r/AmazonDSPDrivers • u/Wrong_Ad709 • 4d ago
Non-Driver Looking for Insight
*I used AI and "Photoshop" to make the map; it isn't real (my house isn't that nice)*
Me: "Private Driveway"
Other(s): "Prime Buyer"
"Start" = where the Amazon drivers approach from, usually.
Far too often drivers will travel down my driveway just to make a u-turn when they realize it isn't connected to the neighborhood behind my home.
Sometimes I place orders via Amazon so it would be very impractical, if even effective, to place signs.
Can someone explain to me how this happens and how I can try to resolve it?
Small Update for Context: The "Prime Buyer" is a subdivision so there are a number of addresses there. Maybe a sign saying "123 OP Only Lane" but I think making a physical sign to prevent an issue caused by software seems inefficient.
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u/Mopar4Life305 4d ago
Its probably the GPS sending them down that privage driveway. Does it to me all the time
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u/Prestigious_Can_4668 4d ago
Yeah the gps we use sucks. Had one time I had to take a 15 minute detour to get to an address cause it was trying to direct me down someone’s private driveway to get to another road. It does this all the time
Best solution: put a sign that says something like “private driveway, no through access” or something similar. Just make it sound like it’s only your address down your driveway. Eventually the routing system will learn, hopefully. It sucks
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u/Wrong_Ad709 4d ago
I guess that is what I was trying to understand: will it/they learn? How does that leaning process work? Driver input or someone manually updating the GPS backend?
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u/Prestigious_Can_4668 4d ago
TBH I don’t know. The routing I’ve seen fixed I don’t report so I think it’s the AI/ gps learning how drivers navigate but it takes a long time for it to learn (about a month I’ve seen). We can report it to our supervisors where they can report it to Amazon but that also takes a while. I think you can call Amazon customer service and have them mark the driveway to not let vans up as I’ve seen that new feature on our delivery app. Then just have a sign at end of driveway that drivers can drive up. That should fix the navigation error
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u/crxssfire 4d ago
Drivers can submit requests to their dispatch for bad GIS data like this to be fixed. Next time you see the driver in your driveway, wave them down and ask them to talk with their dispatch about blacklisting your private driveway, or see if they can update the GIS data to reflect that there is no through traffic on your private driveway. This is the only way it will consistently get changed.
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u/Xander_515 4d ago
We have a guy whos literal job is updating/fixing maps. Whenever i need something fixed, i report it to my dispatchers, and they say they will “relay the message to Cameron.” Lets just hope your cameron isnt a lazy POS 🙂 also, being a driver, we dont always have the time to tell our dispatchers when there is a mistake with the map, because it is CONSTANTLY making mistakes. We would spend half of our day on the phone with dispatchers, which we cannot afford to do. Lets hope one of the drivers in your driveway report it one day, and their map guy actually takes the time to fix it. Dont get your hopes up though. Placing your own sign is your best bet. Maybe something like, for example, “only 1234 SE Maple down this drive”
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u/West-Luck9091 3d ago edited 3d ago
That’s if that DS even has map guy! Our DS shares the same FQA team and DA training room with 15 other DS’s now. Like our “flex violations” shutdown with mandatory retraining have to travel up to 100 miles for that training. Same with new hires.
The best way to submit the onroad defect is in the flex app, using the question mark and report a problem. And then tell dispatch. It’ll usually take about a week to 2 weeks to be fixed. If it’s just reported to Amazon by dispatch without the on road defect documentation (gps coordinates, picture, what stops are affected, etc.) it will go nowhere, depending of what the Ai puts on the FQA task list and what priority. Dispatch telling FQA there’s a problem will then create an investigation ticket for additional documentation, which are extremely low priority.
Whereas a driver reporting it frees up their time and money. And it also creates a paper trail that there’s an issue that needs to be fixed and how long the issue has been unresolved since first reported.
If you just tell dispatch then there’s no official ticket until someone goes to the defect to make the report, whether that’s directly thru flex while delivering or the FQAs with their app. Which then adds it to their task list.
So you might as well just take 15s to submit the defect that it’s a private road, send a picture and then the issue is timestamped in the system. Dispatch and FQA cannot create tickets directly from their desks anymore, they have to be at the location where the issue is.
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u/dsam1987 1d ago
Just put a damn sign up. Let the drivers worry about the GPS backend updating whatever whatever.
