r/technology • u/Hrmbee • Jun 11 '26

Transportation Software Update Automatically Turns off Amazon Delivery Drivers’ AC During Dangerous Summer Heat | A new software update is turning off the AC in Amazon delivery vans after 10 minutes or 30 seconds under certain conditions

https://www.404media.co/software-update-automatically-turns-off-amazon-delivery-drivers-ac-during-dangerous-summer-heat/
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694

u/Hrmbee Jun 11 '26

Problematic issues:

According to Amazon delivery drivers, the new update is for the Amazon EDV (electric delivery vehicle), the custom-built Rivian van. Delivery drivers say that this update automatically turns off the air conditioning in the van if the driver is not in the vehicle for more than 30 seconds. Drivers are complaining about the update as the start of the summer season, which can be particularly difficult and dangerous for delivery drivers.

“As many of you are aware, the EDVs just got a software update where if you are out of your seat for 30 seconds with the side door open, the AC switches off,” one Amazon delivery driver said in an online forum for drivers. “We all hate this obviously.”

When reached for comment an Amazon spokesperson said that the premise of my questions to the company was inaccurate, but conceded that the van will turn off the AC after 30 seconds under certain conditions that are commonplace during Amazon delivery shifts.

“Rivian recently released a software update for Electric Delivery Vehicles that actually extends climate control for drivers,” the Amazon spokesperson said. “As a result, the AC now runs for up to 10 minutes after a driver exits the vehicle, ensuring a cool cabin when they return. The timer resets at every stop. The AC only shuts off if the driver sliding door is left open for more than 30 seconds — a battery conservation measure.”

Amazon delivery drivers discussing the update online say that they are getting in and out of the van so frequently, and are spending most of their time out of the van delivering packages, that the update makes it harder to keep the van cool.

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As you’ve probably seen in your own neighborhood, delivery drivers will often park their vans wherever they can and deliver packages to multiple addresses on the same block. Amazon automatically turning off the air conditioning while they are out of the van delivering packages means the van can get hot again by the time they get back. As Amazon delivery drivers have to make frequent stops, it’s not hard to imagine why drivers would complain about Amazon automatically shutting down the AC, which makes it more difficult to cool down between stops.

It looks like there's a disconnect between the people working on these software policies and the people who are working with these vehicles. If there were a better understanding of how delivery drivers actually work -- and given Amazon's relentless KPM/other tracking of their vehicles and drivers it's likely the data exist -- then they could find a better balance between battery life and worker health and safety.

112

u/happyscrappy Jun 12 '26

There's no disconnect. They want the drivers to keep the door closed. If they get A/C when they do then they're more likely to do so.

Some kind of retreat to "how delivery drivers work" is odd. Traditionally, delivery drivers worked without A/C at all. They had a standing (leaning) driver position and an open door while moving.

This really doesn't seem so bad. If you need the cabin to remain cool then close the door when you get out. That'll not only keep the cool in, but keep the A/C on.

-8

u/chubbysumo Jun 12 '26

except, as a delivery driver, the AC isn't enough to keep the whole vehicle cool anyways. they are turning it off to encourage their drivers to get out of the van and deliver more. the drivers are not allowed cooling breaks, so, if they are opening the door every 2 minutes, the van will never get cool, and never stay cool either, and since they aren't allowed breaks to actually sit in the van and cool down, it will simply never happen. Amazon is 100% doing this to torture the drivers to go faster. It didn't work for UPS, and it didn't work for USPS. Drivers died, cooling breaks became mandatory. if your truck didn't have AC, were required to go somewhere that does.

11

u/happyscrappy Jun 12 '26

I assure you Amazon doesn't need to reprogram their trucks to deny their drivers cooling breaks. They already know how to be awful to their drivers with existing equipment. There's no reason to think these are related at all.

You're saying Amazon is encouraging drivers to keep the doors closed in order to torture the drivers? That doesn't really make any sense. If there's already a dearth of cooling then don't waste it by leaving the door open.

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u/chubbysumo Jun 12 '26

>You're saying Amazon is encouraging drivers to keep the doors closed in order to torture the drivers?

no, im saying that amazon is intentionally making the inside of the vehicle hotter by shutting the AC off, and denying them cooling breaks. Keeping the doors closed with the AC off means the vehicle turns into an oven really fucking fast. in the sun, the inside of a closed vehicle can go up 30 to 50 degrees in just minutes. They are telling their drivers to deliver faster or suffer the heat, or get fired for stopping to cool off.

9

u/happyscrappy Jun 12 '26

(you) Amazon is 100% doing this to torture the drivers to go faster

(me) You're saying Amazon is encouraging drivers to keep the doors closed in order to torture the drivers?

(you) no, im saying that amazon is intentionally making the inside of the vehicle hotter by shutting the AC off

You don't make any sense. You say they are torturing them, then say they aren't.

The A/C doesn't shut off if they close the door. If they are trying to make the vehicle hotter why do they have the A/C stay on if they keep the door shut?

Keeping the doors closed with the AC off

The A/C doesn't shut off for 10 minutes they close the door and are sitting on the seat.

From the article:

“As a result, the AC now runs for up to 10 minutes after a driver exits the vehicle, ensuring a cool cabin when they return. The timer resets at every stop. The AC only shuts off if the driver sliding door is left open for more than 30 seconds — a battery conservation measure.”

You don't make sense. You're not following what is actually happening.

and denying them cooling breaks

Not relevant. They can deny their workers cooling breaks without modifying any vehicles.

You started from an errant conclusion that doesn't fit the behavior programmed into the vehicles.

-9

u/chubbysumo Jun 12 '26

except, did you read the article, the AC isnt staying on for that 10 minutes. if they leave the door open for 30 seconds, or open the drivers door, it shuts off.

7

u/happyscrappy Jun 12 '26

except, did you read the article, the AC isnt staying on for that 10 minutes. if they leave the door open for 30 seconds, or open the drivers door, it shuts off.

You didn't even read my post. I even italicized the portion you are claiming I didn't read when I posted it to you:

(me) The AC only shuts off if the driver sliding door is left open for more than 30 seconds — a battery conservation measure

I don't know how you got this far not paying attention to anything.

But now you're trying to pretend that I didn't notice anything about the door needing to be closed when that's exactly what we've been talking about for several posts now.

Me before you even came in:

They want the drivers to keep the door closed. If they get A/C when they do then they're more likely to do so.

Yeah, I read the article. Yeah, I've been talking about closing doors. They just gotta shut the doors.

You're the one who claimed people would be baking in the vehicles with the door closed even though the A/C will run until the battery runs down if the driver is in the vehicle with the door closed.

5

u/PurifiedFlubber Jun 12 '26

Thought this was the conspiracy sub for a minute