When food and packages are ordered with just a few taps on a phone or clicks on a computer, we naturally see an increase in demand for people who deliver these items. If you’re looking to take advantage of the burgeoning gig driver job market, you might want to stop and first consider these 10 tips provided by business leaders and HR professionals.
Be Patient as You Build Your Reputation
“When you become a delivery driver, at first you might start out with just a few clients. However, as you build your reputation, and as you show that you’re reliable and consistent, you’ll start to get more assignments. When this happens, you need to be able to handle the extra workload, while still making sure that each client is getting the same level of service. When you can handle this, then you’ll become a successful delivery driver.
Keeping this in mind, don’t become discouraged if you don’t start off with a lot of assignments. Instead, focus on the end goal and work towards it. If you do this, then eventually you’ll get there, and you’ll be happy that you did.”
Matthew Ramirez, CEO, Rephrasely
Check into Proper Vehicle Insurance
“Taking on gig delivery driving also means taking on additional car insurance. Since becoming an insurance writer and team lead for my company, I’ve learned that when you drive your car for business purposes, your personal car insurance policy won’t cover you and could even lead to your insurance being canceled. The requirements and nuances of additional insurance—rideshare, commercial, or business-use—differs not only depending on what company you’re gigging for, but also your insurance carrier.
Services like Uber often provide primary insurance to its drivers, but coverage amounts may not offer full protection from liability incidents or physical damages. Lyft’s insurance coverage depends on the state. Others don’t provide insurance coverage for their drivers. This leaves you to check with both your gig company and your insurer: Allstate, Farmers, Liberty Mutual, and Nationwide are your best bets for insurers that have specialized insurance specifically for food delivery drivers.”
Karen Condor, Insurance Copywriter, ExpertInsuranceReviews.com
Optimize Your Routes for Speed and Efficiency
“My best tip for aspiring gig delivery drivers is to focus on optimizing your speed. Customers have one expectation with delivery and that is speed of service. Moreover, drivers make more money the more deliveries or passengers they take. Apps that specialize in the fastest routes, organizational efficiency, etc. like Circuit Route Planner and Fast Package Finder, will optimize you for maximum efficiency and income potential.”
Kevin Callahan, Co-Founder & CEO, Flatline Van Co.
Consider Delivering for Shipt or Instacart
“Delivering for Shipt and Instacart are two solid options to consider as a gig delivery driver that you may not know about. Once you’re approved, you can earn cash by delivering groceries, electronics, household items, and more. You can even set your own hours and take the jobs that work for your schedule. This is a great way to make extra cash at night, on the weekends, or even your work breaks. Additionally, both Shipt and Instacart encourage their members to tip, so you can make up to $25/hour, while also keeping 100% of your tips.”
Alex Wang, CEO, Ember Fund
Be Both Accurate and Kind
“I was so excited when I saw the ad for a gig delivery job. I had just moved to the city and was looking for a way to make some extra money. I had no idea what I was doing, but I was willing to give it a try. I applied and was hired pretty quickly. I was given a list of items that needed to be delivered and a map of the city. I was told to be as accurate and kind as possible. I was a little nervous, but I was determined to do a good job. I made my first delivery. The customer was happy, and I was able to find my way around the city pretty easily.
I continued to work hard and made more and more deliveries. I started to get to know some of the regular customers and they would always ask me how my day was going. I began to feel like a part of the community. My business started to grow, and I was able to hire a few other people to help me with deliveries. I was so proud of what I had accomplished. I had created a successful business and it all started with being accurate and kind.”
Benjamin Basic, Content Writer, Fast Food Menu Prices
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Embrace Technology
“Gig services are dictated by technology and having tech know-how is a mandatory skill. The widespread incorporation of cell phones and the internet into society has fuelled the growth of all the gig economy trends. As a gig driver, reliance on technology is guaranteed to continue. The use of GPS and mapping apps will be required to be updated on the routes and drop-off locations.
Automated delivery using drones and autonomous vehicles is a real possibility in the immediate future; hence, learning these skills will be essential for them to stay relevant. As a gig driver, it’s critical to use technology to your advantage, which will result in your success in keeping customers happy, which results in repeat work.”
Yongming Song, CEO, Live Poll for Slides
Define What Your Ideal Gig Delivery Driver Job Would Be
“Take some time to think about what your ideal gig delivery driver job would be. There are so many different gig delivery driving jobs out there, but only some of them will be the right fit for you. Think about what you want from your job. Do you want to work some nights and weekends? Are you okay with driving across town or would you prefer to drive farther distances?
There are companies that hire drivers to make deliveries within the same city, and others that hire drivers to make deliveries across the country. It’s important to figure out what you want from your gig delivery driver job before applying for any of them. This will help you find the job that’s ideal for you!”
Luciano Colos, Founder & CEO, PitchGrade
It’s Only a Side Hustle
“It doesn’t appear as though the demand for gig delivery driving is tapering. In fact, there are enough economic forecasts out there indicating that the industry and demand will continue to grow, although not all that significantly. Technology is the basis for the extent in which gig driving is part of American culture. Gig services keep going up due to society’s growing reliance on deliveries of all products—and they come to people with just a few taps on a smartphone.
While that trend continues, there’s a continuing demand for drivers—but gig delivery drivers are not full-time employees. It’s cheaper and easier for companies to use part-time drivers or contracted drivers. As a result, there will always be jobs available for extra income, but not many that you can rely on as a primary source of income. Keep that in mind when you’re in the market for such a job.”
Emily Saunders, Chief Revenue Officer, eLuxury
Track Your Expenses
“Gig work is not only about earning money, but it’s also about personal expenses. As a delivery worker, you must cover fuel costs if you use a car or motorcycle. Additionally, recurring costs associated with vehicle maintenance, such as repairs or replacement of parts, are going to appear more frequently than with a personal-use vehicle. These costs aren’t exclusive to motor vehicles. This applies to bicycles as well. In this case, you may need to purchase appropriate equipment, such as a helmet, protectors, and lights.
Remember that as a part of your duties, you’re required to use your private phone or buy a new one specifically for business purposes. There are also fines for speeding, improper parking, or road accidents if you’re not a careful driver. Be aware of your expenses, make a plan of all costs you may be exposed to. Juxtapose it with your potential earnings to check how profitable such work is. If you still decide to take the job, write down every expense and earning. This allows you to keep track of your financial situation.”
Nina Paczka, Community Manager, Live Career
Ask Questions to Current Gig Drivers
“Whenever you’re considering a new gig, it’s critical to talk to people who have been doing the same (or similar) job for some time. HR and marketing teams will always share “the best” parts of the job, but those actually doing the day-to-day work can paint an accurate picture of what the work entails.
Find one or two people who have been doing the job at the company for at least a year, if possible. These are the ones typically past the honeymoon phase of the job and can discuss what they love and don’t enjoy about the role. You can better understand what to expect before walking into the job.”
Kelli Anderson, Career Coach, Resume Seed
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