Stuck On The Amazon Flex Waiting List? - Here's What Drivers Should Know

When it comes to delivery gigs that pay well, Amazon Flex is certainly at the top of the list. But, if you're reading this post, there's a good chance you're stuck on the Amazon Flex waiting list and aren't able to drive yet.

Waiting lists are an unfortunate reality for many gig apps, and sometimes, there's simply too many drivers in a market for you to find work.

But, how long is the Amazon Flex waiting list? And, more importantly, how can you make money while you're stuck on the waiting list so you're not wasting precious time?

Time to cover everything you need to know when there's no Amazon Flex gigs and you're stuck waiting!

What Is The Amazon Flex Waiting List?

The Amazon Flex waiting list is a list new driver applicants get placed on when there aren't any open driver positions in their city. You get placed on the Amazon waiting list because there are too many drivers in your area or there's not enough demand for the current delivery drivers.

Amazon-Flex-driver

When you submit your application to drive for Amazon Flex, which is done through the Amazon Flex app, it notifies you if there aren't any open driver positions in your city.

From there, you get an email from Amazon that lets you know when new driver spots are available so you can get off of the waiting list.

Just remember: make sure you complete your driver application so you get placed on the Amazon Flex waiting list. This is much better than just checking in once in a while and trying to sign up.

Also be sure to check your email regularly for emails from Amazon to see if driver positions are open in your city.

Now, as for why Amazon uses this system, it actually boils down to simple supply and demand.

A lot of driving gigs limit how many delivery drivers operate in one market so active drivers have enough work.

This is why you have the Instacart waitlist when you apply to become a shopper in a saturated market; it's just how these sorts of delivery apps work unfortunately!

How Long Is The Amazon Flex Waiting List?

There isn't a specific amount of time you have to wait to get off of the Amazon Flex waiting list. But many drivers report being on the waiting list for a few weeks to several months depending on the city they're in.

Again, how long you're on the waiting list depends on several factors, including:

The city you're in (market size)
How many other Amazon Flex drivers there are
Seasonality (periods like Christmas often require more Amazon Flex drivers on the roads)

Another important factor to consider is if Amazon Flex even delivers in your area.

If Amazon Flex isn't available in your market, you can still get put on the waiting list and get notified when Amazon Flex moves to your city/state.

Specifically, Amazon Flex's sign up page will say “we'll email you when Amazon Flex is available in your area.”

In any case, how long is the Amazon Flex waiting list on average?

Well, if you look at what real Amazon Flex drivers say on Reddit, the answers vary quite a bit. For example, here's what some Amazon Flex drivers said in a Reddit thread that asks about how long everyone's waitlist times were.

Successful-Ad-8272 says: “I applied 5 months ago and I'm on the waiting list since then have not heard anything.”
sparky says: “I applied in March of this year and was approved and working 4 days later. Good luck!”
glasstomouth45 says: “I waited 3 months. That was last year.”
stitchkingdom says: “It’s based on waiting list. There’s no defined time period and everyone’s story will be different. I believe I signed up in November 2019 and got in March 2020.”

As you can see, Amazon Flex waitlist times vary greatly for different drivers.

In some markets, you might get in after a few days of waiting. However, the norm seems to be a few months based on this Reddit thread and several other threads on the same topic.

This video from YouTuber and gig expert Driver Joe also shares information on how long the Amazon Flex waiting list is:

In his video, Driver Joe explains how many people get the notification “you're on the Amazon Flex interest list” when they try to sign up.

Driver Joe thinks this is because Amazon takes on way more drivers than it needs to ensure there are enough delivery people during peak times of the year, like Christmas.

However, Joe also states there's a high turnover rate, so you can get off the Amazon Flex waiting list within a few weeks or months if you get lucky!

Can You Skip The Amazon Flex Waiting List?

You can’t skip the waiting list for Amazon Flex. This is because you get placed on the waiting list when there's no demand for new drivers in your area, so there isn't a way to expedite or bypass the waiting period.

