Amazon Camperforce

[waverider1987]

I searched the forums for this topic, but seems they are a bit dated, or don't answer all the questions i'm seeking.  Just wondering people's experiences doing this, specifically:

Which location did go to and would you go there again?
Your job position and what it entailed.
Amount paid and hours worked per week, how many months spend working, and total amount earned at end.
Anything else you feel is relevent

My dad did this job at a nearby amazon facility, and did the stowing job, which is what i think i'd like to do.  I'm thinking a few months doing it, starting maybe sept or oct, would make some awesome money.  I've honestly never had more than two grand to my name before, and the thought of earning that in just a month and then some, sounds awesome.  I would still be living out of my 4 runner though, i wonder how living out of the suv and not traveling consistently would be like.  Maybe pitch a durable tent for extra comfort.  It seems like a popular job with work campers, a great way to make a lot of money in a short amount of time, and get back out there.  I thought about the sugar beet harvest as well, but i think i like the idea of being kept out of the elements, at least, for manual labor type jobs.

Anyone's input is appreciated.

 

[WriterMs]

There is an awesome blogger named Becky who works for Amazon seasonally and camps in her Casita. She has for years. She shares which facilities, what the jobs are like, how much she makes, etc. She is younger than most of us on this forum, I think, so you may find a lot of her info relevant.

In her Useful Stuff section, you can scroll down to a link for Camperforce. You'll see tons of other useful things on that page, too. Get ready to read a lot. Here is a link to that page:

http://www.interstellarorchard.com/useful-stuff/

 

[waverider1987]

Thanks. I have seen her site and read her articles.

 

[akrvbob]

Amazon s closing down many of its sites to the Camperforce, there are only a few left, Dallas, and one each in Kentucky and Tennessee, I think?

For the most part they treat the Camperforce very well and do all they can to help you succeed, but the bottom line is you are on your feet for at least 10 hours a day, a lot of people also have problems with the hand held computers hurting their wrists.

If you can handle the physical demands it will probably work well for you.

You also may want to consider the Beet Harvest, it's actually more money and it's shorter.
Bob

 

[waverider1987]

Does anyone know the typical shift hours? I've only read about the night shift, from 5pm to 5am. What other shifts are there, like the regular daytime shift hours and such? Thanks.

 

[WanderLoveJosh]

I recently sent in an application for the seasonal work at amazon location for camperforce in texas. Can anyone give me an idea on how long it could be before I hear something from them? just curious 

Thanks

 

[akrvbob]

It should be pretty quick, they are motivated to get and keep the Camperforce.
Bob

 

[BeckyIO]

I recently sent in an application for the seasonal work at amazon location for camperforce in texas. Can anyone give me an idea on how long it could be before I hear something from them? just curious 

Thanks

Heya Josh,

I've applied for Texas again this year as a returnee.  I've gotten my acceptance letter, but no other information yet about paperwork, campgrounds etc., and others I've talked to who've applied for Texas say the same.  Michael Cross who is the director of CamperForce this year says there are some computer issues that're being worked out.

As for Bob's comment about sites being shut down - There use to be a site in Kansas and once in Nevada that did indeed close, but Tenessee, Texas, and Indiana were opened up the same year so the number of sites has actually gone up by 1 when you look at net gain.

And if you're still following this thread Waverider - http://www.interstellarorchard.com/2012/06/26/about-amazons-camperforce/ is the post I've written about CamperForce that links to everything I have on the subject, including shift information.  In short: there is a day shift and a night shift, but the times vary from site to site and also depending on what department you're in.  In Texas last fall I worked day shift and it went from 6 am to 4:30 pm, 5:30 pm once overtime started.

Hope this helps and thanks for the mention WriterMS!

 

[WanderLoveJosh]

that's good to know! perhaps I will contact them! thanks for the info!!

 

[StarEcho]

I completed my application for this year a week or so ago and heard back almost immediately with instructions for the webinar attendance, which I did.  My son did his application late Dec/early Jan for returnees and has already received his contingent offer of employment for Texas.  I started mine back then but got sidetracked.  He never had to do the webinar.  So anyway at the webinar, Michael said that Texas was already full so anyone who attended the webinar would NOT be able to go to Texas..LOL  He told me today they would make an exception for me this time since my son and I are traveling together.  I haven't gotten my offer yet, so I'm crossing my fingers.

