What is Amazon Flex? Amazon Flex is an Amazon delivery program that hires independent drivers to complete various types of deliveries. If you’ve ever seen an Amazon package being delivered by someone in plain clothes and driving a normal vehicle, it was likely an Amazon Flex driver.

Amazon Flex drivers earn $18 – $35 per hour, much higher compared to jobs with Uber, Lyft, and delivery apps. The downside is that it can be difficult to get the job because new positions don’t open up often, and shifts are in high demand.

J & J Prime Delivery is looking for dependable drivers for our Amazon delivery team. Must be good with technology, and enjoy problem-solving. 0830-1800 daily.

• The class name for this driver is com.amazon.redshift.jdbc42.Driver. This ZIP file contains the JDBC4.2–compatible driver (without the AWS SDK) and its dependent library files. Unzip the dependent jar files to the same location as the JDBC driver.
• 652 reviews from Amazon.com employees about working as a Driver at Amazon.com. Learn about Amazon.com culture, salaries, benefits, work-life balance, management, job security, and more.

What do Amazon Flex drivers do? Flex drivers pick up packages from delivery stations, stores, and restaurants and deliver them to customers using directions from the Flex app. Amazon Flex shifts come in 1-4 hour blocks that can be scheduled ahead of time or as they become available, and the pay is typically $18 – $25/hour.

Article Contents

Amazon Flex Delivery Driver Requirements

• You must be 21 years old or older
• Have a social security number
• Pass a background check
• Have access to a qualifying vehicle: 4-door sedan, pickup truck, or van
• Valid driver’s license
• Show proof of auto insurance
• Have a smart phone: iphone 6s running iOS 13 or newer, Android phone running Android version 6.0 or higher

Begin the application process at flex.amazon.com.

Amazon Flex Vehicle Requirements: What Kind of Vehicles Can You Use?

The type of vehicle accepted by Amazon depends on the service you plan to deliver for.

Amazon.com orders require a four-door sedan, a pickup truck with covered bed, minivan or van. Two-door cars are not accepted because they may not be large enough to fit every package that you’re assigned for your shift. Trucks with uncovered beds are not accepted.

Prime Now and Amazon Fresh deliveries allow you to use any vehicle with no restriction on the number of doors or the size of the vehicle. Begin the application process to see what vehicles are accepted in your area.

Is there a model year requirement for Flex? The oldest model year you can select in the Flex app is 1990. There is no vehicle inspection, but if your car is older and unreliable you may be deactivated for missing deliveries.

How Much Do Amazon Flex Drivers Make?

Amazon Flex delivery blocks pay $18 – $25/hour, with blocks ranging from 1 – 4 hours. Payout for a delivery block is a fixed payout amount that depends on the time of the shift, the difficulty, and the region.

Amazon Prime Now, Amazon Fresh, and Whole Foods Market delivery bocks pay $15 – $19 per hour, plus tips. Like delivery blocks, payout for these blocks depends on the market you’re in, the time of shift, and the difficulty.

You can earn more with Flex if you drive with a larger vehicle. SUV and van drivers can be offered longer shifts that involve more packages.

A benefit of Flex is that you know exactly how much you will earn for each shift before you sign up for it. Uber, Lyft, and other delivery jobs don’t offer guaranteed income.

What’s the maximum number of hours that you can work for Flex? Amazon allows a maximum of 40 hours per week, and around 8 hours per day.

Shift blocks display the total payout and delivery region

Shifts that are eligible for tips show base payout and estimated tips

How and when do Flex drivers get paid? Flex drivers are paid on Tuesday and Friday each week via direct deposit. Amazon Restaurant and Prime Now deliveries are paid 1 – 2 days after deliveries are performed and tips settled. The Flex app shows upcoming scheduled payments and past completed payments.

Flex drivers are currently taxed as independent contractors. At the end of each year you will receive 1099 tax information to use on your tax return.

