Key Takeaways: Always keep safety in mind by keeping an eye on your surroundings and using safe driving techniques. Organize your packages by location in a delivery app to keep track of them. Have the essentials on hand, such as water, snacks, and a first aid kit, to be ready for unforeseen circumstances. Informing clients of the status of their deliveries and adhering to their delivery instructions can help you communicate with them effectively. Amazon is a customer-centric e-commerce business, but much like them, it also cares for its employees, especially the drivers. If you’re an Amazon Flex driver, there are plenty of ways to earn more through bonuses and performance rewards. Working smart, not just hard, can make a big difference in your earnings. So, how do you make the most of every route? And how does Amazon reward your effort? Here are some of the best tips and tricks every Amazon delivery driver should know to boost efficiency and income. Plan the Shortest & Fastest Routes in Just 3 Clicks Is manual route planning slowing you down? Upper cuts the process down to 3 simple steps. Get Started Table of Content 11 Amazon Flex Driver Tips and Tricks to Get More Money How Can Upper Solo Help You Maximize Your Gig Economy? FAQs Summing Up 11 Amazon Flex Driver Tips and Tricks to Get More Money Without tips or bonuses, your earnings will be around $18 to $25 for timely completion of Amazon Flex deliveries. The actual earnings can exceed this bar, depending on the time it takes you to complete the assigned deliveries, your location, and other factors. You can easily multiply your earnings by implementing a few effective Amazon Flex driver tips that are listed below: 1. Organize the packages properly At the pickup hub, Amazon assigns the number of packages you’ll deliver and guides how to load them efficiently. Use the package codes to sort them by delivery zone. Now, place them in your delivery truck in descending order of the delivery area or addresses. You should start loading the vehicle from the end of the trailer with the packages you will deliver last. The package to be delivered at the first stop should be at the door end of your vehicle’s trailer. This will make it easy for you to quickly unload the packages at each stop. 2. Collect your gas cashback Amazon Flex drivers find gas bills as one of the biggest expenses in completing their delivery gigs. Amazon offers cashback on gas refills, but most newcomers are unaware of it. You need to download the ‘GetUpside’ app, where you will get cashback for every refill. You can use these cashbacks to encash your next fuel purchase, which will cut down your payable amount. There are times in a year when Amazon will host double cashback for a limited period of time on gas refills. So, make sure you take advantage of it 3. Keep track of mileage and cumulative expenses Amazon Flex makes you an independent contractor, for whom you will be liable to bear all expenses. So, if you do not track these expenses, you will eventually lose your money in tax deductions. As per Amazon Flex, you are expected to pay quarterly taxes after completing one year with the company. Tracking the mileage and actual expenses allows you to get some tax claims later that year. Use some mileage tracker applications to track the mileage you cover. Apart from that, you can also do this manually by recording the vehicle’s ODO meter daily. For expenses, you must keep a record of the receipts. Upper Solo is specialized route optimization software that displays the total mileage you will cover daily when you plan delivery routes through its portal. So, things will be pretty much easier for you. 4. Claim more Amazon Flex blocks You must sacrifice your morning sleep and wake up early to claim more blocks than other Amazon delivery drivers. The more blocks you claim, the higher your earnings will be for the day. This is probably one of the best Amazon Flex driver tips for earning more money from delivery gigs. The delivery gigs you get will be from the blocks you choose for the day. So, invest your time and effort in picking the demanding blocks to get more delivery gigs for the day and make good money by the end of your service time that day. 5. Keep the Amazon Flex app updated It is a common tip, but it can have a huge impact if you miss out on it. Make sure you check for updates for the Amazon Flex app at periodic intervals. If you don’t update your application, you will be automatically signed out and receive no notification of any new high-paying delivery block being added to the list. You will miss out on any offer, and other drivers will benefit from it. Imagine waking up in the morning to claim the blocks, but you are logged out and have to enter credentials, which takes time. Meanwhile, you will lose the priority blocks you could have easily gotten. 6. Try different delivery types Don’t just stick to only one type of delivery for your gigs. Instead, keep exploring the options that Amazon offers for its flex drivers. As an Amazon Flex driver, you can take delivery gigs for Amazon Logistics, Amazon Fresh, Amazon Restaurants, and Prime Now. You typically get the logistics delivery gigs, but try and keep looking for other options to maximize efficiency. The wider you open your window, the more earning opportunities you will have. 7. Keep some empty boxes with you Your earnings also depend on the tips you get from customers. So, when you deliver packages that are crumpled and torn, can you expect any monetary tips? Probably not. Along with all of the other customer satisfaction aspects, getting a clean and damage-free package is one of the most crucial ones. So, it is better to have spare boxes with you if you notice some delivery boxes experiencing damage due to the transit routes. Remember to have boxes of different sizes to match the original box. To reduce the damage caused to original boxes during transit, you can choose to use better routes that don’t jerk the trailers much to disorient the position of boxes. As stated above, Upper Solo can help you assess such routes through satellite mapping and embedded algorithms. 