Amazon Delivery Stations Explained For Workers

While Fulfillment Centers (FCs) and Sortation Centers (SCs) handle the initial stages of Amazon’s in-house logistics, it's Delivery Stations that ensure orders reach their respective customers.

Think of them as the final checkpoint for all the items that Amazon ships and fulfills itself. Here, packages shipped by Amazon are sorted according to their final destinations, loaded into delivery vehicles, and dispatched for the "last mile" of their journey. The stations are even strategically located close to customers to reduce delivery times.

Each of these hubs typically spans several thousand square feet. Packages are brought into their docking areas by trucks, after which they are forwarded to sorting zones. Amazon DS workers then proceed to group the orders by their delivery routes, before ultimately loading each one into the appropriate delivery vehicle. 

Read on to find out more about all these operations, and where you stand to fit in based on your capabilities and skill level. 

What do Amazon delivery stations do?

In the grand scheme of Amazon's logistics, delivery stations are the bridge between sortation centers and the customer's doorstep. They receive packages from sortation centers – which are responsible for categorizing packages by destination zip codes, after receiving them from fulfillment centers (where products are picked and packed).

At the delivery station, packages of the same postcode are separated and sorted by their final destinations. They are then loaded onto delivery vehicles to reach recipients in the shortest time possible.

They’re not all the same, though. DS’s tend to have different specializations. For instance, SSD (Sub-Same-Day) hubs focus on delivering orders within a four-hour window, XL delivery stations deal in extremely large or heavy items, and Amazon Fresh delivery stations handle perishable goods like groceries.

Certain delivery stations also manage returns. Using barcode scanners and inventory management systems, returned items are checked for quality, repackaged if necessary, and then reintegrated into Amazon's inventory system.

On average, a medium-sized delivery station can process upwards of 50,000 packages daily. This involves scanning, sorting, and loading each package, all within a tight timeframe to meet Amazon’s delivery targets.

That’s not to say that every purchase goes through Amazon DS’s. The stations only service orders channeled through Amazon’s own delivery network. In some cases, purchases will be fulfilled by external carriers like USPS, FedEx, or DHL – most of whom operate their own dedicated warehouses. 

How do Amazon delivery stations work?

Here's a breakdown of the operations within a delivery station:

• Inbound and Offloading: Trucks from sortation centers dock at the Amazon delivery station and unload packages that are already pre-sorted by postal code. Items are unloaded from carts, scanned, and inducted into the system. They are then placed onto conveyor systems that’ll transport them to the sorting area.
• Sorting Process: Packages are scanned, their destination details are cross-referenced with the delivery route database, and associates sort them into their respective bags or shelves for staging and loading into tracks. Advanced algorithms, combined with manual oversight, determine the most efficient grouping and sequence for final delivery.
• Loading and Dispatch: Here, the orders are loaded onto their assigned delivery vehicles. Each package's RFID tag is scanned upon loading, which links the package to a specific delivery vehicle. As the vehicle moves, GPS data is transmitted back to Amazon's servers, allowing both Amazon and customers to track the package's location in real time. 
• Redelivery and Returns Processing: Packages that couldn't be delivered are scanned back into the system, with reasons for non-delivery recorded. They are then rescheduled for another delivery attempt. Returns undergo a quality check, and if in sellable condition, are repackaged and restocked. If not, they are processed accordingly, to be either returned to suppliers or disposed of.

What do you do in an Amazon delivery station?

At the frontline of Amazon’s delivery center operations are its L1 (entry level) associates. These are the individuals you'll find scanning and sorting packages, staging them to be loaded onto delivery vehicles, and following up on the subsequent logistics. The three core positions here are:

• Dock Associates (Inductors, Unloaders, and Waterspiders): As the first point of contact at the delivery station, they unload carts of packages from inbound trucks, scan them into the system, and then place the items onto the conveyor belt to be sorted. These associates maintain a consistent inflow of packages into the system – so, they need to be quick with their hands.
• Package Sorters (Pick-to-Buffer and Stowers): Tasked with sorting packages and organizing them into their respective shelves. The process begins with Pick-to-Buffer associates pulling packages off the conveyor belt. They subsequently place each one onto a buffer shelf adjacent to the stowing aisle listed on the package. Stowers pick up from there and move each package from the buffer shelf to its appropriate tote or shelf. All the associates in these positions should therefore have a good eye for discerning packages, as well as the ability to think critically and establish the ideal shelf for each one.  
• Pickers: From the stowing aisles, pickers move totes full of sorted packages into carts. The carts are then moved into staging locations, from where delivery drivers grab the totes and load them into their trucks before departing the station.

According to Ozy Watson, who’s been on the job for over one-and-a-half years now, the only thing DS associates don’t do is load the packages into trucks. That task is instead, reserved entirely for drivers. The farthest associates can go is maybe hand over some of the packages to the drivers. You won’t otherwise see them loading items or boarding trucks. 