Getting Hired by Amazon Flex: The Application Process

The Flex application process is fairly straightforward, but it can take awhile to start working if there are no openings in your area. In my case, I filled out a preliminary application and waited two weeks before I could proceed. For others, it may take even longer.

• Download the app or visit flex.amazon.com to see if your city is accepting drivers.
  • If slots are open, enter your name, your device, and your vehicle
  • If no jobs are available, sign up to join the waitlist
• Sign up using your existing Amazon account, or create a new one
• Start your background check by entering your SSN, consenting to the check, and answering questions
• Wait for your background check to complete
• Watch training videos that describe the job and show you how to use the app to pickup and drop off deliveries
• Provide your tax information, and your bank account information
  • You can choose to be paid as an individual, LLC, or S corporation
• Set your availability and schedule your first shift

How to Contact Amazon Flex

You can contact Amazon flex at [email protected]

No openings? How to join the Amazon Flex waitlist
You might find that Flex isn’t in your city, or new openings are not available. If that’s the case, download the Flex app, create an account, and follow steps to join the waitlist. Enter your information to be notified when new positions open up.

How to know when you’ve been accepted
Amazon will send you a welcome email when you’ve been accepted as a driver. You can also check your status by signing into the Flex app. If you haven’t been accepted yet, you’ll still see a checklist of application items with one or more of the items unchecked.

What Does the Amazon Flex Background Check Look at?

Amazon checks for felonies and other major criminal violations going back 7 years. Issues involving theft or violence will likely disqualify you. Amazon also checks your motor vehicle record check that looks for major driving violations or a large number of citations.

Background screening should take 2-5 days to complete. It’s possible that it could take longer, but if it’s been longer than 5 days, contact Amazon Flex support.

Amazon Flex does not require extensive driver’s license history

Amazon Flex does not specify a license history minimum, so you qualify to drive even if your license is less than one year old. That’s a major benefit if you’re a newer driver because many rideshare and delivery companies require at least one year of US licensing experience.

Amazon Flex Insurance Requirements and Coverage

To qualify for Flex, you must maintain your own personal auto insurance policy. Amazon says that the policy must be, “the required insurance for delivering packages in your area,” but does not give extra detail.

Amazon provides commercial auto insurance to Flex partners while they are on the job (excluding NY state). The policy offers liability coverage, uninsured motorist coverage, and contingent comprehensive & collision coverage. Comprehensive collision coverage means that you receive comprehensive coverage from Amazon if you maintain comprehensive coverage on your own personal policy.

Do most insurance policies cover package delivery? It’s a grey area in insurance that isn’t well established in all states. Most personal policies don’t cover package delivery, but Amazon doesn’t scrutinize personal policies and reject applicants for having the incorrect insurance. Insurance products that cover rideshare activity may not include delivery. Contact an insurance agent in your area to learn more about insurance regulations in your state and how you can get a policy that properly covers you.

Work Overview: What it’s Like Delivering for Amazon Flex

Learn the types deliveries Flex drivers perform, how to pick up shifts, and what it’s like to deliver packages for Amazon.

What Type of Deliveries Do Amazon Flex Drivers Do?

Flex offers several different types of delivery shifts. The Flex app has numerous videos and articles that let you know what type of orders you may be doing, and how to complete them. If you’re unfamiliar with an order type, head to app menu, then Videos.

• Amazon.com — Regular Amazon package deliveries that are picked up from delivery stations
• Prime Now & Amazon Fresh — Groceries and household items picked up from Prime Now delivery stations
• Store orders — Pick up from local stores and deliver to customers
• Instant Offers — On-demand delivery. Be matched with local offers ready for immediate pick up

Special deliveries you might encounter

• Attended deliveries— The customer or another authorized person must be present
• Amazon Locker— Deliver packages to special electronic Amazon lockers that are similar to PO boxes
• Alcohol— The customer or recipient must show proof of age. Scan their ID into the app or manually enter the ID number
• Chilled and frozen— The delivery will be inside a cool bag that contains a dry ice box. Remove the package at the time of delivery and return the dry ice to the pickup station

More About Orders:Decoding Amazon Flex Order Types, Routes, and Warehouse Locations

How to Schedule Order Blocks on Amazon Flex

Amazon Flex drivers work in shifts known as “blocks” or “offers.” The Offers area of the app displays available shifts, along with the shift length, location, order type, and expected pay. After you accept an offer it will show up in the Calendar section of the app, which is a useful way to keep track of your work.

