You’re always on the lookout for new ways to make more money as drivers, and so are we. Gridwise also keeps an eye on earnings, so we can tell you what it’s like to drive for a service like Amazon Flex. So … we’ve gathered up some facts and compiled our real-driver data in a package that gives you the latest information on this popular gig driving opportunity. In this post, we’ll tell you:
- How Amazon Flex works
- How Amazon Flex differs from other delivery services
- What the Amazon Flex pay rate is like
- How to decide if it’s worth it to drive for Amazon Flex
Let’s dive in!
How Amazon Flex works
You’ve probably seen those slick-looking Amazon delivery trucks in just about every neighborhood you’ve visited. These drivers are not always employees of Amazon, nor are they independent contractors. They might be employed by Delivery Service Partners (DSPs) that have contracts with Amazon, or Amazon might hire them as Amazon Logistics Delivery Associates. Amazon delivery driver pay varies, depending on the contractor the driver works for. Indeed.com reports that the average Amazon driver earns around $17 per hour.
Amazon Flex drivers are different types of delivery workers. They are independent contractors who use their own vehicles to deliver packages and other items for Amazon. There are several different kinds of packages Amazon Flex drivers deliver.
Besides the familiar boxes and large envelopes, drivers may work with Prime Now orders, which must be delivered expediently, usually in bags rather than boxes; Amazon Locker, a service that leaves packages for customers to pick up at a convenient location; and Merchant Pickups, a way to speed up delivery by having the driver pick up the goods from a merchant and deliver them for Amazon.
Amazon Flex drivers might also make attended deliveries, which require the customer or another authorized person to be present when the delivery is made; chilled and frozen orders that require special handling; and in some instances, alcoholic beverages, which require the customer to present proof of being over the age of 21 at the time of delivery.
Amazon Flex drivers are free to schedule flexible hours, but they must make their deliveries in blocks, most often four-hour shifts. They then find their way to the Amazon warehouse (or another location), pack their vehicles with delivery items, and set off to drop them on the customers’ doorsteps.
Driver requirements for Amazon Flex are rather simple, and include:
- Living in a city where Flex operates
- Being at least 21 years old
- Holding a valid U.S. driver’s license
- Having a mid-sized or larger vehicle
- Passing a background check
- Owning a smartphone capable of handling the Flex app
As long as you meet these requirements, it’s easy to get started … simply download the app and apply. Once you’re accepted, you can schedule your Amazon Flex blocks and get out there to do your Amazon Flex thing. Visit the “Let’s Drive” website to get more details directly from Amazon Flex and sign up to drive.
How Amazon Flex differs from other delivery services
Depending on your point of view, Amazon Flex has more to offer than most other delivery driving jobs. With FedEx or UPS, for example, you have to work during hours that are pre-set for you. And, you may or may not get paid as much as you could for Amazon Flex or another kind of gig driving. Some drivers are paid a flat daily rate, such as $150 per day. For that amount, they might be expected to make as many as 100–150 stops during a day, depending on location.
Working for a carrier such as UPS or FedEx can mean long hours, and physically demanding work as well. Drivers deliver everything from small parcels to full-sized furniture and equipment. UPS drivers must be able to lift up to 70 pounds, and meet a slew of other qualifications, including being able to drive a standard transmission truck in all kinds of weather conditions, pass a physical exam, wear only small earrings (if any at all), and have no tattoos that cannot be covered by the uniform.
Full-time UPS drivers get many benefits, including health insurance, eye care and dental coverage, life insurance, vacation, and (if required) family leave. They also must belong to the Teamsters Union.
At FedEx, driver requirements are somewhat less stringent. They include at least one year of verifiable driving experience in the last three years, or five years of driving experience in the last 10 years. You also must pass a criminal and motor vehicle records check, clear a drug test, and pass a physical given by the US Department of Transportation.
FedEx does not classify its drivers as employees; rather, its drivers are independent contractors, so they do not get employee benefits. Pay ranges widely, but the average is around $19 per hour. You can work full- or part-time as a FedEx driver, but your routes and hours will be predetermined, leaving you very little in the way of flexibility. To be fair, though, it’s a little more lenient than UPS when it comes to you being allowed to show your best-loved tatts.
What the Amazon Flex pay rate is like
With Amazon Flex, you can get a pay rate that’s as good or better than that of UPS or FedEx. Our real-driver data show that nationwide median earnings from January to November 2021 averaged $20.22 per hour. Average earnings per trip were set at $5.90, which is also quite respectable.
You might be thinking that Amazon Flex earnings will shrink when taking into account the average driver’s expenses. Keep in mind, however, that the other services also deduct taxes from earnings, and in the case of UPS, there’s the extra expense of union dues. Plus, Amazon Flex offers you the flexibility of gig driving along with the high probability of a constant stream of work.
There are seasonal peaks and valleys, to be sure. For example, the numbers we gave you here don’t even include the holiday volume, which is sure to bring much more work for Flex drivers. November figures began to show this upsurge, and earnings were also high during the winter months of 2021. Another peak came in the spring, as seasonal merchandise became more appealing to shoppers.
In general, the pay for Amazon Flex is decent, and comparable if not better than donning a uniform to work for UPS or FedEx. Amazon Flex drivers also earn about 15 percent more than if they worked directly for Amazon or one of its contractors. Also: If you want to make more money, there’s plenty of time to pick up another driving gig.
How to decide if it’s worth it to drive for Amazon Flex
Flexibility is probably the #1 reason you’d choose to drive for Amazon Flex, but it’s also nice to know the earnings are comparable, if not better than, the rates employed drivers might receive. Still, there are some aspects of the job you’ll need to consider to see if it’s worth it for you to work for Amazon Flex.
- Are you prepared to fill your vehicle with packages and bags, and deal with the inevitable wear and tear?
- What about vehicle maintenance? Will all the stop-and-go driving take a toll on your brakes?
- Would you mind driving in all kinds of weather, and getting in and out of your vehicle multiple times a shift?
- Do you mind having to rush to finish your deliveries within the time limit of your block?
Depending on how you answer these questions, you could achieve a lot as an Amazon Flex driver. Another way to decide for sure would be to compare your earnings as a Flex driver with your other driving gigs.
The ideal way to get a handle on what you’re earning from the services for which you drive is to use Gridwise. You’ll be able to sync your driving apps with Gridwise to track your earnings, and then produce graphs that tell you how much you’ve earned by the hour, the trip, and the mile. You can also record expenses so you can see which apps are earning you the most:
Plus, you’ll learn how to maximize your driving efficiency and earnings using Insights features like Where to Drive and When to Drive, and get inside info on:
- Weather and traffic alerts;
- Awesome deals and discounts for drivers, and more.