However, don’t count on the waitlist to tell you when you’ve been officially accepted to the program.

Some users state that they didn’t get an email from Amazon. Instead, they just checked the Amazon Flex app and suddenly noticed that they were in.

So, when you apply for Amazon Flex, get in the habit of checking in on the app once in a while to check your application status.

Pro tip: Try signing up during a quieter season to get a little ahead of the waiting list. Some people sign up during the holidays and it takes way too long to become a driver.

What Influences Your Amazon Waiting List Time?

Here are some of the main factors that influence how long you're stuck on the waitlist:

Location: Busy cities can sometimes have longer waitlist periods than others since more gig workers know about Amazon Flex and want a new side hustle.
Season: Periods like Christmas see a boost in Amazon Flex drivers since the company needs to keep up with deliveries, so you might be able to become an active driver during this period much faster.
Driver Promotions: Amazon sometimes runs new driver promotions in certain markets. This can lead to a rapid increase in sign ups, so you might find yourself on the waitlist if you don't act quickly.

At the end of the day, the best solution you have is to apply as soon as possible to secure your spot on the waiting list if there's one in your market.

What To Do If You’re Stuck On Amazon Flex’s Waiting List

Having to wait months and months for a money-making opportunity to arise will ultimately lose you money.

Luckily, there are a ton of gig economy apps or delivery driver apps that can fill in the gap. So, if you're stuck on Amazon Flex's waiting list, here are some actions you can take in the meantime!

1. Try Food Delivery Gigs

Food delivery gigs are amongst the highest paying gig economy gigs out there, and they typically have easier hiring processes and shorter wait times than Amazon Flex.

Some popular food delivery companies you can apply to work for include:

DoorDash – The leading food delivery service in North America.
Instacart – Deliver groceries for people as an Instacart Shopper!
Grubhub – Another popular food delivery service. Read our post on Grubhub vs DoorDash for more info!
Shipt – Like Instacart, Shipt lets you make money by delivering groceries to people in your city!
Uber Eats – You can deliver for Uber Eats if you already drive for Uber, and this is one of the most popular food delivery platforms as well!

Food delivery gigs might pay a bit less than Amazon Flex, but with tips or on a busy day, you can earn decent money while keeping a flexible schedule.

Plus, if you get enough deliveries in your market or shifts, you might be able to make more money overall.

For example, weekly Instacart pay can reach hundreds of dollars or even over a thousand if you're in a super busy market. The same goes for making money with DoorDash since it's the leading food delivery service in North America.

The only downside to food delivery gigs is the waiting time between every order. With Amazon, you get a bunch of packages and go about your route for the day.

If you go down this route, or any delivery route, just make sure you track your income and expenses.

I personally use Everlance, one of the best mileage tracking apps for gig workers, to track my mileage and income. But you can use a variety of apps or track all of this information manually.

Start making money with DoorDash!

Extra Reading – How To Do DoorDash For The First Time.

2. Try Other Delivery Jobs

Aside from just food, there are other delivery jobs out there that pay you to transfer over pretty much anything.

From home furniture to business supplies, your options are pretty much endless.

For example, delivery gigs like GoShare and Roadie both let you make money by delivering packages to people in your city or even in cities across the country.

This type of peer-to-peer delivery gig can pay very well, especially if you deliver bulky packages or difficult-to-transport items to people in your city or further away.

Alternatively, if you want a very similar job to Amazon Flex while you're stuck on the waiting list, you can consider GoPuff or Walmart Spark.

Both gigs pay you to deliver packages and everyday essentials to people. So, you can stack these apps to earn extra cash while waiting for Amazon Flex's approval.

Just note that with these jobs, it's best if you have a pickup truck, cargo van, or larger vehicle since this lets you take on larger deliveries.

Extra Reading – How To Make $400 A Day.

3. Wait It Out

If these other gig economy gigs are too much work or aren't hiring in your area, then sometimes waiting it out is your best bet.

