Amazon is at the moment the second-largest employer within the U.S. The net purchasing large had near 800,000 workers in 2019, however it’s additionally an organization that depends quite a bit on contractors.
So should you’re on the lookout for a simple and versatile approach to earn cash, delivering packages for Amazon may very well be the best gig for you. The corporate has been increasing its last-mile supply community to make sure that customers get their Amazon bundle inside two days or the very subsequent day — generally even sooner if the consumer 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 without doubt one of 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 all places within the nation.
As soon as an order makes it to an area supply station, a supply driver picks up the bundle and brings it to the consumer. 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 is no such thing as a long-distance driving, no warehouse-related duties, and no must 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 at the moment accessible in 50 cities. As a result of success of this system and the quick progress of the corporate, it’s probably that this system will turn into accessible in extra places sooner or later.
You may 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 accomplice (DSP), however your standing is totally different, and also you received’t drive a supply van supplied by the DSP.
Additionally see: Is Amazon Flex value it
Amazon Flex Necessities
You’ll want to meet a couple of necessities to qualify for these Amazon supply driver jobs:
- You should be 21 or older.
- You should have a legitimate driver’s license in your state.
- You should move a background test.
- You will want a dependable smartphone to verify shifts and observe your progress throughout deliveries.
There are additionally a couple of restrictions concerning 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 Usually 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 properties or company places of work to ship packages.
There are Amazon supply jobs accessible for a couple of various kinds of orders:
- Prime Now and Amazon Recent blocks are sometimes shorter. You’ll ship groceries and home goods 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.
- Immediate provides sometimes final 30 to 45 minutes. These brief supply blocks are one other grocery supply service.
Methods to Get a Job With Amazon Flex
Getting began with Amazon Flex is straightforward! The wonderful thing about this gig is that you just don’t need to decide to something. You may attempt driving a few blocks and resolve if it’s a great possibility for you.
Signal Up for Amazon Flex
Obtain the Amazon Flex app and create an account to get began. The app will inform you straight away if Amazon is at the moment hiring Flex drivers in your metropolis. If there are not any driving jobs accessible, you’ll be able to add your electronic mail tackle to a ready checklist.
Amazon will then full a background test. This course of can take two to 5 days. Any violent offenses, prices associated to theft, or driving violations will disqualify you.
When you move your background test, you’ll have to enter your tax info and watch a couple of coaching movies that designate use the app and what to anticipate throughout your first shift.
Decide Up Driving Shifts
There are alternative ways of selecting up work with Amazon Flex. The simplest approach to get a shift is to point once you’re accessible to drive. You may select which days and hours you wish to work, maintaining in thoughts that the majority blocks will final three to 6 hours.
The app will reserve some assured shifts primarily based in your availability. You’ll get a couple of weekly blocks primarily based on these preferences, however needless to say there are not any obligations to just accept these blocks. The assured shifts are a good way to be sure to meet a minimal variety of hours every week, and you may alter your availability as wanted.
You may settle for extra blocks as they turn into accessible. You’ll want to act quick to verify extra shifts, and these blocks often turn into accessible on brief discover. The app doesn’t use push notifications, so that you’ll need to open it commonly to search for additional 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 exhausting to get should you don’t test the app commonly.
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 length and pay for every block earlier than you settle for it. You’ll all the time 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 couple of hours earlier than the beginning of a block. This message could have details about which native Amazon supply station it is advisable 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 tackle. You’ll have to use the app to snap an image of the packages you ship and make sure that you just’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 embrace representing Amazon and delivering wonderful customer support in these conditions.
When you’re executed together with your block, you may need to go again to the supply station when you’ve got any packages that you just had 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 through direct deposit, which may take as much as 5 days to clear.
Methods to Increase Your Amazon Flex Earnings
Are you excited about driving for the corporate? The next ideas will assist 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. When you don’t disclose your Amazon Flex gig to your insurance coverage firm, your driving job may 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 would possibly must improve to a business coverage.
Verify the Flex App Recurrently
Close by supply stations can add accessible blocks to the app at any time. Open the app commonly all through the day and faucet on provides within the menu. Full all the affirmation course of if you wish to ebook 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
On occasion, your route will embrace a supply to an tackle that’s method off your path. You may often get the supply station to replace your route and assign this supply to a different driver. This easy trick can scale back your fuel bills.
Search for Patterns
Amazon Flex drivers can earn extra by on the lookout for patterns. You may decide up extra shifts in the course of the vacation season, however occasions like Prime Day or Cyber Monday may lead to some additional work.
Verify the app commonly to determine what time of day extra shifts turn into accessible, so that you don’t miss them. Search for patterns to get an concept of when you may get blocks that pay slightly extra.
A standard tip that Flex drivers share is to test the app when the climate is unhealthy. Loads of drivers don’t settle for their reserved blocks if roads get icy.
Hold Observe of Your Bills
Hold a log of all bills incurred whereas driving for Amazon Flex. You may declare your mileage in your taxes, and maintaining observe of your bills will assist you to calculate an correct hourly wage for this driving gig. You may then evaluate Amazon Flex to different alternatives and resolve what you wish to deal with.
Amazon Flex Different: Driving Full-Time With a Native Supply Service Companion
Amazon Flex is without doubt one of the greatest freelance driving gigs on the market. Nonetheless, the month-to-month, weekly, and generally each day hour cap could be a downside should you don’t have one other supply of earnings.
So should you’re on the lookout for different jobs which are like driving for Amazon Flex, it’s attainable to turn into a full-time driver by making use of for a job by way of an Amazon Supply Service Companion.
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 automobiles.
Most DSPs provide full-time positions and count on drivers to work round 40 hours every week. All of your routes might be for native deliveries, and also you received’t want a business driver’s license to use.
You will discover DSP jobs in nearly each metropolis, however needless to say your hours, pay, and work atmosphere can differ from one employer to a different.
The DSP is accountable 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 attempt
Amazon Flex Vs. Working for a DSP
One of many fundamental 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 need to pay for fuel, insurance coverage, or upkeep in your supply car.
The Amazon Flex program is your best choice should you’re on the lookout for a versatile driving gig that doesn’t require any commitments. You may 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 accessible 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 because of the elevated order quantity.
Whereas lots of DSPs have a morning huddle and a debriefing on the finish of the day that drivers need to attend, driving for Amazon Flex is a unique expertise. You’re extra unbiased and might go house after getting delivered all of your packages.
Loads of your duties will revolve across the Amazon Flex app. You’ll get your schedule, route, and different info by way of the app. The app may even observe your progress and be certain that you comply with the route created by Amazon.
There are a couple of downsides to think about earlier than signing up for the Flex program. To begin with, this system isn’t accessible in all places.
Second, utilizing your private car to ship packages has some drawbacks:
- Your car has to satisfy a couple of necessities.
- Amazon received’t compensate you for fuel or car upkeep.
- Driving for Amazon commonly can put lots of miles and put on and tear in your automobile.
- You want an insurance coverage coverage that covers your Amazon Flex gig.
- You may lease or borrow a car to drive with Amazon Flex, however it would possibly improve your prices.
Ultimate Ideas
Being an Amazon Flex driver is without doubt one of the greatest 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 may count on extra blocks and earnings sooner or later as Amazon continues to develop!