If you haven’t already tried it, driving for Amazon Flex may be a side hustle worth considering. As a seasoned Amazon Flex driver with six years of experience under my belt, I’ve seen a lot of changes. One of the biggest questions I get asked is whether driving for Amazon Flex is still worth it. Let’s dive in and find out.
Block Types
As a driver, there are three main options: the traditional warehouse run, Whole Foods grocery runs, and instant offers.
Warehouse (logistics) runs involve going to an Amazon warehouse, getting assigned a route, and delivering packages to houses, apartments, and more. These are typically three to four-hour shifts and are not eligible for tips.
Whole Foods runs are similar, but with groceries, and are eligible for tips. Instant offers are jobs starting within the next few minutes that require you to be within minutes of participating locations.
Wholefoods blocks are the most sought after and therefor the hardest to get. Drivers want these blocks because with the tips they’re typically the best paying. They’re also easier to complete than logistics blocks.
New Flex App Features
While there haven’t been any monumental changes in features over the years, there are some recent updates that could help drivers out. Let’s talk about some of these new features that can make your Amazon Flex experience smoother and more profitable.
New Feature #1: Distinction Between Stops and Locations
Stops are when you’re going to stop your vehicle, while locations are where you’re going to make the delivery. This distinction can be important because it means less fighting for parking. You may have one location that requires multiple deliveries, and having this knowledge ahead of time can help you plan your route and parking strategy.
New Feature #2: Dog Reporting
Encountering dogs while making deliveries can be a challenge. Amazon Flex now has a dog reporting feature on your route, which allows you to report the presence of dogs at delivery locations. This can give other delivery drivers in the future a heads up and help keep everyone safe.
New Feature #3: Time-Sensitive Deliveries
Some deliveries have time-sensitive requirements, such as business hours or delivery windows promised to the customer. As a driver, it’s important to use your best judgment to determine a safe location for delivery. If a business is closed after hours or it’s not safe to leave the package at the front door, you’ll need to find an alternative location or return the package to the warehouse.
Driver Pro Tips
Supply and Demand: As demand for drivers increases and the block gets closer to the start time, the pay rate may increase. For example, if no one has signed up for a 5-9 PM shift that’s still available at 4PM, it’s likely to be offered at $20 an hour. It could even go up to $25 an hour. This is what drivers refer to as “the surge”.
Learn from your experiences: Every day on the road is a learning experience. Take note of what works well and what doesn’t, and make changes accordingly. Remember, the more you drive, the better you’ll get. Eventually you’ll have a system and become more efficient. Don’t stress too much early on.
Keep track of expenses: Keep a detailed record of all your expenses, including gas, maintenance, and repairs. You may be able to claim some of these expenses on your tax return. There are plenty of apps that you can use to track miles.
Use a smartphone mount: Invest in a good smartphone mount that attaches to your dashboard or windshield. This will allow you to use your phone for navigation and other tasks hands-free. You want a mount that makes it easy to remove and replace the phone. You’ll be doing it a lot throughout the block. You don’t want to have to fiddle with it.
Plan your route ahead of time: Don’t always blindly trust the Amazon Flex apps route planning. It can sometime be way off and take you all over the place. This can be very frustrating. Take a look at the route to ensure that it makes sense. Adjust it accordingly.
The Final Verdict
Warehouse Runs
- Three to four-hour shift with around 30-50 packages, depending on your marketplace
- Minimum pay is $18 an hour, which may be less than other side hustles
- Predictable pay, making it a good option if you don’t want to gamble on other gigs
Whole Foods Runs
- Generally shorter than warehouse runs
- Tips can be significant
- Typically the easiest block to complete and the best paying
Instant Offers
- Requires being within 15 minutes of the pickup location
- Treat it like a standard side hustle and consider the dollars-to-mile ratio and dollars-to-time ratio
- Worth it at higher pay thresholds, but not ideal at lower thresholds (i.e., $15 to $18 an hour)
Overall Verdict
- Driving for Amazon Flex is worth it, but it depends on the pay rate and other factors
- Predictable pay and efficient routing make it a good option, but lower pay rates may not be worth the effort compared to other side hustles
- Consider the type of runs and potential for tips when evaluating earnings potential
Conclusion
In comparison to past years, I’d say Amazon Flex is still worth it. Sure, it can be harder to get blocks now compared to the “glory days”, but with apps like Flex Utility you can make it more tolerable.
Here’s the trick:
- Experienced Flex drivers know not to take shifts that pay the base rate.
- They don’t waste time delivering a single package
- They choose to work during peak demand times to maximize their earnings and work only when they want, taking advantage of the flexibility that Amazon Flex offers.
This isn’t “Castaway”, don’t get all Tom Hanks and try to deliver a package no matter the cost. If you can’t find the address or they don’t have a door code. Try to call, if they don’t answer, mark it undeliverable. Use common sense and don’t spend too much time on a single package. Don’t take the base rate. That’s what newbie drivers do. It’s not worth it, wait for a surge. Work at the times that you want not at the times Amazon dictates. You’re the boss here, not them.
Overall, driving for Amazon Flex can be a good side hustle option, but it’s important to weigh the pros and cons and determine if it’s worth it for you. So, what do you think? Do you drive for Amazon Flex? How does it compare to other side hustles? Let us know in the comments!
Happy and safe flexing.