Ice-T has claimed that a 2019 message to Amazon prompted the company to change its dress code for independent drivers who may not wear a traditional uniform.
On Thursday (December 15), the rapper and actor retweeted a post, which saw him recounting a near-mishap with an Amazon Flex driver. “Remember THIS tweet?,” he wrote alongside the repost. “Amazon actually changed their protocols after this…”
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In the original tweet, Ice-T addressed Amazon, without tagging the online retail giant, with the suggestion that it might want to consider making some changes to its policy around what drivers are required to wear while on duty.
“Message To Amazon: Now that you have regular people making your home deliveries,” he offered. “Maybe they should wear a Vest with AMAZON DELIVERY on it….. I almost shot a MF creeping up to my crib last night…. Just sayin.”
The delivery person in question was likely part of the Amazon Flex program, which, like many food and grocery delivery services, uses independent contractors to fulfill local orders. Unlike Amazon employees, Flex drivers use their own vehicles and are able to wear whatever they feel most comfortable in.
Amazon Flex Drivers have access to a free branded reflective vest, “to help build trust and safety in the community, while also increasing your visibility when you are delivering”; but according to the FAQs on the program’s website, the gear is optional.
It’s not unreasonable to think that Ice-T’s tweet may have at least helped Amazon solidify its decision to add the safety measure though. Following his original tweet, the company’s dedicated customer service Twitter account reached out to the West Coast OG asking for him to offer additional details that it could hand off to its Logistics Team.
According to CNET, Amazon’s then senior president of worldwide operations even responded to Ice-T from his personal account, which has since been deleted.
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“Just sayin…thanks for the suggestion,” Dave Clark wrote in May 2019. “We MF’ing love you and our drivers. Lots of innovations coming on this and many that already exist to help you track your package and delivery on a map. Thanks for being a customer.”
