Amazon Launches Program to Fund the Education of its Delivery Drivers

Business titan Amazon is launching a program to help its delivery drivers pursue education.

The program, Next Mile, will give participating Delivery Service Partners (DSPs) up to $5,250 per eligible driver per year for access to more than 1,700 academic programs, such as bachelor's and associate degrees, skill certifications, and high school completion courses.

“These new investments, along with new rate increases for DSPs, will total more than $450 million over the next year, and help us enable these owners to be great employers and build great teams,” Amazon officials noted. “With the addition of these new program offerings, Amazon now supports participating DSPs in offering their drivers education and career advancement benefits and financial planning for the future, as well as business coaching and resourcing for DSP owners themselves.”

The company will also contribute an additional $60 million to help DSPs match employee 401(k) contributions.

"As a small business owner and community leader, having the ability to provide industry-leading benefits like educational assistance and retirement saving is incredible," said Mike Tran, an Amazon DSP and owner of Pacific Keys Logistics. "For so many, education is the foundation of opportunity and empowerment. I'm grateful that I can now provide these incredibly valuable benefits for my team. Every day they work so hard to serve the local community, and offering them amazing benefits and resources is so rewarding."