Business & Personal Efficiency for Delivery Drivers

Goal: Help drivers maximize earnings per shift, minimize wasted time and fuel, and run deliveries like a small, profitable business.

First Impressions

⭐ Mindset: You're Running a Micro-Business

✅ Even if drivers are gig workers, they are effectively small business owners.
✅ Decisions about route planning, time management, and order selection directly impact profit margins.
✅ Encourage tracking hourly earnings, mileage costs, and net profit — not just total pay.


Fuel Efficiency Driving

⭐ Driving Style:

✅ Smooth acceleration and braking save gas.
✅ Avoid idling more than 1–2 minutes — burns unnecessary fuel.

⭐ Route Strategy:

✅ Plan trips to reduce backtracking.
✅ Cluster deliveries by geography when possible.

⭐ Vehicle Maintenance for Efficiency:

✅ Keep tires inflated to correct PSI.
✅ Remove heavy, unused items from the car to reduce weight.


Stacking Orders Without Sacrificing Quality

⭐ When to Accept Stacked Orders:

✅ Same restaurant or two close-by restaurants.
✅ Drop-offs in the same neighborhood.

⭐ When NOT to Stack:

✅ Large hot orders with perishables that lose quality quickly.
✅ Deliveries going in opposite directions with tight time windows.

⭐ Insulated Bag Strategy:

✅ Keep hot and cold separate in different compartments.
✅ Consider two bags for multi-order efficiency.


Time vs. Distance Pay Awareness

⭐ Avoid the "Mileage Trap":

✅ Long-distance deliveries often look profitable upfront but kill hourly earnings.
✅ Example: $6 for a 9-mile trip might take 30–35 minutes — that's under $20/hour.

⭐ Hourly Rate Tracking:

✅ Use a spreadsheet or an app like Stride or Gridwise to log time worked vs. pay.

⭐ Best Orders to Accept:

✅ Short distance + higher tip potential + minimal wait time at pickup.


Multi-App Mastery

⭐ Why Use Multiple Platforms:

✅ Reduces downtime between orders.
✅ Lets you decline poor-paying offers without fear of losing all work.

⭐ How to Multi-App Safely:

✅ Never accept conflicting delivery times.
✅ Use separate devices or split-screen to keep both apps visible.

⭐ Apps to Consider:

✅ DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub, catering-specific services, and local platforms.


Peak Hour Optimization

⭐ Know Your Area's Hot Times:

✅ Lunch rush (11 am–1:30 pm) and dinner rush (5 pm–8:30 pm).
✅ Rainy days, sports events, and holidays often bring surges.

⭐ Pre-Rush Positioning:

✅ Park Near (not in the parking lot) high-volume restaurants 5–10 minutes before peak.
✅ Avoid high-traffic intersections during rush — slow pickups kill earnings.


Personal Branding as a Driver

⭐ Why It Matters:

✅ Even in gig work, professionalism creates repeat orders and better tips.

⭐ Small Branding Touches:

✅ Always greet by name if visible on the app.
✅ Keep your car tidy so food handoffs look clean.
✅ Use a consistent friendly sign-off ("Enjoy your meal!").

⭐ Building Local Recognition:

✅ If you work the same area regularly, customers will remember and tip better.


Tracking & Improving Over Time

⭐ Weekly Review:

✅ How much time spent vs. paid?
✅ Which days/times paid best?
✅ Which restaurants had the longest waits?

⭐ Continuous Improvement:

✅ Drop low-efficiency restaurants from your priority list.
✅ Adjust shifts based on data, not just habit.