Gridwise blog

Texas is a great place to be a delivery driver. Not only are there lots of friendly people, but there are also lots of friendly people in need of getting their items delivered! In this post, we’re going to explore three unique, local options and our top pick for the best delivery gig in Texas.

Delivering in Texas: why go local?

Unlike national companies like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and GrubHub, local delivery services are focused on supporting their communities—including providing opportunities for locals to make quick, easy cash while helping their neighbors.

Here are some good reasons to stay local while delivering in Texas:

• Deliver with companies focused on local needs
• Share tips and tricks with other delivery drivers in your area
• Feel like you’re an important part of your local community

3 awesome options for Texas delivery drivers

Delivering with companies that share Texas values like friendliness and hospitality is just one benefit of staying local.

Some others include:

• Quick, easy cash on your terms
• Flexible hours
• Friendly customers
• Serving customers in unique and useful ways
• Opportunities to earn more through bonuses and referrals

Now, let’s take a look at three Texas delivery companies and see how well they measure up against the typical driver’s wish list.

Favor

Favor is a whole different kind of delivery service. Favor’s name comes from the idea of, “Hey, can you do me a favor?”  With Favor, you’ll deliver everything from balloons for a party to dry cleaning. You not only get to make money, you get to do favors that make your community a better and happier place.

To run with Favor, you have to be 18 years or older, have an iPhone or Android, and have access to reliable transportation, whether it’s a car or a scooter. You’ll also have to pass a background check because you wouldn’t want anyone who didn’t pass to deliver a birthday cake to a kid’s party, right?

Favor is a Texas-born and Texas-focused delivery service, so you have the option to run for Favor in Austin, Dallas, Fort/Ft. Worth, Houston, San Antonio, and many of the smaller communities surrounding these larger cities. These deliveries are focused on personalized customer service, different types of deliveries, plus the fact that Favor is so into local, community service, means you won’t be tripping over a bunch of other drivers or big company delivery services. 

Farmhouse

You can’t get more local than this company because Farmhouse delivers local food, including meat, groceries, produce and more - all sourced from organic farmers and based on sustainable practices. So far the company operates in Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and surrounding areas. 

Farmhouse likes to make it fun to work with its delivery service, and that means you can have a pretty low-key and relaxed experience. You’ll deliver a van packed with goodies to businesses like local restaurants and hotels. You’ll use the Farmhouse delivery driver app to report when each delivery is complete.

To qualify, you’ll need to be at least 21 years of age, have a valid driver’s license and insurance, and the kind of personality that’s friendly and outgoing, because in addition to delivering, you’ll be promoting local food in Texas.

Dropoff

Although their operations aren’t just in Texas, Dropoff was founded in Austin and is very strong throughout the state and beyond. Founded in 2014 to compete in the same-day delivery market, Dropoff has found itself outperforming bigger companies. Their expansion has outpaced that of Uber’s same-day service, and now Dropoff is available in 16 states and between 20 and 30 cities. 

In Texas, Dropoff operates in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio. One of the things that makes this gig fun and unique is that you might do anything from delivering a small package to completing a catering setup for an office event. Dropoff has expanded into the medical field, training its drivers in HIPAA compliance, and having its drivers deliver medical supplies.

To qualify, you’ll have to have a solid knowledge of your city, be 21 years of age or older, Have a car, SUV, pickup truck, or van that’s less than 10 years old and also registered, insured, and inspected. You’ll need a current driver’s license and a clean driving record, of course, and you’re going to have to be able to operate a smartphone and apps. Your iPhone or Android phone must be no more than four years old.

Our pick for “Favor-ite” delivery gig in Texas

Looking at these three hot gigs, the one that sizzles most for drivers is Favor. The biggest reason is that it’s so flexible and accessible. Drivers can jump right in and start earning without getting hung up on taking a truckload of food or delivering different goods all over town.

With Favor, you’ll be able to stay in local neighborhoods, where you’ll deliver something everyone wants: a sense of relief and gratitude. You know what that means, right? You’re also likely to do quite well with tips. Think about it—how grateful would you be to the person who delivered your dry cleaning just in time for you to be able to pack for a weekend wedding?

As a Favor Runner, you’ll do more than drop off dinner—you’ll make life easier and better for people in your community.

Sign up for Favor today!

If you’re a “pick it up and deliver it” road warrior, you know just how much you want to get your deliveries done and get paid for completing them, as quickly and as effectively as possible. Because of the nature of this job, though, unexpected trouble can arise. For example, app glitches, lost packages and missed scans can mean calling on Amazon Flex driver support to help complete deliveries.

We put together this blog post to take a look at the issues Flex drivers face, and offer the best, fastest ways to get results from Amazon Flex driver support.

Here’s how we lined it up:

• The problem: why Flex drivers need reliable support
• Amazon Flex driver support: how it works
• What can happen when support fails you
• The potential for improvement: Amazon Flex and drivers

The problem: why Flex drivers need reliable customer service

More so than in most other driving gigs, including rideshare and food delivery, Amazon Flex drivers run into situations that need swift action from responsive support reps. Packages can be damaged or undeliverable, a traffic jam could delay deliveries, and there can be problems with the app, or a customer. 

While it’s comparatively easy to drive for Amazon Flex, it’s also important to maintain a good rating. Whether a driver needs help with an active or completed delivery, the driver’s status with Amazon is at stake.

Amazon prides itself on providing nearly everything a person could desire, and delivering it in a timely manner. Amazon Flex drivers work with scheduled blocks and have a set number of packages to deliver in a given timeframe.

