Today, we’re covering another opportunity to work for a behemoth in the scooter industry – Bird.
Bird first showed up on the streets of Santa Monica in 2017 and gave over 10 million rides in its first year of operation. The startup has now infiltrated over 100 cities across the world with the mission of cutting down CO2 emissions and traffic. Bird is also recognized as the fastest startup to achieve a $2 billion valuation, so they’re not messing around!
Since 2017, Bird has changed how they operate. While a few markets still hire independent contractors to charge the scooters, many markets now hire “fleet managers” who take on more responsibility. In this article, we’ll break down what it’s like to work as a charger and a fleet manager for Bird Scooters. If you’re looking for an extra source of income in addition to gig driving, read on.
What is Bird?
Just like Lime, Skip, and Spin, Bird is a dockless electric scooter company that offers on-demand rides accessible through a smartphone app. According to its website, Bird shares a mission with cities to “reduce traffic congestion and carbon emissions by providing people with a safe, affordable, and environmentally friendly alternative to cars.”
To ride, you simply open up the app to find the location of the nearest scooter and electronically unlock it. The fee was originally $1 to unlock each scooter plus 15 cents per minute of riding, but per-minute fares in some cities have doubled.
Bird is available in over 100 markets worldwide, including cities in North America, Europe, and the Middle East. Check out this map to see the full list of cities Bird operates in.
What is a Bird charger and how does it work?
Bird thrives on “chargers” to keep their scooters functioning and ready to ride. A Bird charger is someone who goes into the city to pick up scooters, charges them at their homes, and releases them back on the streets the next day.
The process focuses on two major tasks: “harvesting” and “serving.”
- Harvesting: Harvesting refers to locating scooters on the street, picking them up in your personal vehicle, and charging them at your residence. To harvest, you open up the app and view a map where you can locate scooters in need of charging. Each Bird shows up as a colored icon on the charger’s map, and the color code indicates how much each scooter is worth based on how difficult it is to capture. For example, Birds hidden on private properties are worth more money than those that are easy to spot. Once a Bird is located, a charger will unlock the scooters via the app and a QR code, place them in their vehicle (preferably a larger truck, van, or SUV) and then take them home and charge them.
- Serving: Serving means releasing the scooters back on the streets after a night of charging. Chargers receive a message in the morning with information on drop-off locations, which are called “Bird Nests.” The Birds have to be placed in the Nests by 7 AM to be ready for morning riders, but users report that they still received a full-payout after a late release.
How much can chargers make?
The amount of money you can make depends on how many scooters you collect and charge each night. It also depends on what kind of scooters you collect, as they are indicated in three colors – green, yellow, and red. Red scooters are the most difficult to capture, and pay between $20-$25 per scooter. Yellow scooters pay out $7-$14, and are a tad easier to find, but still tricky to capture. Green birds, paying less than $5 each, are the simplest to find, and are hiding in plain sight. Of course, capturing green Birds has the most competition, so you have to move fast!
While there have been that chargers can make $20-$30 per hour, some chargers have reported that they have barely been making minimum wage since pay cuts occurred last year. Chargers say that the majority of Birds they harvest are in the $3 range, therefore lowering their hourly pay, and that harvesting a $20 bounty is rare.
Since Bird has effectively decreased its bounty payments, having a strategy is even more key to make money as a charger. Mapping out your plan of attack before harvesting your first Bird can be essential for a successful haul. With satellite view on the map, you can get a quick overview of where clusters of Birds are located so you can pick up several at one time to increase your efficiency. You’ll also need to be aware of the competition in your area and move swiftly as possible, and plan your Nest locations each morning so you can release as quickly as you can.
What is a Bird fleet manager?
Fleet managers have a more hands-on role than chargers. They typically take care of scooters in bulk, instead of a handful at a time – think 50+ instead of 5-10. In addition to sanitizing and repairing the scooters, fleet managers are responsible for transporting larger quantities of Bird scooters to and from deployment areas. Bird describes it as “running your own business”, rather than a “gig”.
How much can Bird fleet managers make?
With greater responsibility comes greater pay. Bird guarantees that fleet managers will make roughly $1,500 a week, but they do note that it varies from area to area. Fleet managers have opportunities to increase their income by growing their fleet and getting more rides. In 2021, US Bird fleet managers made an average of $70,000 in annual income. Not too shabby!
