Amazon Flex is a gig economy delivery service that utilizes independent contractors, known as delivery partners, to deliver packages using their personal vehicles. Drivers use the mobile app to reserve delivery blocks and manage their routes. Since drivers are independent contractors using their own assets, understanding the platform’s rules regarding passengers is important for maintaining their working relationship with Amazon. This information clarifies the official policy, the financial risks involved, and the potential consequences of non-compliance.
The Official Amazon Flex Policy on Passengers
Amazon Flex policy generally permits drivers to have a passenger in their vehicle while performing a delivery block, but this permission comes with strict conditions. Any individual who is not the registered Amazon Flex delivery partner is considered a passenger, including friends, family members, or pets. The policy is designed to maintain efficiency, security, and the integrity of the delivery process.
The policy strictly prohibits passengers from assisting with any part of the delivery service, such as handling packages or interacting with customers. Passengers must remain in the vehicle at all times while the driver is at an Amazon station for package pickup. Passengers are not allowed to enter the delivery station or pickup area at other locations, such as Whole Foods or restricted merchant areas. The vehicle must also have sufficient space to safely accommodate both the passenger and all the packages assigned to the delivery route.
Understanding Liability and Insurance Coverage
The passenger policy is primarily driven by liability and insurance coverage concerns, which fundamentally shift when a passenger is present. As an independent contractor, the driver is responsible for maintaining their personal vehicle insurance. Amazon provides a commercial auto insurance policy that applies only to the delivery partner while they are actively delivering during a reserved block.
Amazon’s commercial policy is secondary coverage and is specifically designed to cover the enrolled driver, not unauthorized passengers. This means that if an accident occurs during a delivery block, Amazon’s insurance will not cover any injuries or losses incurred by a passenger in the vehicle. The passenger’s only recourse would be the driver’s personal insurance, which may deny the claim because the vehicle was being used for commercial purposes. Furthermore, the policy states that if anyone other than the registered delivery partner is driving the vehicle when an accident occurs, any claim for losses will be denied. Carrying a passenger therefore significantly increases the driver’s personal financial risk by creating a potential gap in liability coverage.
Potential Consequences of Policy Violation
A driver’s failure to comply with the specific passenger regulations constitutes a breach of the Amazon Flex Terms of Service. Violations are discovered through various means, including monitoring at Amazon facilities or reports from customers, other employees, or the public. Violating the passenger policy can affect a driver’s eligibility to continue participating in the Amazon Flex program.
The most severe consequence for a policy violation is the immediate termination of the Flex contract, commonly referred to as deactivation. Deactivation means the driver is no longer able to reserve or perform delivery blocks, resulting in a loss of income opportunity. Amazon can enforce this disciplinary action for serious breaches, such as a passenger driving the vehicle or helping with deliveries. While drivers can appeal a deactivation, the process is not guaranteed to result in reinstatement, especially for serious policy infractions.
Clarifying Rules for Service Animals and Children
The rules regarding service animals and children are specific clarifications within the broader passenger policy. Certified service animals are generally permitted to accompany the driver during delivery blocks. This allowance is protected under various laws, but the driver is still expected to comply with general safety and space requirements.
The policy does not explicitly prohibit children from being passengers, but it strictly prohibits them from assisting with any aspect of the delivery. Bringing minors on a route is strongly discouraged due to safety and liability concerns related to package handling and the risk involved in leaving a child unattended while delivering. Because passengers are not covered by Amazon’s commercial insurance, bringing a child on a route exposes the driver to considerable personal liability should an incident occur. Pets are treated similarly to non-service passengers and must remain within the vehicle and not interact with customers.