As demand for meal delivery continues to grow, drivers in the gig economy want to know: Which service pays better, DoorDash or Uber Eats? Whether you’re a full-time delivery driver or just looking to boost your income, understanding the earnings potential between Uber Eats vs DoorDash can help you make the best choice. This year’s data highlights substantial differences in each platform's hourly, daily, and monthly earnings. We’ll explore Uber Eats vs DoorDash pay across all key metrics, giving you a complete picture of earnings potential in 2025.

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Why Food Delivery is Booming

The food delivery industry continues its rapid expansion, with analysts projecting a 12.33% annual growth rate, potentially reaching $1.45 trillion globally by 2027. Changing consumer habits, the rise of ghost kitchens, and advancements in delivery technology are opening new opportunities for customers and drivers. In 2024, over 37% of Americans were expected to use a food delivery service at least once, creating a high demand for Uber Eats and DoorDash drivers.

Comparing Hourly Earnings for Uber Eats vs DoorDash

When we compare hourly earnings, Uber Eats currently offers higher pay per hour compared to DoorDash. 

MetricDoorDashUber EatsHourly Gross$13.03$17.72Hourly Bonus/Tips$5.90$6.96Total Hourly Pay$18.93$24.68Source: Gridwise, 2023 Q1- 2024 Q2

Analysis: Uber Eats drivers make approximately $24.68 per hour, while DoorDash drivers average $18.93 per hour when bonuses and tips are included. Uber Eats has a higher hourly gross at $17.72 compared to DoorDash’s $13.03. Additionally, Uber Eats drivers typically receive higher tips and bonuses per hour, averaging $6.96, compared to DoorDash’s $5.90. This hourly pay structure may make Uber Eats more appealing for drivers aiming to maximize earnings within shorter shifts.

A Deep Dive into Daily Earnings on DoorDash vs. Uber Eats

Daily earnings can vary depending on order volume, demand in each market, and driver strategy. Here’s how DoorDash and Uber Eats compare in daily gross and per-task earnings:

MetricDoorDashUber EatsDaily Gross$63.66$52.94Daily Before Tips$32.14$27.75Per Task Average$8.49$10.00Source: Gridwise, 2023 Q1- 2024 Q2

Analysis: DoorDash drivers report a higher daily gross of $63.66 compared to $52.94 for Uber Eats. However, Uber Eats has a higher per-task average of $10.00 per delivery, while DoorDash’s per-task average is $8.49. For drivers who prefer completing fewer, higher-paying orders, Uber Eats may be a better fit. Conversely, DoorDash’s higher daily earnings may benefit drivers who can complete multiple trips per shift or work in high-demand areas where order volume is higher.

Weekly and Monthly Gross Earnings: Which Platform Comes Out on Top?

Let’s take a closer look at the gross pay for both platforms over weekly and monthly timeframes, which offer insights into potential earnings for drivers working consistently.

MetricDoorDashUber EatsWeekly Gross$232.35$170.44Monthly Gross$719.91$479.95Source: Gridwise, 2023 Q1- 2024 Q2

Analysis: DoorDash leads in weekly and monthly gross pay, averaging $232.35 per week and $719.91 per month. In contrast, Uber Eats drivers earn around $170.44 per week and $479.95 per month in gross income. For drivers working full-time or close to it, DoorDash offers a more stable income, especially in areas with consistent order volume.

These numbers indicate that DoorDash could be the better choice for those looking for steady income, while Uber Eats may be more suitable for drivers who focus on maximizing earnings per order.

Bonuses and Surge Pricing: DoorDash vs Uber Eats Incentives

In addition to gross pay, both DoorDash and Uber Eats offer opportunities to increase earnings through bonuses and peak-time pricing, but each platform takes a slightly different approach:

DoorDash Bonuses

• Challenges and Goals: DoorDash occasionally offers bonuses for reaching specific delivery targets within a certain time frame. These incentives vary by market and are often promoted within the driver app during high-demand periods.
• Top Dasher Program: Drivers meeting specific performance metrics (such as high customer ratings and a high order completion rate) can earn “Top Dasher” status, which provides scheduling priority and access to peak times even with high driver availability.

On average, DoorDash drivers earn an additional $114.84 per week and $356.33 per month from bonuses and tips​.

Uber Eats Surge and Boost Pricing

• Surge Pricing: Uber Eats offers surge pricing during times of high demand, particularly in urban areas. This can mean significant pay increases for drivers working peak hours, as Uber Eats adjusts rates dynamically based on order volume.
• Boost Pay: Boost promotions guarantee higher pay for each trip in specific locations and times. This type of incentive can be especially valuable for drivers who are flexible with their locations.

Uber Eats drivers earn about $84.70 per week and $238.57 per month in additional income from surge and boost promotions​.

Key Takeaway: While DoorDash bonuses tend to provide more predictable monthly earnings, Uber Eats’ surge and boost pricing options allow drivers to capitalize on peak demand, which may lead to higher earnings during limited periods. Drivers seeking more stable bonuses might prefer DoorDash, whereas those looking for flexibility and the potential for higher earnings on a per-trip basis may favor Uber Eats.

Uber Eats Driver vs DoorDash Driver: Which Platform is Better?

Choosing between Uber Eats vs DoorDash pay often depends on each driver’s market and other factors, including where you drive, your schedule, and your income goals.

Here’s a quick summary to help you decide:

• Earnings Stability: DoorDash’s consistent weekly and monthly earnings may be better suited for drivers looking for steady income.
• Peak Earnings Potential: Uber Eats provides lucrative surge and boost pricing during peak hours, which can be beneficial for drivers in urban areas or those with flexible schedules.
• Order Volume: DoorDash typically has a higher order volume in suburban markets, making it a good option for drivers in less densely populated areas.

For the best of both worlds, many drivers succeed in multi-apping, using both platforms to maximize earnings. Gridwise wide range of features and benefits are designed to simplify your life and help delivery workers coordinate income, and expenses and track performance across apps to identify the most profitable times and strategies.