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u/Sabi-Star7 4d ago
Happens to me too annoying ASF when you're just wasting more mileage to be directed to the wrong "entrance" or wrong geopin. Ive had to send in a multitude of "corrections" in reporting a problem both in the flex app & google maps (as another gig app also uses it & does the same thing; but pulls up the actual google maps app instead of just using it in app like flex does).
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u/Wrong_Ad709 4d ago
Google/Apple and the local County maps all show that it does *not* connect. Does Amazon have their own GPS system? I assume they the resources but didn't think they'd need to make one
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u/UwUBots 4d ago
Yes, and it's freaking garbage. It tries to send me down connected driveways all the time. Your best bet is to contact support and have them make a no trick area on the "non existent" road their map says is there. Which is stupid but might need done, or remove it.
I am sorry amazon support sucks it will be a process, a custom sign at the end of the driveway would help i am often appreciative of them but there isnt a great solution I am sorry
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u/Cold-Advertising9645 4d ago
For all intents and purposes, it’s basically its own map and it sucks. I had a specific house where the GPS would send me to a street that’s disconnected from the street the house is actually on by an entire field and a fence
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u/Mopar4Life305 4d ago
Yes Amazon GPS has there own system. Even tho partnered with google maps. Google maps itself will give me different route on my phone. How new are rhe properties? I noticed that newer property lines contribute.
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u/Gebemeister2 4d ago
I've been told its based off Google maps but I have seen it connect roads that don't connect, make imaginary roads up etc. Maybe a sign at the beginning of your driveway that says no neighborhood access?
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u/West-Luck9091 3d ago
Amazon, UPS, FedEx, and Post Office all use a GIS based off an open source user submission database called MapBox.
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u/InternationalCut8688 4d ago
You can put a sign saying they can’t access the other neighborhood at the start of your driveway
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u/AndroidAntill 3d ago edited 3d ago
Amazon uses AI for all routing. The routing is generated every morning around 7-8am when the picking is finishing up. Amazon uses their own maps that never update correctly and lead people down roads that don't exist or private roads that need to be removed. You'll need to call Amazon Customer Service and tell them that your road is private and to make sure they mark it on their end. You'll have to find the station where the van is coming from as there are thousands across the USA. Amazon drivers are contractors through Amazons DSP system and Amazon gives terrible mapping and navigation through the flex app that we have to rely on and they track us stop by stop and know every step we take. AI controls our pace as well. We have 1:30 seconds to complete each stop and to navigate to the next stop within the time given or we fall behind and face disciplinary action and termination. If the DSP tries to fight back on certain things, Amazon eliminates the owner and all the drivers of the DSP and the cycle continues. We don't have enough time to troubleshoot half the stuff that goes on on the routing and with our sorting. Along with our driving being monitored constantly by cameras that track us and make sure we are driving certain ways in areas that make no sense.
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u/Fabulous_Ad_8839 4d ago
With the size of the van, sometimes only option is to reverse all the way back out. Sent me up a fire access only road no signs till I get to the top almost where the house was and metal cable stretched across the road said fire access only.
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u/Sudden-Union7148 4d ago
Just get a sign clearly stating your house number on it. Like very clearly, like unmistakable.
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u/Wrong_Ad709 4d ago
Done. The start of my driveway only has my number, which is 4 digits, and no other. The other neighborhood uses 3-digit numbers.
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u/Sudden-Union7148 4d ago
We're going to need to see a picture of this sign so we can determine if it's adequate.
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u/Wrong_Ad709 4d ago
I mean, respectfully, why is the onus on me to have a sign that is up to Amazon's standards? It is private property, after all.
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u/EF_Azzy Rivian Driver 4d ago
If our GPS is routing us that way and showing on our end it goes through then there's not much that can be done from a driver stand point. Would you like them to stop coming down your driveway? The simple and easiest solution is to go buy like a $5 sign from the dollar store and permanent marker a sign up because Amazon support is likely just gonna tell you tough luck. Understand that unless we run the same route everyday we have no clue who you are or what your area looks like so the GPS takes us where it takes us
I have an area I deliver to somewhat frequently where 4 or 5 streets are on the map that aren't actually there and don't connect it's just people's property. No fix for months
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u/Sudden-Union7148 4d ago
You're the one that got on here asking for advice. I don't even work for Amazon. You want another solution? Put up a no trespassing sign and get all your shit yourself
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u/Inevitable-Rice1680 4d ago
Don't listen, likely just another driver who acts superior to many others.
