All About Amazon Flex Driver in Australia – Requirements, Registration Process and more

Gig-economy workers in Australia now have another option for earning extra dollars by delivering packages to customers’ locations. This delivery job is backed by the world’s most valuable brand, Amazon. The Amazon Flex program is the company’s effort to provide faster shipping and delivery processes, especially to its Prime subscribers.

With the Flex program, Amazon desire to grow its own logistics network around Australia, hoping to reduce the company’s dependence on other courier services such as Star Track, AU Post, Fastway and Toll.

Amazon Flex allows you to work your own schedule every day, without driving around the city and waiting for pings from the app. You can only start working after you choose block delivery offers and have been confirmed to deliver on that day.

This gig job seems suitable for existing delivery drivers who drive for existing on-demand food delivery platforms such as Uber Eats, Menulog, DoorDash, Deliveroo or others. Each block has an estimated delivery completion of up to 4 hours. So you can use the leftover time on that day with other delivery platforms.

Where is Amazon Flex available in Australia?

Amazon officially announced the presence of its Flex program in Australia in January 2020. At that time they chose the two most populated cities in the country, Sydney and Melbourne. In both cities, they already have delivery station facilities in Moorebank and Dandenong.

Currently, Amazon Flex has opened in 7 cities in 5 states around the country. In some big cities, they have even opened more than one pick up location to reach a wider delivery area and speed up the parcels delivery time to its customers.

However, it is also possible that Amazon Flex will also be available in several other big cities in other states in the future like Adelaide or Canberra, considering that now they also focus on growing their own logistics network.

Amazon Flex Australia Driver Requirements

Just like other gig-economy jobs, as an independent contractor, you must meet several requirements to be able to start delivering with the Flex program. If you have previously joined a similar platform like Uber Eats, you will have no difficulty completing the requirements.

The following is a list of requirements for drivers who wish to join this delivery platform:

• You must be over 20 years old
• Full or unrestricted Australian driver licence
• Having an ABN (Australian Business Number), if you don’t have one, you can apply it free of charge.
• Passing background check, which will also check your work rights in the country.
• Completing Bluecard Certification (for NSW-based driver only). A certification which indicates that you have passed the required Work Health and Safety (WHS) training specific to the transport sector. Find out more about the Bluecard training course.

Amazon Flex Australia Vehicle Requirements

To make deliveries with Amazon Flex you can use any vehicle you have. The company has divided the vehicle types into three vehicle blocks based on the car body styles. The types of cars in question are sedans, passenger vans and cargo vans.

Vehicle Block Type

Each vehicle block that we mentioned earlier has its own block (delivery hours) length and minimum earning. In the following, we explain in more detail about the three types of vehicles.

• Sedan
  Even though Amazon calls it a sedan, it’s not just a sedan that can be included in this vehicle block. Every car type and brand can be used to deliver in this category, but you must ensure that the vehicle is a 4-door passenger vehicle that is sufficient to safely carry the customer packages.

  Your sedan, SUV, van, hatchback or station wagon can be used to apply. Even if you only have a small car like the Hyundai i30, VW Polo, Mazda 2, or Honda Jazz, you can still make use of it to do this job.

  As far as we know and if the regulations do not change, by default all Amazon Flex drivers will be included in this vehicle block, except for two-door passenger vehicles, trucks or utes with open beds or trays which are ineligible vehicles for this program.

  However, drivers can still make a request to switch to longer blocks (6.5 and 8 hours) later, according to their car type.

• Large Passenger Vehicle
  If you own a passenger van such as a Kia Carnival or Honda Odyssey you might be eligible to deliver under a passenger van vehicle block with 6.5 hours block. But make sure it’s a large 4-doors vehicle that has seats in the back for passengers.

  Actually, not only passenger vans are eligible, but you can also receive 6.5 hours block jobs with other types of cars such as an SUV. Examples of vehicles are Toyota RAV4, Kluger, Mitsubishi Pajero, Challenger, Mazda CX-9, Kia Sorento, and Ford Everest

• Cargo Van
  The vehicle that is included in this vehicle block is a van that does not have seats in the back. Drivers who fall into this category will have the opportunity to get the longest block, 8 hours (including a 30-minute unpaid break).

  Examples of vehicles categorized as Cargo Van by Amazon are the Toyota HiAce, Hyundai iLoad, Mercedes Benz Sprinter, Ford Transit and several others.

If you are confused in determining which vehicle block. You can check out the Amazon Flex Vehicle Eligibility Calculator designed by Amazon to help delivery drivers decide which vehicle block is right for them.

The calculator will be updated from time to time, and vehicle eligibility may change at any time. But don’t worry you will be notified via the Amazon Flex app when these updates take place.

Please note, if you arrive at a delivery station to start out a block with a vehicle that is ineligible for that type of block, as determined by the calculator, you may be turned away and will not be paid for the block.

Delivery drivers are also given the freedom to change their vehicles. Whether it’s changing to the same type of vehicle, or switching to another type of vehicle. Like from Sedan to SUV/cargo vans or vice versa. Read our other articles about changing vehicles on Amazon Flex.

In addition, you also need valid automobile insurance, you can use Compulsory Third-Party Injury (CPT) insurance, and you need to maintain a liability policy for third-party property damage.

Apart from your own insurance policy, if this doesn’t change, Amazon also provides its delivery drivers with insurance coverage at zero cost, which includes auto liability coverage, third-party property damage and contingent comprehensive coverage. However, the policy only applies after you pick up the packages from the delivery station and begin the delivery with Flex or on the way to return the undelivered packages back to a chosen location.

How to apply for Amazon Flex Driver?

