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DoorDash is a company that you may have used once or twice (or several times) in your life.
It is one of the many convenient apps that allow you to order food right to your doorstep, without having to do more than click a button on your phone.
As you already know, your food will be delivered to you by a delivery driver hired by DoorDash.
If you are reading this article, you might be wondering how you could become a DoorDash delivery driver and how driving for DoorDash is.
Or, perhaps you are simply interested in what the job is like. What do DoorDash delivery drivers do? How much do they get paid? What hours do they work?
In this article, we will be answering all of these questions for you.
We will also look into what the day in a life of a DoorDash driver looks like, and what requirements are needed to become one yourself.
So, let’s get started.
What is DoorDash?
Food from nearby vendors is delivered to your door via the on-demand delivery service DoorDash.
It competes with similar providers including Uber Eats, Deliveroo, GrubHub, and Postmates. They all allow you to use an app to get food delivered to you, instead of picking it up or calling for delivery.
By eliminating the middleman, these platforms let you place meal orders with just a few clicks.
Dashers are the title given to DoorDash’s drivers. DoorDash stands out from other competitors because it is committed to ensuring that each errand is made worthwhile for each Dasher’s time.
The same kinds of responsibilities are typically required of delivery drivers for all meal delivery services: pick up food from restaurants, bring it to the customer, and repeat.
However, many delivery drivers claim that DoorDash is one of the best businesses to work for because the organization values and respects their safety and wellness in general.
In any case, it is a good side hustle to take up for extra cash. Whether you just want to make an extra $1,000 a month, or you want to work full-time, DoorDash is an option.
What is it Like to Drive for DoorDash?
If you’re here, reading this article, you want to know what it is like to work for DoorDash, specifically as a driver.
This is the kind of company that is always looking for new workers, especially those who can drive a car.
There are other requirements that need to be met in order to have this job, of course, and we will discuss those in more detail later.
To transport food for customers, DoorDash is continually looking for folks with cars.
Some areas will even allow their Dashers to deliver on their bicycles, opening up this position for those who do not have a driver’s license.
Many young people who are still in school or older people who prefer less demanding ways to make money have at some point in their life found themselves working as Dashers.
This is the perfect job for anyone who wants to earn some additional funds while working flexible hours.
Below, we will answer all the questions that you are likely to have about how driving for DoorDash is.
The Interviewing Process
So, the interviewing process for a Dasher is fairly simple compared to other job interviews. In fact, there isn’t really an ‘interview’ that takes place.
All you need to do is pass on your basic details, including documents that prove that you have a driver’s license, own a car, etc. You will also be required to have a background check (more on that later).
The next step is to finish the DoorDash orientation course, which is an in-person training at your nearest DoorDash home office.
You will learn everything you require to know about how to perform the job during these sessions, which last around an hour in total.
You will learn how to use the company app, how to pay for orders, and all of the other crucial skills necessary to succeed as a Dasher during your orientation.
Using the DoorDash App and Red Card
Your first step as an official Dasher is to obtain your Activation Kit, once you have qualified and passed your background check. This kit comes with an insulating bag and a Red Card, which is a prepaid debit card.
Your activation kit will either be sent to your home, or be available for pickup at a DoorDash office during your Dasher Orientation.
So, the Red Card is a pre-paid card that DoorDash has activated in your name. If necessary, you’ll spend money to buy food, but most drivers say they don’t often need to. You’ll primarily need it to create your DoorDash Dasher account on the official app.
The DoorDash app is available on both Android and Apple smart devices. You will be able to create and later access your account through this app.
Your Kit will provide you with instructions on how to set up your account. Your app and account make driving for DoorDash easy.
You may browse announcements, schedule dashes, check prior deliveries, as well as your reviews and income while utilizing the app.
Furthermore, you’ll use this app while Dashing. The app displays the regions with the highest orders and will even recommend the orders that are best for you according to your location and mode of transport.
Once you have set up your account on the app, and your Red Card has been activated, you will be able to begin Dashing.
A Day In The Life Of A DoorDash Driver
While a Dasher does work flexible hours, you may find it easier to pick your shifts in advance.
This is to ensure that not every single DoorDash driver decides to pick up a shift at the same time, making it harder to find orders to pick up and deliver.
However, it is possible to begin your Dash immediately without picking a shift in advance. If you do this, you will need to use the app to discover which areas near you require Dashers to pick up orders. These areas will be highlighted red or pink.
From there, you simply get into your car, or on your bicycle, and start your shift.
This will involve picking up orders from restaurants, and delivering them to those who ordered them.
You can pick and choose which hours you want to work! This is what makes it such a great job for those who are in college, school, or maybe even work a second job alongside this one.
If you just need to earn money in one hour quickly and be done, you can do that as well!
How Much do DoorDash Drivers Make?
Employees of DoorDash often make $8 to $15 per hour. However, how many orders you pick up during your shift will determine this.
You could be able to make significantly more or significantly less money than the aforementioned average salary. It just depends on how many orders you pick up.