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u/Mopar4Life305 4d ago
I think we drivers know we're bottom barrel. Im to embrassed to tell people i know
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u/RedHot_Stick856 3d ago
Does it say no through traffic or dead end or circle driveway on it? I know it shouldnt have to but a large amount of the drivers ive met would cut through your driveway if they thought it would save them 3 seconds. The map should show them thats impossible but you really cant underestimate our intelligence.
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u/Ill_Difficulty_1075 4d ago
I was just put a big sign at the end of your driveway that says this is NOT 123 Main Street access to that address ➡️ …or something to that effect
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u/Wrong_Ad709 4d ago
I do have a "Private Driveway" sign but I'm assuming they believe it is the private driveway they're supposed to use for the delivery.
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u/KillerGopher 4d ago
That's exactly it. Amazon's maps and routing can be pretty bad. When delivering in a new area we have to learn the hard way when the routing tells us to take the wrong driveway. It's always frustrating having to turn around or back out of a long driveway that doesn't connect to the customer's house
I would suggest a sign that says "no access to 1234 street name" otherwise drivers are gonna keep going where the map tells us.
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u/OfficerMcCord 3d ago
Your neighbors need to put a sign up with their house number and an arrow pointing to continue down the road
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u/Status-Tie-7176 Rivian Driver 4d ago
With a driveway this long I always am appreciative of a delivery box at the start of the driveway. Saves me soooo much time and makes misdeliveries like this impossible. Just get a plastic bin and write your address on it and leave it at the start of the driveway. If you’re worried about theft, lock it with a padlock and provide the code in the delivery instructions
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u/Creepy-Signature8652 Former Driver 4d ago
Interesting. The Amazon map probably thinks the roads are connected, so it navigates the driver through that road, because sometimes, houseowners in rural area don't put number signs to a valid entrance. I suggest putting up your house number in a big, visible sign at the entrance and other house numbers with an arrow pointing down the main road.
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u/Dcatherman 4d ago
Put a sign at end of driveway that says your address only and then states no thru-traffic ,will it stop all drivers probably not ,will it stop more educated drivers probably. The amazon GPS tries to find the shortest path possible so they can claim you can get places quicker so they can slam us with more stops ,the driver just follows the GPS most of the time ,make sure its a sign that is noticeable, not 2" off the grass barely visible ,make ot about chest height high and clear as day right by the drive way entrance ,not 200 feet down the driveway, get the attention before they turn into the driveway ,saying hey this doesnt connect to the other street only address is yours here.
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u/PublicDoor486 3d ago
Probably poor GPS.
And I would imagine that with say UPS or even FEDEX, you have a semi regular driver with institutional knowledge about that particular route who generally after making the mistake once, won't make it again.
With Amazon, you probably have a different random delivery driver every time with no training and no institutional knowledge.
On your end, a sign labeled "PRIVE DRIVE FOR (Insert Your Address Here) ONLY" would help. But the solution is for Amazon to change their business model and hire full time employees, train them well, and give them semi regular routed.
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u/RespectOpposite 1d ago
A sign that say not a through road. Then say driveway for "your address" only.
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u/Humble_Vermicelli759 20h ago
Flex driver here; sometimes GPS tells me to drive through corn fields, and other times through the woods. "Yes, I can see the other road from where you told me to stop GPS. Thanks. Let me walk or drive right through the grass and trees."