When a problem arises, drivers need to communicate about it to Amazon support. Amazon support can then inform customers of potential delays.

Amazon Flex driver support: how it works

With so much at stake, drivers need to know how Amazon Flex driver support works, and when and how they can make contact in order to get the best results.

How you contact Amazon Flex driver support will depend on the nature of the problem at hand.

There are three ways to contact Amazon Flex driver support:

1. Email: amazonflex-support@amazon.com
2. In-app phone call: press the “?” and request a call back. Responses normally come within 30 seconds of your call.
3. Call Amazon driver support directly at either of these numbers: (877) 212-6150 or (888) 281-6901

Now, let’s look at three common issues and the recommended method of contacting support for each one:

You have trouble completing the delivery due to car trouble, dangerous road conditions, personal safety concerns:

• Call through the app. If you don’t call in to report your potential lateness, you will be held accountable. Your call to support will be recorded and time stamped, so you can prove that you tried your very best to provide notice.

You have app problems such as a crash, nonresponsiveness, failure to record a completed delivery, or the GPS not working:

• Call through the app if possible, or call on the toll-free lines. Notify Amazon of these problems, particularly if they interfere with a delivery, but also if they are causing system-wide issues.

If you need navigation services, the rep on the other end of the call will be able to direct you to your destination, as long as the GPS software used to track your position is working. If the app is not functioning at all, you’ll have to use the direct phone lines. The response time may not be as fast, but help will eventually arrive.

You have a question or issue that’s unrelated to a current delivery route -

• Contact support via email. You may not get an immediate response, but if you continue to send email requests, you’ll eventually get an answer.

Examples of issues that fall into this category are:

• A report that a delivery was not received by the customer. In this case, you’ll be responding to a notification sent through the Amazon app.
• Any other kind of customer complaint that might have been received.
• The need to appeal a deactivation.

What can happen when support fails you

When support fails you, perhaps the biggest problems for drivers would be being accused of not delivering a package, delaying a delivery, or being unable to find the customer’s location.

If you’re unable to dispute a notification that one of the packages you were supposed to deliver didn’t get there, or you can’t get your side of the story across when a customer complains about your service, there could be big trouble.

Here are eight reasons Amazon might strip you of your right to be a Flex driver:

• “Double dipping” - delivering for another app while on an Amazon Flex block
• Frequent cancellation of scheduled blocks, especially if 45 minutes or less before the start time
• Verbal or physical assault on either end of the delivery
• Interfering with the packages - opening, tampering, and, of course, stealing
• Delivering under the influence - showing any evidence of being impaired by drugs or alcohol
• Giving up too easily - returning too many packages or failing to return undelivered packages
• Breaking the law, failing to carry proper insurance, losing your driver’s license, or not renewing your registration
• Lateness and absences - don’t miss or be late for scheduled blocks, but if you can’t avoid it, be sure to call driver support!

You can always appeal your deactivation, but it would be far better to avoid it in the first place, so follow the rules, and always notify Amazon when you’re going to be late or have a problem.

The potential for improvement: Amazon Flex and drivers

How effective is Amazon Flex driver support? Drivers who call through the app often get almost immediate responses. However, email communication is reported to be slower.

On the driver side, it’s wise to document everything that happens. If you take pictures of your deliveries with the app, and they don’t go through, then take an extra photo with your own camera, or get a screenshot of the app. 

This will give you surefire proof that you delivered the goods. If the item gets stolen after that, or the customer tries to pull a fast one on Amazon, it would be hard for them to hold you responsible.

Since you’re going to be evaluated based on your metrics and given a certain rating, you need to make sure you’re following the rules. This includes contacting driver support any time you’re going to be late with a package, absent or running behind when it comes to starting your block. 

Also, courtesy is something drivers should always carry along. Be kind to the warehouse workers, and be especially respectful of any customers you might encounter. If you treat your Flex gig with respect, you’ll probably get more respect from the people you interact with too.

Additional help all Flex drivers can use: Gridwise!

Gridwise keeps track of all your Amazon Flex earnings and mileage.

Gridwise is the ultimate assistant for rideshare and delivery drivers. Compare your Amazon Flex earnings to income from other apps and gigs. Simply sync your driving apps with Gridwise, and earnings will be seamlessly tracked, along with mileage.

No more making your own spreadsheets to compare your earnings anymore. Instead, your results will come up in easy to read and useful graphs like these:

Gridwise App Screenshots

Gridwise also keeps track of your expenses. Simply enter them as you spend. Repairs, fuel, accessories, and more can add up to some sweet tax deductions at the end of the year. 

This is all pretty amazing, but there’s even more! With Gridwise, you’ll know about road conditions, traffic, and crowd creators such as concerts and sporting events. You’ll also be able to see if there are any snarls around the airport, thanks to the Gridwise airport traffic feature.

In the Perks tab, you’ll find deals and discounts for drivers, easy access to our info-packed blog and our informative yet entertaining Gridwise YouTube channel. Get in on the gas card giveaways that are part of the fun in our Facebook community!
Gridwise is always there for you, helping you maximize profits and be the best driver for Flex, and all the gigs you run! Download the Gridwise app today.

Are you looking for more delivery resources?

• Find out how Amazon Flex standings work
• How to make $1000 with Amazon Flex
• Amazon Driver Pay in 2023

Driving is a great way to make a living. You are, for the most part, your own boss. You can earn a reasonable amount of money in short periods of time. And the work can be fun and engaging, especially if you like people and enjoy being of service to others.

