What Sets Amazon Flex Apart From Other Delivery Services

What Is Amazon Flex?

Amazon Flexis a program that acts as a supplement to Amazon’s regular last-mile delivery fleet, particularly in areas with high demand for Amazon’s delivery services.

It’s available in an ever-expanding network that currently spans over 100 cities and towns in the US.

Unlike Amazon’s fully employed delivery drivers, who drive Amazon-branded vehicles and wear uniforms, Amazon Flex drivers use their own cars, smartphones, and equipment to help them deliver packages from the local distribution center.

How Does Amazon Flex Work?

Just like many other gig jobs, Amazon Flex allows for flexibility—hence its name—regarding work hours.

Drivers are free to pursue their own schedule, which is determined by scheduling delivery blocks through the Amazon Flex app.

These delivery blocks are shifts during which an Amazon Flex driver collects packages from the Amazon warehouse and delivers them to their final destinations.

All Amazon Flex drivers are tied to a local distribution center, which is where they’re assigned packages to deliver from.

It’s possible to change your warehouse, but this may be a tedious process that requires directly contacting Amazon support.

How Does Amazon Flex Delivery Work for Drivers?

The delivery process is straightforward. After picking up your delivery block, arriving at the warehouse, and finding your assigned group of packages, you need to scan every single one of them while loading them into your vehicle.

They’ll usually be conveniently separated into racks based on their destination area, making it easier for you to organize your schedule.

After loading the packages into your vehicle and checking out from the warehouse, you go out to deliver them while following your own schedule.

You’ll use the Amazon Flex app to navigate the streets and fulfill your delivery blocks as quickly and effectively as possible.

After you finish your route, you return to the warehouse to finish your shift and leave any undelivered packages.

Some Amazon Flex drivers use a bot to help them quickly secure the best delivery blocks for themselves due to high competition.

This is forbidden by Amazon, though, and drivers who use bots may face penalties, so we also discourage their usage.

Amazon Flex drivers are encouraged, though not mandated, to wear a special high-visibility vest provided at the warehouse.

It helps people recognize you as an Amazon driver and reduces the risk of police stops or false intruder alerts, so it’s best to wear it while on the job.

Amazon Flex Rewards

Amazon Flex drivers have a four-tiered leveling system, with points that they gain for each successful delivery and delivery block, modified by your current standing with the service.

Reaching each level will grant a certain set of rewards, which include:

• Amazon Flex Debit Card: This debit card allows you instant access to your earnings, along with special cashback rewards that are scalable with your level.
• Preferred Scheduling: Depending on your level, you can activate a preferred scheduling period lasting between 10 and 30 minutes.
• Discounts: You get discounts on goods and services from various Amazon partners, with more discounts unlocked with each level.
• Mileage and Expense Tracking: This service helps you deduct eligible expenses at tax time, so you can keep more of your earnings.
• Insurance: In partnership with Stride, you get exclusive access to tools that help you find the cheapest possible insurance deals.

What Types of Amazon Flex Delivery are Available?

Amazon Flex drivers may receive four different types of assignments, which may influence the way the delivery works and how much it pays.

Amazon Logistics

These are the most common type of block, where drivers are assigned regular Amazon packages.

The blocks are usually between 3 and 6 hours long and require you to deliver anywhere between 30 and 70 packages.

This may translate to anywhere between 20 and 50 stops. Receiving tips for Amazon Logistics delivery is unlikely.

Prime Now

Thesehave an urgent 1-hour or 2-hour timeframe and become available based on current demand.

They may require a lot of driving, with deliveries being much further apart from each other than with Amazon Logistics.

Still, Prime Now drivers have a better hourly rate and receive tips regularly.

Amazon Fresh

This isAmazon’s grocery delivery service, which has dedicated warehouses for groceries bought from local stores.

Depending on customer preference, deliveries may either be attended (delivered in person within an hour) or unattended (delivered on the doorstep within 2-3 hours).

The former option is rife with tipping opportunities.

Amazon Restaurants

It’sa food delivery service where, instead of going to an Amazon distribution center, you pick the food up right from a restaurant near you and deliver it to the customer.

