Amazon depot’s huge pile of urine-filled bottles shows reality of ‘nightmare’ job

Matthew Cole, 44, claims drivers are often unable to take breaks while trying to hit ‘impossible delivery targets’ of up to 350 parcels a day and are forced to pee in bottles during long shifts

An Amazon delivery driver has lifted the lid on the ‘shocking reality’ of the job including having to wee in plastic bottles and drive faulty vans. Matthew Cole, 44, claims drivers are often unable to take breaks while trying to hit ‘impossible delivery targets’ of up to 350 parcels a day.

He says this forces van drivers to ‘pee in bottles’ during nine-hour shifts on the road which can involve 180 mile round trips. The father-of-seven even released a shocking photograph of piles of bottles full of urine dumped by a bin outside an Amazon distribution centre.

Matthew claimed he was exhausted by the “working conditions” and claimed there is “no open policy to raise concerns without fear of loosing shifts or even being told your services are no longer required”. He also wants people to be aware of working conditions in the run-up to Christmas.

Matthew said drivers were paid around £121.50 and that “you can’t take your foot off the gas” as if you don’t hit the targets you can face losing your job. Other drivers say they feel like “slaves” working hours in overtime despite only being paid for the day, he claimed.

Matthew said: “It feels like I’ve sold my soul to the devil. It is a never-ending nightmare. I urinate in a plastic urine bottle as using the plastic drinking bottles was difficult as it would go all over the floor of the van.

“Over the Christmas period drivers are expected to deliver a ridiculous parcel count with stops expected to topple 190 to 200. I have a family a daughter I have to support. I’m also in university doing a PhD in law and I am also doing a postgraduate certificate in academic practice. It’s just so physically and mentally draining.”

Matthew has been working for BEAZ Logistics since April 2024 and says the bottles of urine outside the Amazon Ipswich warehouse no longer surprise him, as there is not the “adequate facilities or time to stop”.

Amazon say all their drivers in the UK, except the minority who use the Flex Amazon app, are independent contractors who are contracted to Delivery Service Providers (DSP) like BEAZ. The DSP’s are legally responsible for the drivers but use Amazon-branded vans.

Drivers say BEAZ Logistics, which is the largest DSP in the East Anglia, communicates with its workers via WhatsApp and “constantly monitors and watches” its drivers. Meanwhile, others also noted that the issues raised are “widespread” within other providers such as TK Prime Limited.

Another driver, who chose not to be identified, but previously worked for TK Prime Limited in Ipswich, said: “We basically felt like slaves driving non-stop”.

He said he regularly finished at midnight after starting at around 7.30am, despite the working day being classed as nine hours. Amazon dispute these extra working hours and says its drivers app reminds users to take breaks, tells them when to end their shift and highlights local toilet facilities to use.

Matthew said: “We arrive at the vans for a specific time for instance 11:10 am and drive around at 11:30 am to load the van. Then we are out as long as it takes to complete the route up to a maximum of 9 hours after we have loaded and swiped complete on the app.

“The average route is 50-60 miles but we also cover routes in Norwich and deliver to the same addresses as drivers from the Norwich depot. Sometimes we arrive at the same address at the same time, this is then around 180 miles.

“The flex app we use puts allocated breaks in but we have to skip them. They are not fixed to force drivers to have a break. We skip them as we don’t have time to take them because we will fall behind and run the risk of failing the route.”

Drivers also noted tiredness as a serious safety risk on the road. Matthew said he had ended up reversing into a vehicle in the Norwich area because he was “extremely tired”.

And in another incident where he was rear-ended by a lorry on the A14 he was told to “get back to work” in a new vehicle after being “really shaken up”.

Vehicle damage was also a concern with all the drivers, who shared stories and photos of concerns including engine warning lights, faulty brake pads and doors and broken seatbelts.

Amazon says it is committed to the safe and fair treatment of its workers and is using camera technology to improve safety in vans.

A spokesperson said: “We’re looking into these claims as a matter of urgency. We expect all of our delivery service providers to prioritise the wellbeing and safety of their drivers.

“We require our partners to make vehicle safety checks a key part of every driver’s day and we work closely to ensure they are treated fairly. The app drivers use reminds them to take breaks, and highlights local facilities, such as petrol stations and toilets.

“We also welcome direct feedback and drivers have a number of ways to contact us, including a 24/7 hotline, with a dedicated team which works quickly to investigate and action any issues raised.”

Both TK Prime Limited and BEAZ Logistics were contacted for comment but did not respond.

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