There are downsides to driving, though. What if your car’s in the shop, or you can’t drive until you resolve a deactivation dispute, or you have a minor injury that puts you out of commission? 

Another downside to driving is that it can be seasonal. When people go out on the town, need to get to and from their work, or travel through airports, train stations, and hotels, business is great. But what happens when business isn’t so great? Putting all your earning eggs into the single basket of driving for rideshare and/or delivery isn’t all that wise. 

It’s a proven fact that creating multiple streams of income is a smart financial move. So, we’re offering some ideas for developing a life that lets you continue driving, but doesn’t leave you without any cash flow when driver incentives fizzle and surge prices are nowhere to be found.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

• Multiple streams of income: things to consider
• Three side gigs that can help you stash cash
• The best side gig for drivers

Multiple streams of income: Things to consider

Creating more than one way to make money is a smart move for drivers. Not only could you find yourself falling short when business is bad; you could simply get sick of the driving grind. Schedule changes, family obligations, or just the need to crank out more money to pay for unexpected expenses are other good reasons for developing side gigs that keep you out of the car and still earning money.

Once you decide this is something you want to do, you’ll have to choose jobs that help you make money fast, and are easy or interesting enough to make you want to do them. Here are some points you’ll want to think about:

• Use your skills. Rather than having to take extensive training, choose something that you already are well qualified to do.
• Convert crafting and tinkering to cash. Take a hobby, from making whimsical picture frames to playing music or detailing cars, and get it to make money for you.
• Keep it basic. Choose a side hustle that doesn’t take a tremendous amount of effort or marketing to do. This is probably the most important element you’ll want from that extra stream of income you’re creating.

Three kinds of side gigs that can help you stash cash 

“Second career” gigs. There’s an enormous number of online, work-from-home type opportunities for people with skills these days. Consider bookkeeping, being a virtual assistant, translating, or transcribing. Or, you could teach English, write for blogs, develop websites, or venture into social media marketing. The benefit of these gigs is the high-income potential – but remember, you have to be fully qualified to do any of them. If you have to take an expensive training course, this tier of side gigs might require a hefty upfront investment.

“Roll up your sleeves” gigs. These jobs require your willingness to use your hands, your strength, and/or your artistic talents. Some examples include performing odd jobs, pet sitting, moving, cleaning, house painting, car detailing, or even child care. The plus side here is that you might already have the equipment you need, especially if you have a hobby that’s similar to the work you’d be doing. The potential downside is the physical energy you’ll need to do any of these kinds of jobs. If you’re doing this and driving, you might run out of energy faster than you thought possible.

“Sit back and watch the money flow” gigs. This kind of work is good for people with varying credentials who don’t want to exert much physical effort. You could, for instance, be an affiliate for a company. All that’s required of you is to set up a website for people to click through, and you’ll receive commissions on purchases that are made. 

If you’d like to engage yourself more, another option is being a panelist for a product tester or survey firm. You’ll be amazed when you find out how much money you can make with this kind of gig. You work as little or as much as you want, you can be your own boss, and you participate in work that interests and engages you. Sounds like driving, without the driving, right? That’s the positive aspect of this kind of gig. The negative is, so many that are available aren’t trustworthy. You need to be careful and discerning before you get involved.

The best side gig for drivers: ACOP

Let’s recap what we discussed earlier – criteria for the best side gig for drivers. You’ll want something that allows you to:

• Use skills you already have
• Convert a hobby into a side job; and/or
• Keep it basic

Of all the side gigs we can envision, the one that brings all these attributes together is being a panelist for a survey firm. Why? One big reason is flexibility. Being a panelist is one of the “sit back and watch the money flow” gigs, meaning that hours are flexible; you are your own boss, and you can choose to work with areas that interest you and allow you to use your skills and talents.

Our cautionary words from earlier still apply, however. If being a panelist interests you, it’s essential to find a firm that’s honest, pays well, and has a sterling reputation. We’ve searched through multiple survey companies, and found one that fits the criteria needed to be the best side gig for drivers: American Consumer Opinion Panel (ACOP).

Gridwise has partnered with ACOP so we can offer great opportunities for drivers. It’s a dynamic company that offers a wide range of products and services for drivers to choose from. And best of all, ACOP passes our test for reliability, honesty, and fairness. 

One of the best examples of American Consumer Opinion being a great company is what they don’t do. Based on a list of criteria included in a Balance Everyday article, reputable firms like American Consumer Opinion, will never:

• Require you to pay a membership fee
• Guarantee you a set income
• Mislead you about how you’ll be compensated
• Ask for personal information that is not necessary for the task(s)
• Request credit card numbers, bank account info, or Social Security numbers
• Sell member information to third parties

On its website, American Consumer Opinion posts a privacy policy you can rely on, and it’s a member in good standing of the Better Business Bureau. 

Also, ACOP is highly rated by SurveyPolice, a group that offers honest assessments of online paid survey sites. Referring to American Consumer Opinion as a “research powerhouse,” SurveyPolice writes: “The website has been online for more than 20 years and with millions of survey takers worldwide and millions of dollars in payments, ACOP is a safe and legit survey site.”

American Consumer Opinion gives drivers looking for a side gig exactly what they’re looking for. Here’s how it works:

1. Sign up for FREE.
2. Answer a few questions about yourself (this will tell ACOP what kinds of surveys to send).
3. Follow a link sent to your email to navigate to your ACOP Dashboard.
4. Select surveys you want to take; points are listed, so you’ll know they’re worth your time.
5. Opt in to receive emails alerting you to surveys you might like, or just use the dashboard.
6. Earn points for your time, and get cash rewards.