Out of all the four Amazon Flex delivery types, it requires the most direct customer interaction—all deliveries are attended and may require extra coordination with the customer over order details.

What’s the Difference Between Working for Amazon Flex and an Amazon Delivery Partner?

If you want to work as an Amazon delivery driver, you have a choice between working as an Amazon Flex driver and joining an Amazon DSP’s (Delivery Service Partner) delivery fleet.

Let’s go over the main differences between the two jobs.

Working for Amazon Flex

The chief characteristic of working for Amazon Flex is the fact that you’re registered as an independent contractor rather than a regular employee.

On the one hand, this means that you have flexibility when deciding your own work schedule and pace.

On the other hand, you lack regular employee benefits and the security that comes with employee status, and you need to do your own taxes.

A potential benefit is the fact that you work directly for Amazon, a reputable international industry giant, so you’re guaranteed not to have to worry about payout delays and similar issues.

You have greater freedom over your finances—you can freely opt between getting paid out every week or every day. You can also use your own vehicle and aren’t required to wear an Amazon delivery uniform.

Overall, working for Amazon Flex is the better choice if you’re looking for a strong side hustle opportunity for a trusted international retail giant.

Working for an Amazon Delivery Partner

For its last-mile delivery, Amazon contracts local delivery services to provide vehicles and delivery drivers under its general guidelines.

Working for a Delivery Service Partner is a regular job with all the employee benefits that it entails, according to the laws and regulations of your jurisdiction.

This grants a degree of security lacking in many gig jobs.

As a downside, you need to follow a strict schedule and set of guidelines, including driving an official Amazon vehicle, wearing an Amazon uniform, etc.

The employee guidelines can be adjusted by the Delivery Service Partners themselves, too.

Generally, the salary is higher than with Amazon Flex, but this isn’t a firmly set rule—many drivers complain about having lower wages than with Amazon Flex.

It largely depends on the terms set by the DSP and the level of demand in the area.

Finding a job with an Amazon DSP is the better option if you’re looking for a full-time or part-time job opportunity rather than a side hustle.

Working for a smaller business also leaves room for quicker progress than working directly for Amazon.

What Are the Requirements for Working as an Amazon Flex Driver?

The basic requirements for working as an Amazon Flex driver are fairly straightforward. You need to:

1. Be at least 21 years old: This requirement is lower in most countries outside of the US, though, where you only need to be 18 to drive for Amazon Flex.
2. Have a valid driver’s license: While a standard driver’s license should be sufficient for most of the US, some jurisdictions may require a commercial driver’s license (CDL).
3. Pass the background check: Amazon will usually disqualify you for DUIs and reckless driving, as well as any major felonies and criminal offenses.

The car used for Flex delivery needs to be a 4-door sedan, SUV, van, or covered-bed pickup truck with personal auto insurance.

You also need to be able to carry packages weighing up to 50 lb, have a valid bank account to receive payments, and be responsible for managing your own taxes.

How Much Can I Make as an Amazon Flex Driver?

The base pay for Flex Drivers is $18/hour, which can increase up to $30/hour in case of bad weather, high demand, or rush hours.

Due to the likeliness of high demand and difficult driving due to rushes, the average hourly pay can be considerably higher in big cities. The average national hourly pay is $25.91/hour.

This average salary places Amazon Flex drastically above most competing driving gigs, with a salary range that goes between DoorDash’s $14.60/hour and Uber’s $24.18/hour.

Still, to avoid legal issues over part-time status as well as driver competitiveness, drivers are capped at working a maximum of 7 hours per day, 29 hours per week, and 116 hours per 30 days.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Words

Working as an Amazon Flex Driver is a prime opportunity for finding a reliable driving gig, with a high hourly rate, constant opportunities for work, and a high degree of flexibility.

The pay is one of the best among the competition, making it Amazon Flex’s trump card, especially in combination with the ability to make daily payouts.

The biggest downside comes from the daily, weekly, and monthly hour caps.

Limiting the hours you can work during a month to only two-thirds of the average workload makes Amazon Flex untenable as anything other than a side hustle, no matter how well-paid and convenient.