A look inside Amazon’s Sidney distribution centre

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It’s the first time cameras have been allowed inside Amazon’s massive Island distribution centre in Sidney.

If you live on Vancouver Island and have ordered a package from Amazon, it’s been through the facility. Its Island journey begins in this warehouse.

“So once we’ve unloaded the shuttle containers over here, we will essentially have your package, we will unload it onto the conveyor,” says operations manager Geoff Suter.

“We have a QR code here which will scan, once we’ve scanned the QR code, it will produce what we call a sort and assist label. This label is going to tell us where in the station this package is going to go.”

Once the package makes its way to the correct area, it is placed on a rack awaiting stowers like Sandra Alleyson to place the package into bags.

“We put the packages into the bags where they belong,” says Alleyson.

“You use a device and a finger scanner, you basically scan the packages and there are lights that also direct you to where the packages go.”

Once Allison fills the bag, then it’s over to Eric Fox.

His job?

Placing the bags onto carts, a critical step before the packages hit the road.

“They have to be collected and that’s what’s happening right now, and they have to be collected for specific routes for the drivers and so we do that,” says Fox.

“We put them out here for the drivers and then they take them and put them in their trucks and off they go.”

Every day between 80 and 100 trucks leave the facility, with each driver assigned a specific cart and route. On this morning, driver Mark Abenjoa knows he’s off to Langford.

“I have been driving for Amazon for just over a month now actually, I started in February,” says Abenoja.

As for how he likes delivering packages?

“It’s been pretty great, I mean look at our environment, we get to be outside, especially on days like today,” says Abenoja.

“I actually just moved here from the Mainland, so it’s a good way for me to get familiar with the area and the different surroundings.”

Abenoja will spend up to 10 hours a day on the road. No doubt it’s lonely at times, but like everyone we spoke to, it’s all part of the delivery process.

“So when I go home at night, when I get there and maybe I’m having a glass of wine and reflecting on the day, I know there are people opening up their packages right now that I had a hand in, along with everybody else here,” says Fox.

Cole SorensonCole Sorenson

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