ACOP surveys are interesting and quick, and the points add up rapidly. The average survey takes only 10 minutes to complete – you could do that while waiting for the airport queue to dwindle down. And, if you want, you can expand into product testing and evaluating marketing campaigns.

With ACOP, you get everything you need in a viable side gig, especially a way to create a whole new stream of income while you continue to drive. Sign up for ACOP today, get your voice heard, and make your opinion count … while getting paid for doing so.

What are the items drivers need, and what are just nice to have? There are a few basic items we can’t do our jobs without - and some items that simply make our jobs easier and more fun, both in the car and at home.

In this post, we’re going to look at some of the stuff drivers need and crave, and show you how to get them, even if you think you don’t have the cash or can’t get the credit to get them now. Here’s how it will go:

• 5 must-have items
• 5 nice-to-have things for your car- and beyond
• Zebit: An easy way to buy today and pay over time for what you need...and what you want

5 must-have items

We’re giving you some general descriptions of here - but if you click on the links you’ll see the many choices available for all the items we mention.

1. Tires. We can’t think of anything drivers need more than good tires. For one thing, rideshare and delivery drivers have their rubber meeting the road a lot more than most. Plus, if you get a flat tire, it can be a two-tire expense to ensure your car is aligned properly. Tires: do you need them? Oh, yeah. You bet! Need help affording them? Check out Zebit and pay over time without any hidden fees.
2. Phone. This is the runner-up in must-haves, because without a decent smartphone, working is impossible! Unless you  find a deal that’s as rare as it is sweet, you’re probably going to pay a substantial amount of cash to get one that will do the things you need. Next to your car itself, a decent smartphone, along with a serviceable phone plan, will be among the most important assets you’ll invest in as a driver.
3. Smartphone car mount. You can try to drive without a car mount for your phone, but it wouldn’t be very safe or convenient. A good smartphone car mount is secure and flexible, in that it sticks to the windshield or dash, and it can be adjusted within easy reach. You will touch that phone more as a driver than you thought possible, so having it will make a huge difference to your safety and productivity. Translation: you need to get a car mount!
4. Protective mats. All it takes is one spill on a delivery run or a “whoops” moment from a drunk passenger in your back seat to remind you how important it is to protect your car’s floor. Match the color of your vehicle or buy some that show your team spirit. Loyalty is something you can count on from a nice set of mats - they’ll faithfully protect your car from damage and smells that just won’t go away.
5. Media receiver. This one might not seem like a “must-have” but if your car’s system isn’t serving you well, you need to have one that gives you decent sound and reception that you can count on. Would you want to go for a rideshare trip without some decent tunes? Your passengers won’t either. And...if you’re delivering, you’ll be far less lonely if you have the ability to play music, podcasts, and sports broadcasts to keep you company while you’re driving around.

5 nice-to-have items

1. Remote car starter. If you’ve ever sat in a car that’s cold enough to freeze your fingers or hot enough to burn your “buns,” you know why you’d want a remote car starter. From the comfort of your home, you can get the vehicle going, let the engine warm up, and allow the heat or A/C do its thing until the car reaches a reasonable level of climate comfort. Once purchased, this “nice-to-have” item becomes something you can’t live without.
2. Radar detector. Who needs to get speeding tickets? No one, really, but when you drive for a living, you can’t afford to get them. A radar detector can make things much easier for you. They’re legal everywhere in the US except Washington, D.C. and Virginia, and you can’t use them on military bases - but the rest of the states are fair game. Your radar detector will pay for itself the first time it saves you from a 3-digit fine and a point on your insurance.
3. TVs and appliances. While you don’t need a nice TV or any appliances in your vehicle, you do need them at home! These high-cost items are not always so easy to afford, but they are the kind of thing you might have to buy on the spur of the moment. No household is going to run very smoothly when a TV, refrigerator, or clothes dryer bites the dust. It’s good to know where you can get replacements, fast - and how you can find ways to afford the unexpected expense. Zebit is a great way to get them without stretching our budget - or credit - to the limit.
4. Electronics. While some of us may think of electronics as a “must-have,” the truth is we don’t need a great gaming system, high-powered laptop, or our very own little drone to do our job. But...having these things makes our jobs a lot more fun, especially during downtime. The problem with electronics is, again...they’re pricey! Can we always afford them? In many cases, no. That’s why we recommend Zebit, an awesome way to get what you need, when you need it.

5. Gift cards and gift items. Most of the time, drivers do well when it comes to pulling in money, but we all know that some months are better than others. When we have a slow month that happens to coincide with a gifting occasion, say a holiday, birthday, or special occasion, it’s hard to give the way we want. This is especially true when it comes to babies and children. Try telling a tot that the tipping was slow last month, and that’s why they can’t have the boots they wanted for their birthday! It’s nice to be able to give gifts, and with fluctuations in earnings, we need to find ways that make it easy.

Zebit: An easy way buy what you need...and what you want

For both the must-have and nice-to-have items in our lives, money is always a factor. With things as they are these days, it’s not easy to get or maintain a high enough credit rating to finance big purchases such as the ones we’ve mentioned here. What can you do when you need tires, or a child you love just has to get the latest video game console - and you’re suffering from “funds-are-low” syndrome?

You won’t want to apply for yet another credit card, particularly if you’re going to have it ding your credit score. You won’t want to go without these things, either, and now...you don’t have to!

