The delivery and courier industry is one of the fields that have flourished amid the Covid-19 pandemic. While most industries have suffered financial losses, more people prefer staying home and maintaining social distance to protect themselves. Thus, ultimately increasing the demand for delivery drivers, which recent studies confirm has risen by 6.5%.
However, not everyone is getting enough, and that’s where clever tricks come in handy. With a few tips here and there, you can get ahead of the rest of the delivery people and increase your take-home. Find out from this article which ways are these.
1. Use different companies and apps
Of course, as a delivery driver, you likely have that particular company you prefer working with and cherish its app. This could be due to the location and proximity: the payment is given to drivers, the drop convenience, or any other factor. However, be sure to take time comparing it against the others to be sure it’s the best for you.
Fortunately, signing up with different apps and companies for delivery jobs is not hard. Most companies will only ask you for similar insurance requirements, which you likely secured while getting your first delivery job. JustEat, Deliveroo, and UberEats are some of the biggest delivery companies requiring the same insurance from riders and drivers. Having such an opportunity, weigh the pros and cons of working with each company and its app before you can settle for one.
The other tip that has likely proven fruitful for many is talking to fellow delivery drivers while waiting to pick your stuff and deliver it to a client. You might run into a driver who has been in the industry for some time and has more insight into delivery jobs, including the apps and companies with the biggest gigs.
2. Take advantage of heat maps and peak hours
Almost every industry has its peak season or time, which you need to take advantage of if you want to make it in the field. Likewise, delivery jobs have peak hours when clients call, and you need not hang around aimlessly waiting for a job. Instead, take advantage of these peak hours and heat maps, and increase your take home. Then, all you need to do is assess and research when these peak hours come and wait for them.
According to Deliveroo and UberEats, the peak hours are Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights, 7 to 9 p.m. every day of the week, and every day’s lunch hours (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.). If you work as a courier guy, peak days mostly hit during the holidays. For instance, keep an eye on the Christmas, Boxing, Easter, and Good Friday holidays for the highest demand for delivery jobs. What’s especially interesting with delivery jobs is that they are pretty flexible. So once you have mastered the peak hours and days, you can focus elsewhere and hover around the delivery app as the peak season knocks.
3. Work with different businesses
In delivery jobs, you can work with multiple companies at the same time and make gigs. Of course, companies have a policy that prevents their employees from running two apps exactly simultaneously. However, it’s okay to complete a delivery using one app, log out of it, sign in with another app, and make another delivery.
You might realize that companies that pay slightly less come in handy at such times and help you make a few more bucks, especially if you get jobs with them throughout the day. On the other hand, some companies pay better than the rest, but their delivery jobs might be pretty scarce. Balancing between both categories and working smartly with them will see you crack crazy deals you would never find by concentrating on one company.
4. Be smart with tips
Like rideshare jobs, delivery apps and companies allow their drivers to receive tips. Still, you need to work to get them. While smiling with clients may seem a bit taxing, especially after a rough long day, it’s almost always rewarding because some clients will be impressed with your enthusiasm and tip you. Besides, you can try your best to deliver goods on time, although you need not exceed speed limits since the fines will not be worthwhile. Make sure you pick up some rideshare insurance as well.
5. Get an economical vehicle and drive it efficiently
In case you delay, be courteous enough to explain to the client why this happened, and who knows, your courtesy may translate to a tip. Lastly, ask your client to rate you on the app since high ratings will make you eligible for incentives, although they will not translate to extra payments. What’s more, the incentives may come as cash or other gifts with great worth, ultimately boosting your overall take home.
While most people would love fancy things, including vehicles, you must wisely choose the car for delivery jobs. If you are serious about getting ahead of the rest and increasing your earnings. A car could be lavish, but you need to ask yourself how much goes into maintaining it and how much fuel it uses. You could talk to fellow delivery guys before settling on the appropriate car to use to be on the safe side.
Once you have it, efficient driving will help you save money and earn extra. For instance, instead of driving endlessly to get a client, settle in a central point while evading the suburbs. Such practices reduce the distance you will have to cover to get to the store or shopping point. Thus, reducing the overall driving cost and leaving you with a few extra pence.
The bottom line
After the Covid-19 pandemic broke out, the need and demand for delivery drivers increased since people wanted to stay home and avoid unnecessary movements. However, you need to be smart about earning extra money during this high demand.
Rose Rosie is a writer for the personal finance website, Joy Wallet, which provides readers with useful information, resources, and tools to help maximize their financial fitness.