The growth of internet has given us a lot of opportunities to make extra incomes. One of the most common ways to earn is working as a delivery driver. A delivery job involves collecting items and transporting them to appropriate destinations. Depending on the industry, delivery drivers transport different goods such as furniture, food, supplies and more. In today’s guide, our interest if focuses on working for Amazon as a delivery driver, in its service known as Amazon Flex.
What is Amazon Flex and How Does it Work?
Amazon Flex provides delivery services using a fleet of gig workers who drive their own vehicles. With Amazon Flex, you use your vehicle to deliver packages for Amazon as and get paid. Started in 2015, the platform has since expanded its services to every U.S state, Canada, and parts of Europe, Asia and Middle East.
Amazon Flex is best for drivers who want to make extra money delivering Amazon products.
Deliveries done by Amazon Flex drivers include;
1. Packages
These are picked up at a delivery station and delivered to customers. Your work must be completed within an allocated time slot, which is usually within 3-6 hours.
2. Prime Now and Amazon Fresh
Groceries and household items are picked up from an Amazon delivery station, usually done in 2–4-hour blocks.
3. Store Orders
These ones are picked up from local stores in blocks of 2-4 hours
4. Instant Offers
Only available in limited areas. These deliveries start near your current location and last from 15 minutes to 45 minutes.
How Does Amazon Flex Work?
The way Amazon flex works is pretty simple. As a Flex worker, you get access to delivery requests. Each delivery has an allocated time slot and you need to make the delivery within that time frame. There is no much flexibility in terms of schedule and that means you will be working your regular shift of 8 hours. However, you get a chance to schedule your work blocks through the app.
How to Join Amazon Flex
Joining Amazon Flex is easy, though it comes with different requirements. A common-sense consideration is whether you are physically able to carry packages from one place to another. Additionally, there are other conditions that need to be met.
- Live in a city where Amazon Flex operates
- Be 21 years of age or older
- Have Social Security number
- Pass a background check
- Have a valid U’S driver’s license
- Show proof of insurance for your vehicle
- Have a smartphone capable of handling the app
- Have a vehicle with good luggage capacity to carry loads of deliveries
How to Sign Up for Amazon Flex
Getting started on Amazon Flex can be done from the comfort of your home. The first and most important component involves answering key questions.
To register, follow this process;
Answer eligibility questions on the Flex website.
On this note, you share your location, whether you’re 21 or older and a licensed driver, if your car fits the requirements and what kind of phone you’re planning to use.
Download the app.
The second step involves downloading the app. Amazon Flex will provide you a link after you complete the questionnaire.
Complete forms in the app.
Lastly, you will need to fill out your availability and your banking information for direct deposit.
Once everything has been sorted out, you can start scheduling.
How to Pick Orders
About an hour before your block begins, a push notification will pop up to remind you it’s time to report to Amazon warehouse, or at the facility to pick up the order.
At the pickup location, you will use the app to scan barcodes on packages. This will let Amazon know you have the items that are assigned to you and you are ready to make deliveries.
Making up Deliveries
Scheduling and completing deliveries for Amazon Flex mostly takes place on the app. Delivery blocks, which are shifts that are typically three to six hours long, can be picked up in two ways:
Claim shifts offered to you by the app. Once you fill in your availability, you’ll periodically be sent options that fit your hours. Go to Calendar in the app to access shifts. These opportunities expire, so pick them up as quickly as you can.
Score hours on short notice. You can find same-day opportunities in a section of the app labeled Check Available Blocks. These appear on a rolling basis up to 24 hours before the shift begins and are first-come, first-served. Sometimes blocks at busier hours of the day are up for grabs, and these high-traffic hours can pay more.
Your delivery route is plotted by the app. If you decide to use your own route, you won’t get penalized for that. Only that be careful to keep it within the constraints of time slot.
Once you get to the delivery station, you will be responsible for taking items to the customer’s door. After you do that, scan the package again as a proof that it was delivered. You might also be asked to take a photo of the package where you have left it. The photo will be sent by the app to the customer, who will then know the package has been delivered.
Amazon Flex Insurance Policy
Amazon will provide insurance above and beyond your normal coverage. They have a commercial policy that includes contingent comprehensive and collision coverage. It will fully cover you when you are making deliveries for Amazon Flex as long as you have your own personal auto insurance as well.
It is important to note that their policy doesn’t cover any passengers who accompany you. In case of an accident and anyone but the Amazon Delivery Partner is driving, the claim will be denied. It is important you get additional coverage on your personal insurance that covers you as a delivery driver.
What Compensation Plan does Amazon Flex have?
