Amazon is presently the second-largest employer within the U.S. The web purchasing large had near 800,000 staff in 2019, but it surely’s additionally an organization that depends rather a lot on contractors.
So should you’re searching for a straightforward and versatile approach to earn a living, delivering packages for Amazon might be the best gig for you. The corporate has been increasing its last-mile supply community to make sure that consumers get their Amazon bundle inside two days or the very subsequent day — generally even quicker if the patron makes use of Amazon Prime.
Amazon supply jobs are straightforward to get due to the robust demand for the service, and dealing for Amazon Flex is among the best driving gigs round.
What Do Amazon Supply Drivers Do?
Amazon has an enormous logistics community that transports packages from warehouses to supply stations in every single place within the nation.
As soon as an order makes it to a neighborhood supply station, a supply driver picks up the bundle and brings it to the patron. These Amazon driver jobs are a part of Amazon’s last-mile supply community.
These drivers keep native and comply with a supply route created by Amazon or by an employer that Amazon contracts. There isn’t a long-distance driving, no warehouse-related duties, and no have to have a business driver’s license (CDL).
What Is the Amazon Flex Program?
Amazon launched its Flex program in 2015 to enhance supply occasions and construct a versatile last-mile supply community that might adapt to fluctuating order volumes.
The Flex program is presently obtainable in 50 cities. Because of the success of this system and the quick progress of the corporate, it’s doubtless that this system will turn into obtainable in extra areas sooner or later.
You possibly can apply for Amazon supply jobs by way of this program and work with an unbiased contractor standing. As an Amazon Flex driver, you’ll have to make use of your private car to make deliveries … however you’ll have versatile hours!
Your duties are much like what you’d do should you drove for a supply service companion (DSP), however your standing is totally different, and also you received’t drive a supply van offered by the DSP.
Additionally see: Is Amazon Flex value it
Amazon Flex Necessities
You’ll want to meet a number of necessities to qualify for these Amazon supply driver jobs:
- You have to be 21 or older.
- You could have a legitimate driver’s license in your state.
- You could go a background test.
- You will want a dependable smartphone to substantiate shifts and observe your progress throughout deliveries.
There are additionally a number of restrictions relating to your car. These necessities range from one route to a different, however the minimal requirement is a four-door car so you’ll be able to match all of your packages. Some routes require a van or massive SUV. Additionally, you will want to hold auto insurance coverage for the car you drive.
What Does an Amazon Flex Route Sometimes Look Like?
More often than not, a route (known as a supply block) lasts three to 6 hours. These routes are native, and you’ll cease at a number of houses or company workplaces to ship packages.
There are Amazon supply jobs obtainable for a number of various kinds of orders:
- Prime Now and Amazon Contemporary blocks are sometimes shorter. You’ll ship groceries and home items on these routes.
- Retailer orders can be found in some areas. Your job is to cease by totally different native shops to choose up orders and ship them to prospects.
- On the spot presents sometimes final 30 to 45 minutes. These brief supply blocks are one other grocery supply service.
The best way to Get a Job With Amazon Flex
Getting began with Amazon Flex is straightforward! The wonderful thing about this gig is that you simply don’t should decide to something. You possibly can strive driving a few blocks and determine if it’s an excellent choice for you.
Signal Up for Amazon Flex
Obtain the Amazon Flex app and create an account to get began. The app will let you know instantly if Amazon is presently hiring Flex drivers in your metropolis. If there aren’t any driving jobs obtainable, you’ll be able to add your electronic mail handle to a ready listing.
Amazon will then full a background test. This course of can take two to 5 days. Any violent offenses, expenses associated to theft, or driving violations will disqualify you.
When you go your background test, you’ll have to enter your tax info and watch a number of coaching movies that specify how you can use the app and what to anticipate throughout your first shift.
Choose Up Driving Shifts
There are other ways of selecting up work with Amazon Flex. The simplest approach to get a shift is to point once you’re obtainable to drive. You possibly can select which days and hours you want to work, retaining in thoughts that almost all blocks will final three to 6 hours.
The app will reserve some assured shifts primarily based in your availability. You’re going to get a number of weekly blocks primarily based on these preferences, however needless to say there aren’t any obligations to simply accept these blocks. The assured shifts are an effective way to be sure to meet a minimal variety of hours every week, and you’ll alter your availability as wanted.
You possibly can settle for extra blocks as they turn into obtainable. You’ll want to act quick to substantiate extra shifts, and these blocks often turn into obtainable on brief discover. The app doesn’t use push notifications, so that you’ll should open it often to search for further work.
It’s straightforward to seek out extra blocks in the course of the vacation season or shortly after Prime Day, however extra blocks is perhaps arduous to get should you don’t test the app often.
There are caps on how a lot you’ll be able to work. The aim of those caps is to forestall you from working sufficient hours to qualify as a full-time worker. Caps range from one state to a different and appear to be much less restrictive in the course of the vacation season.
You will note the period and pay for every block earlier than you settle for it. You’ll at all times know what to anticipate and the way a lot you’ll earn.
Earlier than You Begin a Block
You’ll obtain a message by way of the Amazon Flex app a number of hours earlier than the beginning of a block. This message could have details about which native Amazon supply station you might want to head to.
Your shift begins once you get to the supply station and test in with the app. You then load the packages into your car and scan them.
The app will present you the path to comply with, together with supply directions for every handle. You’ll have to use the app to snap an image of the packages you ship and ensure that you simply’ve accomplished a supply.