How Gridwise Can Help Maximize Your Earnings

Regardless of your chosen platform, Gridwise can help you take control of your gig-driving career. Our app automatically tracks earnings and mileage, giving you insight into your average hourly and monthly earnings for Uber Eats and DoorDash. With features like When to Drive, Gridwise helps you identify the best times and locations for maximizing your earnings on either platform.

Get started with Gridwise

• Download the Gridwise app for free
• Track your earnings and mileage automatically
• Optimize your schedule with real-time data on peak times

Using Gridwise, you can easily analyze your Uber Eats vs DoorDash pay data and make adjustments to improve your results. Download Gridwise now and start tracking today!

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Find out more about how much gig workers earn here:

• How Much Do Uber Drivers Make?
• How Much Do Lyft Drivers Make?
• How Much Do DoorDash Drivers Make?
• Everything You Need to Know About Amazon Flex
• Walmart Spark Delivery Driver Pay: How Much Does a Walmart Spark Driver Make?
• How Much Can You Make on Instacart?
• How Much Do Shipt Shoppers Make?
• How Much Do Uber Eats Drivers Make?

The love affair between consumers and prepared food delivery isn’t letting up. The industry continues to boast double-digit growth and is expected to do so for the foreseeable future. Restaurants up and down the spectrum, from quick-serve to fine dining, all offer delivery, most of the time through third-party vendors like Uber Eats. Gig drivers find Uber Eats to be a great way to add to their gig economy earnings. 

We’ll examine the nitty-gritty of how much Uber Eats drivers make. Holding a solid second place in the food delivery arena with a 23% market share, Uber Eats is included by many gig drivers in their stack of gig jobs. 

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How much do Uber Eats drivers actually make? 

The best food delivery drivers and the best gig drivers look at all the numbers. They want to understand and determine: Is Uber Eats worth it for drivers? How much is Uber Eats driver pay? They want to see data on earnings from Uber Eats driver tips. What is Uber Eats hourly rate? What’s included in Uber Eats driver incentives? 

By understanding each of these factors, it’s easier to see areas for improvement.

How much do Uber Eats drivers earn per delivery?

In many markets, food delivery demand is driven by events and the day of the week. Football season gives you four days a week for earning opportunities, with college games on Saturdays, professional games on Sundays, and professional football on Monday and Thursday nights. The food delivery industry sees peak order times each year starting in September. 

As you review the chart below, note that from a data perspective statisticians classify each food delivery as a distinct task. Rather than “earnings per delivery,” they label it “earnings per task.”

As you can see, Uber Eats driver pay per task goes up and down throughout the year. Drivers consistently earned between $9 and $10 per delivery, with the highest rates during Q1 and the beginning of Q4 through Super Bowl Sunday in February. 

Strategic drivers like to look at their per-delivery pay, knowing that increasing their deliveries per hour can also increase their hourly rate. 

What is Uber Eats hourly rate?

Not surprisingly, an Uber Eats hourly-rate graph mirrors the per-task rate, although the extremes are less severe. Uber Eats drivers earn between $13.49 to over $16.50 an hour. However, drivers can increase that figure if they complete more deliveries per hour. 

How much do Uber Eats drivers make overall?

If we look at overall earnings for Uber Eats, we see a combination of

• Uber Eats base pay
• hourly earnings before tips
• tips (which average 40%–50% of total earnings)

These numbers amount to an average hourly earnings range of $13 to $16. Keep in mind that this is a nationwide average number. In some regions, drivers see higher earnings. 

MetricValueNotesHourly Earnings$13 - $16Includes base pay, tips, incentives, and bonusesEarnings Before Tips$7 - $9 per hourBase pay without tipsTips$7 - $8 per hourApproximately 40-50% of total earningsEarnings Per Delivery$7 - $11Varies by location and other factorsDaily Earnings$70 - $130Depends on hours worked and locationSource: Gridwise 2023

How do Uber Eats earnings vary by market?

In certain cities, Uber Eats drivers average much higher than the national average. For many drivers living in the suburbs of these cities, the earning increase is enough to compel them to travel a short way into a high-earning territory. 

Los Angeles Uber Eats drivers earn an average of $18.93 per hour, the highest among major markets.

Chicago delivery partners for Uber Eats can expect to make around $14.05 hourly.

In New York City, Uber Eats couriers typically receive $13.96 per hour for their services.

Dallas/Fort Worth Uber Eats deliverers bring in approximately $13.92 an hour.

Miami's Uber Eats delivery workers earn about $12.05 per hour, the lowest among these major metropolitan areas.

CityAverage Hourly EarningsLos Angeles$18.93Chicago$14.05New York City$13.96Dallas/Fort Worth$13.92Miami$12.05Source: Gridwise 2023

Maximizing Uber Eats earnings

How do you boost your earnings as an Uber Eats driver? Surprisingly, it’s not that hard. 

Pay attention to Uber Eats peak hours

Food delivery most definitely has peak hours, and you can boost earnings by taking advantage of the best times to drive for Uber Eats. On the weekdays, the lunch surge, especially for businesses, goes from about 11:30 am to 2:00 pm. The real surge is for dinner, beginning at 4:30 pm and continuing until roughly 9:00 pm. Morning and mid-afternoon hours see minimal action. Also, keep in mind that peak hours will vary by location. 

Keep tabs on special events on TV

We’re in the season of politics. There are lots of political junkies glued to the television for the debates, election night, and other related events. Likewise, the Academy Awards, the Grammys, and other shows generate prepared food home deliveries. Be sure to work those nights. 

Work football season and other sporting events

From September until February, Sunday is a full day of professional football games, and women now comprise more than 50% of NFL viewership. Devotees find they enjoy the game much more when food is delivered. 

Pay attention to neighboring markets

As mentioned earlier, driving from the outer suburbs to more profitable areas is often worth the time and extra gas. 

Watch the trends tab on your Uber Eats app

One way to identify the best markets is to check the trends tab on your Uber Eats app. This feature gives you a 28-day history of what’s been happening in your market, showing you peak days and best times. 