There are three types of shifts available to Flex drivers:

Reserved shift offers — A reserved offer is a shift that has been set aside for you based on your stated availability. You can choose to accept or decline the reserved offer, but there is a deadline to accept the shift so make sure to accept it before time runs out.

Drop-in shifts — Other shifts may become available throughout the day that are open to the first person who accepts them. These offers are in high demand and are usually claimed quickly. There isn’t currently a way to be notified of new Offers, so you’ll have to check the app regularly if you want to pick up a shift.

Instant offers — Instant offers are on-demand deliveries from local restaurants and stores. In cities where available, an “Available Now” option appears on the home screen. Turn that on to make yourself available for Instant offers. You are free to decline Instant Offers with no penalty, but after you accept them you’re expected to complete the delivery.

Reserved offers (shown at top) can only be claimed by you. Other available offers are below

Doing the Job: What a Flex Delivery Shift is Like

Almost everything you do during a Flex shift is initiated and concluded in the Flex app. There are many steps for every part of the process, but the Flex app always contains instructions that let you know what to do next, and how to get help if you need it.

On the day of your shift, the Flex app will notify you where to pick up your packages.

Beginning your shift and picking up packages: Check your offer (shift) to see where your pickup station is located. Begin your shift by arriving at the pickup station and swiping “I’ve arrived” or “I’ve parked.” Look for signs pointing to the station entrance.

An Amazon employee will check your ID and direct you to your package pickup area. Scan each package and load it into your car. After you’re done loading, tap “Swipe to finish” to begin the delivery process.

Navigating to drop offs and making deliveries: After loading your car, the Flex app will show you how to navigate to each package delivery location. Check the app for special notes and instructions from the customer. To get a gate code, you may need to call the customer or support.

Once you see that you can make the delivery, scan the package and place it in a safe area.

If you’re having an issue with a delivery, contact support or the customer via the Help button in the upper corner of the app. Sometimes support or the customer will be able to assist you, other times you’ll have to mark the delivery as undeliverable.

End your shift in the Flex app after completing all deliveries. If you don’t complete all deliveries, you must return uncompleted packages to the pickup station you began at.

The Flex app guides you each step of the way, down to turn-by-turn directions. If you ever get stuck, you can always call support.

How late can you deliver? Packages should be delivered by 9pm, and the latest cut off time is 930pm.

You get paid even if you aren’t assigned a route. Sometimes when you show up for a block, no routes are available for you to deliver. In that case, you’ll still receive payment for an hour of work as long as you check in and scan your ID.

Flex Deactivation Policy: Rules to Follow

Amazon can deactivate (fire) you for these reasons:

• Late for shifts
• Missing scheduled shifts
• Failing to attempt to deliver packages
• Bad customer service, too many customer complaints
• Stealing, damaging packages
• Inactivity. You may be deactivated if you don’t schedule a shift for 180 days

The most common reasons for deactivation are failing to deliver too many packages, or for poorly placing packages. It’s a double edged sword: Do you want to leave a package in an insecure area, or do you want to fail to deliver the package? The best option isn’t always clear and Amazon support can’t always help.

More Reading:The Amazon Flex Rating System, and How to Avoid Deactivation

Amazon Flex District Codes and Warehouse Locations

One confusing aspect about Flex is that shift offers include a location and a code, but Amazon doesn’t offer a map to explain what the codes mean. It’s hard to pick the right location for a shift when you don’t know what region the shift covers! Check out this helpful Flex district code and warehouse location resource on Reddit.

