Delivery Fitness Level: What Amazon Flex in the UK Demands From You Physically
As of March 2024, roughly 42% of new Amazon Flex applicants in the UK quit within their first two months, and a big part of that is how physically demanding the gig turns out to be. At first glance, delivery work sounds pretty straightforward: pick up parcels and drop them off on time. In reality, it involves a fair bit of legwork, lifting, and navigating tricky routes that the app insists on sending you down, even down some narrow footpaths that make carrying heavy bags a pain.
Amazon Flex couriers get paid to deliver packages to customers’ homes and businesses using their own vehicles. But what isn’t always clear from the sign-up process is how much fitness and stamina you really need. The average delivery block lasts between two to four hours, with couriers often grabbing 50-80 parcels, depending on the area. For comparison, walking 5-7 kilometres over uneven terrain and stairs is common every shift.
Cost Breakdown and Fitness Time Investment
The physical fitness level needed correlates with how aggressively you want to work. Those chasing upwards of £200 a day (which, by the way, is surprisingly rare outside prime hours or busy occasions like Christmas) need to maintain a pace that’s more marathon than stroll. The lifts aren’t always tiny, too, boxes can weigh between 5kg and 20kg. Six months ago, a driver I know (in SE London) ended up with a stiff back because he underestimated how many bags he’d have to lug upstairs. Equipment like a back brace helped, but prevention would’ve been better.
Flex drivers must also reckon with the physical toll of constant stopping and starting, lifting parcels from the boot, and walking door to door. It’s not just about brute strength, either. Balance and care matter too; the odd slip on damp leaves or a wobbly step can get nasty fast.
Required Documentation Process and Health Checks
The application for Amazon Flex includes your basic driving credentials and vehicle details, no formal fitness assessment or health check is required. That’s worth a pause: no one explicitly vets if you can comfortably handle stairs or sustained walking with parcel loads . If you’ve got respiratory issues, joint problems, or concerns like that, you won’t find many official warnings, and the pressure to earn often pushes people to ignore early signs of discomfort.
Curiously, during last Christmas’ peak period, several casual couriers shared that Amazon’s app would route them up three or four flights of stairs repeatedly. The main headquarters in London’s Docklands even advised couriers to consider their physical limits before accepting blocks there. The takeaway? Delivery fitness level is less about passing a test and more about self-awareness and being honest with yourself about what your body can take.
Lifting Parcels All Day: Physical Demands and Real-World Challenges for Amazon Flex Drivers
Weight and Volume of Parcels
Lift, carry, repeat. There’s no escaping that Amazon Flex work means lifting parcels all day long, usually for blocks lasting 2-5 hours. Parcel weights vary dramatically. One day you might be bringing a few small envelopes; another day, a bulky package weighing 18kg (40lbs) lands in your van. Over the last 18 months, Amazon’s parcel sizes seem to have increased slightly, probably due to a growing proportion of home goods being delivered. This ups the physical challenge, and it’s no surprise drivers sometimes complain of sore shoulders or strained backs after heavy shifts.
Comparison of Package Size and Frequency
- Small parcels (1-5kg): These are common and generally easy to carry, though repetitive handling still adds up. I remember a January afternoon last year when a run of 70 small parcels took a guy I know in Leeds about four hours, including lots of step-ups and doorbell ringing. The strain felt more in the legs than the arms. Medium parcels (6-12kg): These become more frequent in suburban or semi-urban routes. You can expect to handle these several dozen times each block. Oddly, awkward shapes sometimes make these disproportionately tiring. Heavy parcels (13-20kg and up): Rarer but rougher. I’ve seen drivers flat out refuse blocks after spotting multiple heavies. The drawback? Amazon’s algorithm is opaque, so you can’t predict load characteristics easily.
Oddly enough, there’s no off-the-shelf easy solution except personal protective equipment and careful lifting techniques. One mutual driver lamented last November, “I ended up limping after three days of back-to-back blocks carrying Amazon’s heaviest holiday gear.”
Stairs and Walking Routes: Why App Navigation Can Be a Hidden Workload
The final part of lifting parcels all day ties directly into stairs and walking. Amazon Flex relies on an app for routing, you have no choice but to follow its suggestions. And the app can be surprisingly optimistic about how friendly footpaths or staircases are. Last March, I rode along with a new driver in Manchester who found himself carrying heavy parcels up a narrow, slippery staircase because the app’s routing was stuck relying on pedestrian shortcuts. He admitted it was a lot tougher than expected, and worse, there was no alternative 'truck-friendly' route. These hidden physical demands are part of why delivery fitness level isn’t just about your car or driving skills.
Stairs and Walking: What Every Amazon Flex Driver in the UK Should Know
For many drivers, stairs are the most underestimated physical demand. Couriers often imagine door-to-door sounds like parcel drop-offs on patios or ground floors, wrong. Especially in cities like Edinburgh, Bristol, or parts of London, many deliveries mean climbing several flights of stairs, sometimes carrying anywhere from a parcel weighing a couple of kilos up to one above 15kg. Add walking distances, it’s not unusual to do multiple kilometres during each run, and you get a more realistic view of what delivery fitness level really means.
