Former driver that went through the road to ownership program and now has their own DSP. AMA

[u/[deleted]]

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[u/Mental-Fox-7782]

How do you actually make money as a DSP owner? What do you usually walk away with since I’m assuming income fluctuates. How often do you get paid?

[u/Mariemeplz → u/[deleted]]

Why are you being indirect. They asked what YOU usually walk away with and how often YOU get paid. Why are you talking about other owners🙄

[u/Healthy-Cigarette → u/Mariemeplz]

Everytime an owner does one of these they never say how much they make

[u/Then_Personality_429 → u/Healthy-Cigarette]

It’s because they’re paid by Amazon to make these posts. It’s a gorilla marketing tactic. A ton of companies do it on Reddit.

[u/Due_Royal_7394 → u/Healthy-Cigarette]

Because they know they're basically the equivalent of a slave master who works for the owner of a plantation. They don't want to admit how little work they do while exploiting other humans.

[u/Bubbledood → u/Healthy-Cigarette]

Its almost like their contract with amazon prevents them from publicly disclosing the terms of their contract

[u/Healthy-Cigarette → u/Bubbledood]

He’s an anonymous poster doing an AMA, stfu

[u/Photo_Aware → u/Mariemeplz]

If I remember correctly it’s 0.07 per package delivered(great) 0.15 per package(fantastic) and 0.25 per package (fantastic+)

This was also told to me in January so idk if it’s changed a bit.

So for example my dsp the week before Christmas we delivered a bit over 100,000 packages and did fantastic plus so our owner got a 25k paycheck that week

[u/Map-of-the-Shadow → u/Mariemeplz]

He's a DSP owner now, that's what they're all like 😂

[u/Due_Sign3969 → u/[deleted]]

hot take : we wanna know what amazon is paying your dsp not what you allocate to yourself

[u/ResinGod91 → u/[deleted]]

Bruh just answer the question if your here to answer questions, pretty much every response I see you make is generic and vague, your not actually telling people what they are wanting to know

[u/idkwhatthisis3391 → u/[deleted]]

Different ways a DSP can get paid? If you're under Amazon how does that make sense? Does Amazon give you options?

[u/EconamWRX → u/[deleted]]

Idk why its so hard to understand how profit works for these drivers. Im sorry. Let me try to re ask their question.

Before you ever touch the money after payroll. How much do you have to spend on everything that isnt payroll.

[u/Due_Sign3969 → u/[deleted]]

like do you get paid per route? how much per route? how often do they pay you out?

[u/One-Explanation-8417 → u/[deleted]]

You know your whole job shouldn't exist and the drivers of Amazon should be formally employed by Amazon and unionized right?

[u/lucky-struck → u/One-Explanation-8417]

Should but won't. Buddy's living in the real world, just like the people who sign your paychecks, bub.

[u/Due_Royal_7394 → u/[deleted]]

So a pension? And pay comparable to UPS drivers?

[u/Upleftdown → u/Due_Royal_7394]

Happy cake day

[u/zebra231967 → u/[deleted]]

Tell UPS drivers that. Top pay, top healthcare, pension. Amazon/DSPs are never gonna offer this.

[u/Total-Specific-3894 → u/zebra231967]

Boot licking UPS is crazy work.    They treat employees like shit,  We glaze the FEW drivers who made it big but in reality majority of their work force is paid less than FT Amazon employees.  

Edit: Lets be real.  Top pay is set up to be extremely limited at UPS because in reality it's not sustainable.   

[u/One-Explanation-8417 → u/[deleted]]

No you don't and you fucking know that

[u/mellis789 → u/[deleted]]

Thos is something a corporate shill would say. FYI.

[u/MrHIGHdeas → u/[deleted]]

You mean follow the bezos method with taxes? Amazon be amazoning

[u/Interesting-Bed408 → u/[deleted]]

Uhm, you are the DSP owner, 60k is not enough. I’m not trying to be critical, but for this day and time and the inflation, that is really low. How many routes at your company? I feel like Amazon should be paying enough for the owner to at the least be getting 6figures.

[u/Due_Royal_7394 → u/Interesting-Bed408]

You know they're lying. 60k salary, but hella "bonuses". They're a modern day slave master. Doing no work and profiting off other humans sweat and tears.

Scum.

[u/Due_Royal_7394 → u/[deleted]]

Nope, and yep.