Managerial positions

Moving up the hierarchy, there are managerial roles tasked with overseeing those T1 operations. Examples include:

• Process Assistants: They manage the shift's operations, address arising issues, and coordinate with warehouse associates and delivery drivers to keep package arrivals and departures on track. As such, you’ll need strong leadership and problem-solving skills to fit into the role.
• Area Managers: Their job is to oversee specific sections of the delivery station, such as sorting or loading. They are responsible for implementing the  performance targets set by Operations Managers, managing staff, and optimizing team collaboration. The role therefore requires a blend of managerial skills and a deep understanding of logistics operations.
• Operations Managers: OMs have the highest level of responsibility within the delivery station. They must oversee all operations, maintain compliance with safety standards, set performance targets, liaise with Amazon’s corporate management team, and make strategic decisions to improve efficiency. To manage all that, you need extensive experience in logistics, strong leadership abilities, excellent interpersonal skills, and a strategic mindset.

After working at the T1 level for a year, Shane Lynch reports that Operations Managers rarely interact with his position. “You’ll only exchange a casual hello when you pass each other or occasionally during morning prework stretches,” he clarifies. “If they ever need to address T1s,  OMs usually channel everything through Area Managers and Process Assistants.”

Supporting roles

Not everyone participates directly in package processing. Amazon delivery stations additionally feature supplementary supporting roles such as::

• Problem Solvers: These are detectives of the delivery station. They investigate and resolve any issues that arise with packages – such as incorrect labels or damaged goods. The job requires analytical thinking, a deep understanding of the inner workings of the delivery station, and a willingness to get hands-on with leaking, damaged, and hazmat packages. . “It’s often a dirty job because of handling all the leaking packages, ” emphasizes Shane. 

• Safety: Workers here are tasked with upholding safety standards within the delivery station. They thus conduct regular inspections, provide safety training to staff, and respond to any incidents that occur. That means you must have a strong knowledge of safety protocols to take up the role. 

Whatever role you start in, Amazon offers a variety of pathways for career growth within the delivery station. Employees are encouraged to take on new challenges, learn new skills, and pursue promotions. You also get multiple training and development opportunities for continuous learning. 

Comparisons with other Amazon facility types

Amazon's intricate logistics network consists of various facilities, each dedicated to different operations. You could choose to work in a Sortation Center (SC), Delivery Station, or Fulfillment Center (FC).

Delivery stations vs. sortation centers

Amazon sortation centers primarily sort packages by destination postcodes once they depart from fulfillment centers. Within these centers, conveyor belts move packages, which are then scanned and directed to specific chutes or bins based on their destined delivery stations.

In simpler terms, SCs serve as the intermediary between FCs and DSs. Employees here need expertise in operating sorting machinery, addressing errors, and geographical analysis.

Conversely, delivery stations focus on the final leg of the package's journey. The emphasis shifts from broad geographical sorting to organizing packages granularly for their delivery routes. 

Delivery stations vs. fulfillment centers

Amazon fulfillment centers (FCs) are large warehouses where customer orders begin their journey. They feature advanced robotics and inventory management systems that can store, pick, and pack millions of items. This of course complicates matters way more than in a DS, as you’ll be managing deliveries across a vast inventory.

Unlike FCs, DSs do not store inventory. Rather, the focus is solely on the prompt delivery of packages to customers. That means you stand to get hired if you have the technical skills for managing last-mile logistics.

If you’re looking for more job opportunity diversity, though, fulfillment centers would be a better bet. Their expansive operations demand a more diverse range of skills. You could get hired as a picker to select items from shelves, a packer to prepare orders for shipment, an inventory manager to oversee product stocking, or maybe a quality control associate to check for accuracy.  

Where are Amazon delivery stations located?

Amazon has over 600 delivery stations spread out across the U.S. Here are some example warehouse locations across some of the states:

California (CA)

