Appreciation boosts morale and builds resilience. When I thank my delivery driver, his attitude towards the following delivery changes.
Showing appreciation to delivery drivers is a great way to acknowledge their hard work and dedication. Especially during the peak season when many have to work extra hours. Amazon encourages customers to thank their Amazon drivers, especially during Christmas.
Companies like Mai Creative Studio even take appreciation one step further by selling a professionally designed thank you plaque.
Amazon customers also use the “Alexa, thank my driver” feature to show their appreciation to drivers.
The feature is available to US customers with an Alexa-enabled device, the Alexa app, or on Amazon.com or in the Amazon mobile shopping app.
Thanking drivers through Alexa can lead to them receiving extra cash as part of Amazon’s appreciation efforts.
How to Use the ‘Thank My Driver’ Feature
Here are easy steps to follow to show delivery drivers’ appreciation conveniently.
- Say, “Alexa, thank my driver,” or search “thank my driver” on Amazon.com.
- Use the Amazon shopping or Amazon Alexa app on your smartphone to ask Alexa to thank the driver.
- Click the yellow button on a specific Amazon web page (for those without an Echo device.)
Six Ways You Can Thank Your Delivery Driver
Making delivery drivers’ work easy and pleasant is as simple as these few steps. It’s about being prompt to receive deliveries to avoid delaying their day even longer.
Give clear instructions to a delivery driver about where a parcel must be left. Providing specific instructions for it to be left inside your property can also help ensure the gate is open.
1. Leave Clear Delivery Instructions
Make sure your delivery instructions are precise and easy to follow. If the address is tricky to find in a remote area or the street name or number is not visible, it can prolong the delivery time.
It can also lead to a failed delivery in some extreme cases. Leaving clear delivery instructions can reduce driver stress.
2. Provide a Safe Drop-Off Spot
Ensure the spot where the parcel must be dropped off is safe. If you have pets, ensure they won’t break free and chase the delivery driver.
In Australia, postal services are warning about the alarming rate of postal workers being attacked by dogs while on the job. In 2023, about 5,800 US Postal Service officers experienced an incident involving dogs.
3. Be Prompt in Receiving Deliveries
Ensure you have all the keys to open the gates to avoid delaying the delivery driver. Be home during the delivery window to avoid multiple delivery attempts.
4. Personal Note or Gesture
Leaving a personal note, a gesture like a high five, or a positive attitude when a driver delivers your parcel can boost their morale and help get them through the day.
Words of affirmation can help the next customer have a pleasant delivery experience.
5. Tips and Rating Delivery Drivers
If tipping is an option, it will help a driver who works long hours and gets basic pay. But the question then pops up: How much must you tip? Many say 10%, others say 20%, especially when it’s a food delivery.
Giving your delivery driver a good rating on the delivery app helps the driver and the business improve its service and offers drivers additional training where necessary.
If you are a business and want to learn how to enable driver ratings, read here: Delivery driver rating software.
6. Leaving Baskets and Snacks
Many people leave snacks and refreshments on their porches as a token of gratitude.
An iced bottle of water during a heatwave, energy drinks, snacks on a long public holiday, or some essentials that can help a driver get through the long day can go a long way.
Some people even give regular delivery drivers a gift card to spend at a coffee shop or to buy necessities for Christmas.
NOW READ: How retail delivery works: Everything you want to know
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About the author
Mia is a multi-award-winning journalist. She has more than 14 years of experience in mainstream media. She's covered many historic moments that happened in Africa and internationally. She has a strong focus on human interest stories, to bring her readers and viewers closer to the topics at hand.
