Drivers that deliver the orders for Amazon work under a program named Amazon Flex. The topic is ‘Amazon Driver Requirements’.
Introduction to Amazon Flex
Amazon addresses freelancers delivering the packages under Amazon Flex as delivery partners. The company offers innumerable items such as electronic gadgets, books, food clothing, households, footwear, and much more. These independent contractors (or freelancers) must use their vehicles to deliver the packages. Amazon provides this opportunity only as a part-time or supplemental source of income.
Using Amazon Flex
The delivery partners must just reserve a block, deliver the packages from Amazon to earn extra money, get paid, and enjoy. Sounds easy, right? Let us have a deeper look ahead:
- Reserving A Block
The Amazon Flex app must be downloaded and installed using android mobile or an iPhone.
There are two ways to do so:
- By directly downloading the app through logistics.amazon.com/app/download-app
- By filling the form on flex.amazon.in/gettheapp to get the app.
The delivery partners must allow camera access, push notifications, sharing real-time location through GPS, and other permissions needed to make deliveries through Amazon Flex. After downloading the app, the user must set up an account and search for suitable delivery options. After searching, the delivery partners will find accessible delivery blocks in their locality, their expected payment, and the time expected for completion. To get immediate suggestions, they can mark themselves as available in the app.
- Delivering The Packages
When they fill in the basic information, the background check is carried out. This process requires 5 to 10 business days.
Once the background check gets completed, the delivery partners can start working. In the beginning, the Amazon locations are allocated to the delivery partners. They have to fetch their packages from the delivery locations on the day of their block, use the app to traverse to every landing place, and deliver the packages according to the addresses.
- Payment
After the completion of deliveries, Amazon Flex reimburses the delivery partners through direct credit twice a week. They can trace their earnings in the Earnings section of the app.
Types Of Deliveries
The types of deliveries to be made by the delivery partners decide what vehicle they must use.
The three types of deliveries are:
- Store Orders
These orders have 2 to 4 hours long delivery blocks. Here, the delivery partners have to just collect the orders from the local stores and straight away deliver them to the customers.
- Amazon.com
2 to 6 hours long delivery blocks are present in this type. The delivery partners must collect the electronic gadgets, food, and other products ordered from amazon.com or related sites and applications. The delivery partners must collect these products from the Amazon delivery station and carry them straight away to the customers.
- Prime Now
2 to 4 hours long delivery blocks are present here. The delivery partners must go to the Amazon delivery station to collect the household items and carry them to the customers.
Requirements To Get Started
A few requirements must be followed before joining Amazon Flex as a delivery partner.
The requirements are as follows:
- The minimum age requirement to be a delivery partner is 21.
- Every independent contractor must have a social security number and an authentic license.
- They must live in a city that falls under the radar of Flex.
- They must possess an Android mobile or an iPhone.
- Their vehicle must be mid-sized with 4 doors or even larger than that containing a covered bed.
Smartphone Requirements
The App must be downloaded and installed on smartphones and the smartphone must have a set of certain features as follows:
- For Android Phones
The phone must contain an Android version equal to 6.0 or greater than that. The RAM size must be equal to or greater than 2GB. Finally, the mobile must have a camera and a flashlight that work, a working SIM card, and active GPS location tracking.
The Android version can be checked by clicking on the About Phone options under the setting of the mobile phone. The RAM size can be determined by checking for the running services under the settings.
To adjust the settings in Xiaomi Redmi, the unknown sources must be allowed by changing the security settings before installing the Amazon Flex app.
To adjust the battery settings in Oppo, the users have to stop the app from getting frozen in the background and optimized automatically. The users must do that under the Amazon Flex app in the battery settings.
- Requirements for iPhone
The iPhone model must be 6s or advanced whereas the iOS must be 13 or greater.
Requirements To Set Up An Account
The Amazon driver may use an existing Amazon account to sign up or may create another account for Amazon Flex.
