As New York City swelters under a historic heat wave, Amazon delivery drivers are facing grueling conditions while trying to meet their daily quotas. With temperatures soaring, these workers are pushing through extreme heat to ensure packages are delivered on time. The situation has raised concerns about worker safety and the adequacy of measures in place to protect them.

Luc Rene, a 26-year-old Amazon delivery driver in Queens, is one of many workers feeling the brunt of the heat. On Wednesday, the first day of a four-day heat wave, Rene had already consumed five bottles of water by midday. His route included 222 packages and 47 stops, servicing 190 buildings in Flushing and the surrounding areas. Despite the intense heat, Rene kept his van in park with his foot on the gas to prevent the air conditioning from shutting off.

Challenges on the Road

Rene described the heat as “extreme” and “suffocating.” He is not alone in his struggle. Other Amazon drivers have reported similar conditions, with some garages providing better support than others. While some workers were encouraged to take as much water as they needed, others found water bottles locked in a refrigerator, rationed despite the extreme temperatures. Amazon has stated that it is investigating these claims.

Amazon spokesperson Sam Stephenson shared the company’s heat mitigation protocols, which include air-conditioned vans, reflective vehicle roofs, electrolyte powder, and insulated tumblers. All Amazon depots are equipped with water stations and ice machines. Stephenson emphasized that workers are encouraged to stop working if they feel affected by the heat and to seek support immediately.

Worker Safety and Legal Protections

Amazon has long maintained that its delivery drivers are not employees but subcontractors. This arrangement has been criticized for shielding the company from liability in cases of accidents, wage theft, and collective bargaining. Under federal law, employers must provide workplaces free from hazards likely to cause death or physical harm. However, hundreds of workers nationwide have died from heat exposure since 2010, according to an NPR analysis of data from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Job safety advocates have pushed for federal regulators to create official rules to protect workers in various industries from heat-related illness. In New York, a bill requiring employers to protect employees from extreme temperatures has stalled in the state legislature for years. Without clear state or federal guidelines, the city has limited recourse to enforce protections for private-sector employees.

Local Responses and Worker Initiatives

On Tuesday, Mayor Zohran Mamdani encouraged businesses to develop plans addressing extreme heat in the workplace. He reminded employers that workers are entitled to protected time off under city law if they feel their health is at risk. Kris Basmagy, who operates an Amazon depot on the Upper East Side, has implemented a “zero tolerance policy” for workers showing symptoms of heat exhaustion. His employees have unlimited access to water and electrolyte powder, and Basmagy provides free popsicles and increased staffing during the heatwave.

Despite these efforts, many drivers reported that their routes on the first day of the heat wave were as demanding as usual. Jerome Sloss, who works at an Amazon depot in Woodside, said his route on Wednesday was similar to his usual one: 84 stops with just under 200 packages. On Thursday, with the heat index forecast to reach 102 degrees, Rene had 257 packages to deliver with 105 stops. The back cabin of the vans, where packages are sorted and hauled, can feel 10 to 20 degrees hotter than the outside temperature.

Amazon spokesperson Steven Kelly disputed claims that drivers were forced to keep a foot on the accelerator to keep the air conditioning on, stating that the AC functions regardless of the driver’s foot position. He also noted that driver routes, including those of Rene and Sloss, have been adjusted to account for the heat index in their delivery areas.

It’s not just Amazon drivers who are feeling the heat. The delivery worker advocacy organization Los Deliveristas Unidos has been sending notices to its members, warning them of the effects of heat exhaustion and reminding them of their rights on the job. Most restaurants in the city are required to allow delivery workers to use the bathroom, but many still force workers to stay outside with their bikes.

Some workers in the delivery sector have been able to include heat-related protections in their collective bargaining agreements. United Parcel Service, for example, is required to provide workers with a one-gallon reusable water bottle, ice machines, two working fans in each truck, and to allow workers to take bathroom breaks as needed. These measures were a major sticking point in the 2026 national contract negotiations following the death of a Pasadena, California driver of suspected heat stroke the previous summer.

Jeffrey Arias, a former Amazon driver and now a staff organizer with the Teamsters, knows the dangers of working in extreme heat all too well. In the summer of 2026, he became nauseous several hours into his shift due to a non-functioning air conditioner and windows that would not open. He spent the last six or seven hours of his shift throwing up, a common symptom of heat exhaustion, and was not permitted to take the day off the following day. Arias now works to inform workers of their rights and ensure they have the resources they need to do their jobs safely.

As the heat wave continues, the situation for delivery drivers remains critical. The company can provide ice, rags, and unlimited water, but every time these drivers go to work, they’re risking their lives. And it shouldn’t be that way.