A cool thing with Amazon Flex is that you can see how much you are going to make within a certain time frame. You will need to deliver a fair number of packages and order within given time frame.
As Amazon Flex states on its website, you can earn up to $18 – $25 per hour during a regular shift. Additionally, since you are providing a service, customers may end up tipping you for providing them with excellent services. Your payment will be deposited to the bank of your choice usually once in a week.
Does Amazon Flex have Vehicle Requirements?
Amazon Flex have vehicle requirements that differ based on the type of delivery that you are making. For Amazon Prime orders, you can use any vehicle of your choice regardless of its age and condition, as long as you can safely complete trips.
For transportation of other larger packages, Amazon requires a 4-door, mid-sized or large vehicle. Trucks, SUVs and Vans also work well. Ensure the truck bed is covered well. You can also decide to use a rented or borrowed car.
Amazon Flex Background Check for Joining the Program
It is very important for Amazon Flex to run background checks as their customer packages will be in the hands of the drivers. You need to prove that you can be trusted to handle goods the goods which are in most cases quite valuable. This means you should not have a criminal record.
The background check goes back seven years to search for criminal offenses. If you have any offenses on your record involving theft or violence, you are most likely not going to pass. Under normal circumstances, the check takes 2-5 days to complete.
Does Amazon Flex Deactivate Driver Accounts?
Amazon Flex will deactivate driver accounts under different reasons. Here are some of the reasons accounts get deactivated.
- Not having hot/cold bags for restaurant pickup and deliveries.
- You will be deactivated if you don’t schedule a shift for 180 days.
- Undeliverable packages or deliveries not returned to Amazon in timely fashion
- Late deliveries
- Missing shifts
- Being consistently late for shifts
- Stealing
- Bad customer service
- Too many undelivered packages
What are the Pros for Working with Amazon Flex?
Amazon Flex is one of the top platforms you can join and earn a side income as a delivery driver. Here as some of the pros for working with the company.
- High earning potential. According to the company, drivers can stand a good chance to earn relatively high wages of between $18 to $25 per hour on average.
- There are flexible working hours. Take on up to 7 delivery blocks per week or just do 1-2 delivery blocks in your spare time.
- You can boost your earnings with tips if you provide a good customer service to your customers.
- There is cancellation flexibility. If you are not free at the last minute, you can cancel a delivery block up to 45 minutes without penalties.
Here are some of the most common recorded cons associated with working for Amazon Flex
- One cannot deliver with motorcycles. This means you must use a 4 door, mid-sized sedan or larger one for big orders mostly for prime customers.
- Vehicle expenses are not covered. You will have to pay for your vehicle expenses such as fuel costs, and this can take a great chunk of your money.
Is Amazon Flex Better than Uber or Lyft?
This is a question that gets asked from different quotas. The pay of about $25 per hour sounds great, but it can get challenging to get consistent shifts. You may not be able to turn your app and get deliveries from other ride share apps. This in turn means you are at the mercy of Amazon and you have to fight a pool of hundreds of drivers for the same shift.
On the other hand, Amazon Flex is an easy gig that has little customer service as compared to requests you would get from Uber and Lyft, which are 100 percent customer service jobs. For these reasons, we believe Amazon Flex is great option for ridesharing or deliver driver who wants an easy way to pick up a few high paying hours per week.
Amazon Flex Payout Terms and Options
Amazon Flex processes payments twice every week. These payments are done on Tuesdays and Fridays with standard delivery drivers paid based on their most recent deliveries.
If you are driving for Amazon Restaurants or Prime Now, you’ll be paid after their tips are processed. Regardless of what you are driving for, your payments will be made via direct deposit.
You also have to note that Amazon Flex earnings may differ based on factors such as deliveries completed, time of the day, location and other expenses.
Is Amazon Flex Legit?
Amazon Flex is a legit and reliable way to make a living. It is a service provided by Amazon so there is no risk of fraud. On Glassdoor, Amazon Flex workers give this gig a rating of 64 percent. For any business, there will be both positive and negative reviews. Workers complained that they would rather get more work during their shifts.
Other users didn’t like the fact that they couldn’t talk directly to the support as the only way to contact them is through email. Overall, Amazon Flex is a good platform that provides you with the opportunity to make extra money.
Amazon Flex presents a great option if you want to work a few hours at a time and make consistent income. While there are obvious challenges that come with any delivery job. Amazon flex seems to be one of the most popular deliver options out there.
Once you are signed up as a driver, there is no commitment. You only need to ensure that it’s a good option for you. We recommend giving it a try. If you are looking for something different. you can as well try other business opportunities out there and see the ones that works best for you.
