In a move to spread holiday cheer and recognize the efforts of its delivery workforce, Amazon has reintroduced its “Thank My Driver” program for the 2024 holiday season. The initiative, which began Dec. 4, allows customers to thank their delivery drivers through various platforms, potentially earning their drivers bonuses.
According to Amazon, customers can participate by simply saying, “Alexa, thank my driver” to an Alexa-enabled device or by searching “thank my driver” on the Amazon website or mobile app.
The program initially offered a $5 reward to drivers for each of the first 2 million thank-yous received, at no cost to customers, which Amazon reports was swiftly met.
Following this success, Amazon has introduced a second phase of the promotion. “Starting today and through the end of December, each day the top 1,000 most thanked drivers will receive $100 each,” Amazon stated in a communication to its Flex drivers on Dec. 11.
The company has further sweetened the deal with additional incentives. “The top seven most-thanked drivers each full week until the end of December (once from Dec. 11-17, Dec. 18-24, and again from Dec. 25-31), will receive $10,000 each,” the communication continued.
Amazon has also announced a grand finale to the promotion. “At the end of the month, we’ll identify the top seven most thanked drivers across the full promotional period, which started on Dec. 4, and those drivers will receive $25,000 plus an additional $25,000 to a charity of their choice,” the company revealed.
The “Thank My Driver” feature, first introduced during the 2022 holiday season, has seen a lot of engagement. Amazon reports that since its inception, customers have used the feature to thank their delivery drivers more than 40 million times.
The program is accessible to U.S. customers through various means, including Alexa-enabled devices like Echo and Echo Show, the Alexa app, and Amazon accounts on both the web and mobile devices.
Amazon clarified that the program is open to U.S. drivers delivering Amazon packages, including Delivery Service Partner (DSP) Delivery Associates, Amazon Flex delivery partners, and Hub Delivery Associates. Drivers can receive one thank you per delivery.
The company emphasized the importance of its delivery network in a statement: “Throughout the years, Amazon has grown and invested in its last-mile delivery network, Amazon Logistics, to create opportunities for hands-on entrepreneurs wanting to start and grow a business, as well as independent contractors interested in being their own boss and supplementing their income.”
This promotion aligns with Amazon’s broader efforts to recognize the important role played by its delivery team. “Delivery drivers are making this happen every day, but it’s more than just the packages that they deliver—they form relationships with customers, provide support to the community in tough moments, and sometimes play the role of the unexpected hero,” Amazon stated.