Semi-Obscured: A Natural Field Study of Carrier Legitimacy and Safety Patterns

This brief but telling natural field study documents 13 semi-trucks observed within 37 minutes outside an Amazon warehouse.

In an era where freight velocity and volume are increasing rapidly, especially around high-volume distribution centers like Amazon’s, the systems that ensure carrier safety and legitimacy are showing signs of strain. This brief yet telling natural field study documents 13 semi-trucks observed within 37 minutes outside an Amazon warehouse.

Objective

This natural field experiment aimed to observe semi-truck traffic near an Amazon warehouse and identify carrier characteristics patterns, focusing on safety compliance and potential operational affiliations.'

Methodology

The observation occurred over 37 minutes at a location within one mile of an Amazon distribution center. During this time, the experimenter photographed and recorded each semi-truck that passed the observation point, documenting 13 unique carriers.

Notably, several trucks were observed operating bobtail (without a trailer), making it difficult to determine whether they were actively hauling for Amazon or participating in the Ama…