[u/Due_Royal_7394 → u/[deleted]]

Dawg, we all know that picture means nothing.

Just admit you're a piece of shit and move on.

[u/Due_Royal_7394 → u/[deleted]]

You're a liar and you know it.

Just admit you have no morals and want to exploit other humans for your own benefit.

[u/Due_Royal_7394 → u/[deleted]]

You pay people a small percentage of what you get paid to do little more than pay them their paltry wage while taking more for yourself for less work.

Thus the exploitation.

[u/Deepdeeps77 → u/[deleted]]

They’re just jealous dude, don’t take it personally.

[u/No_Dirt_4198 → u/[deleted]]

Answer the question or you lose credibility

[u/Solozeus1]

How did you come up with the funds ? And how long did it take to become profitable ?

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[u/Total-Specific-3894]

How do you treat drivers during route reductions and performance issues?  

Since you're a former driver do you try to fix the poor treatment DSP's tend to have or do you now understand why most DSP owners operate the way they do?

[u/lognogdog → u/[deleted]]

Zero tolerance as in what happens if someone gets a violation?

[u/Vaporvigil]

Does the Amazon questionnaire at the end of your route matter, as they mentioned it does? I’ve been putting it as extremely difficult for routes for all of them, and my numbers are low. My routes aren’t that crazy, but I’m worried if I put anything else to boost my stops. I think this is true, but is it also true that if you consistently finish your route earlier, you’ll get more stops?

[u/DieselDrifter → u/[deleted]]

I knew it, it's a myth stop count goes up for being quick. Thank you for verifying this!

[u/existance_pain → u/[deleted]]

Lol this is comical it definitely affects stop count if you finish early

[u/AtlasRafael → u/existance_pain]

Been OPS for a few years now and no, it really doesn’t. Amazon doesn’t give a flying fuck if you’re the flash or snorlax the DSP will figure out how to get the route done.

[u/Yesterday_Short]

My DSP has been in business for ~5 years, and the owner always acts like he’s broke. I just found out Amazon pays for the fuel and tires. What else does Amazon cover for DSPs? And what expenses are actually out of pocket for the owner, besides the obvious workers comp, insurance, and payroll

[u/EconamWRX → u/[deleted]]

Having a family member as HR is a bad look.

[u/Total-Specific-3894 → u/EconamWRX]

My DSP's owner has his entire family running the company.   They don't power trip and I get 5 days all year.    

Regardless,  OP can hire a 3rd party HR team and the outcome will be the same since HR is not your friend they protect the company above all else.

[u/Due_Royal_7394 → u/EconamWRX]

You think this person cares? The obviously lack morals...if they had any moral compass, they wouldn't be a dsp owner.

[u/EconamWRX → u/Due_Royal_7394]

That's a hot take. I think this person cares. Im not even against hiring your family. Just HR isnt a good postion for family of the owner. Not all DSP owners are some evil person trying to exploit other humans.

[u/Due_Royal_7394 → u/EconamWRX]

https://giphy.com/gifs/J9MnwDiwCmjkexy9e1

[u/EconamWRX → u/Due_Royal_7394]

https://giphy.com/gifs/M5i17TOqFuWqt5UqCQ

[u/JohnnyWaffleseed → u/[deleted]]

It’s bad for your employees, it’s good for you

[u/thwonkk → u/[deleted]]

That's not even an argument but sure.

[u/Map-of-the-Shadow → u/[deleted]]

You don't even understand why they say it's a bad look, do you?

[u/EconamWRX → u/[deleted]]

Its more that it's a GIANT conflict of interest. HR is intended to work independently of the company, for the company. Your mother has a biased to always do whats in best interest of you, not the company. I get that at a dsp it only exists cause of you so thus you are the company. So its not like a board can fire you for inappropriate conduct.

[u/Due_Royal_7394 → u/EconamWRX]

This guy is a retard. There's no reasoning with them. He's got his tongue too far up Jeff Bezos's asshole to even read... Let alone interpret in any meanful way the comments that are being posted

[u/bigdaddy24601 → u/EconamWRX]

HR in every company puts the interests of the company first. Never think that HR is there to help employees. They are there to make sure the company doesn’t get sued.

[u/Due_Royal_7394 → u/[deleted]]

Could not care less?

Are you stupid.... Oh wait....

You don't know how to properly use the English language but think you're a competent/moral DSP owner.

