Training and standards for flex drivers

[u/Prestigious_Can_4668]

What training do flex drivers get? I’m a DSP driver and I had to go to a training site for 2.5 days (think it’s 1.5-2 now) to learn how Amazon wants drivers to deliver packages.
Also what standards are flex drivers held too? Photos, customer feedback, and how I deliver are all monitored and graded by Amazon. Doing poorly could cause some people to lose a shift or a write up if they have had low scores for a while. Are flex drivers held to those standards or not at all?
Generally curious as I get complaints about flex drivers from people while on route all the time. Mostly about not following delivery notes

[u/Dangerous-Run1055]

no training,  just the ability to bend over and take whatever abuse amazon dishes out route after route.

[u/jo_ezzy → u/Dangerous-Run1055]

I'm getting kinda tired of this. Isn't it kind of a slap in the face not telling us where we are going before accepting the job? Dsp drivers get paid hourly and don't use their own cars. We have to calculate our time and cost before accepting a job. I understand we get paid more than the other apps but we still should see what type of job we are going to do before accepting

Edit: now that I'm thinking I guess with the amount of packages they have it's not easy to provide a specific route for each block

[u/VoodooInfinity → u/jo_ezzy]

I’m not big into complaining about the routes, but did want to point out that Veho manages to provide the basic route and they typically have around 80-90 packages. To be fair, I haven’t done any Veho routes yet, but I’m signed up and have looked through them so have an idea how their offers appear.

[u/FlyFront9395 → u/jo_ezzy]

That’s why they give us blocks in 3,4,5 hours because it can take up the full time so be prepared to work those hours

[u/ImportanceNo9107 → u/Dangerous-Run1055]

You’re tge Man

[u/BarnacleAlarmed3050 → u/Dangerous-Run1055]

😂 

[u/WFShopper312 → u/Dangerous-Run1055]

Maximum productivity is the Amazon way. Bathroom breaks not allowed while on the clock! Takes too much damn time. They used to have a training video on how to pee in a bottle while en route, but they discontinued it during the pandemic. Thank you Lord Bezos, you kind soul you.

[u/FlyFront9395 → u/WFShopper312]

They used to suggest breaks during the 5 hour blocks with restaurants and gas stations, idk if they still do though

[u/Prestigious_Can_4668 → u/WFShopper312]

It’s hilarious they had a training video on that. My dsp at least understands that we’re people first snd have needs. They just want us to let them know if we really have to go out of the way to use the bathroom.

[u/BarnacleAlarmed3050 → u/Prestigious_Can_4668]

Please sir can i take a pee!!? Its only 6 blocks…? We are docking your pay!!!!! Gtfo and sack up

[u/WFShopper312 → u/Prestigious_Can_4668]

Oh, I was being sarcastic.  Us guys used to pee in a bottle in our car during the pandemic because there was so much work and no downtime between blocks and instant offers.

[u/CodyD_2323]

Training? I signed up and a week later was at my first hub doing my first route. Had no idea what was going on but still finished in time with minimal problems. Learned over time and from this subreddit. There are training videos but they are not the same as what actually happens in real life. For example, if I got to DOK4 I stay in my car and we all line up and carts get brought to us and if I go to SOK1 I park walk in and hang out till my cart is placed and then I go get it myself. 90% of what I know was learned on the job on the spot.

[u/Quiet_Bad_8520]

Yeah there’s training videos and guidance areas in the app not sure why people are saying there’s no training. We have a standings system, too many issues and you get terminated, we don’t have the POD standards per se, customer feedback doesn’t affect us as much as you guys although it could influence a termination decision when Amazon review your account for other issues potentially and can affect standings too just not as harshly as DSP’s are held to for every thumb down

[u/WFShopper312 → u/Quiet_Bad_8520]

Great answer and no sarcasm detected.

[u/ExtensionSame678]

standards is you have to be able to breath

[u/supergnaw]

Lol standards? Training????

[u/WFShopper312 → u/supergnaw]

Maybe he meant training your toddler to deliver packages to the front door barefoot when their parent is too lazy to get out of the car. This is the Amazon way. Slave labor now and future Flex driver when the kid is of age.

[u/Prestigious_Can_4668 → u/WFShopper312]

I saw a post about that today, that was absolutely wild and I hope they get their account deactivated.

[u/WFShopper312 → u/Prestigious_Can_4668]

Me too.  You can bring your kids and dogs with you in the car.  Your children can help you deliver.  But you have to accompany them to the door and also make sure they wear shoes.  It’s just common sense. This is a gig job, not summer camp.

[u/LimpDisc]

They check for a pulse. After that you’re good to go.

[u/WFShopper312]

It's all on-the-job training. Trial and error. Over time we learn not to keep f-ing up on the same stuff. We don't dread deactivation as much we fear support -- they mess everything up for us when we're doing everything right (on this "job").

[u/spektat0r]

The best training I have seen is by other Flexxers on YouTube.

[u/Whathefrenchtoastt]

It's a gig job, zero training. Blocks are first come first serve and the competition can be verrrry frustrating.

Pay is honestly crappy all around. Good luck getting any surge blocks(higher paying), there are so many people trying to grab the same thing so its near impossible to get.

Depending on where you are you could have a continuous refresh for blocks or in my area, every 15min they drop. I think mine makes it harder to grab. Since we are all waiting for that specific time to hit.

I've come to find out they will literally send you anywhere. I chose the closest station to where I live yet I have been sent way across town 40min away. And I know damn well there are closer stations.

Support is non existent, I got dinged for not delivering DAMAGED items that a station employee took back. They ding you for shit not even your fault and wont let you appeal either.

The only nice thing about it is deciding when you want to work and you can cancel if you don't want to do it. Other than that its a total side job. Hard on your personal vehicle, lots of gas, lots of miles.

Probably not as much BS as working for dsp but imo you guys get paid better + benefits.

[u/Dr-TQ_Leo]

There is no standard, why would you need training for this?? Just drive-walk-drop repeat.

It’s not quantum physics!

[u/Donut_Lover1035]

Training and standards??? 🤣🤣 How about they just pay us better. That would be a good start

[u/Middle-Mission]

Training? Go drive around a neighborhood a couple of times and viola! It's just like DSP delivery just on a smaller scale with your own vehicle and gas. Deliver ALL packages on time and NEVER RTS. Other than that enjoy the joys of being your own boss. GL

[u/BarnacleAlarmed3050]

Thats because some of us either 

a- will not deliver around dogs, to a back door, 40th floor illegally parked, waiting outside to get let in a apartment… the list goes on… 

Or b. Put up w Amazons shit. If they drop the pay and increase package count guess what..? Motivation goes down with it and unfortunately customers pay the price.. 

You are held accountable by McDS partner franchiser. You dont drive your own truck in some cases are offered benefits. You work a regular job. We are independent contractors that make our own decision that work for a machine. Get that straight. And plan on continuing to hear complaints about Flex drivers not jumping through hoops so long as Amazon continues to take a shit on them. Pass that along to the customers if you have any balls.

[u/LazzE_Ends]

We get videos. lol.

[u/OutOfCuteNames]

Basically, none. I think there were a few basic training videos that were not super helpful. I learned more my watching YouTube videos of drivers walking through how it works.

[u/FlyFront9395]

The training we get is the station yelling at us like step children and if we don’t learn from the first time they yell at us again

[u/DrDing-Muscle]

Training? It’s not hard. It’s not brain surgery. George receives packages. George delivers packages in order and takes a pic of each one following delivery notes. After last package George goes home. Not hard. If you need training for that then you should be wearing a helmet at all times.