Is Amazon Flex a Good Job?

Amazon Flex is among the best of the on-demand app jobs — when you can get a shift. Flex is likely to pay better than jobs with Uber, Lyft, and delivery apps in your area. One major benefit is that you’ll always know how much you’ll earn from a Flex shift. With Uber, Lyft and delivery apps you can expect to make around $10-$15/hour after expenses, and the income can be very sporadic and unreliable.

Amazon.com Delivery Driver

Getting Flex shift blocks can be difficult because many different Flex drivers are competing for a limited number of delivery blocks. You can’t just sign on and work whenever you want, which is a benefit of rideshare and on-demand delivery apps. With Flex you have to closely monitor your availability and constantly check the app if you want to pick up additional shift.

The work you do for Flex is mostly straightforward and doesn’t involve too much customer service, which is a plus compared to Uber and Lyft. The work might be frustrating if you run into issues with your deliveries or with the app. Trouble Parking, figuring out how to get into apartment complexes and office buildings, and safely leaving packages in the right location are all challenges you’ll run into that could make your shift longer and harder than expected.

• Upsides of Flex: High pay compared to similar jobs, flexible shifts, not too much direct interaction with customers
• Downsides of Flex: No guarantee of shifts, lots of mileage on your car, issues with deliveries and app glitches can be frustrating

Amazon.com Driver Jobs

Other Delivery Gigs to Look Into:

Apply for Amazon Flex

Check for availability in your city and begin the application process at flex.amazon.com

THE FASTEST CARS DESERVE
THE FASTEST CLOUD

FORMULA 1 is a battle between the world’s best drivers, but it’s also a battle of some of the world’s most innovative engineers. No other sport has been as dynamic in its evolution and embrace of new technology. While some of the tech goes to helping drivers, who are hitting speeds as high as 230 MPH, taking pit stops in under 2 seconds, and flying around corners with a force of 5G, much of it goes to enhance the experiences of its growing base of over a half a billion fans. This is why AWS is proud to be both the official cloud service and machine learning provider for FORMULA 1.

Transforming
the Series

Technology has always played a central role in the evolution of the sport, but serverless and machine learning are changing how F1 automates, collects, analyzes, and leverages data to make decisions.

Increasing Action
on the Track

F1 is taking the competition to the next level by altering some of the rules around car design. F1 simulates these changes using AWS High Performance Compute services to make sim cycles faster and more sophisticated.

Delivering Deeper
Insights

F1 uses Amazon SageMaker to build machine learning models that help fans better understand the split-second decisions made by a driver or pit crew that can dramatically affect the outcome.

IN THE NEWS

Learn More About Driver Season Performance
from the Expert

Rob Smedley, Chief Technical Engineer - F1 Performance Engineering and Analysis, details the new F1 Insight. Driver Season Performance provides a breakdown of driver performance based on the most important subset of driving skills. This insight analyzes a wealth of data to provide a season output of a driver’s performance across seven key metrics.

Read the blog ›

Rob Smedley, Chief Technical Engineer - F1 Performance Engineering and Analysis, details the new F1 Insight. Qualifying Pace helps provide insight into the expected pace and performance from teams during Qualifying, through an analysis of their performance during the weekend practice sessions. This new insight uses machine learning and an analytical methodology, taking the practice data and using historical data of how teams progress between Saturday and Sunday’s races, to try to give the answer as to what the qualifying results will look like.

Read the blog ›

Learn More About Car Analysis / Car Development from the Expert

Rob Smedley, Chief Technical Engineer - F1 Performance Engineering and Analysis, details the importance of the new F1 Insight. Focusing on the three core elements of F1 car development, the graphic will measure development of performance in Aerodynamic Drag, Aerodynamic Downforce, and Engine Power, built on lap time analysis and using telemetry data as the primary source input.