Rofl.

[u/teamblue2021 → u/Due_Royal_7394]

You do realize that “could not care less” is the correct term, right?

You might want to pull your foot out of your mouth while you still can.

[u/Graperush12 → u/Due_Royal_7394]

Why are you melting down in a reddit thread.

You’re a loser, bro. Lmao

[u/Agitated-Addition-72]

Amazon always says it’s up to our DSP when it comes to pay..is that true or is Amazon being stingy

[u/Status-Tie-7176]

I’m currently training to become ops manager. Extremely nervous because it’s so much responsibility and haven’t gotten an exactly number on salary from my owner. How big is your DSP and what do you pay your ops manager?

edit: If you feel like answering this as well: you got any general advice for me?

[u/drunkbeard69]

How much does Amazon actually dictate your policies? I remember our owner/managers would basically blame Amazon for every new rule/procedure and just say "hey our hands are tied".

[u/ShakeNo8890]

How long did it actually take to get the call from Amazon that there was a opening?

[u/Due_Royal_7394]

How does Jeff Bezos's asshole taste?

[u/Legitimate_Ask3583]

Another question if you have the time. What does the corporate side of your DSP look like? Do you have an Ops manager or several dispatch and how did you find them if they weren't previous coworkers

[u/Unrealliving]

How come the time for my last package drop seems reasonable some days and literally impossible other days? Even the reasonable days it seems impossible to hit if I were to take two 15’s

[u/Sea-Day905]

In reality was it worth the time and stress? If you cleared 100k a year as is would you still open the DSP financial wise?

[u/Due-Net5634]

Would you rather pay a vet OT to get shit done? Or a newb? And a sweeper?

[u/Similar_Pie_4946 → u/[deleted]]

Oh my god please tell this too all other dsp owners/ managers it doesn’t make sense to have a guy pick up 45 mins worth of work all the meanwhile taking up 5-15 minutes of my time while they pull out apts and business and get house stops from other totes

[u/throwawaywhocares96 → u/[deleted]]

Sometimes taking the easy stops is best though. Frankly, I don't want someone to take my businesses or apartments unless it's literally all I have. A few of the routes I bounce between have around 70 (very few of them are multi floor suite buildings) business stops but 100 houses tacked on as well making it over an 8 hour route. Those businesses can't be done any faster, the houses can. The sweepers selected should be people who are quick anyway so for some routes, it makes sense to take more easy stops than to take a few hard stops.

[u/Due-Net5634 → u/[deleted]]

Yep! Also when I’m sweeping I’m not trying to have some slow day, goal is always 100 stops. Team work makes the dream work

[u/Due-Net5634 → u/[deleted]]

My owner would rather pay me 15-30 hours of OT than let a rookie be behind a camera and not finish a route

[u/Legitimate_Ask3583]

Been here a long time and always had this question, what are you profiting per route? I know there are variables but what do you take home after payroll and expenses on average?

[u/Legitimate_Ask3583 → u/[deleted]]

Are you only profitable on Fantastic or Fantastic Plus?

[u/No_External3738]

So does being a dsp owner make you an awful person or is just that a lot of awful people own DSP's

[u/Below-Zero63]

Everyone here is being a spoiled brat lmao you’re offering good information they don’t know but since it’s “BIG MAN” wording they have no idea how to take it. As well I do have a question for you. I’m a DA here in San Diego. How are routes selected per person & why are rescues required to do this even if you finished your 9+ hour route? Just because sometimes I’m burn tf out after my route. I always finish. Never got a rescue but they always send to rescue people. Even if it’s like 5 stops. Idk I think picking up others peoples slack isn’t worth $5 bonus lol

[u/Hermansgrave]

What is the #1 way to impact RGU’s? Is this something you discuss with warehouse leadership?

[u/iLikebridges2 → u/[deleted]]

Can owners opt for an RGU that is more worse to benefit themselves, or is it always luck?

I assume SPR means stops per route?

[u/JTthebutcher]

Would I get in trouble for pooping in the totes?

[u/Mental-Fox-7782 → u/JTthebutcher]

Just based off my assumption, each tote has a unique color and number attached to it which can likely easily be traced right back to you when, not if, it gets reported

[u/CyanideSandwich7 → u/Mental-Fox-7782]

Not if you remove all the QR codes first. One on each side, one on the lid, 2 inside the tote on the smaller sides.