• DAV1: 1 Shields Ave, Room 182, Davis, CA, USA 95616-8662
• DAX3: 20730 Prairie St, Charsworth, CA, USA 91311-6010
• DAX7: 9350 Rayo Ave, South Gate, CA, USA 90280
• DAX8: 500 W Technology Dr, Palmdale, CA, USA 93551-3748
• DCA2 FC: 5250 Goodman Way, Eastvale, CA, USA 91752-5088
• DCX1: 7227 Central Ave, Riverside, CA, USA 92504
• DCX2: 25725 Jeronimo Rd., Mission Viejo, CA, USA 92691
• DCX5: 970 McLaughlin Ave, San Jose, CA, USA 95122-2611
• DCX7: 950 Francisco St, Torrance, CA, USA 90502
• DCX8: 1256 N Magnolia Ave., Anaheim, CA, USA 92801
• DDO6: 2751 Skypark Dr, Torrance, CA, USA 90505-5351
• DFO1: 22801 8th St E, Sonoma, CA, USA 95476
• DFO2: 4000 Wilbur Ave, Oakley, CA, USA 94561
• DFO3: 400 Longfellow Court, Livermore, CA, USA 94550
• DFS8: 2995 Atlas Rd., Richmond, CA, USA 94806
• DLA1: 900 W Florence Ave., Inglewood, CA, USA 90301
• DLA2: 5650 Dolly Ave., Buena Park, CA, USA 90621
• DLA3: 5829 Smithway St., Commerce, CA, USA 90040
• DLA4: 9031 Lurline Ave., Chatsworth, CA, USA 91311
• DLA5: 6250 Sycamore Canyon Blvd., Riverside, CA, USA 92507-0771
• DLA8: 2815 W. El Segundo Blvd., Hawthorne, CA, USA 90250
• DFA5: 400 Littlefield Ave., #438, South San Francisco, CA, USA 94080
• DFO3: 400 Longfellow Court, Livermore, CA, USA 94550
• DFS8: 2995 Atlas Rd., Richmond, CA, USA 94806
• DXC5: 44109 Pacific Commons Blvd, Fremont, CA, USA 94538
• DXC8: 1710 Little Orchard St, San Jose, CA, USA 95125
• DLX8: 515 E Dyer Rd, Santa Ana, CA, USA 92707
• DLX9: 5750 Mesmer Ave, Culver City, CA, USA 90230
• DSD1: 7130 Miramar Rd. 300A, San Diego, CA, USA 92121
• DSD2: 2777 Loker Ave W., Carlsbad, CA, USA 92010
• DSD5: 3250 Business Park Dr, Vista, CA, USA 92081
• DSD8: 14400 Kirkham Way, #1450, Poway, CA, USA 92064
• DSF1: 990 Beecher St., San Leandro, CA, USA 94577
• DSF3: 1700 Montague Expy., San Jose, CA, USA 95131
• DSF5: 250 Utah Avenue, South San Francisco, CA, USA 94080
• DSF6: 6015 Giant Road, Richmond, CA, USA 94080
• DSF7: 807 N McCarthy Blvd., Milpitas, CA, USA 95035
• DSF8: 2995 Atlas Rd, Richmond, CA, USA 94806-1167
• DSJ7: 615 North King Rd, San Jose, CA, USA 95133
• DSR2: 7601 Foothills Blvd, Roseville, CA, USA 95747
• DSR4: 9051 Union Park Way, Elk Grove, CA, USA 95624
• DSR6: 2400 McClellan Park Dr, Sacramento, CA, USA 95838
• DUR1: 2995 N Hollywood Way, Burbank, CA, USA 91505

Colorado (CO)

• DDV2: 900 E 128th Ave, Thornton, CO, USA 80241
• DDV5 FC: 2889 Himalaya Rd, Aurora, CO, USA 80011
• DEN1: 189 W 144th Ave, Thornton, CO, USA 80023
• DEN2 FC: 22205 E. 19th Ave., Aurora, CO, USA 80019-3710
• DEN3 FC: 14601 Grant St., Thornton, CO, USA 80023-6622
• DEN4: 4222 Integration Loop, Colorado Springs, CO, USA 80916
• DEN5 SC: 19799 E 36th Ave., Aurora, CO, USA 80011-8189
• DEN6 FC: 480 E. 55th St., Denver, CO, USA 80216
• DEN7: 22300 E 26th Ave, Aurora, CO, USA 80019
• DEN8: 20500 E Colfax Ave, Aurora, CO, USA 80018

Connecticut (CT)

• DBL8: 8 Old Sherman Turnpike, #24, Danbury, CT, USA 6810
• DCY9: 48 Boston Post Rd, Orange, CT, USA 6477
• DOB2: 425 S. Cherry St, Wallingford, CT, USA 6492
• DOB4: 500 Long Beach Blvd, Stratford, CT, USA 6615
• DYO5: 7120 Main St, Trumbull, CT, USA 06611-6315

Florida (FL)

• DFL3: 2121 NW 67th Pl, Gainesville, FL, USA 32653
• DFL4: 4401 Seaboard Rd, Orlando, FL, USA 32808
• DFL7: 8100 FL-33, Lakeland, FL, USA 33809
• DFM3: 770 Commerce Dr, Venice, FL, USA 34292
• DJA1: 11084 Cabot Commerce Circle, Jacksonville, FL, USA 32226
• DJX2: 4645 Blanding Blvd, Jacksonville, FL, USA 32210-7324
• DJX3: 250 Busch Dr, Jacksonville, FL, USA 32218
• DM01: Delivery Station for Orlando area, Tangelo Park, Orlando, FL, USA 32189
• DM11: 15600 NW 15th Ave, Miami Gardens, FL, USA 33169
• DMF1: 1303 Ridgeview Dr, Lewisville, TX, USA 75057
• DMF3: 2800 N Andrews Ave Ext, Pompano Beach, FL, USA 33064
• DMF5: 13450 NW 14th St, Miami, FL, USA 33182-1418
• DMF8: 13133 34th St. N, Clearwater, FL, USA 33762
• DPP7: 3750 State Rd, Bensalem, PA, USA 19020-5903
• DTP7: 28415 Automation Blvd, Wixom, MI, USA 48393
• DTP7: 1003 N Taylor Rd, Seffner, FL, USA 33584

Going by this dense distribution per state, you can be certain that there will always be multiple delivery stations within or around your location. 

Start working

With Amazon's ever-expanding network, delivery stations are continually seeking dedicated individuals to contribute to the success of a company that's shaping the future of online shopping. Apply now to join the team.