business, not cleaning up costly mistakes.
