Welcome to Amazon Yard Safety
In this course you’ll learn about the various Amazon safety policies regarding operational safety and the safety expectations of the yard. You’ll also learn about several best practices that can help you remain safe in the yard.
You can find additional resources after the course assessment.
Time
This course will take approximately 10 minutes to complete.
Navigating This Course
This course is mobile friendly. You can take it on your phone or on a computer. Select the cards below for tips on taking this course on your phone.
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When you see a "CONTINUE" button, select it to unlock the next section of the course.
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When visiting an Amazon yard, please keep the following safety rules in mind:
- Maintain 3 points of contact when entering and exiting the vehicle.
- Always face the tractor when entering and exiting.
- If exiting your vehicle, make sure you are wearing a Class II safety vest, as this increases your visibility to other drivers in the yard.
- Use the designated walkways when possible, they are the safest, most direct path through the yard.
- Drivers and carriers cannot park over or on the walking paths in an Amazon Yard.
- Drivers must follow yard traffic directions at all times.
NOTE: Safety rules are posted in the yard and available within the Relay Mobile app.
Prohibited Behavior
The following behavior may result in removal from Amazon property:
- Smoking or vaping inside the yard/facility.
- Working under the influence of, or possession of drugs or alcohol while on Amazon property will result in removal from all Amazon loads.
- Possessing any weapon, firearm or explosive device while on Amazon property.
- Engaging in physical altercations, horseplay, practical jokes, or indecent behavior of any type.
- Use of threatening language, abusive behavior towards an Amazon Associate or fellow employee.
- Acts of harassment towards an Amazon employee or customer.
Harassment is defined as “unwelcome verbal or physical conduct that offends, humiliates or intimidates an individual because of any characteristics covered by Amazon’s Equal Opportunity Policy including but not limited to race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender stereotypes, marital status, disability, age, pregnancy.”
Below are more prohibited behaviors:
- Tampering with Amazon equipment or impeding access to any designated emergency exit or life safety equipment.
- Failure to stop at the guard shack.
- Onsite accident or incident due to fault of the driver resulting in injuries or damages.
- Any bodily function that would garner the use of a restroom, which is executed in the trailer yard or other non-acceptable place.
- Incidents that pose risk to life or limbs.
- Badge sharing or any unauthorized entry into trailer yard and/or facility.
Utilize the following safety protocols while in an Amazon yard:
Use your Horn
The horn in the truck is one of the best tools to alert other drivers to your presence or intentions. Using a series of two short honks is required to alert others when performing the following actions:
Performing any backing maneuver.
Pulling out of spaces.
Approaching blind turns in the yard.
Navigating through congested portions of the yard.
Drivers are required to honk horn to alert others!
Door Safety
There are 3 location options for opening/closing trailer doors:
Perpendicular to the drop location.
In the alley, minimum 20 feet/6 metres from the dock door.
After completing approach maneuver prior to entering alley.
When preparing to open a trailer door, make sure you comply with the following guidelines:
Always place tractor in neutral (N), set tractor and trailer parking brakes prior to exiting the cab.
Driver must wear gloves when breaking any seal.
Stay within 6 feet/1.8 metres of your tractor/trailer.
Amazon associates are permitted to open your trailer doors during seal cutting as per the Seal Cutting and Verification policy (the link is in Additional Resources).
Dock Safety
For the safety of those inside the trailer, the tandems should always be slid to the rear position of the trailer prior to docking.
Drivers should always pay close attention to all safety signs on the dock. These may:
indicate restricted areas.
warn of hazards (like slippery floors).
provide other important information.
If a driver notices any safety issues, such as a damaged or unstable section of the dock, report them to an Amazon employee immediately.
Safety Bubble
Drivers and pedestrians are required to maintain safety bubble while operating in the yard.
If a driver is walking in the yard, they should know the distance that they are required to remain away from a tractor.
Likewise, if a driver is driving in the yard, they should know the distance that they should maintain from a pedestrian.
Image showing the safety bubble around a vehicle.
Hand Signals
When in the yard watch for hand signals that are often used to communicate with you.
Image of hand signals.
