If you are fond of driving and want to earn while you drive, why not work part-time as a driver for Amazon?
However, if you are looking forward to any driving opportunity, you must have a clean driving record.
This begs the question, which factors in a driving record does Amazon consider?
Amazon takes care to hire professional and well-mannered staff with a clean history to provide a safe and favorable working environment.
To qualify as a driver at Amazon, the last seven years of your driving record will undergo a thorough check. Factors on the lookout for include:
- Moving Violations
- DUI (Driving Under the Influence)
- Theft
- Violent Crimes
- Drug Test
Keep reading to understand better what the hiring process for a driver at Amazon looks like, which factors on a driving record are most important, and why Amazon looks out for them.
Driver’s Screening at Amazon
You must agree Amazon is an excellent place for a part-time job such as driving.
Working at Amazon has many incredible benefits, such as market-competitive salaries, medical coverage, and many other perks.
To earn your place as a driver at Amazon, it means you must be trusted to deliver customer valuables safely.
How can you earn this trust?
Amazon uses a third-party service called Accurate to perform a seven-year background check on you before they can entrust you with customer goods.
Do you have what it takes to be one of Amazon’s drivers?
The following paragraphs fixate on what factors of your driving or previous employment record for the last seven years are the most important when applying as a driver at Amazon.
Moving Violations
The first thing worth noting in a driving record is the history of moving violations. These are the traffic offenses committed by the driver when a vehicle is in motion.
The severity of a moving violation can vary for different situations; some violations can be serious offenses, while others can be misdemeanors.
Some common examples of moving violations include not wearing a seatbelt, texting while driving, running a stop sign or red light, exceeding the speed limit, and driving without a license.
The initial punishment for such negligence can get you a ticket or hefty fines; you might as well lose access to your driving license.
If you commit a serious moving violation, you might face jail time or find yourself in court.
DUI (Driving Under the Influence)
The predominant cause of most accidents daily is driving under the influence, also known as impaired driving or DWI (Driving While Intoxicated).
Indeed, driving back home when drunk or even slightly tipsy is a terrible decision. You might not steer the vehicle properly and end up crashing the car, harming yourself or others around you.
This action is considered a criminal offense.
The driver’s intoxication is determined by a calculation of BAC (Blood Alcohol Content). The legal threshold for BAC for drivers is 0.08% and 0.04% for commercial drivers.
If a driver is caught operating a vehicle under the influence, it will add six points to his license and might cause his privileges to be suspended for one year.
Commercial drivers may be in even more trouble, as DUI can result in a lifetime revocation of their commercial driving license with the possibility of an arrest.
If a driver has any history of DUI in the last seven years on his record, he might not be eligible to work as a driver at Amazon.
Theft
In 2019, a theft ring in Washington got away with millions of dollars worth of stolen goods.
After the investigation, it turned out that Amazon’s drivers were involved. They stole goods from Amazon’s delivery items and sold them to pawn shops.
This traumatic history has made the screening process for Amazon drivers more severe.
As Amazon needs to trust you with a handful of valuables belonging to its customers for delivery, any hint of a theft history in your driving record is a big red flag.
This might decrease your chances of getting hired as a driver at Amazon.
Violent Crimes
Amazon tries to create a safe and favorable working environment for everyone.
Hence, they will review your history carefully for a criminal record.
If there are any violent crimes or other sensitive felonies that could portray you as an individual unfit to work as a driver, they might skip your application.
Drug Test
The drivers at Amazon undergo a drug test before being hired to make sure they are fit to drive.
The test is done on-site, and the drivers are sent to a lab to provide a sample. The location of the lab or testing type depends on where you live.
In most cases, they require urine samples or mouth swabs.
If you have had any history of drug abuse in the past seven years, this might reduce your chances of getting hired as a driver at Amazon.
Screening of Amazon DSP Drivers
If you work as a contractor with any of the DSPs (Delivery Service Providers) for Amazon, you’ll be provided with a specific set of rules and regulations.
In addition to the base rules, there might be a few additional requirements that may vary for different delivery service providers.
After completing the training, you’ll be given a delivery van or truck and a uniform to deliver the packages.
These delivery service providers have their screening policies. But in most cases, they will look for moving violations, DUI history, or other felonies on your driving record.
Some contractors might send you to a lab to appear for a drug test.
Final Note
To get hired as a driver at Amazon, your driving record for the past seven years must be impeccable.
Amazon is cautious when hiring employees to ensure a secure working environment.
A significant part of Amazon is its delivery service, and its drivers are tasked with playing this role.
As a result, Amazon needs to be confident you can be trusted with its customer’s packages for delivery.
To guarantee this, they will look up your record for the last seven years and keep an eye on a few factors, such as moving violations, DUIs, and any criminal record.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Does Amazon Take To Perform a Background Check?
The time taken by Amazon to check your driving record depends on your history.
If you have a clean sheet without any offenses, it might take around two to five days.
If you have some offenses cited on your record, the background check might take a little longer as they’ll need to confirm the details accurately.
Does Amazon Hire Drivers With Misdemeanors?
Hiring drivers with minor offenses on their record depends on the sensitivity of the crime and varies from case to case.
If they feel that these misdemeanors on your record will not affect your progress as a driver, they might consider your application.
Do Amazon Drivers Need To Use Their Own Vehicles?
If you are an Amazon Flex driver, you can use your vehicle to drop off the packages. You are also not required to wear any uniform.
Contrarily, if you are a driver on contract through any delivery service provider, you will get a delivery van and a uniform to carry out the deliveries.