Pick and choose your orders

Some orders are more profitable than others. Learn how to discern which ones to accept. Be careful about taking orders with a long driving distance. Once you drop off the order, returning to an area where more orders are available might take a while. That’s time you could be accepting and delivering other orders. Some orders are just not profitable and are an inefficient use of your time. When in doubt, use this handy Uber Eats earnings calculator. 

Pick and choose your restaurants

Some restaurants are better organized for the delivery business. When drivers arrive, the orders are ready and always correct. Other restaurants just can’t get the delivery business right; orders are often not ready to be picked up and are incorrect. As a driver, slow orders mean you stand around cooling your heels when you could be on the road making deliveries. Incorrect orders also affect tips. Always accept orders from restaurants you know are better for delivery. Avoid the slower, less organized ones. 

Consider bike and scooter deliveries

Food delivery gig workers have found bicycles and scooters advantageous in densely populated downtown areas. They can quickly maneuver through traffic while avoiding parking problems. Many of them earn as much or even more than if they were driving. 

Take advantage of Uber Eats driver incentives

Watch your Uber Eats app for additional earnings opportunities. Uber Eats offers a per-delivery bonus in some service areas if you remain in a specific territory. You can also take advantage of other Uber Eats bonuses, in which drivers earn extra money for completing a set number of orders in a designated time. 

How to increase Uber Eats driver tips

We’ve already discussed the factors contributing to Uber Eats driver pay. These include Uber Eats base pay, the delivery fee, any incentives Uber Eats offers, and customer tips. Of these four, customer tips is where drivers have the most influence. Tips often exceed 50% of food delivery driver earnings. 

Here are some ways to ensure better tips as an Uber Eats driver: 

• Ensure correct orders. One of the biggest complaints of food delivery customers is an incorrect order. This is likely the restaurant’s fault, but as the delivery person, you’re the last link in the chain and you get blamed. Check orders to ensure correctness. 
• Use a thermal bag. Cold food is another frequent customer complaint. A thermal bag should be an Uber Eats driver requirement. 
• Don’t forget the extras. Extra napkins, extra forks, and extra condiments are always appreciated.
• Deliver on time. Customers don’t like to wait. Avoid traffic, and don’t dawdle. 
• Communicate clearly. This is a customer favorite. Let them know when you have the order in your car and how long you expect to be. Also, let people know if the restaurant doesn’t have their order ready or if you get caught in traffic. 
• Leave a nice note on the app. Something as simple as “Enjoy your meal” or “Have a nice evening” impresses the customer. 
• Remember the regulars. If someone is a regular and you have contact with them, commit their name to memory. People love to hear their name; it’s their favorite word. 
• Smile. Even if you don’t see the customer face-to-face, they might be watching on their doorbell camera. People reward happiness. 
• Follow directions. Watch for special requests such as “Deliver to the pool in the backyard” or “Come to the side door.” People appreciate it when you follow their special instructions.
• Be mindful of your Uber Eats driver reviews. Customers check these things, and they like to reward winners. If you have five stars, you can expect better tips. 

Gridwise helps increase Uber Eats driver pay

Another way to increase Uber Eats driver pay is by taking advantage of every tax write-off available as a gig driver. Gridwise helps you do this through the Gridwise mileage tracker. 

Program it once—it’s a simple process—and you won’t have to think about it until tax time. Then, download the report. Gone are cumbersome mileage logs and a day spent adding up miles for taxes. 

The Gridwise app also includes other features, such as When to Drive and Where to Drive, that help you know when and where to find target-rich environments for food delivery opportunities. 

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Check out these links to learn more about driving for Uber Eats, or to learn about valuable Gridwise services. 

• How Much Do Uber Drivers Make?
• How Much Do Lyft Drivers Make?
• How Much Do DoorDash Drivers Make?
• Everything You Need to Know About Amazon Flex
• Walmart Spark Delivery Driver Pay: How Much Does a Walmart Spark Driver Make?
• How Much Can You Make on Instacart?
• How Much Do Shipt Shoppers Make?How to Make $1000 a Week with Uber Eats
• Here's how to make $1000 a week with DoorDash
• Everything You Need to Know About Driving for Uber Eats
• Uber Eats vs. DoorDash Pay: How Much Are Drivers Earning?
• Check out the Gridwise Job Board
• Download the Gridwise App 

Winter is far from over, and with January in full swing, extreme weather continues to grip much of the U.S. From heavy snowfalls to icy roads, the season demands extra caution—especially when it comes to driving.

In this blog, we’ll cover essential tips to help you stay safe behind the wheel during winter’s toughest conditions. Whether you're navigating snowy streets, or freezing rain, a little preparation and awareness can make all the difference.

Whether you’re picking up passengers or dropping off orders, here’s what you need to know to navigate snowy conditions with confidence.

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Most people are not used to driving in bad weather

Yeah, gig driving in extreme winter conditions is serious business—but you are a gig driver, and there are people that need to go places or have food and packages delivered. They expect Doordash during a snowstorm. 

If you live in an area of the country where the winters are severe, such as most of the US northern latitudes, snow is a fact of life. Even if you don’t live in the traditional snow states, there are times when you will encounter it. According to Tom Skilling, chief meteorologist for WGN-TV in Chicago, it snows in 49 out of the 50 states at least once a year. 

Added to that, populations are shifting. A report by the Brookings Institution reveals a decline in the nation’s 56 major metropolitan areas (populations exceeding one million). People have moved out of the larger cities. The smaller metro areas are growing, experiencing the greatest population gain in over a decade. In many of these burgeoning regions, however, the infrastructure is still catching up with better roads and the ability to get snowplows out in the winter. 

But many people find the tranquil summers of their new home offset by some serious winters and weather that they have never experienced, much less driven in. You might be one of them, and if you brought your gig driving job with you (because one of the nice things about gig driving hustles is that they are portable), driving Uber or Lyft in a snowstorm is a challenge. The same is true for food delivery. You need to know how to drive safely in snowy and icy conditions. 

Preparing your car for winter driving

First, prepare your car for the winter season. Ideally, check all these things before the first snow falls, and recheck them as needed throughout the winter. 

