We all know about Uber, Lyft, Sidecar, and other ride-sharing services where you can make money by driving around strangers.
Now, however, you can become a driver for Amazon and drive around packages, all for $18-25 an hour (comparable to the aforementioned). Amazon has created the Amazon Flex program, which means people can get items from Prime Now within an hour.
And that’s where the drivers come in. It began in Seattle in 2015, and and is now available in thirty other major cities: Arlington (VA), Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Brooklyn, Chicago, Cincinnati, Columbus, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Manhattan, Miami, Milwaukee, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Nashville, New Jersey, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Portland, Raleigh, Richmond, San Antonio, San Francisco, Seattle, Springfield (VA), Tampa Bay, Tucson and Virginia Beach.
Pretty soon, we may not have to brave traffic on the roads and in malls—all we have to do is order something via Prime Now and an item will be on our doorstep faster than if we went to get it ourselves.
Once a driver is approved, they can choose to work in 2-hour shifts, and work up to 12 hours at a time. The driver then uses Amazon’s delivery app to pick out shifts, which can occur any day of the week. The area of deliveries depends on how long a shift the driver chooses.
Interested? Sign up now to apply or get alerted when it’s coming to a city near you.
Requirements to be considered:
Must be at least 21 years old
Must have a valid driver’s license (no deliveries via bike or on foot)
Must a pass a background check
Must have access to an Android smartphone
Personally, I think it’s a win-win for the drivers and shoppers alike. It’s a great way for people to make money on their schedule, and it’s also a big benefit to consumers who need something immediately or who cannot leave their location (due to working, children, or other demands).
I just hope it doesn’t isolate people too much and turn them into hermits, never wanting to leave home again and spoiling them with prompt deliveries.
However, for the drivers, it’ll be a nice change from shuttling around passengers—at least the boxes won’t talk back or come into their cars drunk at 2 a.m.
Photo by public.resource.org 