So Texas is already full.  I did Nashville, TN (BNA3) last year, night shift, from 6:30pm to 5am.  I realize that DFW might not be any better weather wise, but I swear Nashville was so wet and miserable I could barely stand it.  Oh and this year they are metering electricity so if we use "excessive" we will be charged.  I guess because of the cold and people using electric heaters the campgrounds had high electric bills and complained.

 

[Canine]

Sounds like it might be an ok temp job.Is there a reason nobody has mentioned pay and campground sites?

 

[WanderLoveJosh]

I got an email the other day to schedule for the webinar.. What exactly is covered in it??

 

[StarEcho]

It's just a powerpoint presentation going over what Amazon is, camperforce, what the physical job requirements are, pay, hours, etc.  We were on mute so you only hear the presenters voice.  At the end, he answered people's questions, which they put in via a chat block over to the side of the screen.  It's a hoop to jump through, not an interview or anything like that.

Re the pay, it's 10.75 per hour.  There is a differential for some shifts and he was deliberately vague about the amount of the differential and the shifts.  Pretty much everything about hours and shifts and days is at the pleasure of the business, so one site might offer a higher differential for a certain shift or job for some reason.  Basically you'll find out the nitty gritty when you are there.  But at the very least you will make 10.75 per hour.  And in general night shift gets a differential which can vary between .25/hr and 4.00/hr depending.

Of course, it includes full hook ups (FHU) at the campground so you can factor that into the pay equation.  Although electricity isn't unlimited.

Campground sites can vary every year depending which campgrounds make an agreement with Amazon.  Last year we stayed at Nashville I-24 campground in Smyrna and it was pretty good as rvs within spitting distance of each other campgrounds go.  IE, from inside your RV you can hear the people talking outside their RV across the "street".  The owners were very friendly, there were  thanksgiving and christmas dinners for everyone there.  It was very pleasant.  There was an adequate laundry facility on site, they sold propane during daylight hours, trash pickup at least once a day.  Lots of friendly people, waves when you drove around.  This was the closest campground to the fulfillment center - about a half hour away.  Others weren't quite so lucky and were from 40 minutes to over an hour away.

The weather is such that you will need to figure in overnight freezing temps for some of the time you are there.  That could mean frozen water pipes if you don't have a "heated basement" like in the larger RVs.  Or it could mean you invest in heat tape and tape up your water pipes that are exposed to the outside.  We put some insulation around the water hose and left the water running at a trickle overnight when temps were expected to be below freezing.  We kept our sewer closed except to dump once a week or so.

They made a point of saying that only RVs are accepted.  No car camping.  No tent camping. They didn't specifically say no vans but they said the smallest RV was a Class B.  Or converted van with shower and bathroom and heater which would make it a class b.  So I guess if your van looks like it could be a class B it would work.  My guess is the low-top vans wouldn't be allowed.  But that's something that you'd have to clarify yourself.

Last year we knew someone who was there in a teardrop trailer, so not sure if that was the reason they made this rule this year?  They obviously did not have a bathroom or shower.  Not sure about heat.  They seemed to do fine though.  The campground we were at did have bathrooms and showers.  The presented did make a point of saying that not all campgrounds have bathrooms and showers.

 

[akrvbob]

Sounds like it might be an ok temp job.Is there a reason nobody has mentioned pay and campground sites?

Probably because we have talked about it many, many times here. You may want to do a search on it--everything you could want to know is there.
Bob

 

[waverider1987]

Applied about 1.5 months ago just to see what would happen...just got an email for group interview.

 

[waverider1987]

Looks like next step is a mandatory webinar...

 

[waverider1987]

So far i've been through almost the entire interview and sign up process. Got the acceptance email today with location placement. Now just waiting to get details on "next steps", such as drug test, etc. But ya, so far it's pretty much been a smooth process.

 

[waverider1987]

If anyone had to decide between Murfreesboro and Campbellsville, which would you choose? Again, I got my placement, but I am just curious.

 

[Rugster]

Cool, you're in ! Keep us updated