Maintain your car. This is an autumn ritual. Take time to replace the wiper blades, check that headlights and running lights are in good working order, and consider replacing the fluid in your radiator with a more appropriate mix of antifreeze. Starting your car on cold winter mornings puts extra demand on the battery. You might want to replace it if it’s nearing the end of its life. 

Check your tires. Tires are arguably the most important component of snow driving. They are your contact with the road. Evaluate the tread on your tires to determine if they are sufficient to get you through the cold season. Air contracts in volume in lower temperatures, so make sure you check your tire pressure regularly. Later we’ll discuss snow tires and chains. 

Check other items that wear out. Rubber and plastic components freeze and crack in the cold. Check all your hoses and belts. Replace any that look suspect. Also, check the bushings and rubber bearing boots underneath your car for excessive wear. PRO TIP: Components on a car tend to wear out in pairs. If there are two of anything on your vehicle and one wears out, the other is likely not far behind. This is true of belts, hoses, and even headlights. If you replace one, replace the other. 

Make sure you can see. Those low winter temperatures mean ice on the windshield. Replace the wiper fluid in the reservoir with a solution formulated for winter. PRO TIP: A quick way to rid the windshield of ice on cold mornings (instead of standing there for 10 minutes laboring with an ice scraper) is to combine isopropyl alcohol and water in a spray bottle. Spraying this solution directly onto the ice melts it on contact.

This might be the time for a yearly professional oil change. Do you change the oil yourself? Lots of people do. But that late fall oil change might be the time to take it into the garage. Have them lubricate the underside of the chassis, the ball joints, and anything that needs attention. Ask the mechanic to examine the car for any problems you need to remedy before that first snow. 

Don’t forget to save your receipts. As a gig driver, these expenses are tax deductible. 

Transitioning to winter driving habits

The second change you need to make as winter approaches is in your driving habits. Driving requires concentration, but even more so when the weather turns cold and snow falls.  

Do you really have to drive in the snow? The first tip for driving in the snow is just don’t do it. There is a high risk of an accident. True, most are low-speed fender benders with less of a chance for injury, but you don’t need the hassle of tow trucks and car repairs, and squabbles with your insurance company. There is always the reality of getting hurt, too. But driving during a snowstorm is a reality if you earn your income from gig driving. 

Give other cars additional space. Driving instructors recommend a car length, perhaps a length and a half, for every ten miles of speed, and that’s in good weather. In the snow, however, steering is less responsive, and braking takes longer. You need extra time. Consider two lengths minimum, and perhaps even three. You’ll also need extra time for most other driving maneuvers such as pulling out into traffic and lane changes. 

Avoid driving alongside other cars. Sudden braking or evasive maneuvers can send you in unpredictable directions. Maintain space so that if you go into a spin, you will be less likely to hit another car or fall victim to another driver’s misfortune.

Back off the accelerator. Find a speed you are comfortable with in the snow, and then reduce it by ten miles an hour. That’s your ideal snow speed. You want plenty of time to react to any situation, from a red light to a car spinning out of control in front of you. 

Periodically test your car and conditions. Different road surfaces react differently in the snow. If you have a spot where you have plenty of extra space on the road, tap on your brakes to get a feel for how your car reacts. This way, when you have to hit the brakes, you’ll have a better idea of what to expect. 

Remember to steer into a skid. Should you hit ice and the rear wheels lose traction and start to drift, steer in the same direction that they go. If your car's back end drifts to the right, then turn your steering wheel to the right. If the back end drifts to the left, then steer to the left. If you want a clearer explanation of how to steer into a skid, check out this video from CNN.com. 

Resist hitting the brakes if you start to skid. Your first reaction should be to take your foot off the accelerator. Hitting the brakes won’t stop you, and when the wheels gain traction, your car will go whichever way they are pointing, like into the next lane. 

Give a wide berth to semi-trucks. It’s never a good idea to mess with a semi-truck. Fully loaded, the tractor and trailer weigh 40 to 50 tons (more in states where they allow three trailers). Even if you are in the right, you will lose. In the snow, these trucks are tough to stop. Truck drivers maintain as much space as possible. Let them have it. 

Keep the gas tank full. A full tank helps avoid ice in the fuel lines. You also want a full tank if you become stranded in the snow. You’ll need to run the engine to use the car’s heater. 

Chains vs. snow tires

For those who have recently moved to snow country, one of the big questions is, chains or snow tires? The answer depends on how severe the winters are. If they are intense, snow tires are an absolute must. People without snow tires are the ones who end up in the ditch during a snowstorm.  They are more expensive than chains, but an article in Forbes magazine reports that snow tires give you better performance, especially in mountain driving and the coldest weather. 

When temperatures drop, the rubber used in all-weather tires hardens. This means less contact with the road. Snow tires employ formulated rubber that remains soft in colder temperatures, spreading out and almost “gripping” the road. Snow tires also have specially designed treads, enhancing their effectiveness. Some designs even incorporate metal studs. 

Some states in the continental US require snow tires or chains under certain conditions. Large parts of Canadian British Columbia legally mandate snow tires for as much as six months out of the year.   

Snow tires wear out quickly in warmer weather. So when spring comes around, it’s time to go back to your tire store or garage and switch to your all-season tires. If you are a purist, you can purchase an extra set of rims to have them mounted on and do the transition yourself. Worried about the cost? Some places like Discount Tire offer discounts to gig drivers.

Snow chains are a less expensive option and store easily in your trunk. In areas that are cold enough and get snow regularly, you’ll see signs telling you to use chains with special roadside pull-outs for mounting them. When you purchase your snow chains, look for brands featuring a YouTube video for how to install them. When there is no snow, practice a few times in your driveway so that when you have to mount them, you’ll know how. 

Read your car manual for instructions on using chains. You typically mount chains on the drive tires of your car. For cars with all-wheel drive, once again, check the manual. 

Are you thinking about purchasing a new car for your gig driving activities? According to Shift.com and many other sources, front-wheel drive cars or all-wheel drive cars generally perform better in snow and ice. 

Whatever maintenance you get done to prepare your car for bad weather, make sure you look for special discounts for drivers. Those dollars add up fast!

