Delivery couriers are essential to keeping our city running especially during lockdowns when restaurants aren’t offering dine-in options and people are social distancing. Due to COVID-19 there is a growing demand for delivery riders as more and more people are looking to have their food and groceries delivered. Below are some tips to make more money delivering food.
Ride during peak hours
Get more bang for your buck during peak and boost hours where you can make more per trip. Peak hours are usually between 12-2pm and 5-7pm on weekdays. Weekend orders are more spread out so harder to pinpoint when the peak hour will occur. If you’re hitting both these peak times, charge your battery in between!
Choose your area
It’s best to operate in a populated neighbourhood where your trips will be short so you can take orders back-to-back with little downtime. These areas are usually near food courts or in an area full of restaurants. You should also be comfortable declining offers that will bring you far away from the area as you will lose time on your way back from the delivery. In addition, the more you get to know a neighbourhood the easier and quicker you will navigate it, reducing wasted time trying to find a restaurant.
Know the restaurants
Knowing which kitchens are quick to get orders out can make a big difference in the time you spend waiting around. It will take some trial and error but write up a list of each restaurant on your phone, so you know which ones are your best bets.
Go out in any weather
Rain, snow and cold can reduce the amount of delivery riders in the city and thus can increase the amount Uber and other apps pay per delivery. At the same time, there’s an increase in delivery requests since people don’t want to go outside giving you the choice of orders to choose from! We also have some tips on rain and winter accessories [link] to make your ride easier.
Charge your battery before every use
Make sure your battery is fully charged before you start your deliveries, so nothing is holding you back from taking on as many orders as you want. Nothing is worse than getting ready for your shift and noticing that your battery is low. Make it a habit and charge after your rides!
Use more than one app
Don’t limit yourself to just UberEats, in Toronto you can also sign up for Skip the Dishes, Ritual and Doordash. Having multiple apps will allow you to choose which jobs work best with your location and the time you have available.
Be polite
Since you never know what tip is coming your way it’s always best to be polite. Food delivery companies do take a percentage of your income but don’t touch your tips. It’s an easy way to increase your earnings.