Read the blog ›

Rob Smedley, Chief Technical Engineer - F1 Performance Engineering and Analysis, details the importance of the new F1 Insight, Corner Analysis. This provides an insight into the detail of why some cars perform better than others through high and low speed corners – the single most important area for performance for an F1 car – by analyzing and comparing the performance through the principal sections of a corner via car telemetry data.

Amazon.com Driver License

Read the blog ›

AWS and Formula 1 Announce New Racing Performance Stats for 2020 Season

First of six real-time racing statistics to debut July 3 weekend with the launch of “Car Performance Scores” at the season opening Grand Prix in Spielberg, Austria

Read the press release ›

Learn More About Car Performance Scores
from the Expert

Rob Smedley, Chief Technical Engineer - F1 Performance Engineering and Analysis, details the importance of the new F1 Insight Car Performance Scores. These important aspects of Formula 1 car performance give fans a much clearer understanding from the very outset of how the different cars perform relative to each other.

Read more ›

Formula 1 Works With AWS To Develop Next Generation Race Car

The F1 Computational Fluid Dynamics project utilized over 12,000 hours of compute time to design the race car for the 2021 season. Watch F1 Chief Technical Engineer Rob Smedley’s re:Invent keynote on partnering with AWS to change the design and improve the fan experience. Visit the link below to read the press release about project.

Amazon.com Drivers Ed

Read more ›

ACCELERATING THE FAN EXPERIENCE

Want to look under the hood and see how it’s done? Learn more about how AWS and F1 are using data to teach Amazon SageMaker complex machine learning algorithms that deliver new insights and increase action for fans, predicting outcomes with impressive accuracy as races unfold, and using data to design the next race car.

Read more ›

IT STARTS WITH THE DATA

During a FORMULA 1 Grand Prix every car contains 120 sensors which generate 1.1M telemetry data points per second transmitted from the cars to the pits. This real-time data is combined with over 69 years of historical race data stored on S3 to inform fans and teams about the unparalleled track-side decision making.

SHIFT THE FAN EXPERIENCE INTO GEAR

By sourcing historical data and using it to teach Amazon SageMaker complex machine learning algorithms, F1 can predict race strategy outcomes with increasing accuracy for teams, cars, and drivers. These models are then able to predict future scenarios using refreshed realtime data as Grand Prix races unfold to deliver a rich and engaging fan experience.

Throughout F1 history, some of the most exciting racing action on track has come from driver ‘battles’ —when a chasing driver gets close enough to attempt an overtake. The resulting fight for position results in an unpredictable and sometimes dangerous combination of offensive and defensive driving action between the drivers involved. The Battle Forecast graphic analyses track history and projected driver pace to provide an insight into developing driver battles during the race that are not always obvious to the audience.

Undercutting and overcutting are strategies used by F1 teams during close racing scenarios to gain a lead over a rival, with the margin between success and failure measured in tenths of a second. Pit Strategy Battle provides fans and commentators with real-time insight on the position of the two rival drivers, the predicted gap after their respective pit stops, and the percentage chance of an overtake, helping fans to assess how successful each driver’s strategy will be in real time and its potential outcome.

F1 teams are allowed a range of tyre compounds providing performance ranging from higher grip to longer lifespan. Tyre performance and degradation is a primary concern of the teams during a race and finding the perfect balance between lap time and tyre condition is a critical element of a race winning strategy. By analyzing timing and telemetry information and estimating lap time lost due to tyre power and tyre energies, Tyre Performance gives fans and commentators a better understanding of the current performance level.

Products powering F1 Insights

In 2018 F1 engaged with the AWS Professional Services team, who has since delivered two models to support race graphics: Pit Stop Advantage in March 2019, and Battle Forecast in July 2019. F1 continues to innovate with the Professional Services team and Amazon ML Solutions Lab Team to accelerate development of F1 Insights by prototyping use cases and develop new proofs of concept. The ProServ team then helps F1 get models in to production and integrated into the F1 infrastructure.

Ready to get Started?
Learn more about working with AWS Professional Services