Getting stranded in a snowstorm

One of the harshest realities of living and driving in harsh winter is getting stuck in your car in a snowstorm. It happens more than you may think. 

• In January 2022, hundreds of motorists were stranded all night in freezing temperatures along a 50-mile stretch of Interstate 95 in Virginia, as reported in the Washington Post. Adding to the difficulty, several tractor-trailers jack-knifed, leaving the roads impassable. 
• In December 2014, ABC News reported on a snowstorm in Southern California that trapped drivers overnight on Highway 138 in the San Bernardino Mountains. 

Here are a few tips on preparing should you get stranded.

Stay in your car. This is the safest option. As cold as it may get in your car, it will be colder outside. This is another reason why you should always keep a full tank. You can run the engine regularly without fear of running out of gas. Most experts suggest running the engine and heater for ten minutes every hour.  

Carry an extendable, window-mounted antenna in your car. These are available on Amazon. They allow you to monitor weather channels, and they double as a mounting pole for a bright-colored piece of cloth, making you more visible to searchers. 

Keep a foldable shovel in your trunk. Before running the engine to stay warm, use the shovel to ensure the tailpipe is not blocked by snow. You don’t want deadly carbon monoxide fumes backing up and leaking into the engine compartment. 

Carry snacks. Your body burns more calories in lower temperatures. Keep a supply of high-calorie food: energy bars, nuts, jerky, and granola. You’ll be glad you did.

Keep a bag of road salt and another of kitty litter. You’ll need road salt to help melt the snow when it becomes manageable and kitty litter to help gain traction on snow and ice. 

Maintain a snowstorm survival kit. These are the smart items to have: 

• first aid kit
• extra water
• important medications
• jumper cables
• duct tape
• scraper for removing ice from windshield and mirrors
• tow strap
• tire pressure gauge
• extra change of clothes
• extra winter jacket
• mittens and hat
• work gloves
• good snow boots
• battery-powered radio
• spare charged battery packs for your cell phone
• flashlight
• book of crossword puzzles
• pens and pencils
• folding knife
• kit of essential tools
• spare change and cash
• compass
• thick blanket

Other tools to stay safe

Good advice on how gig drivers can stay safe in a snowstorm is just one of the many things you learn from the Gridwise blog.

There are tons of discounts exclusive to Gridwise that will save you $100s on everything from car maintenance to phone protection.

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If you’re a rideshare driver and your driving turf includes a major airport, you learn quickly that these transportation hubs are very profitable. Every driver knows there are airport drop-off and pickup rules. Veteran rideshare drivers, those who have been around for at least four years, recall when they could drive into a major airport and drop off or pick up passengers with little or no concern. Few rules existed other than exercising common sense and consideration for other drivers. 

That’s not so today. If the major airports in your driving region have not yet instituted stricter rules regarding rideshare drivers, they’re thinking about it really hard. 

It’s up to you, however, to know the rules. 

Gridwise can make your next rideshare excursion to the airports more profitable. The Gridwise app includes a tab showing peak arrivals and departures. Download the Gridwise app today and be prepared for your next airport trip. 

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Airport trivia: Which city claims to be served by the most airports? That honor falls to Los Angeles. According to the website Simple Flying, the behemoth airport in the region is LAX. Still, four other airports serve the metropolitan Los Angeles area: Ontario International Airport, Burbank Airport, John Wayne Airport in Orange County, and Long Beach Airport.

Airports are in a constant state of change

If your rideshare region includes a large airport, you’ve likely noticed that construction is a constant. Every time you enter the airport, a new crane or piles of construction material appear in a different location. This happens for a few reasons. 

• External changes. Airports need to change to keep up with the times. Whether determining how to deal with the massive number of rideshare drivers, accommodating population growth or all the travelers showing up for that $99 flight special, airports regularly have to change, expand, or reconfigure to meet the demand.
• Funding. Airports get funding from all sorts of sources. The recent Infrastructure Act was a boon to airports, allocating $1 billion to 99 airports nationwide, according to TravelPerk. State and city funding is also regularly available. There are other sources. When funding becomes available, airports need to have projects ready. 
• Increase capacity. Airport administrators are closely allied to the cities and metropolitan areas they serve. If a city is expanding its transit system to handle more demand for airport trips, then the airport will want to make changes to accommodate that new capacity. 

Every time airport infrastructure changes, administrators have to ask themselves how these changes affect traffic patterns and how to optimize that traffic, including rideshare drivers. This is why you see frequent changes to airport rules about rideshare drivers. 

The good news is that the airports and the rideshare companies have gotten good at coordinating these changes. 

Users of the Gridwise app always know when peak arrival and departure times are by keeping track of the Gridwise airport tab on their app. Download the Gridwise app today and be prepared for your next airport trip. 

Understand your airport’s pickup and drop-off rules 

If you're an experienced airport driver, you know where the terminals are, which terminals serve which airlines, and all the shortcuts. You might even know where the VIP terminal is (usually well hidden). Chances are that you’re keenly aware of any impending changes. You will hear about them through messages on your rideshare app and signage at the airport. 

You can also check the website of any airport you visit. They typically post plans, which are a good source of information about changes coming to the airport and how rideshare drivers might be affected. Many of them also post rules applying to rideshare drivers. 

Don’t be surprised if your airport has separate areas for drop-offs and pickups for rideshare drivers. This eases the traffic burden and likely makes your job easier. 

If you’re a new driver and have not been to the airport(s), check your rideshare company's website for their rules and suggestions. They are generally the same, but there are slight differences between Uber and Lyft. Uber airport pickup rules include all the latest and most up-to-date information. The same is true for Lyft airport pickup rules.

Both Uber and Lyft do an excellent job of keeping their drivers informed. If you visit the links referenced above, you can find a directory of US airports and the latest rideshare rules for each. Many of these rideshare web pages include maps to ease your navigation. 

There is more good news. Uber and Lyft work well with airports to ensure their apps reflect new rules. For example, all pickups at LAX require drivers to go to a particular lot, LAXit, right next to the airport. If you accept a pickup at LAX, the app automatically directs you to LAXit to pick up that passenger. 