Amazon doesn’t count on you to ship packages in individual, however you’ll often run into the recipients. Your job duties embody representing Amazon and delivering wonderful customer support in these conditions.
When you’re carried out along with your block, you may need to go again to the supply station when you’ve got any packages that you simply have been unable to ship.
Your earnings will seem within the app when you full your block. Payouts occur as soon as every week on Wednesdays. The app will ship your earnings to your checking account by way of direct deposit, which may take as much as 5 days to clear.
The best way to Increase Your Amazon Flex Earnings
Are you desirous about driving for the corporate? The next suggestions will enable you to maximize your earnings as an Amazon Flex supply driver.
Get Correct Protection
Your auto insurance coverage is a vital consideration since you’ll be utilizing your private car to make deliveries. Should you don’t disclose your Amazon Flex gig to your insurance coverage firm, your driving job might void your coverage.
Most insurance coverage firms will particularly ask about driving gigs like Uber, Doordash, or Amazon Flex and provide extra protection for these actions. Needless to say Amazon Flex is a supply job and differs from ride-sharing. You will want a coverage that covers these deliveries, and also you may have to improve to a business coverage.
Verify the Flex App Often
Close by supply stations can add obtainable blocks to the app at any time. Open the app often all through the day and faucet on presents within the menu. Full the complete affirmation course of if you wish to e-book a shift, and keep in mind that the app operates on a primary come, first serve foundation!
Verify Your Map Earlier than Leaving the Supply Station
Infrequently, your route will embody a supply to an handle that’s manner off your path. You possibly can often get the supply station to replace your route and assign this supply to a different driver. This easy trick can cut back your fuel bills.
Search for Patterns
Amazon Flex drivers can earn extra by searching for patterns. You possibly can decide up extra shifts in the course of the vacation season, however occasions like Prime Day or Cyber Monday might end in some further work.
Verify the app often to determine what time of day extra shifts turn into obtainable, so that you don’t miss them. Search for patterns to get an thought of when you will get blocks that pay a little bit extra.
A typical tip that Flex drivers share is to test the app when the climate is dangerous. Plenty of drivers don’t settle for their reserved blocks if roads get icy.
Preserve Monitor of Your Bills
Preserve a log of all bills incurred whereas driving for Amazon Flex. You possibly can declare your mileage in your taxes, and retaining observe of your bills will enable you to calculate an correct hourly wage for this driving gig. You possibly can then examine Amazon Flex to different alternatives and determine what you wish to deal with.
Amazon Flex Different: Driving Full-Time With a Native Supply Service Associate
Amazon Flex is among the finest freelance driving gigs on the market. Nevertheless, the month-to-month, weekly, and generally each day hour cap is usually a disadvantage should you don’t have one other supply of earnings.
So should you’re searching for different jobs which might be like driving for Amazon Flex, it’s doable to turn into a full-time driver by making use of for a job by way of an Amazon Supply Service Associate.
Amazon depends on a community of Supply Service Companions to deal with a good portion of their last-mile deliveries. These companions are small or medium-sized companies that function a fleet of supply autos.
Most DSPs provide full-time positions and count on drivers to work round 40 hours every week. All of your routes shall be for native deliveries, and also you received’t want a business driver’s license to use.
Yow will discover DSP jobs in virtually each metropolis, however needless to say your hours, pay, and work setting can differ from one employer to a different.
The DSP is chargeable for offering coaching and for planning your supply routes. Your annual wage ought to common $37,277 a yr, which corresponds to incomes round $18 an hour.
Additionally see: Jobs like Amazon Flex to strive
Amazon Flex Vs. Working for a DSP
One of many foremost benefits of making use of for a supply job by way of a DSP is that your employer will present a supply car. You received’t should pay for fuel, insurance coverage, or upkeep in your supply car.
The Amazon Flex program is your only option should you’re searching for a versatile driving gig that doesn’t require any commitments. You possibly can work as little or as a lot as you need, so long as you don’t exceed the cap set by Amazon.
Your earnings range from one Amazon Flex block to a different. The alternatives obtainable can range from one location to a different, and also you’ll discover that there are extra high-paying alternatives in the course of the vacation season.
Drivers report incomes anyplace between $18 and $25 an hour. Some say they earn as a lot as $30 an hour in the course of the vacation season as a result of elevated order quantity.
Whereas plenty of DSPs have a morning huddle and a debriefing on the finish of the day that drivers should attend, driving for Amazon Flex is a special expertise. You’re extra unbiased and may go dwelling upon getting delivered all of your packages.
Plenty of your duties will revolve across the Amazon Flex app. You’re going to get your schedule, route, and different info by way of the app. The app will even observe your progress and be certain that you comply with the route created by Amazon.
There are a number of downsides to think about earlier than signing up for the Flex program. To start with, this system isn’t obtainable in every single place.
Second, utilizing your private car to ship packages has some drawbacks:
- Your car has to fulfill a number of necessities.
- Amazon received’t compensate you for fuel or car upkeep.
- Driving for Amazon often can put plenty of miles and put on and tear in your automotive.
- You want an insurance coverage coverage that covers your Amazon Flex gig.
- You possibly can lease or borrow a car to drive with Amazon Flex, but it surely may improve your prices.
Ultimate Ideas
Being an Amazon Flex driver is among the finest freelance driving gigs on the market because of the aggressive pay and easy nature of the duties you carry out. It’s straightforward to get began, and you’ll count on extra blocks and earnings sooner or later as Amazon continues to develop!