Zebit is here to rescue you when you need help getting the things you want. Pay for big ticket items over time, without any hidden fees! With Zebit, you could get a max of $2,500 in credit to shop Zebit’s site containing thousands of products, so you can get the important things you need...and some stuff you just want, too.

Shop for what you want on the Zebit site, and if approved, use your credit from Zebit to pay over time.

When you can’t pay in full for large purchases, then make them through Zebit. Worried about applying and getting hit on your FICO score? Don’t.  Zebit’s application process is easy. Zebit verifies your information using certain specialty credit reporting agencies, which does not pull or affect your FICO score. They simply verify your identity and your income. 

Register for Zebit today and you could get the purchasing power you need to buy your must-have and nice-to-have items without hidden fees! Do you have an item that you really need or want to buy? Sign up - and you could get it with Zebit today!

“I loved it, it was super fast and super efficient.”

What Is Curri? 

Curri is a new innovator in the world of goods delivery. Specializing in construction and industrial supplies delivery, Curri focuses on the B2B side of the industry. They’ve described themselves as “the Uber for construction material delivery” and “a one-stop-shop construction delivery service with flatbeds, trucks and cars available for hotshot, scheduled, daily routes and LTL/FTL deliveries.”

Drivers who use the Curri app perform a wide range of services, including: 

• Picking up and transporting items that need prompt deliveries 
• Returning pick-ups from customers 
• Doing branch transfers 
• Handling multiple pick-up and drop-off deliveries 
• Recurring multi-stop deliveries, known as “Daily Routes”

Curri offers itself to drivers as an alternative to rideshare or food delivery. The recurring “Daily Routes” and long-distance deliveries can ensure a consistent and reliable stream of income for drivers – something neither rideshare driving nor food delivery can always provide.

Problem 

As a relative newcomer to the delivery scene, Curri is seeking to expand its driver base and quickly start fulfilling orders. But it has stiff competition from well-established competitors like Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash, just to name a few. In fact, the market is saturated with employment opportunities for drivers. 

Curri needed a way to advertise to drivers while keeping driver acquisition cost low. They’d been advertising using Facebook, Google Ads, and Indeed, but weren’t seeing the results they wanted. Also, their driver acquisition cost across the three platforms was high. 

Then a Curri sales representative came across a Gridwise Facebook ad featuring Gridwise’s advertising services. When he brought it up to his team, they knew they were on to something.

Solution

Gridwise knows their target audience extremely well and is able to connect with them in a way that gets their attention. Through the Gridwise app, drivers can be targeted by region and by demographic. The Gridwise team has experience with crafting compelling emails, banners, and ads for both specifically targeted and national audiences.

Alice Warnier, the Growth Marketing Manager at Curri, headed up the project along with Alex and Clay on the Gridwise Brand Partnership team. She deeply appreciated the cost-effective solutions and the quick turnaround time for deliverables. Alice was especially happy with the messaging that Gridwise created for the Curri emails and ads.  

“They really understood what we wanted and what we needed the tone of the brand voice to be.”

Results 

Within 10 days, Alex and Clay had campaigns for Alice up and running. The Gridwise content team designed ads, emails, in-app banners, and a blog post to encourage drivers to sign up with Curri. 

The campaigns were a huge and instant success. 

“By advertising with Gridwise, our CPA was better than Facebook’s!” 

Gridwise was able to help Curri meet and exceed their initial conversions goal within the first week of the campaigns being launched. Additionally, Curri kept their cost per acquisition well under their original threshold. Hundreds of drivers downloaded the app within 20 days of the launch.  

Alice and the rest of the Curri team look forward to growing their fleet as Gridwise continues to expand its user base.

Drivers work hard, and even with our flexible schedules, there’s not always enough time for all the things we need to do. Taking care of ourselves can fall between the cracks as we work to rack up the drives and deliveries that keep our gig businesses going.

But self-care is more important than anything we do. If we’re not healthy, physically and mentally, we won’t be able to take care of our families and customers to the best of our abilities.  Especially now, drivers need a healthcare solution that keeps up with our busy, unpredictable schedules. 

That’s where Carbon Health comes in. 

Get seamless, affordable care

Virtual care from Carbon Health is the perfect healthcare solution for drivers. It’s fast, convenient, and affordable. There’s no membership fee, and Carbon Health works with most insurance plans. 

Carbon Health serves drivers’ unique needs in key ways:

• Convenient scheduling: You can book a same-day appointment up to 15 minutes before you start a virtual visit — in case you need to reschedule because of a last-minute ride or delivery request.

• Affordable access: For virtual visits, Carbon Health accepts most insurance in California. Carbon Health virtual care is also available in 23 other states, and out-of-pocket fees are only $69 if you are not insured. 

• Immediate attention: You can speak to a provider in a matter of minutes, in most cases.

• Help guaranteed: If the provider can’t help you virtually, or needs to refer you to a physical location for an in-person visit, you won’t be charged.

How Carbon Health virtual care works

All you need to get started is your ID, your smartphone, and your insurance information (if you have insurance). Then visit CarbonHealth.com or download the Carbon Health app. 

Select “Book An Appointment'' on the website, or open the app and tap the green “Get Care” button. You can choose from the following options:

• Primary Care: Care for your day-to-day health, with no membership fees!
• Urgent Care: Immediate attention for injuries, infections, and other unexpected medical issues.
• Mental Health: Video-based therapy for common mental health concerns like anxiety and depression.

Before your appointment, the healthcare provider will review your registration information. If they determine that you need care beyond what can be achieved in a virtual visit, someone from Carbon Health will reach out immediately and suggest another course of action.