Make sure you have a TNC permit

TNC, transportation network company, is a certification issued at the state level. When you become a gig driver, part of your onboarding process includes getting a TNC permit. This varies slightly from state to state, but the TNC permit certifies that you have the required licensing and insurance to operate a car service from an online-enabled platform, mobile device, or application. TNC permits are usually issued by Lyft or Uber when you become a rideshare driver. You must carry it in your car, usually posted on the windshield. 

Airport personnel can stop and ask you for your TNC permit. You could get a citation if you don’t have it or it’s expired.

In some Uber or Lyft regions, getting a TNC permit requires a short orientation, usually done online. These presentations are typically video or PowerPoint-style. 

You also need a waybill

Most drivers never need to produce a waybill (a document containing transportation details), but you should know that they are available on your app and how to produce them when required. Your app makes and stores a waybill of every trip, recording essential details such as pickup and drop-off locations, fare, and driver and passenger information. If there is a problem, such as an accident at the airport, airport officials may ask you to produce a waybill. Typically, the image of a waybill on your phone's screen will suffice. Airport officials might ask you to create a screenshot of the waybill and text or email it to them. 

Passenger requests that might violate airport rules

Every airport is different. Some allow you to drop off passengers inside the airport, but they require that you go to a separate lot (typically adjacent to the airport and very close) to pick up passengers who have just arrived. Others require you to pick up and drop off at a central shuttle terminal or similar facility. Although they may seem intimidating, airports are generally easy to navigate, and in most instances, the rideshare app will guide you through the process. 

It’s essential, however, to know the rules of the airport you are visiting. Occasionally, you’ll encounter passengers who are not familiar with the rules and might ask you to violate them. They may want a ride into the airport, directly to their terminal, but the airport might require that you drop them off at a shuttle terminal. Politely explain the airport system and rules to them. 

Most passengers understand; others are infrequent travelers who don’t know the rules, and airports can be imposing places. As a rideshare driver, you're often their guide to the airport. A calm and courteous approach will frequently earn you a tip.  

What’s the best way to track peak arrival and departure times at the airport? Download the Gridwise app today and check out the airport tab. 

Best practices for airport pickups and drop-offs

There are additional measures you can take to make your airport experiences more successful and less stressful for your passengers. 

Keep the trunk of your car clutter-free. You never know when you will be going to the airport. Keep your trunk as empty as possible to accommodate luggage. Leave your gym bag and golf clubs at home. 

Assist passengers with luggage. While we’re talking about luggage, you should always offer to help passengers with their luggage. You're more familiar with your car and how the bags will best fit, and they might be exhausted. 

Know the shortcuts. Airports are notorious for long waits in heavy traffic. If you know the shortcuts, you can get your passengers to their terminal or shuttle drop-off quicker, freeing up your time for more passengers. 

Put safety first. Airports at peak times often resemble anarchy, with cars pulling in at compromised angles or dropping off passengers in the middle of traffic. Your goal should be to drop off or pick up passengers only in safe areas. 

Be a considerate driver. Many rideshare drivers are veterans of the airports in their region, while most other people drive into an airport a few times a year, if ever. Be considerate and watch for people making unexpected moves. 

Equip yourself with helpful provisions. Your passenger might have just come off a twelve-hour overnight flight. Their mouth might feel like the Russian army just camped in it. Gum and mints are often well-received. They may need to charge their phone or quench their thirst, so have water and charging cords available. 

Learn where the bathrooms are. Airport traffic can be unpredictable, and the last thing you want is to sit in it with a bursting bladder. If you're making a pickup, take a bathroom break before entering the airport. When you're leaving with a passenger, they may also need to go. 

Prepare for airport chaos. When procedures change, you can expect confusion on all sides: drivers, passengers, and even airport personnel. When LAX inaugurated its LAXit program, drivers reported waiting an hour to make a pickup. When you learn of changes in procedures at the airport, you might want to avoid the place for a few weeks and let them get all the kinks ironed out.  

How the Gridwise app can help you at airports

Gridwise is a rideshare driver’s best friend at the airport. The Gridwise app includes a tab with peak arrival and departure times at all the airports in your region. Smart drivers rely on this information to determine when to head to their closest airport. The Gridwise app also includes other features, such as When to Drive and Where to Drive, that help you know where and when to find target-rich environments for rides. 

Taxes are a breeze, thanks to the Gridwise mileage tracker. You can track your miles passively, ensuring you get the maximum tax deduction. The Gridwise expense tracker is just as convenient, helping you keep track of the dollars you spend on gig driving activities. These features allow you to download records into a database file such as Excel for easy handling. 

You can’t go wrong with the Gridwise app. Download it today. 

Check out these Gridwise articles to learn more about the Gridwise mileage tracker:

• Download the Gridwise app for free!
• 8 Strategies for Maximizing Rideshare and Delivery Tax Deductions
• 9 Must-Have Apps for Gig Drivers
• How Much Do Uber Drivers Make In 2024?
• The Best Times to Drive for Lyft

Delivering for DoorDash, aka being a “Dasher,” is a reasonably easy and profitable way to be part of the gig economy. You can rise faster through the ranks and make better earnings, though, if you approach it with a beginner’s mind and a willingness to learn what it takes to succeed.

When you start a new job, no matter how smart or savvy you might be, there are details that you need to know. That’s why we’re offering great DoorDash beginner tips here. This post will not only get you acquainted with one of the hottest apps for drivers, DoorDash; it will also give you a leg up as you first get started. You’ll get some DoorDash driver pro tips, as well. Here’s a rundown of what you’ll learn as you read on.

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How Doordash works

As you probably already know, DoorDash is an app-driven food delivery service. You receive requests for deliveries, travel to restaurants to retrieve them, and deliver them to hungry customers. Like a rideshare driver app, DoorDash syncs to your bank account to pay you for your delivery work. 

To sign up with DoorDash, go to the DoorDash website and fill in the information. You’ll need to meet some requirements, but there’s nothing too rigorous about the selection process. Read more about the DoorDash sign-up process in this Gridwise blog post. 