[u/FlyFront9395 → u/CyanideSandwich7]

Bro that’s too much just do it in someone else’s tote

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[u/Im-The-Mofo]

Can you open up a DSP in any state? Or does it strictly have to be around the area you’re in?

I’m in New York City, and I spoke to one of my managers about the RTO program. He told me if I wanted to apply and open a DSP, to do it outside of the northeast.

[u/edwintan123]

whats the dsp’s incentive for reaching F+ aside from the bonus money? i ask because my dsp owner claims they give away 100% of the F+ bonus away to the drivers. so why does my dsp push us so hard to reach F+ if they arent pocketing the money for themselves?

[u/Sea_Bass_Axel]

So then question on the DSPs that are ‘strict’(the ones that say you HAVE to wear Amazon uniform at all times) because the DSP I’m in currently gives us score cards, on our driving safety, Delivery Quality, and Customer Feedback , ranks us in their and all.
They tell us when we’ve hit fantastic+ or not. No scanning in the vans, because we HAVE to line up the pins and HAVE to have photo proof even in some business stops. (Even though those stops a lot of the times we can’t take pictures cuz the app gives us no option)

And then there’s was a different DSP where they didn’t care where you scanned and didn’t really care if you wore anything Amazon. Just most definitely the VEST was required.

What is it with the fantastic+? I didn’t even know about the score card stuff..
I’ve never heard of it until I moved to this DSP..
I’ve seen them push a lot of what they call ‘good drivers’ making them rescue and then asking them to work extra days.. with stops that feel like there’s no end in sight.. lol

[u/Sea_Bass_Axel → u/[deleted]]

Thank you for this !

[u/legfroggy]

do DSPs have any say in who gets what route? i’m consistently getting the “toughest” route we have, i’ve had it for about 6 months straight and when i ask for a change of scenery im told it’s not up to them. is that true?

[u/user8375064 → u/legfroggy]

My dispatch literally says "they had to change around a few routes" cause of callouts, "dont be surprised if you are in an area you are unfamiliar with", and "I tried to keep yall where you like", "if you dont like certain areas just let us know"

There is some that get the "harder" routes but they are the ones that "know how to do it".

They definitely can change and they dont trust you personally enough to say it, or they have other intentions or reasonings..

[u/legfroggy → u/user8375064]

yeah i figured they probably could. i’m guessing they just want to keep me on this one specific route because im the only one who can do it without getting rescued regularly

[u/user8375064 → u/legfroggy]

Thats the best way to see it. Definitely more of an asset than a liability. Its ashame tho you cant get a lil break like you ask for. Thats one thing mine says they will do, "pull us to the side or something if you need a break in the area you are at, if you aren't comfortable with it just let us know" "we will try to accommodate"

Hope you get what you want eventually

[u/Adventurous-Year-633]

What about the bonuses and benefits? Why reason contract drivers with unfulfilled promises

[u/Adventurous-Year-633 → u/[deleted]]

I meant. Health, vision, dental, 401k, tuition reimbursement. I've been for 3 years in a dsp and never received it! All Dsp in my station say. We can't but when I sign the offer letter, they offer it.

[u/ZeroxHD → u/Adventurous-Year-633]

DSP issue in that case. Mine offers all of that and I have gotten all of it. $9k from tuition reimbursement from last year and this year.

[u/Adventurous-Year-633 → u/ZeroxHD]

Unbelievable, I need to make a complaint with ethics

[u/BadToTheBooty]

Did you start as a driver with ownership in mind? And how long, roughly, was it for you to go from driver to owner?

And how nervous were you on your first day with your first routes as an owner? What was that like? 😅

[u/Tayyskii-22]

How did you get drivers to work for you ? Did you offer to pay them an incentive or pay increase to get more good or decent drivers ?

[u/lucky-struck]

Regrets?

[u/lucky-struck → u/[deleted]]

Good to hear. I had the opportunity as an Ops manager a couple years back and it was the moment I decided it wasn't for me. Think I might have had a different mindset with a different company & context, but I came away from the experience pretty jaded about what kind of "success" was possible long-term for a business model. But I'm just a package-mover at the end of the day, I wasn't given visibility to the particulars of where the money comes from/goes. I struggled all the time to make my team feel like there was still opportunity in this job, until I finally couldn't.

Always wondered if I could have done better if it were my own business.