8. Get a reliable insurance policy Amazon Flex drivers should have insurance for their delivery vehicles as a mandatory requirement. Insurance will back you up if you want to secure your earnings and don’t want to spend them on any possible accidental repair. While you are signing up to make Amazon Flex deliveries, it is evident that you will be driving all the time throughout the city or state. In that process, you will be vulnerable to any possible accident, irrespective of how experienced a driver you are. With insurance, you can return to making most deliveries without emptying your bank. 9. Carry essentials As an Amazon Flex driver, if you want to earn more, you will have to cover back-to-back routes for more deliveries. And for that, you will need all the assistive essentials on the go. Some of the things you should not forget to pack are a good phone mount, a power bank, a charger cable, snacks, drinks, a flashlight, a pen, and a first-aid kit. These things will help you in your overall journey of delivering Amazon Flex packages without any halt. 10. Use other delivery apps It is common sense for a delivery driver to keep looking for opportunities. Even though you are an Amazon Flex driver, you are still an independent contractor. You can still take other jobs from various delivery applications other than the Flex app, such as Uber Eats, Instacart, and DoorDash. Different applications have different payout rules. Make sure you study their policies before signing up with the delivery service. And, you are all open to fulfilling your goal of earning well by serving customers of different brands. 11. Have a planned route Without a planned route for covering various delivery addresses, there is a high chance you will get lost in the cosmos of highways in an unknown state. Moreover, wandering on the wrong routes will cost you more gas and might consume more driving time, leading to late deliveries. Late Amazon deliveries will not help you earn even the standard amount of money. So, it is better to use an automated route planner to add your pre-destined stops or addresses and get a well-planned and shortest route to cover them all. Try using Upper Solo, as it has an advanced route optimization algorithm with many features to streamline the jobs for delivery drivers. How Can Upper Solo Help You Maximize Your Gig Economy? What’s better than having the perfect and shortest route to your delivery station? These shortest routes will help to reduce delivery miles, thus saving money, fuel, and time. Apart from that, you will also be delivering packages on time to earn good bonuses. The Upper Solo has an algorithm that uses satellite mapping technology to point out the given addresses on a route map. As per the route plan, your journey will commence from the pickup location and follow the shortest route possible to multiple delivery stops. Delayed or incomplete deliveries incur penalties for Amazon Flex drivers, and we are here to minimize those penalties. The routes generated by our software can also be modified based on priorities to ensure better pay at those blocks. Take a 3-day free trial with Upper Solo, and we will integrate it into your Amazon Flex delivery services and let you assess your business growth with it. FAQs Can a delivery driver use Google Maps for better routes? Google has not dedicatedly designed its mapping platform for delivery routing. You can use it, but it might not help you find the easiest and most relevant routes to your destination. It is for the global audience in general, so there will be no specific considerations for delivery drivers or businesses. What are the other delivery applications that one can use? Besides Amazon Flex, the drivers can use other applications such as Cornershop, Roadies, Instacard, DoorDash, and others to improve their gig economy. Try to find more applications related to food deliveries and grocery deliveries, as they are quick and have more tipping customers. Do Amazon delivery drivers get tips? Yes, Amazon Flex drivers can receive tips through the app when customers choose to add one. For Amazon Delivery Service Partner (DSP) drivers, tipping depends on local rules—some areas allow cash tips, others don’t. There’s also a “Thank My Driver” feature where customers can send appreciation, sometimes triggering a $5 bonus from Amazon. What is the 14-hour rule for Amazon drivers? The 14-hour rule comes from U.S. federal driving regulations. It means a driver can’t drive after being on duty for 14 hours following 10 hours off duty. Many Amazon DSP drivers reference this limit because their shifts can stretch close to that maximum length. How to succeed as an Amazon driver? Organize your packages before starting your route, follow navigation efficiently, and stay courteous to customers. Keep your vehicle well-maintained, manage time wisely, and prioritize safety over speed. Experienced drivers also learn their routes—knowing shortcuts and common issues helps a lot. What do you say to tip your Amazon driver? A simple “Thank you, I really appreciate it!” goes a long way. If handing cash or leaving a note, you can say, “Thanks for the delivery—here’s a little something for your effort.” For app tips, a short thank-you message is perfectly fine. How to be faster as an Amazon delivery driver? Sort packages by delivery order, know your route, and minimize time spent searching for parcels. Use reliable navigation tools and plan parking wisely. Staying organized and familiar with your delivery area naturally improves speed without cutting corners. How to tip an Amazon driver $5? If your region supports it, add a $5 tip during checkout or in the Amazon app. In the U.S., you can also say “Alexa, thank my driver,” which sometimes rewards drivers with a $5 bonus from Amazon. Otherwise, a direct cash tip works if allowed. Summing Up Amazon supports flex drivers with good standard pay and performance bonuses. They are also open to accepting tips from generous customers to supplement their earnings. However, Amazon has some rules and regulations you must follow to avoid being canceled as a driver by the company. Pay your taxes, be punctual, and don’t over-swipe the blocks. These are basic rules for you to follow and keep earning with Amazon. Try Upper Solo and optimize your routes to make faster deliveries. To learn more about this advanced route planning and optimization software. Author Bio Riddhi Patel Riddhi, the Head of Marketing, leads campaigns, brand strategy, and market research. A champion for teams and clients, her focus on creative excellence drives impactful marketing and business growth. When she is not deep in marketing, she writes blog posts or plays with her dog, Copper. Read more. Share this post: Streamline Your Delivery Routes!Effortlessly optimize routes, reduce planning time, and boost delivery efficiency.Start Optimizing Now