Once you’re on board, you’ll receive a Dasher branded thermal bag and a red card in the mail. We’ll explain the red card in a bit, but before we do, let’s go through some of the issues that will help you get started on the right foot.

Even though you’re just beginning, it’s wise to keep your long-term goals in mind. You are going to want to take actions that maximize earnings and income for gig drivers. Even though you're bound to make a few mistakes, you’ll do well as long as you look at your gig driving for what it is. It’s a business—your business.

Smart business practices for Dashers 

When you work with a gig company, whether you’re using a rideshare app or delivery app, there are things you need to know. The most important is that you are an independent contractor. DoorDash does not employ you. They merely give you access to their app so that you can be a self-employed gig worker.

As an independent contractor, you will not get benefits such as insurance, paid time off, or sick days. You will not get guaranteed hours or guaranteed pay. There are a few exceptions, where cities and states have gone through changes in the law as a result of the city or state government hoping to make gig economy delivery drivers employees, but even in these cases, certain elements of being an independent contractor still apply.

For example, you will not get taxes taken out of your earnings. You’ll have to set a certain amount of income aside to cover your federal, state, and local income taxes. Most authorities on the subject recommend you reserve 20–30% of gross earnings. 

You will also be responsible for recording all your tax deductions, including mileage, fuel, and gas maintenance. Needless to say, this can get a bit unwieldy, especially when your job already has you on the go. You need help.

Top DoorDash earners rely on Gridwise, a delivery and rideshare assistant app that makes much of this a lot easier. With Gridwise, you can:

• track your mileage
• record your expenses
• track your earnings
• get deals on benefits designed for drivers

The best part is that you can do all this for free! Drivers have called it the best mileage tracking app and earnings tracker app for gig drivers, and it’s super easy for anyone to use. You’ll also be able to get more comfortable about life as an independent contractor with the safety net Gridwise Benefits can provide.

Explore the app for yourself!

Dasher do’s and don’ts

This video presentation offers great DoorDash tips for beginners. You’ll see many of these items in the clip, but let’s list them, plus a few others the video doesn’t cover, so you can see everything in one place.

1. Learn the app. You will have to know what you’re doing with the app, so get familiar with it even before you go out. Learn what it means to schedule blocks rather than Dash on demand, and see what it takes to accept, decline, cancel, and unassign orders. 

There are many videos online that help with this, but the best way to learn the app is to use it. If you have a friend who’s already a seasoned Dasher, that person can show you the ropes as well. Also, start by working from home, so you can give yourself a chance to become familiar with the app.

2. Learn how to schedule blocks. This is an essential part of Dashing. You’ll want to choose the times that fit into your schedule, and zones where you’re likely to have the best results. It’s possible to book your areas and time slots as many as six days in advance. You can Dash on demand, simply making yourself available whenever you like, once you become established as a Dasher.
3. Learn about the red card. The DoorDash red card is how you’ll pay for orders that have not been covered by the customer online. You may have to place the order yourself, or you might find that the payment is being made with the card when you check out. It usually works just fine, but if there’s a problem, you can get it corrected by contacting DoorDash customer service through your app.
4. Use branded materials. DoorDash will send you a branded insulated bag in the mail when you sign up, but if you go to the Dasher online store, you’ll be able to purchase beverage carriers, caps, T-shirts, and other materials. These items will identify you as a Dasher, both at restaurants and while you’re making your deliveries to your customers.
5. Take your time. While one of the things that makes you stand out as a top Dasher will be your prompt service, you also have to get the right order, go to the right address, and avoid spills or mishaps that can turn a stellar delivery into a disaster. Even well-seasoned DoorDash top earners know how important it can be to move carefully, even if that means walking or driving slowly.
6. Look at your dollar-to-mile ratio before accepting a delivery. It’s easy to calculate how much you’ll get paid per mile of driving. Simply look at the delivery, and divide the amount of the order by the number of miles you’ll need to travel. If the result is between $1.00 and $2.00, you’ll want to skip it, but most drivers believe that $3.00 or more is ideal. 
7. Decline unworthy orders. You have every right to decline an order, and your driver rating won’t suffer if you do. Someone else is bound to pick up that $3.50 trip that’s 15 miles away from your location. And if they don’t, DoorDash is likely to raise the price, much like it’s done at auctions.

However, if you cancel a lot of orders, you could suffer nasty consequences, up to and including deactivation.

8. Keep communication channels open. Put yourself in the position of your hungry customer, waiting for food to arrive. If you’re caught up in a backlogged restaurant or a traffic jam, call or text the customer to inform them of any delay that might take place. 
9. Carry the right stuff. While it isn’t mandatory to own equipment such as pizza bags, beverage carriers, or an insulated backpack, it’s smart to get whatever it takes for you to do a good job. Avoid spills, splashes, and cold food by acquiring the equipment you need to do the job. Here’s a list of some useful items:

• extra insulated bags
• beverage holders
• crates or boxes to prevent spills
• extra napkins and condiments
• a flashlight or headlamp
• safety equipment for your vehicle
• your own food and beverages so you don’t go hungry and can stay hydrated
• a Sharpie pen for writing customer names on orders

10. Position yourself. Don’t drive around looking for orders. Park and wait. Of course, your best bet will be to park in a place where lots of different restaurants will be generating orders, unless there are already too many Dashers in the neighborhood.
11. Map out local restrooms. Needing to “go” is a fact of life. Know which restaurants allow Dashers to duck into their facilities, and identify other spots with public access to places where you can take your “bio breaks.”
12. Manage stacked orders. From time to time, and especially at busy fast-food restaurants, the Dasher app will send you stacked orders, that is two or more orders on the same trip. This could happen at the time you receive the call through the app, or it might occur once you arrive at the restaurant. There are two things to know about these orders.

1. If you receive both orders through the app, and one seems to be too much mileage for not enough pay, you can unassign yourself from the order.
2. If you want to receive a stacked order at a given restaurant, stay put for around 30–60 seconds when you arrive. This gives the app a chance to offer you a stacked order.

That’s a pretty long list of DoorDash driver do’s, but our DoorDash pro tips wouldn’t be complete without adding a few don’ts as well.

