A courier or last-mile delivery hub is a small distribution center in a storefront, garage or warehouse. Parcels arrive in bulk, get sorted, loaded onto vans, cars, bikes or e-bikes, and go out to customers all day. The hub holds other people's property: packages worth a few dollars and some worth thousands. Losses come from missing parcels, mis-sorts, driver disputes, break-ins and theft of vehicles and e-bikes. Customers and shippers demand proof of what happened to each package. Cameras and good procedures supply that proof. This guide explains how to lay out cameras in a courier and delivery hub in New York and New Jersey: what to cover, how to protect packages and vehicles, how to handle drivers and customers fairly and what a sensible system costs.
This is general information, not legal advice. Talk to your attorney and insurer about cargo coverage, claims and recording.
1. The Short Version
| Zone | Camera goal |
|---|---|
| Entrance/driver check-in | Who arrives and leaves, and when |
| Receiving dock | Inbound packages and counts |
| Sorting area | Flow, mis-sorts and tampering |
| High-value cage | Access and handling |
| Loading bay | Parcels loaded onto each vehicle |
| Vehicle and e-bike parking | Theft and damage |
| Exterior | Doors, lot and after-hours entry |
2. What Hubs Face
Typical problems include parcels that disappear between receiving and delivery, drivers who claim packages were never loaded, customers who say they never received a package, break-ins to the hub, stolen vans and e-bikes, battery fires from charging and disputes with carriers or shippers. Our guide on camera placement explains how to plan coverage.
3. Entrance and Driver Check-In
Control the entrance. Require drivers to sign in and out, use badges or codes, and keep a log. A face-level camera at the check-in desk or door records each arrival. Visitors should be escorted. Keep a list of authorized drivers. Our local pages on commercial camera installation in Brooklyn and business camera installation in Newark describe typical hub setups.
4. Receiving and Sorting
Cover receiving with a camera that shows pallets and totes being counted and scanned. Cover sorting tables or belts with overhead cameras that show packages and scanners. Link clips to scan records if your system allows, so supervisors can search by tracking number. Keep lighting bright and consistent. Tell workers where cameras are and why. Our guides on employee camera notice and on employee theft and cameras explain how to do this fairly.
5. High-Value Cage
Electronics, jewelry, medication and other high-value parcels belong in a locked cage with controlled access and a dedicated camera. Log entries and exits. Use two-person handling for the most valuable items. Keep clean records of who handled each item. This is the area most likely to be questioned in a claim.
6. Loading Bay and Vehicle Loading
Cover the loading bay so that each driver's load is visible, including the packages put into the vehicle. A camera that shows the vehicle, the loader and the packages helps resolve claims that a package was never loaded. Combine with scan-out records. Consider asking drivers to scan packages as they load, and record the process. Keep clips for the duration of claim windows.
7. Vehicles, E-Bikes and Charging
Vans, cars and e-bikes are targets. Cover parking areas with cameras and lighting, and lock vehicles. Lithium-ion e-bike batteries can cause fires, so charge them in safe areas with fire protection. The New York City Fire Department publishes lithium-ion battery safety information at nyc.gov. Place cameras so that charging areas are visible, and follow fire safety rules. Do not block exits.
8. Driver Privacy and Fairness
Drivers are often independent contractors or employees on tight schedules. Tell them where cameras are, what they cover and how footage is used. Do not use cameras to micromanage. Do not record audio without legal advice. Do not place cameras in restrooms or changing areas. Our guides on camera laws in New York and New Jersey and on audio recording laws explain why aim and notice matter.
9. Customer Claims and Proof of Delivery
When a customer says a package never arrived, the hub's cameras show when it was sorted and loaded, but not where it went afterward. Combine hub video with driver scans, route data and photo-on-delivery records. Keep clear files for each claim. A system that connects them lets you respond to customers and shippers quickly and fairly.
10. After Hours and Break-Ins
Use door contacts, motion alerts and local recording. Keep a visible camera and sign. Decide who receives alerts and what they do. Call 911 for emergencies. In September 2026, according to Hoodline, police released surveillance images after packages containing sports cards worth about $17,400 were taken from a Brooklyn residential building. That case involved a residential building, not a hub, but it shows how much value can sit in a single parcel and how important a clear record is. In September 2026, News 12 reported that NYPD was seeking two suspects tied to 19 commercial burglaries across 16 Brooklyn neighborhoods.
11. Power, Data and Environment
Hubs may be in older buildings with limited power and data. Use PoE cameras with switches in secure locations, UPS backup and surge protection. Choose cameras that handle dust and temperature swings. Plan for network capacity if you use many high-resolution cameras. Our guides on how cameras are wired and on surge protection explain the basics.
12. Retention and Storage
Keep at least 60 to 90 days of video, since claims can arrive weeks later. Storage planning: total GB = cameras x Mbps x 10.8 x days. Sixteen cameras at 4 Mbps for 60 days is about 41,472 GB, or roughly 41 TB. Keep clips tied to open claims longer. Make sure the clock is correct. Our guides on how long to keep footage and on storage planning explain the math.
13. Common Mistakes
- No camera on the sorting area.
