Amazon used to be reliant upon major shipping companies like FedEx and USPS to deliver their packages. But in recent years, the digital retailer has taken matters into their own hands.
Owning their own delivery system comes in the form of Amazon Flex, a gig worker-driven delivery program. To become a driver, though, is no small feat. That’s because of the background check. How long does Amazon background check take? The answer might surprise you. Find it below.
How Long Does an Amazon Background Check Take In [currentyear]?
The Amazon background check in order to drive for the Flex delivery program is sourced out to a third-party company and should take no more than two to five days in [currentyear]. However, the background checks can take as many as 10 days or longer to complete. After five days, potential applicants should reach out to Amazon Flex support.
If you’d like to learn more about what you can expect Amazon to examine during a background check, how you can check the status, and other basic requirements to drive for Amazon Flex, keep reading!
What Is Amazon’s Background Check Like?
Because of the sensitive nature of the work you’re doing when delivering for Amazon Flex, the company wants to make sure it can trust you before bringing you on.
Hence the background check, which goes back seven years into your history. Amazon outsources its background checks to Accurate Background.
Amazon checks the following:
- Criminal history: If you have committed and been convicted of a crime in the last seven years, you are most likely ineligible to drive for Flex.
However, Amazon states that it considers convictions on a case-by-case basis. So, if your crime was reckless driving or theft, you’re probably still out.
If it was a minor drug possession or white-collar crime (fraud, for example), Amazon is more likely to continue considering you.
- Work history: Were you fired from any previous positions? Amazon may look closely at these as an indicator for your fit with the company.
- Educational history: While not super important, Amazon does consider the educational background of its drivers and may cross-reference records.
- Credit history: Credit history can reveal how responsible an individual is.
- References: Applicants must submit a shortlist of personal or professional references to attest to their character and demeanor.
- Drug usage: Amazon will likely drug test you before hiring you. In fact, you might be drug tested once a year, randomly, throughout your employment.
As a prospective Flex driver, this list can be daunting, but it’s actually not much more comprehensive, say, working for the USPS.
As well, as customers, it’s reassuring to see that Amazon takes the safety of and responsibility for its other employees and deliveries seriously.
How Do You Check the Status of an Amazon Background Check?
Before you start calling Amazon Flex support, wait at least five days from the start of the background check.
After five days, if your status is still pending, then you can give Amazon a ring and inquire as to what might be causing the delay.
Surprisingly- sometimes it’s the applicants themselves holding up completion!
Why Is Your Background Check Taking So Long for Amazon?
The good commenters over at Reddit have a few suggestions for why the Amazon background check might be taking so long to complete.
u/Flexola wrote, “When I applied, I didn’t watch all [the training videos]…but not watching them all was holding up the process.”
Additionally, this commenter added, “you also have to answer all the questions that accompany the videos”.
Another commenter, u/DangItsBatman, suggested that it could be a paperwork issue:
“…it turned out the request to the courts was taking longer than usual.”
There are so many reasons why your background check could be taking a while, and if you’re not content to sit tight, just give Amazon Flex support a call.
Does Amazon Flex Hire Felons?
Amazon doesn’t make a habit of hiring felons, especially not for crimes that relate to the nature of the Flex delivery job, e.g., theft, reckless driving, assault, etc.
However, Amazon doesn’t completely rule out the possibility, especially if you’re driving record is still very good.
Does Amazon Flex Drug Test?
Amazon Flex will likely drug test applicants, and if so, it will occur at the very end of the background check process.
Does Amazon Perform a Credit Check?
Amazon does perform a credit check; in fact, you will likely have to authorize Amazon to perform it, so the company has your permission to look into your financial history
What Are the Requirements to Drive for Amazon?
There are some other basic requirements applicants must meet before they will be seriously considered to drive for Amazon Flex.
This means you must:
- Be 21 years of age or older
- Have a valid driver’s license
- Have a valid motor vehicle (SUVs are preferred)
- Have auto insurance
- Own a working smartphone with an Internet connection
If this is you, and you want to earn some money on a flexible schedule, then head over to www.flex.amazon.com and apply!
To know more about Amazon, you can also see our posts on Amazon rehire policy, what age does Amazon hire, and if Amazon offers relocation assistance.
Conclusion
Amazon is thorough and specific about who it brings onto the Flex delivery team, performing comprehensive background checks that include criminal, driving, and work history.
While felons with violent or theft-related histories may not be eligible, others with non-violent/non-theft convictions are not immediately excluded from the pool.