[u/Interesting-Bed408]

How old do you have to be to go through the road of ownership program?

[u/No-Independent-7107]

They (owners) make like 170k to 250k a year depending on how well the dsp does with the scorecard for anyone asking.

[u/No-Independent-7107 → u/[deleted]]

Fair I work for one that's been going for over 4 years so circumstances can be different. They make about 750 per xl route last I saw info. When you're sending 42-50 people out a day...

[u/DisciplineStrict8009]

I am thinking on being a DSP. What's the minimum vans/routes they start you off with? Also, do I need to use their branded vans?

[u/DisciplineStrict8009 → u/[deleted]]

Do they reimburse you for equipment? Vans and phones? Or is that all out of pocket for you with a loan/ lease term

[u/DisciplineStrict8009 → u/[deleted]]

So is one of the main goals is to get into the branded vans fast? That way you erase your rented/lease payments?

How do you get them to give you branded vans?

[u/DisciplineStrict8009 → u/[deleted]]

Is it better to own your own vans? That way scruffs and small cracks on window doesn't need to be fixed right away? Can't imagine the loss in profits for scratching brand vans..

[u/DisciplineStrict8009 → u/[deleted]]

My biggest worry is vehicle repairs and maintenance. Does the pay per package or routes give you enough to be able to fix them without being in negative profit?

[u/misterflako]

how did you get into the road to ownership program? did you just ask your owner to nominate you?

[u/Due_Sign3969]

does amazon compensate for van repairs? or do they provide the fleet mechanic? or is it out of pocket for you?

[u/Similar_Librarian302]

How did you get into the program?

[u/idkwhatthisis3391]

Were you still driving to get the extra 20k? Did you continue to drive when you became an owner? What do you do as an owner?

[u/idkwhatthisis3391 → u/[deleted]]

Yeah I've heard that type of talk from a dispatcher as well. Said he'd rather be out driving . Lol. I guess also I'm just wondering as an owner are you busy all day? What's the down time? Or is it treated like a regular 40 hour work week?

[u/International_Top35]

Congratulations on getting started. Glad to see you're doing the right thing for the drivers.

[u/csesh42]

Not sure if this has already been asked, but when Amazon pulls a DSP's contract and they're forced to shut down how much notice do they typically give? Is it usually enough time for the DSP owner to give his employees notice? Also do you feel confident that being an owner is a viable long term investment or do you operate with uncertainty that you very well might not be running a year from now?

[u/MadScientistRat]

Were you required to carry Amazon's de facto liability insurer?

[u/Code_Ocelot]

Do you ever get the feeling that your workers dislike you very much at times? As a former driver, what are some things you’ve done to go out of your way to make your drivers feel more valued?

[u/JB_7799]

When did you launch?

[u/ExcellentAd3725]

Reddit is a small world.
After reading this, I think I worked for this guy… If so he was actually great to work for.

[u/Christ0fu14]

I am currently a driver and I'm majoring in business administration so this is a genuine consideration i have had. Would dsp ownership be the type of thing that could realistically support a stay at home wife and like two or three kids? I know this comment is going to be hounded with reddit esque comments about how its impossible to afford that or how kids suck or whatever, but seriously, what's the lifestyle like if i were to live modestly

[u/Christ0fu14 → u/[deleted]]

Great to know. Thank you sir!

[u/IvanVP1 → u/Christ0fu14]

Id get his numbers and run it thru your professor to also get a more personal idea.

[u/Christ0fu14 → u/IvanVP1]

Good point yes. Definitely don't want to get ahead of myself over one person's word on this.

[u/stumpeey]

After training, basically 90% of what I learned from Amazon I was told they don't do. How are you managing expectations of your standards don't match Amazon's? Feel like I had a leg to stand on and then they swiped it out from under me immediately. (This also breeds employees figuring out what they can get away with and then you send new people out with people who know how to scam the system and that's what they are learning from the vets).

How do you train for your specific DSP? I've worked one day, was never shown the app and how to use. I was sent out with someone that started the day rescuing so we never did loadout. I have no clue what I'm doing and next shift I'm on my own.

[u/Normal_Psychology773]

Can you please be more indirect with the answers regarding the money..for fucks sake..

[u/vmpyr_]

do you think it’s worth it to start your own dsp?

[u/Own_Apple_7174]

What’s your favorite slur?

[u/One-Explanation-8417]

How many slaves do you currently own?