Top Driving Jobs to Check Out
If you are looking for some work opportunities and have a valid driver’s license, there are plenty of options available in the market that allow you to earn a decent living. Driving is a skill, and a lot of delivery companies are hiring more and more local drivers to provide their customers with the most efficient and comfortable service. It can even be a part-time job while you pursue something else!
Ridesharing
Uber and Lyft are great options right now to start utilizing your driving skills and earn money from them. With simple technology (via apps) that connects customers to available drivers in the area, this ridesharing gig can be a driving job that you can easily commit to. All you have to do is download the app, put in your information, get the necessary identification done and you’re good to go!
Some of the criteria needed to be a Lyft or Uber driver include having a valid driver’s license and owning a qualified four-door vehicle like a car, minivan, or even a truck. A valid insurance coverage along with an in-state vehicle registration is necessary; also important is an in-state license. It is required that you be 21 years of age or older, have a valid social security number, pass a mechanical inspection of the vehicle, have had no major violation in the past 3 years, no DUIs or major infractions in the last 7 years, and also no criminal background.
Depending on where you are, the earning potential differs. Other factors include the number of hours dedicated to work, rapport and ranking with customers, and also how busy the service is. Thanks to features like Surge Pricing (in Uber) and Primetime Pricing (in Lyft), the drivers can earn more during busy times when the demand is high. According to reports, an average Uber driver earns close to $19 an hour, while Lyft drivers earn around $25 an hour. Depending on how your rapport with the customer is, you can also easily earn a lot more on tips.
Food delivery
If driving around customers is not your thing, an easy alternative is delivering food to people. There are services like Uber Eats, Grubhub, Doordash, and Seamless that allow food delivery to be much more convenient and easy. It also allows for some people to make an extra buck at their own time and convenience. Food delivery as a job or side gig works best for those who may not be comfortable riding strangers in their cars to various destinations. All they have to do is pick up the food order from restaurants and deliver the food to people’s homes.
The eligibility criteria for being a food delivery driver are to have a reliable vehicle, a clean driving record, insurance, and of course, a valid driver’s license. While different food delivery service companies have their own criteria, these are the basics. Some even look into any background criminal record or if there were any major driving violations in the past, up to seven years.
When comparing Grubhub and Doordash earnings for drivers, the former drivers earn around $12 to $13 an hour and around $4 per delivery, while the latter earn an average of around $25 per hour with $2 to $10 per delivery. It is also very easy to earn more and more tips while on the job if you are more courteous to the customers and communicate with them about any order-related issues. The tips are all for the driver and there is no fee given from the tips to the delivery service company.
Pick up and drop off
Another great way to earn some extra cash using driving skills is to sign up to be a package delivery person. Approaching e-commerce giants is a great way to explore your options since they are big and always need people to help them with speedy and efficient delivery. You are likely to get even more opportunities if these companies are expanding into smaller cities within the country where accessibility might be an issue for other drivers. Some e-commerce chains sell literally any and all things available, there is never a dearth of work. From groceries to equipment to tech to stationery and everything else, they’ve got it.
Some of the things to keep in mind when applying to be a delivery agent is to own a vehicle with at least 300 cubic feet of space. This allows you to keep the packages safely without damaging them in transit. For example, drivers should have a valid license, be 21 years old or older, have a four-door sedan, van, or even a truck, and have an iPhone 6S or above if an iOS user or version 7.0 or higher if an Android user. This allows the drivers to comply with the tech requirements, which makes processes easy and efficient.
The earning potential of an e-commerce delivery agent ranges from $18 to $25 per hour; however, this range can vary depending on where you live, how long you take to deliver the orders, and also if you receive any tips from the customers. There is no guarantee of tips; there are some delivery blocks that earn the drivers tips; however, that is not defined. The tips, however, go directly to the driver, and there is no fee for those earnings.
There are several other private package delivery services like FedEx or BluDart or other local agencies, which may also allow for local drivers to be part of their network. If you are looking for any such side gigs, it is important to identify these companies and speak to them personally about the kind of benefits they offer, their eligibility criteria, and how flexible are their working hours. You can also explore truck driving jobs or bus driving jobs taking kids to school and back. Different driving jobs may require different documents, so be prepared with the right information for the company.
