Amazon has launched a new initiative to bolster the last mile delivery of packages by leasing amazon-only delivery vans to entrepreneurs.
The online retail giant will actively help interested entrepreneurs start, set up and manage a delivery business focusing on Amazon packages, complete with Amazon-branded delivery vans and uniforms.
Amazon will provide businesses with access to the company’s state of the art delivery technology, hands-on logistics training, and discounts on a range of assets and services — including vehicle leases and insurance.
Amazon predicts that successful owners could earn as much as $300,000 in annual profit by operating a fleet of up to 40 delivery vehicles through the scheme, with start-up costs being kept as a low as $10,000.
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Amazon’s senior vice president of worldwide operations, Dave Clark, said: “We have great partners in our traditional carriers and it’s exciting to continue to see the logistics industry grow.
“Customer demand is higher than ever and we have a need to build more capacity.
“As we evaluated how to support our growth, we went back to our roots to share the opportunity with small-and-medium-sized businesses.
“We are going to empower new, small businesses to form in order to take advantage of the growing opportunity in e-commerce package delivery.”
The initiative will grant Amazon more control over the end mile delivery of its customer’s packages, which it currently relies on third-party delivery services including UPS and FedEx.
Earlier this year, Amazon launched a new delivery service in the US, Shipping with Amazon (SWA), to directly compete with the likes of UPS — with plans to undercut other delivery services on price.
