Amazon opens new last-mile delivery center in Michigan

On Wednesday, Amazon's new express distribution center in Canton, Michigan, officially went into use. This is the latest package processing center opened by the online retail giant in Michigan.

It is reported that this large 180,000-square-foot distribution center is located at 49000 Michigan Avenue and is the last stop for Amazon packages delivered to western Wayne County and eastern Washington County.

Amazon said that their packages will be transported to the warehouse by semi-trailer trucks from Amazon sorting centers and distribution centers elsewhere. After the packages are delivered, sorters will sort them into rows of metal shelves according to the destination zip codes of these packages.

Finally, the packages are loaded onto vans and other delivery vehicles operated by non-Amazon contractors. “We call this the last mile,” said James Kingsley, a senior regional manager at Amazon.

The distribution center was built for Amazon by a third-party developer. Originally, most of the land was idle except for a dilapidated house.

According to the staff of the distribution center, the busiest shift here starts as early as 1:20 a.m., with sorters shuttling back and forth between packages, and after a few hours, the packages will be sorted and sent to the next station. Delivery drivers leave the warehouse around 10 a.m. to noon, and the day's deliveries are basically carried out in the afternoon.

Amazon said the average starting salary for Amazon assistant positions at the new distribution center is $19 per hour, while the minimum wage is $16 per hour. However, Amazon officials declined to give a cap on salaries.

Amazon executives added that recruiting workers for the early morning shifts was not a problem.

"Our initial recruitment plan has been successful," Kingsley said. "We will continue to increase our recruitment efforts and hire more employees before the peak season. We expect to have hundreds of employees in this distribution center in the future, as well as hundreds of drivers."

Amazon

Distribution Center