For deliveries performed from Monday through Sunday of the prior week, dashers are paid weekly. Payments are delivered via bank transfer, and funds are typically accessible in 2 to 3 days.
There is also a Fast Pay option available if you ever require your income a little more quickly. Fast Pay allows authorized Dashers to cash out their daily income for a $1.99 fee.
Before using Fast Pay, Dashers must be in an active Fast Pay market, have made 25 deliveries, and have Dashed for at minimum two weeks.
How Much do You Have to Pay?
While this is a fairly common occurrence for delivery driving jobs, you may not be aware that you will, likely, have to pay out some cash during your shift.
A DoorDash gig entails start-up and ongoing expenses, the same as any other business.
You will be responsible for covering the costs of parking, tolls, and the cost to run your car. In addition, you must pay for smartphones, and phone plans that DoorDash does not compensate for.
The cost of administration and banking, the devaluation of your automobile or bike, technology to track mileage or money, and even thank-you notes and client presents are examples of additional optional expenditures.
It is absolutely crucial to maintain track of all DoorDash business spending. This is due to the fact that all or a portion of these expenses may be written off during tax season.
The Requirements For Becoming A DoorDash Driver
You might be wondering how you can become a DoorDash driver? As we mentioned earlier, it is actually pretty easy to become a DoorDash driver.
You can work flexible hours, picking and choosing your own shifts, and you don’t even need to own a car in certain areas. Some places will even allow you to deliver on foot.
However, before you can sign up to become a DoorDash driver, there are certain standards you need to fulfill.
Below, we have listed the requirements needed to become a Dasher.
Basic Requirements
So, the first couple of requirements that a person will need to meet to become a Dasher are, mostly, to be expected.
For starters, you need to be 18 or over to work as a Dasher. This is for safety reasons, as it can be dangerous for a minor to deliver to random people’s houses, for obvious reasons.
However, the age to be a Dasher is considerably lower than other delivery services, i.e., Uber, which requires their drivers to be 21 or over.
Another basic requirement that a Dasher will need is insurance. You will need your own insurance, with, at the very least, a liability insurance plan. If you are still under your parents’ plan, you will not be able to work this job.
Additionally, while not all areas require this, it would be safe to assume that you will need a driver’s license to apply to be a Dasher.
While you may be able to get away with delivering on a bicycle, or by foot, in some places, there are areas that will require you to have your own car and license.
This will, at least, give you the option to make faster deliveries.
If you are required to drive, you will need to have car insurance, a fully functioning vehicle, and two years of driving experience.
You will also need a smart device, preferably a smartphone. This is so that you can access the app while you are on the job.
Vehicle Requirements
You’ll need to meet a small number of car standards in addition to the personal requirements.
There are no aesthetic standards for Dasher vehicles, in contrast to Uber and Lyft, and no vehicle inspection procedure. The standards for your car are not at all onerous.
DoorDash doesn’t object about the type of automobile you drive, provided that you pass the background check, have the appropriate insurance, and your vehicle is in good working order.
Even a few dings and blemishes won’t significantly hurt your application unless they have an impact on how your automobile runs.
All Dashers are required to register their vehicle with DoorDash, whether they drive a car, bicycle, or motorcycle.
You must inform the firm if you wish to switch vehicles. They always need to have the most updated information about you.
There are numerous ways to get in touch with DoorDash if you run into trouble throughout this process. They will assist you if you contact them via one of these methods without hesitation.
Background Checks
You may have noticed earlier that we mentioned those applying to be a Dasher need to complete a background check. This will take place as part of your orientation.
Utilizing Checkr, a third party business, DoorDash is capable of looking into your records and can ascertain a number of various facts.
The background check is a rather simple procedure, much like one you may receive from a full-time employment.
They will check your basic information and age, as well as any potential criminal records.
The majority of people don’t have any problems clearing a background check. However, when they do, their application will most likely be rejected.
Your application will be immediately dismissed if the results of the background investigation show a history of violent offenses. These offenses include, but are not constricted to:
- Theft
- Sexual offenses
- Property crime
- Any form of felony
DoorDash takes its background checks very seriously. Due to the fact that they are trusting their drivers to safely deliver food to the general public.
Providing you have a clean record, you should be okay to continue with your application.
In Summary
Compared to other food delivery services, DoorDash has been hailed as one of the safest and friendliest companies to work for as a driver.
By being given access to the company’s app, the majority of the job is completed isolated. In the sense that you don’t have to turn up to a company building and see your boss every day.
All you have to do is get in your car, and drive around.
The overall pay will depend on how many orders you pick up. This, in turn, will depend on which hours you decide to work. The average wage is somewhere between $8-$15 an hour.
This is a fairly easy job to get, providing that there are vacancies for DoorDash drivers in your area.
As long as you have a functioning vehicle, don’t have a criminal record, and are over the age of 18, you have a decent shot.
We hope you found this article helpful.
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