At your appointment time, you’ll get a call from the provider through the Carbon Health app. The provider will confirm your registration information and ask some questions. Then they will create a plan for your care and send it to you through the app. The plan will provide: 

• A summary of what you discussed.
• Next steps for care or treatment.
• Relevant educational materials, if applicable.
• A link for booking any in-person appointments you may need.
• Prescriptions, which can be filled through the app, by the pharmacy of your choice. You can also have your meds delivered to your home.

Once your appointment is complete, you’ll be able to access everything you need through your Carbon Health account. You’ll have all your health records in one place, including the care plan, prescriptions, referrals, lab results, X-rays, and charts.

Your provider will reach out a few days after your appointment to see how you’re doing. Of course, you can contact the provider before that if you have further questions or concerns.

It’s that simple — healthcare that meets you where you are. 

Are you ready to experience world-class health care that’s as convenient as using your phone or home computer? Book a virtual visit with Carbon Health today!

Should rideshare and delivery drivers be employees or remain independent contractors? 

This is a question that’s been hanging in the air for years. When Proposition 22 passed in November 2020, the rideshare and delivery companies overturned a California law that sought to make the companies treat drivers and delivery people as employees. There's also been continued debate regarding employee vs. contractor issue which calls for better wages for gig drivers.

So far, activity surrounding this issue has arisen on the local and state levels. New York and Seattle set minimum wages for drivers, while in California, the controversy played out on the state level.

Recently, though, US Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh spoke up, and what he had to say did not bode well for rideshare and delivery companies who are against an employee model. This post will take you through the controversy that’s been brewing, and present some points worth consideration, including:

• What did Secretary Walsh say?
• What happened after the Secretary spoke?
• What this might mean for rideshare and delivery companies
• Other related activity that’s taking place around the country and the world
• What federal intervention could mean for drivers and the future of the gig economy

What did Secretary Walsh say?

In an April 29, 2021 interview with Reuters, Secretary Walsh didn’t say anything definite, nor did he cite specific rules that would take effect. He made it clear, however, that he feels gig employees are not being treated fairly in all cases, and he believes the federal government should do something to change that. “We are looking at it but in a lot of cases gig workers should be classified as employees... in some cases [gig workers] are treated respectfully and in some cases they are not,” Walsh said, “and I think it has to be consistent across the board.”

Even before Walsh was appointed, there was a proposal to rescind a rule that would have made it easier to classify workers as independent contractors. In the Reuters interview, Walsh said his department would have conversations with companies that utilize gig workers, to make sure these workers get consistent wages, sick pay, health care, and “all of the things that an average employee in America can access.”

Beyond that, Secretary Walsh didn’t say much more about the gig economy… but what he did say caused a whole lot of controversy.

What happened after the Secretary spoke?

In the immediate aftermath, Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash all took substantial hits on their stock prices. The price of Uber shares dipped 6%, and Lyft plummeted by almost 10%. DoorDash shares closed down 7.6%. Why would this be?

As we all know, these companies have struggled to become profitable. The costs of making rideshare and delivery drivers employees would be high, and it would set them back even further in their collective efforts to swim out of a sea of red ink. 

Company spokespeople reacted quickly and with resolve, according to the Reuters article.

They emphasized that gig workers value their independence to choose when and where they will work, and regulations that required them to be classified and treated as employees would take that away from them. Uber’s spokesman said the United States should be encouraging companies to use independent workers, not make it harder for people who want this kind of work to get it.

The other side of the argument, also emanating from Walsh’s Reuters interview, is that if the federal government had not stepped in with supplemental unemployment compensation during the pandemic, these workers would have suffered even more than they already have.

Rideshare and delivery drivers are caught in the middle of this argument. Although there are many ways they might benefit from being classified as employees, the ensuing stress on the companies could mean that many drivers won’t have any work at all.

What this might mean for the rideshare and delivery companies

Federal regulations on companies almost always mean higher costs and lower profits. In the case of the companies that depend on gig workers, they have yet to make a profit as it is. Making rideshare and delivery drivers employees would mean companies would have to deal with some gigantic costs.

The companies, for example, would have to cover higher pay to meet minimum wage standards, unemployment insurance, HR compliance, liability (insurance and possible litigation costs), software development, and driver supply disruptions. They would also have to deal with the risk of being fined if they don’t meet government requirements. Read more to learn everything you need to know about rideshare drives and Proposition 22.

The business community’s perspective is that the federal government should, within limits, stay out of a company’s business, including when it comes to how they classify workers. The gig economy has created revolutionary new opportunities for many people, and these could be lost if regulations make it harder for gig companies to operate.

While Uber, Lyft, and a few other gig companies were successful in beating back the State of California, we can’t help wondering if they would be as successful battling the US Government. 

Other related activity that’s taking place around the country and the world 

In March 2021, the UK Supreme Court forced Uber to provide drivers with minimum wage payments and other benefits. And the battle rages in other parts of the world as well, with labor movements seeking more security for drivers. Again, while it’s true that drivers could benefit from these changes, there’s a delicate balance that must be achieved.

Even though rideshare and delivery drivers are aware that companies might have difficulty achieving profitability, many still believe they should be treated like other organizations treat employees.

In the US, here are a few examples of groups that are actively pursuing employee status for gig workers:

• In Philadelphia, the city council fought to include gig workers in a bill that provided extra sick leave during the COVID-19 pandemic. 
• In Massachusetts, there is an active debate about how the commonwealth should treat gig workers.
• In Colorado, this organization is bringing gig workers together so they can fight for protections under the law.
• In New York, the service workers' union (SEIU 32BJ) backed food delivery workers in an April 22, 2021 protest in which more than 2,000 of them biked through the city demanding fair treatment from the “tech giants” that run the gig industry.