On top of that, the app itself doesn’t always compute the easiest route. In summer 2023, a friend complained about repeatedly trudging over muddy footpaths and narrow alleyways in Bristol's historic Clifton area. The shortcuts might save a minute or two but make carrying heavy parcels exhausting.
You might be wondering: How do other couriers handle this? Some prepare by wearing sturdy footwear and investing in collapsible trolleys, especially if they deliver larger volumes or heavier items. However, those tools aren’t always allowed or practical in tight urban streets or when the customer lives on a high floor with no lift.
Even things like weather hugely affects how stairs and walking feel in real-time. A slippery step or a wet parcel strap can turn a routine delivery into a hazard. So it’s wise to build some physical resilience before committing heavily to Amazon Flex, because surprisingly, this isn’t just a light walk in the park; it can become a mini-boot camp for your arms and legs.
Document Preparation Checklist for Staying Safe and Efficient
Before starting blocks, organise your own kit with health and safety in mind. Three essentials:
- Courier insurance that covers lifting injuries and roadside assistance. Zego comes up often, but check the fine print, your standard car insurance rarely protects you fully as a courier. Comfortable, weather-appropriate footwear with decent grip to handle slippery stairs and walking paths all day. Reusable equipment like parcel carriers or back braces, if you’re moving consistently heavy loads, although risky in crowded urban areas.
Working With Licensed Agents: A Coach’s Take on Physical Readiness
I came across a couple of flexible work coaches during COVID who helped drivers optimise their delivery runs to balance speed and physical effort. Their advice? Know your limits, take regular micro-breaks between drops and reflect on your workload honestly. One even suggested keeping a simple log of how many stairs and steps you climb per block just to keep track of fitness changes over time.
Timeline and Milestone Tracking to Avoid Burnout
Some couriers I know started off strong but tripped up physically around month two or three. It’s easy to overestimate your delivery fitness level, especially when adrenaline kicks in during your first blocks. Tracking fatigue signs or minor back pain early can save weeks of lost blocks later. This tip doesn’t come straight from Amazon, it comes from the driver community, who’ve lived the aches and delays firsthand.
Delivery Fitness Level and Its Broader Implications: Viewing Amazon Flex Work Through a Human Lens
Thinking about delivery fitness only as a physical thing misses a few angles. Safety and wellbeing need active management if you plan to stick with it. For example, during peak times like Christmas 2026, the volume increases dramatically. That means heavier loads, more stairs, and longer walking distances just to keep pace. It’s not unheard of drivers skipping meals or pushing through aches to avoid losing shifts, which can spiral into burnout. Mental endurance matters too, getting lost when the app sends you down weird paths is frustrating enough to drain anyone’s spirit.
Now, a word on insurance. Courier insurance is mandatory for anyone doing this full-time, and it’s a whole different animal from regular car insurance. Zego dominates the market, but I've heard that coverage can vary surprisingly between policies. Most drivers only find out about these differences the hard way, after an accident or a complaint. So, never assume your regular insurance covers you for the physical van insurance courier risks involved, particularly lifting and pedestrian navigation hazards.
Another reality check: Physical readiness won’t fix app quirks or the scheduling system that sometimes assigns absurd block sizes or locations. The jury’s still out on whether Amazon will invest in better routing software by 2025. Drivers are hopeful but cautious. Until then, understanding and respecting your own delivery fitness level, the real lifting demands, and the walking plus stairs load is your best bet.
actually,Lastly, I want to paint a final picture: delivery fitness level isn’t just about how fit you feel on day one. It’s about managing the long haul, physically and mentally. The job sounds flexible, but without preparation, it can knock you sideways.
Ever thought about what your body can actually handle after standing and carrying parcels for five hours? Plan for that reality, not the easy bits.
If you want to test your readiness, try carrying bags weighing 10-15kg up and down stairs several times in a row. If that leaves you winded or stiff the next day, Amazon Flex might be tougher than you imagined.
And don’t forget, every delivery route involves some stairs and walking, it's a part of the job nobody loves but everyone faces. Are you ready for it?
Next Step: Preparing Your Body and Paperwork Before Diving Into Amazon Flex
Before booking your first delivery block, first check if your current insurance fully covers courier activity, don’t assume it does. Most standard car or personal policies explicitly exclude gig work risks. Zego is a popular courier insurance provider in the UK and often the safest bet, though you’ll want to compare policies carefully to avoid surprises.
Also, realistically assess your fitness level. Have you handled heavy lifting and stairs recently without pain? If you’re unsure or recovering from injury, maybe test yourself with a few small trial runs, carry parcels for an hour or so on a day off just to feel what you’re getting into.
Don’t leap into back-to-back delivery days within your first week. The physical demands can mount quickly, and Amazon’s blocks won’t wait until you’re rested. Finally, expect course corrections. The app can send you down surprisingly steep stairs or winding footpaths, it’s typical, not a glitch. Knowing your limits and having a fallback plan makes all the difference.
Whatever you do, don’t ignore the physical reality of the job or the unique nature of Amazon Flex’s shifting routes. Your body, and your wallet, will thank you for preparing properly.