There are plenty of options for drivers who want to make some extra cash while on the road. Whether it’s Uber, Lyft, Postmates, or Instacart, there has never been a better time to drive than now. But rising up among the established rideshare players is one new service that drivers are falling in love with.
Amazon is letting independent contractors complete their deliveries through the Amazon Flex program. This program allows drivers to make extra income while still being able to take control of their time.
Today we’re diving into the basics of what drivers need to know, and outlining the Amazon Flex driver requirements necessary to get on the road. Let’s dive right in.
Amazon Flex Driver Requirements [The Basics]
1. Flex Driver’s Job
There are many different types of Amazon Flex Jobs (complete list here) but the premise of the service is pretty basic: Amazon Flex drivers pick up packages from stations and deliver them to the intended recipient by taking directions from the Flex app.
The shifts are usually in 4-hour blocks, which can be scheduled ahead of time or as they become available. These blocks are becoming harder to get a hold of due to a large amount of drivers fighting for them, but with a little patience, there’s still plenty to be had.
2. Compensation
The Amazon Flex driver pay ranges from $18 to $25 per hour. The pay is dependent on the time of the shift, the region, and the difficulty. The good thing about Flex, though, is drivers will know how much they will earn from a shift once they sign up for it.
Occasionally, Amazon also offers incentives to its drivers such as gift cards for certain blocks completed within a time frame. Although there is still no permanent incentive or bonus system, they send out bonus opportunities via email.
Read: The Definitive Guide To Amazon Flex Pay
3. Qualifications
The application process to be an Amazon Flex driver is pretty straightforward. However, a driver must first meet the following requirements:
- Be 21 years old or older
- Have a Social Security Number
- Have auto insurance
- Pass a background check
In addition, the applying driver must have access to a qualifying vehicle. This can either be a four-door sedan, a minivan, or a pickup truck. An iPhone or Android phone is also required in order to download the Amazon Flex app.
4. Types of Deliveries
Amazon Flex: ‘Uber’ drivers for Prime Now deliveries http://t.co/hyuoHaMB3J via @BGR pic.twitter.com/rMkp2VGuJJ
— BurstSocial (@BurstSocial) September 30, 2015
Flex drivers are assigned several types of deliveries. The Flex app will let the drivers know which type they are going to do and how to complete it.
- Prime – These are regular package deliveries.
- Prime Now – These are more timely deliveries and comes in bags instead of boxes.
- Amazon Locker – Drivers will deliver packages to Amazon boxes, which are like PO boxes.
- Merchant Pickups – Instead of picking up the package from an Amazon station, the driver will pick it up from the merchant.
- Restaurant – These are food orders from restaurants.
There are also some possible special deliveries that can come up such as:
- Attended Delivery – The customer themselves or an authorized person must be there at the time of delivery.
- Chilled and Frozen – The item will be placed in a cool bag with a dry ice box. The item must be pulled out of the cool bag upon delivery and the cool bag must be returned to the pickup station.
- Alcohol – The recipient or customer must present ID as a proof of age. The ID is scanned via the Flex app.
5. Deactivation
Passing the application doesn’t guarantee the driver a slot to drive for Amazon Flex for a lifetime.
Amazon Flex may deactivate a driver if they are constantly missing or late for scheduled shifts. Bad customer service, stealing or damaging packages, and failing to attempt to deliver packages are also reasons for Amazon to fire a driver.
Likewise, not scheduling a shift for 180 days can lead to forfeiture of the slot in Amazon Flex.
My Take
Drivers or car owners now have a lot of options to make extra income. Driving for Amazon Flex is a good choice as it allows drivers to work on their own schedule and lets them see how much they’re going to earn before they take on the shift.
It can also be a good alternative for ridesharing partners who don’t feel like driving for passengers that day. Drivers who are interested to learn more about Amazon Flex can check out their website for frequently asked questions.
For a step-by-step tutorial for Amazon Flex drivers, check out this video from The Reality of Andy:
Would you want to apply as a driver for Amazon Flex? Let us know in the comments!
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