Obviously, even with the success the companies had with Proposition 22 in California, they face opposition from many different factions. This latest salvo from the federal government, if it ever translates into policy or law, will probably be the most formidable of all.

What federal intervention could mean for drivers and the future of the gig economy

Although what Secretary Walsh had to say affected the companies’ stocks, it doesn’t mean very much to the rest of us… yet. However, if the federal government does indeed impose regulations that require the companies to treat all workers as employees, it will have a huge impact on the gig economy.

While rideshare and delivery drivers would benefit greatly from benefits such as health insurance and guaranteed wages, they would come with a steep price tag. Not only would drivers lose their ability to choose when they wanted to work and for how long – they could also lose the opportunity to work for these companies at all.

More stringent background checks, Human Resources compliance issues, and a limit to the number of employees (due to the companies’ inability to pay for an unnamed number of them) could literally kill the gig driving business.

This is the concern the companies have, and many drivers share it – as our September 2020 survey proved. One finding: 65% of polled drivers prefer to remain as independent contractors. You can see the exact figures in our article about gig drivers and what these changes will mean to rideshare flexibility.

If drivers are no longer able to work as independent contractors, the gig companies will suffer, and so will the rideshare drivers, the delivery drivers, and the customers they serve. While it’s easy to welcome any ideas that support the wellbeing of gig workers, it’s essential to look at both sides of the issue … the cons as well as the pros. 

How do you feel about the federal government stepping in to decide how gig companies should treat their workers? Leave us a comment and share your thoughts.

Track your gig driving income with Gridwise!

Whether you’re gung-ho for leaving the gig economy as it is, or you’d rather see the government make sure you get the benefits of an employee, you still need to track your earnings and record your expenses. 

Gridwise does all this for you, seamlessly. Simply link your driving and delivery apps to Gridwise, log on at the beginning of every shift, record your expenses, and the mighty Gridwise app will do the rest. The results come out in impressive graphs like these:

These facts and figures come in handy at tax time, but they’re also useful to have if you’re wondering which of your gigs is making you the most money, or how close you are to your total weekly earnings goals.

Not only does Gridwise do all this, the Perks tab dishes out deals and discounts for drivers, news from our blog and YouTube channel, airport and event info, plus traffic and weather alerts! All of these features let you be more informed, and when you know your stuff, you make more money!

Find us on Facebook, too, and meet our community of gig workers who, just like you, want to get the most out of their rideshare and delivery work. Our gas card giveaways are a huge hit too.

It’s hard to believe any driver would want to go out on a shift without the ultimate assistant for rideshare and delivery running at all times, but in case you haven’t done so yet, download the app now.

As drivers, we constantly get pummelled with recruitment materials and ads for training academies of all different kinds. Why do these companies want to get our attention? 

Maybe because they know that being a full-time driver isn’t easy, and most of us don’t intend to drive forever. It’s just something we do until the next big thing comes along.

For many of us, training in a new field makes a lot of sense, and right now the most popular kinds of training academies are coding bootcamps. In this blog post, we’ll focus on these bootcamps, and talk about what drivers should look for when they choose one. We’ll also learn more about the decision process from one of our drivers, Jim, who recently chose a school and enrolled in a program. 

Here’s how we’ll break it down:

• Why coding?
• Jim’s story
• 5 things drivers need in a coding bootcamp
• Coding Dojo: the winning choice

Why coding?

Coding, or the art and science of creating the software and apps that run the engine of today’s economy, covers a lot of ground. You can learn everything from how to make an app more pleasant to use, to how to design a database and make it easier for a company to contact its customers.

People who know how to code are very popular with job recruiters these days – and are also well-paid. According to a July 2020 report on Career Karma, coders earned an average annual salary of $63,903 during 2020. Beginning coders got an average of $50,000, and experienced coders pulled in around $85,000. And of course, there’s always room to earn even more.

You don’t have to be a natural-born computer genius to make coding your new profession. All you need is an ability to focus, a desire to solve problems, and the determination to see projects through. It also helps if you like to work with others, because most projects that coders work on require a lot of cooperation.

If you’re reading this while you’re on a break from driving passengers or making food deliveries, you might think there’s a big leap between what you’re doing now and becoming a full-fledged IT professional. While it won’t happen overnight, it’s definitely something many drivers can do. A conversation with a real driver-turned-coder might show you that this kind of game-changing career switch is truly within your reach.

Jim’s story

Jim drives and delivers for Uber, and began doing so straight out of college. He studied psychology in a four-year program, but shortly after graduation he discovered that his career prospects weren’t good. He didn’t want to go on to grad school to become a therapist, and he didn’t see how he could make a lot of money in his field. Just about the only jobs available were research assistant spots at the university he attended, and they paid about $10 per hour.

Driving for Uber made sense because he didn’t like the other options he had – sales and customer service – and he could make more as a driver. Plus, he could choose his hours and get his pay in his pocket within minutes of finishing his shift.

After four years of driving, though, Jim got tired of the grind. He also saw that his income was stuck at a level that wasn’t going to rise unless he worked 50 or 60 hours a week. 

Also, he missed the intellectual challenge of being in school, working on group projects and solving problems. He was looking for something exciting, a new path that would lead him toward a career he could count on.