- No cage for high-value parcels.
- Not linking video to scans.
- Short retention.
- Unsafe e-bike charging.
- Recording audio.
- No notice to drivers.
- No after-hours response plan.
14. Cost
Planning ranges in 2026: eight-camera system for a small hub, $3,000 to $7,000; sixteen-camera system, $6,500 to $15,000; twenty-four-camera system, $10,000 to $25,000; integration with scanning systems, $1,000 to $10,000; recorder and storage, $1,000 to $8,000; lighting upgrades, varies. These are planning ranges, not quotes.
15. A Second Data Point
NYPD reported burglary down 19.5% citywide in May 2026 compared with May 2025 (NYPD). A hub's real exposure is its inventory in transit. Process control and video together address it.
16. Questions to Ask Your Installer
- How will you cover sorting and loading?
- Can video link to our scan system?
- How will you protect the high-value cage?
- How will you cover e-bike charging safely?
- How much storage do I need for 90 days?
- Can the work be phased?
See our local pages for commercial camera installation in Brooklyn, business camera installation in Newark, commercial camera installation in Queens and our services page.
Running a hub? Revolvis will walk the property with you and mark the spots, from receiving to the loading bay.
17. A Hypothetical Hub
A 5,000-square-foot Brooklyn hub installs sixteen cameras: a door and check-in camera, two receiving cameras, three sorting cameras, a cage camera, two loading bay cameras, two parking cameras, an office camera and four exterior cameras. Footage is kept 90 days. A shipper claims a parcel was never loaded; the supervisor finds the scan time, pulls the loading clip and shows the parcel going into the driver's van. The claim moves to the driver's route data.
18. Daily Routine
Open by checking cameras. Verify receiving counts. At closing, lock the cage, secure vehicles and e-bikes, set alerts and check doors. Review exceptions daily. Wipe lenses monthly. Test an export monthly.
19. Working With Shippers and Carriers
Share relevant clips with shippers and carriers according to a clear policy. Document seals and counts. Keep communication factual. A hub that responds quickly with evidence builds trust with partners.
20. Insurance and Annual Review
Ask your insurer what it requires for cargo and premises and whether cameras earn a discount. Keep claim files. Once a year, walk the hub with an installer. Check coverage, lighting and procedures. Update training.
Handling Requests From Customers and Shippers
Decide in advance who may request footage and how. Ask for the tracking number, date and a written request, log each release and give only the relevant clip. Route police requests through a manager. A written process keeps staff consistent and protects the hub if a request is disputed later.
More From Revolvis
Cameras are one layer of a secure property. The same in-house crew also handles the rest:
- Keyless entry installation and smart lock installation
- Access control systems and commercial access control
- Video doorbells and intercoms
- Alarm system installation
- Complete unified security
Learn more about Revolvis, meet the team, see all services, browse the blog or contact us.
Areas We Serve
Revolvis installs residential and commercial camera systems across the New York metro area. Every borough and county has its own building stock, rules and wiring challenges, so the plan for a Queens two-family is not the plan for a Manhattan co-op.
- Staten Island: houses, detached garages and shop fronts. See security camera installation in Staten Island.
- Brooklyn: brownstones, row houses and storefronts. See security camera installation in Brooklyn.
- Queens: attached brick homes, two-families and busy commercial strips. See security camera installation in Queens.
- The Bronx: pre-war buildings, bodegas and warehouses. See security camera installation in the Bronx.
- Manhattan: co-ops, condos, offices and retail. See security camera installation in Manhattan.
- Long Island: Nassau County and Suffolk County.
- New Jersey: Jersey City, Newark, Hoboken and nearby towns.
The full list is on the service areas page.
Get a Custom Quote After a Site Visit
Revolvis prices every job after a site visit, because the building sets the cost as much as the equipment does. A few things make the estimate faster and more accurate:
- The address and property type: house, apartment, co-op, condo, storefront or warehouse.
- Which doors, sides and areas you want covered, and what worries you most.
- Photos of those spots and any spots where you already have cabling or power.
- How many days of footage you want to keep and whether you want to watch on your phone.
- Any landlord, board, lender or insurer requirement.
Call 347-258-9165 or use the contact page to book a site visit. The quote you receive is written and itemized, so you can compare it line by line.
Frequently Asked Questions
What cameras does a delivery hub need? Check-in, receiving, sorting, cage, loading, parking and exterior cameras.
How do I resolve missing parcel claims? Combine hub video, scan records and route data.
Can I record audio? Usually not without legal advice.
How long should I keep video? Often 60 to 90 days.
Is e-bike charging a risk? Yes. Follow fire safety guidance and keep exits clear.
Should I tell drivers about cameras? Yes, in writing.
Ready for a custom quote? Call Revolvis at 347-258-9165 for a site visit and a written, itemized estimate.
Safety note: A camera system supports, but does not replace, good locks, lighting, alarms and everyday habits. If you are in danger or witnessing a crime, call 911. Prices and legal summaries in this guide are general information for the New York metro area, not an offer or legal advice. A written quote after a site visit governs your actual price, and for legal questions you should confirm with the agencies linked in the article or a licensed attorney.