The key to getting more blocks many times has to do with how long it takes you to get to the warehouse. Technically you can check-in up to 14 minutes past the hour of your scheduled arrival time. *(Update, check-in is now no later than 5 minutes past the hour!) Technically. But you don’t really want to arrive that late because you could miss the push for that block and end up sitting. Some people don’t mind this, but as you will learn, most of the money you make delivering for Amazon Flex comes from the tips. And you won’t get any tips just sitting at the warehouse waiting. It’s best to pick up the shift and be able to make it to the warehouse either before or right near the check-in time for the block. (Usually 15 minutes until the hour.)
So, when do notifications for blocks go out? Well…that can vary. I have seen blocks go out an hour and 45 minutes before the scheduled arrival time. And I have seen blocks go out 2 minutes before the scheduled arrival time. This can and will vary for each location. Your ability to take the block directly depends on your ability to get to the warehouse on time.
Some drivers will sit at the warehouse all day/night looking for shifts. These are the hustlers. They could get 6 blocks, 2 blocks or no blocks. It’s all about luck. Although they don’t have an advantage when trying to obtain a block (more on this later), they do have an advantage in that they are already at the warehouse and have no travel time. If an opportunity for a block becomes available at 2 minutes until the hour, these are the drivers that are going to get it. Especially when someone else, who is 20 minutes away, isn’t even looking anymore.
But don’t think for one moment that you have to go and sit at the warehouse to pick up blocks. I know many, myself included, that have better luck being at home. I do on occasion drive to a location that puts me closer to the warehouse. Say 10 minutes away rather than 20. That way I am able to try for a block up to 15 until the hour versus 25 until the hour.
Your success will depend on you figuring out what works best for you and your area. This will take time and effort to figure out, but as I’ve said before, it will be worth it.
Hey, I wanted to thank you for your tips for working with Amazon Flex. I’ve definitely gotten more shifts than by being passive. Makes for good weekend work, like a gym that pays you to show up.
I also wanted to share a tip I use when loading my car. It works best when the route is prebuilt, but you can also use it if the logistics team builds you a custom route.
The loading method is known as last in first out, or first in last out. Many of the packages on your route won’t be seen for hours, so figure out the last ones on your route and load them in first. If you’ve got a prebuilt route, start with the stop on the bottom of the page and work your way up. Load the first packages on your route last, so they’ll be easily accessible when you get started. As you need a package, it’ll be freed up by the packages you’ve delivered. It saves a ton of time sifting through boxes, and also helps you see if you’ve missed anything, because if you’re pulling from behind an orphan, it may not be in your itinerary correctly.
If you get a custom route (usually afternoon/evening shifts), scan all the packages into your app before loading them into your car. Then, go into today’s itinerary and load from the bottom of the list up.
Ron, thank you so much for contributing. Keep any and all tips coming! Best of luck to you.
So if I am 30 minutes from the warehouse and a block that’s scheduled to start in 15 minutes becomes available, I snap it up and I get a message, something like “this block is no longer available”…because I am positioned too far from the warehouse? Is this correct?
No, it means someone else got he block who was just a millisecond ahead of you in the process. It will not take your location into consideration when looking for shifts. Hope this helps.
I think he’s saying being close to the warehouse is a bonus when accepting blocks. Not that it assists with getting them. I’ve seen blocks while out of town on vacation.
i have been told, that flex drivers block pay, increases by the level’s they achieve. Also i was informed that blocks pay more when it rains, or snows. So my questions are, are there indeed driver levels – where the block rate increases because you have been a successfull flex driver? Two, does the weather affect the block pay rate.
I’m not aware of any driver levels that would dictate pay. I just see what rate they are giving a block and assume others are offered the same. There are certainly times when pay rates go up because they need more drivers due to weather or heavy traffic times. Holidays also get sweetened pay at time. Best of luck.