As an expert in the retail and consumer services industry, I know how important it is for companies to thoroughly vet their workforce, especially when employees will be interacting directly with customers. Amazon is no exception. The ecommerce giant has built a reputation for fast, reliable delivery, and a big part of maintaining that standard is ensuring they hire trustworthy, responsible drivers for their Amazon Flex program.
If you‘re considering applying to be an Amazon Flex delivery driver, you might be wondering what to expect from the background check process. In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll address the number one question on applicants‘ minds: How long does an Amazon Flex background check take? I‘ll also share insights into what exactly Amazon looks at when screening potential drivers, reasons the process might be delayed, and tips for successfully navigating the background check.
Amazon Flex Background Check Basics
When you apply to be an independent contractor driver with Amazon Flex, the company will initiate a background screening through a third-party provider called Accurate Background. This is a routine step for most employers, especially those in the retail, transportation, and consumer service sectors.
However, the level of scrutiny involved can vary. Given the direct access to customers‘ homes and sensitive personal information that comes with a delivery job, Amazon holds its Flex drivers to a particularly high standard. Their background checks are more extensive than what you might encounter for an in-store retail or restaurant position, for example.
What Does Amazon Look at During a Flex Background Check?
According to Amazon‘s official help page, the Flex background screening focuses on an applicant‘s criminal history and driving records. Specifically, they evaluate the following:
- Felony and misdemeanor criminal convictions at the state and county level going back 7 years
- Sex offender registry information at the state and national level
- Global watchlist records including Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Most Wanted lists
- Driving record including license status, license type, and any violations, suspensions, or revocations
Amazon notes that not all criminal convictions automatically disqualify someone from becoming a Flex driver. They review each applicant‘s results individually and consider the specific charges, how long ago they occurred, and whether the offense could impact the individual‘s ability to safely perform delivery work.
In addition to the official background screening, Amazon may also verify an applicant‘s employment history, education credentials, and professional references. While these aren‘t the central focus of their checks, any major discrepancies between the information provided on the Flex application and what turns up during the verification process could raise red flags.
How Long Should You Expect to Wait for Amazon Flex Background Check Results?
According to a 2018 survey by HR.com, the average turnaround time for a pre-employment background check across all industries was 1-3 business days. However, that doesn‘t tell the whole story, as certain types of checks can take significantly longer:
- 55% of employers said education verifications took longer than 3 days
- 44% reported employment verifications exceeding 3 days
- 38% indicated delays of 4 days or more for motor vehicle records checks
Given the potential variability, Amazon provides a fairly wide estimate for their Flex driver background checks. Most applicants can expect to receive a decision within 2-5 business days of consenting to the screening. However, it‘s not unheard of for the process to stretch out to 7-10 days in some cases.
Based on input from current and former Flex drivers on forums like Reddit, the average timeline seems to fall right in the middle of that range at 3-5 business days. Of course, this isn‘t a guarantee, as each individual‘s results will depend on their specific circumstances and history.
To give some context, here‘s how Amazon‘s background check timing compares to a few other major employers that hire delivery drivers and couriers:
| Company | Typical Background Check Turnaround Time |
|---|---|
| Amazon Flex | 2-5 business days |
| Doordash | 5-7 business days |
| Grubhub | 3-5 business days |
| Instacart | 10 business days |
| FedEx | 24-48 hours for preliminary checks, 5-10 days for full screening |
As you can see, Amazon‘s expected timeline is fairly standard for the industry, if not slightly faster than some competitors. They‘ve likely optimized their processes to get new Flex drivers onboarded as efficiently as possible while still conducting thorough due diligence.
Tips for a Smooth Amazon Flex Background Check
While you can‘t control everything about how long your background check will take, there are a few steps you can take as an applicant to keep the process moving along:
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Be upfront and honest on your application. Lying about or omitting details from your work history, education, or criminal background will only slow things down if the discrepancies are uncovered during the verification process. Amazon is more likely to overlook minor, older infractions that you‘re transparent about than major omissions that feel like you‘re trying to hide something.
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Provide accurate, up-to-date information. Double check that all the personal details, addresses, references, etc. that you provide on your Flex application are current and correct. If the background check company has to track down updated information or gets bounced around by out-of-service phone numbers, it will delay your results.
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Respond promptly to any requests for additional information. In some cases, the background check provider may need supplementary details or documents from you to complete their report. Keep an eye on your email and phone, and reply quickly to keep things on track.
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Follow up with former employers and references. Giving your past supervisors and references a heads up that they may be contacted for a verification can help those calls or emails get returned faster. If you know a past employer has a tendency to drag their feet on such requests, it may even be worth reaching out to their HR proactively.
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Check the status of your background check. Amazon makes it easy to see where you are in the Flex driver onboarding process right from the application dashboard. If your background check is still listed as "in progress" after 5 business days, follow up with Flex support to make sure nothing has fallen through the cracks.
While background checks are never a fun wait, especially when you‘re eager to start earning money, it‘s important to be patient and let the process unfold. Bombarding Amazon with emails or calls won‘t make your results come back any faster. In fact, it could backfire by making you seem pushy and raising concerns about how you‘ll interact with customers.
The Bottom Line: Amazon Flex Background Checks Protect Shoppers
At the end of the day, Amazon‘s rigorous screening process for Flex drivers is a good thing for consumers. With porch piracy and delivery fraud on the rise, shoppers want to know they can trust the person bringing packages to their door. In fact, a 2019 survey by Secured Marketplace found that:
- 43% of consumers have little to no trust in delivery drivers
- 61% worry about drivers stealing their packages
- Only 37% believe delivery companies do a good job of vetting their workers
By holding Flex drivers to such high standards, Amazon is demonstrating a commitment to their customers‘ safety and peace of mind. While applicants may chafe at the seeming invasion of privacy, at the end of the day, a person who struggles to pass a background check probably shouldn‘t be put in such a sensitive position of trust.
From a business perspective, the Flex background checks are also critical for protecting Amazon‘s reputation and bottom line. With 1 in 4 U.S. households now subscribing to Prime, Amazon has a huge customer base relying on them for convenient, trustworthy delivery. A few bad apples in the Flex driver pool could easily snowball into a PR and legal nightmare that could cost the company dearly.
Key Takeaways for Amazon Flex Driver Applicants
If you‘re considering applying for Amazon Flex, here are the most important things to know about their background check process:
- Most applicants get results in 2-5 business days, but delays of up to 10+ days can happen in some cases.
- Amazon looks at an applicant‘s criminal history (7 years), driving records, sex offender registries, and global watchlists. They may also verify employment history, education, and references.
- Not all criminal records are automatic disqualifiers. Amazon evaluates each case individually based on the type of offense, how long ago it occurred, and relevance to the delivery job.
- You can‘t speed up the background check, but you can avoid delays by providing complete, accurate information and responding promptly to any information requests.
- If your background check is pending for longer than 5 business days, follow up with Flex support for a status update.
Above all, remember that Amazon‘s selective screening process reflects the immense responsibility that comes with being a Flex driver. If you‘re someone with a clean record, strong work ethic, and commitment to providing top-notch customer service, you have little to worry about. Once you pass the background check, you‘ll be on your way to a rewarding gig with the retail giant.