The following are the requirements to be considered:
- An image of a US driver’s license granted by the government must be uploaded while creating an account with Amazon Flex and the license must be current with no breaks or holes. The license must be valid and not the learner’s or temporary one, or the one without a photo.
- The driver must fulfill the minimum age requirement of 21 years and carry a physical ID issued by the government.
- The information provided by the driver in the app must be in line with the information mentioned on the ID.
- The photos must be clear, focused, and not cropped too close. The barcode must be clearly visible and finally, the photos must be uploaded in order in the app.
Requirements Related To Vehicles
The choice of vehicles must be according to the types of deliveries.
Related requirements are as follows:
- Motorcycles and motorized scooters and bicycles cannot be used.
- The delivery partners delivering Amazon.com orders will require a mid-sized or a larger vehicle with four doors. The mid-sized vehicle can be a sedan, whereas the larger vehicle can be an SUV, a van, or a truck having a covered bed. Small trucks cannot be used if they have open beds.
- The delivery partners carrying the Prime Now orders may use safe and reliable cars.
Requirements For Bringing The Passengers
Bringing service animals is an exception. But bringing pets and passengers must be avoided because the delivery partners may have to stay away from their vehicles for long intervals. If any accident occurs, the passengers in the vehicles will not get any benefit from Amazon’s commercial insurance. The delivery partners have to follow some rules in such a case and the ones failing to follow the rules will lose their eligibility to work under Amazon Flex.
The following are the requirements to be fulfilled to bring a passenger in the delivery partner’s vehicle:
- The vehicle must be large enough to safely and comfortably carry the passengers or pets without harming the packages.
- The delivery partners will be busy picking up the packages from the delivery stations, driving to the route, and delivering the packages. So, they will be staying away from their vehicles for a long period. If the passengers want to get out of the vehicle, they must be accompanied by the station employee.
- The passengers and pets can neither escort the delivery partners while delivering packages, nor can they have any interaction with the customers.
- The pets and the passengers must not enter the delivery stations or confined locations while the delivery partners are picking up the packages from the delivery stations such as Amazon Fresh and Prime Now.
Insurance Requirements For Amazon Drivers
Having required insurance is a must for delivering. Amazon provides personal coverage and Commercial Auto Insurance for free.
The following requirements must be fulfilled for the same:
- The drivers must actively deliver Amazon’s packages under Amazon Flex else they will not get any benefits in case of an accident.
- They must have personal auto insurance for the vehicle being used for the delivery.
- The rented or borrowed vehicles used for delivery must have required coverage.
- The delivery partners residing in New York must maintain additional coverage insurance because the delivery partners driving in New York cannot get any benefits from the coverage according to state law.
- For further details, the drivers are advised to consult their insurance companies.
Conclusion
Amazon understands the importance of having a balance between work and life. Thus, Amazon Flex offers them to choose the blocks according to their preferences and have a balanced life. Though the drivers work under the program, they feel independent while driving alone on the route. This efficient method to earn an extra amount leads the Amazon drivers towards innovation, productivity, and trustworthiness.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What Salary Do Amazon Drivers Get?
Answer:
The salary for many Amazon drivers ranges from $18 to $25 per hour. However, it depends on their location, time required to accomplish the deliveries, the rewards they receive, and many such reasons.
- How Does Amazon Get Items At Its Distribution Centers?
Answer:
Amazon buys many of its products directly from the manufacturers or small-sized, medium-sized, and other third-party sellers. Amazon also sells products as private label brands.
- What Is An Undelivered Package?
Answer:
The driver tried to deliver a package but couldn’t do that. Such a package is called an undelivered package. The drivers must return the undelivered packages to the original delivery station by the end of the day. The drivers that continually fail to return undelivered packages may lose the eligibility to work under Amazon Flex. If the delivery station is closed, the undelivered package must be returned the next day by 10 am.
