Are you interested in applying as an Amazon Flex truck driver?
Great.
Amazon Flex offers an excellent opportunity for vehicle owners to earn extra cash by delivering Amazon packages to customers.
This driving gig lets you earn anywhere from $18 to $25 per hour.
However, if you’re worried about the Amazon Flex background check, you should read this guide first.
We’ll cover facts you need to know about background checks on Amazon, along with other essential requirements.
Contents
What Is Amazon Flex?
Amazon is the biggest and most popular e-commerce platform globally, with approximately $1.7 trillion in valuation.
Over the years, the company has expanded its business to over 40 subsidiaries.
The latest addition to Amazon’s growing empire is Amazon Flex.
It was launched in 2015 and now operates throughout the United States of America.
Amazon offers two different options for anyone opting to work as a delivery driver.
This way, you can choose the role that is most suitable for you.
You can work full-time or just a few hours each week.
Currently, there are about 75,000 Amazon Flex drivers who pick up packages from Amazon distribution centers to customers’ homes.
What Are the Role and Salary Expectations?
Whether you’re looking for a full-time job or just a side hustle, the Amazon Flex Program can help augment your income.
As mentioned, Amazon Flex drivers are primarily responsible for transporting or moving packages from Amazon distribution centers to the recipients’ homes.
Merchandise can range from groceries and household products to electronic devices, furniture, and appliances.
Amazon Flex drivers handle different deliveries, including instant pickup with a one to two-hour turnaround.
The thing about Amazon Flex is that the pay is pretty good.
According to the Amazon Salary Data, roughly the average salary of Amazon Flex drivers is $40,000 annually or about $3,250 per month.
Amazon Flex Background Check Requirements
Gig drivers interested in working with Amazon Flex need to make sure they meet the company’s qualifications.
Thankfully, the requirements aren’t too difficult to meet.
They include the following:
- You must be at least 21 years old.
- You need to live in a city where Amazon Flex is available.
- You must have a Social Security number, a valid U.S.A driver’s license, and proof of insurance for your vehicle.
- You must have a smartphone capable of handling the Amazon Flex app.
- Your vehicle should be large enough to carry the goods you’re expected to deliver.
- You should pass a background check.
In terms of academic qualifications, this role demands that candidates seeking the position must have at least a high school diploma or equivalent.
A previous driving-related job is also a huge plus.
Amazon Flex Background Check
Like other gig economy businesses, Amazon Flex requires a background check for applicant drivers.
It’s easy to understand why they would want that.
While freelancers can be a great asset to any business, companies need to ensure they hire trustworthy people.
Since customers’ packages will be in the hands of Flex drivers, Amazon needs to know that they can be trusted to handle the goods, which are often valuable.
A background check is Amazon’s way of ensuring that the Flex drivers they’re hiring will maintain the company’s reputation.
Coverage
Amazon Flex doesn’t disclose the information they look at when checking applicants’ backgrounds.
In general, Amazon’s background check can cover anything from the applicant’s education, employment, criminal records, credit history, and driving license checks.
Below is a more detailed description of what each screening is all about.
Work History
This covers basic information such as where you have worked in the last seven years, how long you’ve worked for those companies, and who you have worked for.
A work history check can also include circumstances that led to leaving your former employer.
Education
Since Amazon Flex driver applicants need to have at least a high school diploma, the check will show all the institutions or schools you have attended.
Criminal History
A criminal background check will reveal any felony or misdemeanor charges, arrests, convictions, and even pending criminal cases.
Driving Tickets or Violations
Driving records history includes traffic violations, revocations, types of licenses granted, suspensions, and restrictions on use.
In general, Amazon’s policy requires all finalists to complete reference checks and drug tests, along with the background check.
Fortunately, drug screening is not a requirement in the Flex Program.
The Seven-Year Rule
According to people who work for Amazon, their criminal background checks looked back seven years and considered convictions from that time.
It conforms with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) policy, which governs background investigations.
Essentially, the seven-year rule states that arrest records, paid tax liens, civil lawsuits, and civil judgments can’t be reported in a background investigation after seven years.
In some states, such as New York, California, and Kentucky, non-convictions can’t be reported at all.
That is even though they happened within the past seven years, except for pending charges.
However, convictions past seven years can be recorded.
Amazon Flex Background Check Procedure
Amazon performs a background check during the application process.
When you submit your application online, you will need to authorize a background check, per the FCRA.
Only then will the background screening begin.
Once you’re hired, they will not repeat the background check.
Amazon Flex Background Check Processing Time
Since Amazon Flex background checks are quite extensive, it may take a while for you to get the results.
In your online application, Amazon will tell you that it should only take two or four days.
However, take note that it’s just a general time range.
Most Flex drivers say that it took them one to four weeks.
If it’s been two weeks already and you haven’t been notified if you passed the background check, contact Amazon for an update.
Third-Party Checker
Like most big enterprises, Amazon utilizes the services of a third-party provider.
Most background checks for Amazon applicants are performed by Accurate Background.
This company has been processing background checks for big and small companies since 1997.
Accurate Backgrounds may contact you while they run a background check to inform you about the scope of their screening.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can Felons Become Amazon Flex Drivers?
The company’s official policy states that it will not discriminate against felons; in fact, Amazon hired many felons over the years.
Most of them secured various entry-level positions, including delivery drivers.
That means you have a chance at employment.
Of course, there’s an exception to this. Felonies connected with assault, car theft, and robberies are a red flag for Amazon since they highly value honesty among their delivery drivers.
We’ll talk about more red flags later.
However, if your felony happened more than seven years ago, it may no longer be covered by the Amazon background check. Still, regardless of when your felony happened, you should fully disclose your past in your application.
2. Should You Conduct a Background Check on Yourself?
Before you apply to Amazon Flex or while your background check is pending, you may consider running a self background check. Doing so has many benefits.
First, it helps you uncover errors or inaccuracies in the legal records compiled about you, allowing you to correct them.
Also, by looking at your background report beforehand, you can anticipate questions that may arise during your interview.
3. What if You Fail the Background Check on Amazon Flex?
Failing the background test can lead to the rejection of your application.
Still, you have a right to know if Amazon has used the information from your background report to disqualify you from the job.
By law, employers who use the information in a background check report should inform the applicant about it.
That also gives you a chance to double-check the information if you didn’t perform a self background check before applying.
4. Can Criminal Convictions Appear in Background Checks After Seven Years?
Yes, they can, but the background check company should take reasonable steps to ensure the accuracy of its reports.
The FCRA also puts a limit on the negative information added in a job screening report.
Furthermore, the background check company could not list expunged convictions.
What Are the Red Flags on an Amazon Background Check?
Even though felons can get hired as Amazon Flex drivers, several red flags could cause Amazon to reject an application.
Generally, individuals convicted for theft, credit card fraud, terrorism, murder, assault, and sex-related crimes may get rejected.
Another red flag that can cause Amazon to deny an application is “dishonesty”.
Lying on your application form can lead to automatic disqualification.
What’s Next?
A background check might be a pain in the neck for many applicants, especially those with criminal records.
It’s a reality that everyone has to deal with. Thankfully, the Amazon Flex program is a great place for felons to find a job.
Even though it isn’t always a guarantee, many felons got hired by Amazon Flex.
Do note, though, that certain red flags or felonies could lead to automatic denial of your job application.
It’s always a good idea to conduct a self background check to anticipate any possible issues you may encounter in your application.
Lastly, always be honest. Hiding certain information won’t help and could lead to more serious problems.
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