Jim heard about coding through ads he saw for various coding bootcamps. He knew there were a lot of different options and it took some time to figure out which one was right for him, his skillset, and his talents. Also, he wanted a school that would give him the training he needed to jump into a career right away and to be the best at what he does.

There are schools that offer training in user interface, graphics, data management, and software engineering. Many of them provide access to top-notch training, employers, and six-figure salaries. Some require full-time, onsite attendance, while others allow students to study online, and in some cases at their own pace.

Jim’s situation, like that of many drivers, had its limitations. He couldn’t really manage to work full-time and go to school full-time, and he also needed to consider the costs involved. Ideally, he would find a school that allowed him to continue driving when he wasn’t in class or completing assignments.

From our talk with Jim, a real driver, we gained firsthand insight into what to look for in a coding bootcamp. He honed in on the major points that you can utilize for any search for the right bootcamp.

5 things drivers need in a coding bootcamp

Here’s what Jim looked for in his bootcamp search and what you might want to look for, too. These suggestions are not in any particular order, so you can decide for yourself which are most important to you. 

1. Focus on marketable skills. There are many functions coding professionals can perform in a company, and some schools address all of them. Jim wanted to attend a school that was less concerned about theories, history, or other tertiary topics. He wanted a school that taught him applicable and marketable job skills, as well as one that would give him the ability to be among the best in his field.

2. Affordable. Tuition is never cheap, whether at a full-time college or a bootcamp. Since Jim had already gone through college and was still paying off hefty student loans, he needed to go to a school that was reasonably priced, and offered scholarships and/or payment plans. 

3. Real-world orientation. Jim didn’t want to get stuck in a school that was lost in an academic cloud, with little or no real connection to the real world. While he thought it would be fun to design programs with futuristic or idealistic aspects, he knew that if he wanted to work right away, he’d need something different. He needed a school that knew what employers wanted, and also had connections to people who could get him a real job.

4. Fast and flexible. Jim didn’t have another four years of his life to spend in school; he had to have a program that gave him fast results. At the same time, he wanted to continue driving while he was in training so he could still pay his bills. That meant the program of his choice would have to allow him the flexibility to attend class and work at the same time.

5. A balance of personalized training and collaboration with other students. While Jim met plenty of people when he was out on his driving gigs, it had been a long time since he’d been involved in a meaningful group project. He missed the days of gathering together with others who were passionate about what they were learning, and who enjoyed sharing their findings.

He also knew he’d need personalized attention from time to time because coding would be so new to him. It would be great if he could have access to instructors in case he got lost at sea while navigating his way through the program.

Coding Dojo: the winning choice

There are numerous coding bootcamps, but few really offer everything drivers need. We’ve looked through the offerings of a ton of bootcamps, and we can see that Coding Dojo is the one school that hit all five of the basic requirements for drivers, and offers even more. 

Coding Dojo was founded by Michael Choi, whose entrepreneurial projects in Silicon Valley revealed to him how hard it was to find top-notch software engineers. He opened Coding Dojo because he knew how much he needed skilled professionals. He knew that other companies were looking for them too. He designed the Coding Dojo curriculum around the goal of giving students what they needed to be as competent and successful as possible, with his real-world knowledge of what makes good software engineers.  

Choi used scientifically based learning technologies to build Coding Dojo. This makes this coding bootcamp one that not only provides information, but also teaches students in ways they can truly learn and apply the teachings. Here’s how Coding Dojo measured up to the rest of the items on what we see as the driver’s must-have list:

Coding Dojo has a software engineering focus. Coding Dojo is oriented toward the more technical end of the coding continuum. Programs give graduates expertise in three stacks, which are combinations of programming skills that ensure familiarity with the front and back ends of a program, as well as the database. Students are taught what each has to offer, how they differ, how they are similar, and most importantly -- how to use them to create digital products, which makes it possible for students to apply their knowledge in the real world. Coding Dojo’s programs in software engineering and data science are dedicated to keeping the focus on the high-tech, in-demand skills drivers need to create new careers. 

Coding Dojo is affordable. At a price of $7,700, Coding Dojo’s 2-stack online program is within reach for most drivers. Available onsite options go into even deeper depth, but starting with the online option and then later investing in more training might make sense for many drivers. It’s easier to know what you need to learn once you get into the field and start making money. Also, with scholarships and payment plans, there’s no need to pile on student debt in order to pay for tuition.

Coding Dojo is oriented toward the real world. With real-world experience driving the design and execution of the Coding Bootcamp program, Coding Dojo students learn skills that are applicable in the workplace, and also in high demand. In fact, 89.1% of Coding Dojo graduates find relevant jobs within six months, and 95.3% find relevant jobs within one year.

Coding Dojo is fast and flexible. With on-campus and immersive online programs that teach three stacks in 14 weeks, full-time bootcamp students can get done in just a few short months. The online flex program goes for 28 weeks is a great one for drivers, too, because they would only need to be in classes for 10–15 hours per week. With the online flex program, you could continue driving, and making money, while you’re in training.

Coding Dojo offers personal attention and group interaction

Even in the online program, it’s always possible to get one-on-one attention from an instructor whenever it’s needed. Also, the program assigns students to teams as they set out to solve problems they are sure to encounter in the real-world, team oriented workplace.

Change your life with Coding Dojo!

Could it be that you’re growing weary of the driving routine? If so, take action now. Jump into coding bootcamp with Coding Dojo. It’s definitely a winning choice. 

Get a course packet here, and before long, you could be on your way toward a lucrative, challenging, and fulfilling coding career that will get you out of the gig driving grind - and change your life.