It’s easy to register as a Flex driver, it can be done online without needing to come to any office. There is a slight difference in this program, you can only register through the Amazon Flex app which can be downloaded directly from the official Flex website.

The following is an overview of how to join the Flex program in Australia

1. Download the app from Apple App Store, for Android users you have to download the app installer since the app isn’t available in Google Play Store, you can download it from their website or read our post about how to download the Amazon Flex apk.
2. Sign in with your existing Amazon.com.au account or create a new one.
3. Once signed in you will be directed to the Getting Started page, where you have to answer a few questions to see if there are delivery opportunities for you.
   

   Days and Times Option

   

   Working Hours and Vehicle Option

   The questions include how many houses per week do you want to deliver, the size of the vehicle you will use and the best days and times you want to deliver. In the end, you are required to upload the required documents that we mentioned earlier.

4. Once you complete every requirement you should wait for Amazon to review your documents and approve it.

How long does it take to get approved for Amazon Flex in Australia?
Normally, Amazon processes your registration within 2-5 business days. But it might take longer, considering that approval also depends on how long your background check results come out. If you have waited more than one week, then you should contact Flex support.

Required Steps

How does Amazon Flex work?

Unlike the on-demand food delivery service that is already here. The Flex Program has a slightly different way of working. Before that, we need to explain some of the terms used in this program.

What is Amazon Flex delivery block?
It’s an estimate of hours of how long it takes to complete a delivery shift, it’s showing how much you can earn in that time frame and location information to pick up the package. The number of packages that must be delivered can be more or less, depending on the route and the number of dollars offered for the block.

Here’s an overview of how Amazon Flex works once you are approved to deliver with them:

1. Login to the Flex app and navigate to the Upcoming Offers menu on the app’s front page to search for available delivery blocks in your area. When you have found offers that suit your needs, choose the blocks and accept them. The block offer will be shown on your Calendar menu on the app.
2. On the day of your delivery, open your confirmed block, locate and go to the Amazon delivery station to pick up your packages.
3. After receiving all the packages and arranging them in your vehicle, the next step is to deliver these packages. Use the in-app navigation to reach every destination.
4. After all packages have been delivered to the recipient’s address, you will receive deposited earnings into your account. Amazon Australia sends payments every Wednesday thru direct deposit to your bank account.

How many parcel are in a block?
Amazon does not show how many parcels or packages will be given to the driver in the block details. Delivery Partners will find out later when loading and scanning the parcels at the chosen delivery station. After that, the new Flex Drivers can find out the details about how many parcels are on the Itenary Summary Tab of the App Driver. The number of parcels received by the driver ranges from 20 to 50 parcels per 4 hours block.

Parcels per Block

Maybe you’re thinking that the block value offered will affect the number of parcels on every shift. It might be one of the decisive factors, but it’s not always like that. Because sometimes drivers get fewer parcels for a higher pay block.

One factor that might be quite important is the number of stops since every stop sometimes has more than one parcel. Some other factors are shift time, parcel dimensions and delivery location and residential type (House, Office Building or Apartment).

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Amazon Flex Australia Pay Rate

In the United States where the company was founded, they promised their drivers to earn up to $25 per hour (A$34) for a maximum of 4 hours of delivery job. The nominal is stated on the US Flex official website so that everyone can see it.

At each delivery block offer, you will be able to find several details such as how much money you can get, where to collect the goods and the estimated delivery time.

From the information we get, minimum Amazon Flex delivery block offers in Australia are valued at around $108 for 4 hours or $27 per hour by delivering packages around the city. That amount is greater than the national minimum wage which is currently $20.33 per hour (before tax) according to the Fair Work Ombudsman.

However, if you are lucky you will also have a chance to get higher pay blocks for the same amount of work time (sedan vehicle block – 4 hours). In addition to the minimum $108 block, you might also start to see $128 and $144 block offers. The highest pay block we’ve seen so far is $176, which’s $44 per hour.

4 Hours Block Pay (Sedan)

The $108 (minimum) block rate is for the Sedan vehicle category which includes small cars. You will have the opportunity to get higher rate block offers by switching your vehicle to a passenger van or cargo van.

6.5 Hours Block Pay (Large Passenger Vehicles)

The large passenger vehicle drivers will be able to pick 6.5 hours block offers (incl. 30 minutes unpaid breaks) for $162, which means $27 per hour. Meanwhile, the cargo van drivers will be able to choose 8 hours block offers (incl. 30 minutes unpaid breaks) for $225, which means $30 per hour.

8 Hours Block Pay (Cargo Vans)

We haven’t got any information on what factors that make blocks offer have various rates. Still, the following factors may have an impact on it such as how many drop locations, how many parcels, vehicle size, route difficulty, estimated time required to get the jobs done and several others.

Does Amazon pay for mileage, parking or tolls?
According to the official Flex website, the overall pay rates that you see on the block offer already include an amount for any mileage pay required by Australian law. Generally, as independent contractors, drivers are responsible for their own expenses.

However, if at the time of delivery requires you to pass the toll, then you can submit for a toll reimbursement through the app for review. When drivers are eligible for reimbursement, they will get the additional payment within 72 hours.

What if I cannot complete delivery according to block’s time?
When the block time ends, you can either continue delivering the package anyway or return the rest of the packages to the delivery station where you pick up the stuff.

When you decide to complete the delivery, you can try to email them, explain your condition and ask for a reimbursement. There is no guarantee that you always get a response and compensation. But if they end up compensating for extra hours, it’s not recommended to do it repeatedly as you might get kicked out from the platform.

However, returning the rest of the packages to the fulfilment centre will negatively impact your overall rating. If you return lots of packages often, you will probably be deactivated. Learn more about Flex driver termination and how to avoid deactivation in the future.