This section provides detailed instructions on how to use Land-on-Blue (LoB) as a visual reference to park trailers correctly in perimeter slips, back-to-back slips, and wall slips within an Amazon Yard.
The blue line serves as the visual reference point used to guide drivers to help align the front of the trailer while parking without having to exit the truck. This improves driver experience by reducing the need to get out of the truck to ensure accurate parking. While also having the potential to eliminate safety hazards that can be caused due to exiting and boarding the truck numerous times.
Note: This does not apply to docking trailers at dock doors.
Steps to park vehicle using the LoB Indicator
Click the arrow below to read through the steps.
Key Points to Remember
- LoB is a visual reference to park trailers correctly in perimeter slips, back-to-back slips, and wall slips.
- LoB does not apply to docking trailers at dock doors.
- ‘Look-Align-Confirm’ – Use the side-view mirror to locate the LoB, align the nose of the trailer to the LoB, and confirm proper parking.
- Stop backing up the vehicle when the nose of the trailer just passes behind the blue LoB line.
- The front/nose of the trailer should align with the LoB line.
- Sites FAT1, JAN1, CLT9, JAX7, LGB8, HSEA, QXY8, BWI4, BWI5, HGR2, ILG1, KRB7, MTN1, MTNB, MTN6, MTN9, ORH5 have two LoB lines, one at 43’ and the other at 53’. Use the second line at 53′ for parking.
Press the (+) icon to learn more about what drivers must do when operating a vehicle in the yard.
Avoid distraction by continuously scanning for people, vehicles, and potential hazards.
Drivers should not wear headsets or talk on the phone while outside the vehicle. This can interfere with your ability to watch and listen for hazards.
Over-communicate with drivers and pedestrians. Make sure they see you.
Turn off ignition when approached by yard staff or pedestrians.
Obey all posted yard signs, such as STOP, YIELD, and speed limits.
Drivers must maintain speed below 5MPH, and should reduce speed to no more than 2MPH when backing up.
Press the tab to learn more what a driver must do when exiting the vehicle.
Personal Protection Equipment (PPE)
Stay Alert
Safety Bubble
Personal Protection Equipment (PPE)
Proper PPE refers to specialized clothing, shoes, accessories, or equipment worn by drivers to protect them from safety hazards.
While in the yard and on the dock, drivers are required to wear a high visibility vest and closed toe shoes. A high-visibility vest is required to ensure drivers are easily seen by others, especially in dimly lit or busy dock areas. Closed-toed shoes are required to protect drivers’ feet from potential hazards like tripping or falling objects.
Stay Alert
Remove headsets and put away other distracting devices, such as phones, while outside the vehicle. Anything that can take your attention away from watching and listening for potential hazards should be stopped.
Safety Bubble
Maintain a safe distance from operable vehicles – remember the safety bubble. Always over-communicate to any drivers.
Press the (+) icon to learn more about what drivers must do when operating a vehicle in the yard.
Exercise caution around pinch points and where vehicles could move or roll. Always have a pathway to safety.
Stay Alert. Avoid distraction by continuously scanning for people or vehicles and potential hazards. NEVER wear headsets or talk on the phone while outside the vehicle.
Never walk or drive behind someone who is backing. Always assume someone backing does not see you. Leave extra space and give the person backing the right of way.
Ensure brakes are set and overcommunicate when working with helpers.
Press the (+) icon to learn more about what drivers must do when operating a vehicle in the yard.
Having trailer doors ripped off of the trailer, while performing basic maneuvers, is a reoccurring issue on Amazon yards.
- Always physically inspect that the trailer doors are securely latched during the coupling process with a secondary securement.
- Trailers equipped with swing doors have a primary securement of either chains or an integrated handle and latch.
- Secondary securement is mandatory to prevent the primary securement from coming loose.
Dropping a Trailer
Even with a proper Tug Test, a trailer can become disconnected from the tractor, if the King Pin is not properly engaged.
This is avoidable!
Always physically inspect the King Pin has fully engaged with the fifth wheel during the coupling process.
Note: Multiple yard safety infractions may lead to a suspension and/or termination of being able to access Amazon yards.
In addition to this course, we also offer resources that can help supplement this information. Press each button below to view the resources available.
Yard Safety Rules
Download the yard safety infographic for your reference.