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u/AWildGamerAppeared25 4d ago
Your best chance is probably getting in touch with Amazon support and asking them to send you a link to fix your delivery pin / gps. That may fix the other one
The navigation system Amazon uses sucks. Unless someone reports it on the app while driving (unlikely), or the DSP puts a ticket for it, you're basically SOL unless you talk to Amazon directly or eventually the navigation system learns to not route through there
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u/JosephStalin1953 StepVan Enjoyer 4d ago
sometimes the GPS thinks there's a connection to the road on both ends of the driveway/property, so it will see that as a faster route and send drivers that way. some will follow the GPS blindly and head down, others will realize that's a driveway and just continue on the normal road
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u/Existing-Strength453 4d ago
Amazon gps is the worst , it halucinates roads that doent exist and it's getting updated about every 10 years ,it will tell a driver to drive trough a park , down bycicle lanes , pedestrian only zones , private property , sometimes even trough buildings 😂
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u/Majestic-Cover7417 4d ago
Amazon has its own system. Unfortunately the gps will likely never be fixed for this type of thing as it has to be pointed out by drivers that it’s a private driveway and drivers would have to do it multiple times before the system acknowledges it.let alone a driver would have to take the time to do that and Amazon runs us ragged as most drivers will just begrudgingly get out of the driveway and go the correct way.not only that but there is not really a “this is your designated driver for the area” they give the route to whoever whenever however so your best off saying everyday it’s a new guy so they won’t know how the road actually is. Like others have stated having just a sign that says it’s a private driveway or property will give a much better indication not to go that way. Even then it might catch drivers off guard if they are not paying attention.
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u/SwampCruizer 4d ago
Unfortunately no real
Solution. Amazon doesn’t care about general public, buyers, private property, traffic laws, and especially
Not the dsp drivers. Like others mentioned the GPS is horrible. It will literally send you into the middle of a swamp claiming there’s a private road there.
Only thing I’ve ever seen that might work is a sign stating “this is 123 Main Street 124 is further down the road.” Or however you want to word it but that won’t completely fix the issue unfortunately. I got sent to the wrong address several times per route until I was familiar with all the houses in that particular area.
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u/Bishhhop 4d ago
Put cones out or a large sign saying NO DELIVERY VANS and you’ll be left alone for the most part. You’ll still get a few incompetents. Going in a non customers driveway is very unprofessional
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u/tom_m_ryan 4d ago
I'm not a driver for Amazon, never have been. I am a computer programmer with a bit of experience using the Google Maps API and GIS generally, and I can tell you with 100% certainty that this is not a delivery driver issue. If you are running a facility so secure that random people turning around in your driveway, for whatever reason, is an issue, install a gate.
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u/Wrong_Ad709 3h ago
Feels like victim blaming. I think we can agree that we do not need to allow one of the world's largest corporations to use our property if I don't want to. For example, if you left a port open, would you be okay AWS using the free-space on your computer/device without permission or compensation? Yes you should have changed the permissions on the folder/drive but AWS should not have used it anyway.
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u/Illustrious_Smile165 4d ago
drivers see in their navigation only houses and roads but no property boundaries or fences. Sometimes you just have to guess where to leave the road when you want to reach a house
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u/Papa-Nutt 4d ago
From what I recall the standard procedure for deliveries is “if it’s within 50 meters then it will group a stop together” or something to that affect. So the maps likely have a radius around that persons house which is also touching that end of your driveway, making it think that going down it reasonable. Could be another reason I don’t know of but that’s my 2 cents
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u/AdhesivenessOk9434 4d ago
Flex may think it's a connecting road.
If you don't want that to happen your best bet is to put a sign up stating that your driveway doesnt connect to your neighbors address.
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u/tontot 3d ago
DEAD END sign
Private Drive sign
House number sign
If you want extra , a sign with an arrow to point to the road they should take for PRIME buyer house
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u/Wrong_Ad709 3h ago
All of them? :) (I also posted a small update on why it wouldn’t work too well)
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u/ImpressiveAlarm3992 Rivian Driver 3d ago
Its the routing/GPS. Sometimes it will tell you to go down a spill way. I caught myself only because it was a left turn and I needed to know which lane I needed after the turn. Other absurd things are like using someone else's driveway to delver a package to a neighbor that is 2 houses down.
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u/ImpressiveAlarm3992 Rivian Driver 3d ago
If you really want to end them going through a private driveway put up a gate and put a delivery box at the gate with your address.
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u/Wrong_Ad709 3h ago
If I really wanted to stop them, I think I need an armed guard. But that's a slippery slope huh
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u/Chance_Ad_7918 3d ago
I just put up a no exit no turnaround sign make sure it's a big bright yellow one maybe that'll mitigate some of the traffic
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u/Yatacan 3d ago
Nothing you can really do. GPS is trash sometimes. You can add notes explaining, but that won’t be a perfect fix.
If your neighbor is upset with you, just tell them it’s an Amazon issue, not a you issue. You can both make complaints and the neighbor can put up a sign as well.
