When a person makes an online purchase through Amazon, the package's last stop before reaching its destination is a station used for sorting into final delivery routes.

One such delivery station opened this summer just north of Ashland.

The station, next to the Columbia Regional Airport, had 30 employees as of its start date of June 9. The staff has increased to about 60 as of Thursday as the station increases its capacity, said Bruce Bax, operations manager.

"We're in our infancy stage, so we are ramping up. We are running 2,200 to 3,500 packages (daily). As we ramp up, this facility will be capable of running 20,000 to 24,000 packages," Bax said. The goal is to be at this package capacity by late September or early October in preparation for the holiday season, he added.

More: What to know about the Amazon distribution center under construction in Ashland

New employees participate in three days of training, with the first day in a classroom. They are partnered with a more senior employee on the warehouse floor their second day, and by about the middle of the third day, they work independently, Bax said.

The collapse of an Amazon warehouse in Edwardsville, Illinois, during a tornado last December, which resulted in six casualties, brought the question of worker safety to the forefront. There is a central zone of the warehouse that is outlined as a severe weather shelter area for employees, Bax said.

"This area was picked by our engineers to be the safest place in the building. We do severe weather drills monthly, and each day in our stand-up meetings we discuss safety and what to do in any type of event," Bax said.

Where Amazon deliveries will go in Missouri

The station will conduct deliveries in a 50-mile radius, reaching locales such as Columbia, Centralia, Jefferson City, Mexico, Fulton and Boonville.

“This is a great opportunity. It is historic as the first Amazon site in mid-Missouri,” Bax said, who graduated from Lincoln University in Jefferson City and resides in the area with his family.

Amazon aims to have at least 100 employees at this station.

This is separate from its delivery service partner, which currently has about 20 drivers. There are two delivery drivers per route, so there are 10 routes at the present time. There also are "flex" drivers, who are independent contractors and able to choose their delivery routes, Bax said.

The new delivery station will help optimize capacity to meet customer expectations for delivery, especially during peak times, including Amazon Prime Day that is slated for July 12-13, Amazon said in a news release.

The station is 47,000 square feet, or just under the size of a football field.

"There is a lot of data that (Amazon) analyzed. For this facility to go in here, they analyzed the number of packages coming to this area and the volume," Bax said, adding Ashland was selected because of its location between Columbia and Jefferson City. "... This facility is another avenue for us to deliver those packages faster."

Delivery vans through Amazon's service partner are the main delivery source, along with the flex drivers. It will take more study before things like package lockers are added or drone deliveries are conducted.

How the Ashland Amazon delivery station works

Trucks carrying packages from Amazon fulfillment centers that already are boxed or bagged up arrive on trucks to the delivery station.

Employees scan each package, which gets assigned a rack location. Employees then further sort packages into delivery packs, which hold up to 50 pounds' worth of packages. These delivery packs are assigned to routes.

Delivery packs are loaded up on their respective delivery partner vehicles or to the flex drivers. Flex drivers conduct deliveries on routes that take 3 1/2 to 4 hours, Bax said.

Trucks from the fulfillment centers arrive around 7 a.m., said Ida Rossen, owner of IP Focus Logistics, which is the delivery service partner with Amazon. Delivery van drivers arrive around 8:15 a.m. Drivers start heading out to make deliveries by about 9 a.m. over a 10-hour shift; they work four days per week.

"Right now our drivers do 70 to 90 stops per day," Rossen said. "Prime Day is right around the corner, so we'll see those numbers go up to roughly 120 stops per day."

Peak delivery season around Thanksgiving to Christmas likely will see a similar stop number for delivery drivers. All drivers are local to the region.

"I could not have imagined being in partnership with Amazon. This is huge," Rossen said. "We're called the last mile. So once customers place their order — and we are here in town now — you are going to get your package that much quicker and it is coming from someone in your neighborhood."

One delivery driver is excited to be back in Columbia. Donna Mitchell was working as an Amazon delivery driver in Charlotte, North Carolina, but originally is from Columbia.

"When I knew I was moving back, I transferred," Mitchell said. "When I deliver a package, I deliver it as if I am getting a package — fast, friendly and on time."

Mitchell had only positive things to say about her experience working with Amazon. She started with the company about six months ago and is one month into her delivery job out of the Ashland station.

"I don't mind the (10-hour days)," said Mitchell, who also does flex deliveries depending on when she finishes a route. Because of the current package capacity, she may finish her regular route in five to eight hours. "Once it picks up, we'll be at the whole 10 hours."

Charles Dunlap covers local government, community issues and other general subjects for the Tribune. You can reach him at cdunlap@columbiatribune.com or @CD_CDT on Twitter. Please consider subscribing to support vital local journalism.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Amazon delivery station opens near Columbia Regional Airport