Signing up as a Bird charger
Becoming a Bird charger is pretty simple. There are a few guidelines to follow before signing up:
You must:
- Be 18 years old
- Have a vehicle (preferably a larger one)
- Have a valid driver’s license
- Have a helmet for scooter driving
- Have a smartphone to use the app
If you fit the guidelines, the first step is to sign up on their website or to tap on the “Become a Charger” icon in the app. The sign-up form will ask for basic personal information such as your name, contact details, and banking and tax information so you can get paid. You can get paid daily and get deposits directly into your account.
Since charging is a popular side gig for many, it may take awhile for you to hear back from Bird. Once you do, you will receive a phone call where you’ll get briefed on the details of Bird charging and you’ll answer a few questions pertaining to the gig. Lastly, once you get approved, you’ll receive access to Charger Mode on the app and Bird will send you 3 chargers by mail. You will have the opportunity to order more chargers later.
Signing up as a Bird fleet manager
The requirements for becoming a Bird fleet manager are similar to being a Bird charger, with a few key differences.
On top of being over 18 years old with a valid driver’s license, you’ll need:
- A larger vehicle to transport scooters
- A large enough space to store large quantities of Bird scooters
- Ability to commit at least 40 hours a week to running your fleet management business
- A solid understanding of finances (tracking payouts and managing vehicle expenses)
And, as always, you’ll need a working cell phone.
Applying to be a fleet manager also requires basic information like your name and banking details, just like applying to be a charger. If you’re approved, Bird will get in touch with you to get a contract signed.
Support
Bird offers support for chargers via their in-app HELP feature. When submitting a ticket, include all relevant information regarding the issue such as payout amount, actions taken, screenshots, pictures, Bird ID’s, and a detailed description. A team member will assess the issue and get back to you.
Lime chargers vs Bird chargers
Both Lime and Bird have similar payment models for their chargers, where they pay you a base rate of $3 to $5 for charging and dropping off each scooter.
The pay per scooter varies based on when the scooter becomes available for a charge and how long its been since its last charge. Bird has a range of $3 to $20 per scooter, while Lime usually starts out with a base rate of $5 per scooter, with little fluctuation in payment from there.
An upside of charging for Bird is that they’ll pay you a reduced rate if you release a scooter that isn’t at 100% charge, while Lime withholds payment for not meeting charge standards, and even revoking your juicer status at times. Lime also has stricter rules on releasing scooters by 7 AM, while Bird is more lenient and still pays for late releases.
When choosing whether to charge for Bird or Lime, it really comes down to convenience for you and figuring out which “hubs” you’re closest too. If Lime hubs or Bird hubs are inconvenient spots for you, you’ll make less money with either one. Depending on the popularity of either company in your city, this is a huge consideration to factor in.
Hoarding
Yes, scooter charging seems like somewhat of an easy after-hours gig where you can pretty much make money while you sleep. However, the job is harder than it sounds and requires chargers to have self-awareness and take safety precautions.
Some chargers report that a scooter’s location on the app isn’t always accurate, which leads them off track and wasting time. Frightening situations of people hoarding scooters in an attempt to defraud the companies has occurred. There have also been situations of criminals using scooters to lure chargers into unsafe areas at night and rob them (or worse).
Since this job takes place mostly at night, there are intense safety concerns to consider before working as a charger. It’s extremely important that you stay hyper-aware of your surroundings and use common sense before capturing scooters in unsafe places.
Wrap Up
Charging for Bird could be an easy after-hours gig for someone who spends their days driving and wants to pick up some scooters to charge on their way home. While the idea of charging is pretty simple, having a strategy is definitely important when planning your scooter pickups for maximum payout. It’s essential to figure where the scooter “hubs” are so you don’t waste time tracking them down each night.
Chargers should be prepared to work late at night and early in the morning, and be equipped with a somewhat large vehicle to haul scooters around. Being cautious and staying vigilant is important to keep yourself safe while capturing.
On the other hand, managing fleets for Bird is more likely to bring in consistent, higher paying wages; however, it’s more work and not for the faint of heart. But, if you’re already diligent and organized with your gig driving, you’ll be well equipped to crush it as a Bird Fleet Manager.
Do you have any tips for being a Bird Charger or Fleet Manager? Let us know in the comments.