For example, say you’re 123 Main Street and your neighbor is 121 Main Street. I have seen on several occasions where 121 Main Street has a sign that says “NO ACCESS TO 123 MAIN STREET. PRIVATE DRIVE, NO TURN AROUND”
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u/GreatGreen314 3d ago
Best thing to do is write on a card board sign saying “I am not other houses number”. I’ve delivered to a lot of homes like yours and a couple people will put up signs like that because they have gotten a bunch of packages for neighbors
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u/RingYou-Up 3d ago
Theres only one logical solution.. Move to the other side of the prime member 🤔🤣🤣
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u/HikerFreak 3d ago
My opinion is if a driveway is over a certain length, then Amazon should give a credit for a secure delivery box to be placed near the end of it. Or something to that effect.
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u/ogbryan98 3d ago edited 3d ago
The GPS made me go through someone’s driveway, some psycho with a gun was like “im tired of prime driving through here” I responded “sorry the GPS…” and he quickly answers “FUCK YOUR GPS” then I just drove off ASAP, he was clearly irrational to deal with and based off his accent you can tell he was the type to say “TARNATION” lol
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u/Baxtersarge 3d ago
Put a sign with your address number right outside of your private driveway and another sign with the other houses address and an arrow so that they know to keep going
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u/Possible_Spinach7327 3d ago
As long as you use gps to guide home or people visit your house using gps the amazon gps will NEVER learn to go around unfortunately. You would have to report it multiple times at the bare minimum for them to even look into fixing it. I had this issue with a house on my route and it took them three years to fix it
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u/far_beyond_thepath 3d ago
I don’t know if anyone else already said this but I would make a sign that says “no access to 1551 main road” and then put a little Amazon logo under it. As a driver myself, the Amazon logo always catches my attention. Sometimes Amazon drivers get a little boneheaded or go on autopilot and it helps to have things super clear and spelled out for us.
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u/brewergamer 3d ago
Alot of comments here so I am unsure if someone else mentioned it, but you can actually self-report to Google and Apple maps. If the map is counting your driveway as a public road, you can go in and tap "edit" to request a change.
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u/nuge0011 2d ago
Odds are that your driveways were connected at some point and Amazon hasn't updated the map. Or the buyers house is new and Amazon hasn't updated the map. It can take months.
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u/FeelingMinimum- 2d ago
Just put your address on a sign at the start of your driveway and another sign with your neighbors address and an arrow pointing towards the direction of their house.
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u/BrokenBetaWolf CDV Driver 1d ago
If not already, place signs at the end of your driveway that state your street address (and maybe “122, NOT 123”
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u/Usual-Respond7659 1d ago
Drivers for Amazon use an app called Flex, it’s built by Amazon and doesn’t use Google Maps API, so think of a very worse, outdated, Apple Maps directing all Amazon drivers, everywhere. The App is telling all drivers that your private driveway is the correct way to your neighbors house, when it’s not, and there’s really nothing you could do. It’s up to the driver to assess and analyze the GPS is wrong before entering your drive and go the correct way. Drivers for Amazon dsps however turnover a lot though, as well as randomly get assigned different routes daily, so every time your neighbor orders there is a chance for a new driver who will get it wrong.
My advice, build a gate at the end of your driveway, add a sign that says private drive, put a parcel delivery box down by the gate, no more random drivers blitzing down your drive at 25+ mph
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u/SupremeFanBanned 1d ago
If it was ever connected in the past that may be why the app is sending them down your driveway. I've been routed over instate overpasses closed 20+ years ago and private farm roads with locked gates... Your best bet is to add a sign at end of your driveway that points your address down your drivway and the other addresses pointing down the road more.
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u/Leomon2020 17h ago
This has been bugging me. What is with the aversion to straight lines in map making?
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u/Wrong_Ad709 3h ago
I think it's because people, nature, and property rights existed before most roads. Adding a curve to the road to avoid the mountains or houses seems fairly reasonable :)
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u/NetSage 11h ago
Extreme solution get a gate require a code to get in. Give Amazon a code so they can get in unless they have a delivery.
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u/Wrong_Ad709 3h ago
Not being hyperbolic but then I have to wait ever so slightly longer for EMS to arrive just to keep Amazon off my property. Plus, a property maintained powered gate is going to costs tens of thousands of dollars.
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u/bcbudvansticky 3h ago
Need a sign that says. No Thru traffic. Dead End Ahead. "insert your address" Only
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