Unfortunately, there isn't a way to get off of the Amazon Flex waiting list aside from waiting for driver positions to open in your city.

At the end of the day, there's no harm in applying to Amazon Flex and just waiting it out. Besides, you never know: you might get hired instantly or only have to wait a few days or weeks before you begin driving!

4. Try Other Ways To Make Money With Amazon

While it might surprise you, there are actually so many ways to make money with Amazon even if you're stuck on the Amazon Flex waiting list.

For example, you can always try out micro task websites like working on Amazon MTurk.

This site pays you for completing short online tasks like transcription and data entry tasks. Sites like Amazon MTurk aren't as lucrative as Amazon Flex, but it's quick money.

You can also try things like retail arbitrage and sell through Amazon FBA.

These are just a few examples, but the point is, Amazon has so many money-making opportunities to make money online or in person, so don't be afraid to get creative!

Extra Reading – The 12 Best Delivery Jobs Like Instacart.

What Amazon Flex Cities Are Currently Recruiting?

Amazon Flex is very likely in your city or extremely nearby. Take a look at all the states and cities where Amazon Flex is hiring:

Alabama: Birmingham, Mobile, Montgomery, Ozark and Daleville, and Troy
Arkansas: Yellville
California: Glenn County, Greater Los Angeles area, Palmdale and Lancaster, Sacramento, San Bernardino County, San Diego, San Francisco, Stockton
Colorado: Colorado Springs, Denver
Connecticut: Hartford
Delaware: Wilmington
Florida: Destin, Gainesville, Lakeland, Miami, Orlando, Sarasota, Venice, Tampa, St. Pete
Georgia: Atlanta
Idaho: Boise
Illinois: Chicago, Champaign
Indiana: Evansville, Fort Wayne, Indianapolis
Iowa: Des Moines
Kansas: Kansas City, Wichita
Louisiana: Baton Rouge
Maine: Portland
Maryland: Baltimore, Washington DC
Massachusetts: Boston
Michigan: Detroit, Lansing, Saginaw
Minnesota: Minneapolis
Mississippi: Hattiesburg
Missouri: St. Louis
Nevada: Las Vegas
New Jersey: Hoboken, Trenton and Freehold Townships
New Mexico: Alburquerque
New York: Albany, Brooklyn, Syracuse, Yonkers/White Plains
North Carolina: Charlotte, Raleigh
North Dakota: Fargo
Ohio: Akron, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton
Oklahoma: Oklahoma City, Tulsa
Oregon: Eugene, Portland
Pennsylvania: Allentown, Erie, Pittsburgh, Wilkes-Barre/Scraton
South Carolina: Columbia, Greenville
South Dakota: Sioux Falls
Tennessee: Bristol-Kingsport, Nashville
Texas: Austin, Dallas Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio
Utah: Salt Lake City
Virginia: Richmond
Washington: Greater Seattle area, Kitsap County
Wisconsin: Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha County

As for cities where Amazon Flex is actively recruiting right now, these cities are in luck:

Greater Seattle area
Boise
Detroit
Worcester

You can also view the list of Amazon Flex cities online to see if your city is currently available. Just remember: if your city is not on this list, you can still sign up and Amazon will let you know if there is an opportunity in your area.

Final Thoughts

Amazon Flex waiting list times vary, and the blunt reality is, it might take several weeks or months before you can make money with Amazon.

However, Amazon Flex is a lucrative driving gig, and there's no harm in signing up and seeing how long you're on the Amazon Flex waiting list for.

You should also familiarize yourself with Amazon Flex's deactivation policy and how to get Amazon Flex blocks so you know how to do the job properly while you're waiting.

And, in the meantime, there's plenty of other side hustle ideas and similar delivery gigs out there that you can turn to!

It doesn't matter if this means driving for Uber Eats, making money with other delivery jobs, or even exploring ways to make money from home with Amazon. There are plenty of ways to boost your income if you put in the time.

Thanks for reading!

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