1. Don’t accept every order. When you’re new to delivery driving, it’s kind of thrilling to get requests for delivery. Not all are worth taking, though. Run them through that dollar-to-mile ratio test under number 6 above. 
2. Don’t cancel too many orders. It’s always better to simply decline an order than to cancel one that you’ve already accepted. As we mentioned before, too many cancellations can lead to unpleasant consequences.
3. Don’t drive when there’s no peak pay. If your schedule allows, try to stick to driving at peak hours and at times when people are handing out big gratuities. Pro Tip: Late night noshers tend to be more generous with doling out extra cash to their delivery drivers.
4. Don’t be anything but nice. Even when restaurant servers treat you with less dignity than the burgers they’re flipping, or a customer glares at you for walking on their lawn, keep your cool. Becoming irate or sarcastic with the people you interact with will only reflect badly on you. If you encounter a really nasty piece of work in human form, you can rate them accordingly within the Dasher app.
5. Don't ignore your appearance. We're not saying you should wear a suit all the time - make sure you're comfortable and authentic to yourself! But you can look nice and be comfortable at the same time. Looking put together and professional can only help you earn more and get into less trouble.

Now that you know what’s good and not-so-good to do when you start out as a Dasher, let’s move on to building your best approach to your gig driving business.

Easy strategies for maximum results

Talking about strategy doesn’t necessarily mean things are going to get complicated. In fact, when you optimize your driving time, you’ll maximize your job satisfaction as well as your earnings. 

If you want to be one of the highest DoorDash earners, you need to set up certain practices. Rideshare companies and rideshare driver apps tend to provide more information than delivery driving apps do, but that doesn’t have to stop you from getting even more information than the average rideshare app can deliver.

Pro Tip: Put the best rideshare and delivery assistant to work for you!

Gridwise makes it easy to put together a driving schedule and strategy that will keep your stress levels low and your earnings high. With Gridwise, you can find out everything you need to know about your delivery business. Not only is it an awesome mileage tracking app for delivery drivers, it gives you all kinds of inside information. Want to know about Uber hourly pay in your area, or have you ever asked yourself, “How much do Uber drivers make a month?”

With Gridwise features Where to Drive and When to Drive, you can satisfy your curiosity about Uber drivers, find out more about the earnings of the average Roadie driver, and most important—discover how much DoorDash pays per trip in your area, when Dashers are making the most money, and where DoorDash customers are giving out the biggest tips. You’ll have an easy time becoming a real DoorDash pro!

These features, in addition to all the mileage, tax deduction, and earnings tracking capabilities of this powerful—and free—app can be yours in an instant.

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Are you looking for more Doordash resources and information?

• How To Make $1000 A Week With DoorDash
• Uber Eats vs. DoorDash Pay: How Much Are Drivers Earning?
• DoorDash Driver Pay: What Do Dashers Earn in 2023?

As a gig worker, you’re constantly navigating challenges: keeping track of endless miles, managing expenses, and figuring out which platform will make your next shift worth your time. It can feel overwhelming—like you’re working harder but not seeing the payoff. Imagine instead having everything in one place: every mile logged automatically, your expenses neatly organized, and personalized insights showing you where and when to drive for maximum earnings. That’s the dream, right? With Gridwise, it’s not just a dream—it’s your new realityGridwise is more than just the best mileage tracking app for delivery drivers—it’s your ultimate sidekick for maximizing earnings, saving on taxes, and working smarter across multiple platforms. Let’s dive into what makes Gridwise the go-to tool for gig workers everywhere.

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What Gig Workers Need in a Mileage Tracker

Mileage tracking isn’t just about logging miles—it’s about unlocking your full earning potential. Here’s what gig workers need in a business mileage tracking app, and how Gridwise checks every box:

1. Accurate and Automatic Mileage Tracking

Gig drivers juggle countless tasks during a shift. Manually logging miles can be tedious and prone to errors. Relying solely on gig apps for your mileage can leave you shortchanged on deductible miles.

• What You Need: A tracker that logs every eligible mile automatically from the moment you leave your driveway until you return.
• How Gridwise Helps: Gridwise uses advanced GPS tracking to record every mile you drive—not just the ones gig apps count. It’s the best mileage tracking app for DoorDash, Uber, Grubhub, and beyond, ensuring you don’t miss a single deductible mile.

2. Simplified Tax Preparation

Every mile you drive for gig work in 2024 is worth 67 cents in tax deductions. With detailed, IRS-compliant records, you can avoid leaving money on the table or struggling during tax season.

• What You Need: A reliable way to document miles and expenses, ready for tax time or even an audit.
• How Gridwise Helps: Gridwise creates comprehensive logs for your business mileage so you can confidently claim deductions. No more scrambling for receipts or guessing your total miles.

3. Multi-App Compatibility

Most gig workers drive for multiple platforms to maximize earnings. Switching between apps can make tracking miles and earnings messy.

• What You Need: A mileage tracker that integrates seamlessly across all your gig platforms.
• How Gridwise Helps: Gridwise syncs with DoorDash, Uber, Instacart, Lyft, and more, consolidating your earnings and mileage in one dashboard. It’s not just the best mileage tracking app—it’s the smartest.

4. Insights to Boost Earnings

Knowing when and where to drive can make or break your shift. Without data, you’re left guessing where the high-paying jobs will be.

• What You Need: A tool that provides real-time updates and recommendations tailored to your gig work.
• How Gridwise Helps: Gridwise offers insights into peak driving times, high-demand areas, airport activity, and even local events. It’s more than a tracker—it’s your guide to driving smarter.

Why Gridwise Is the Best Mileage Tracking App for Delivery Drivers

Here’s how Gridwise compares to other mileage-tracking apps:

FeatureGridwiseSoloQuickBooksEverlanceStrideMileage Tracker✅✅✅✅✅Expense Tracker✅✅✅✅✅Gig Earnings Sync✅✅❌❌❌Airport Reporting✅✅❌❌❌When/Where to Drive✅❌❌❌❌Weather Info✅❌❌❌❌

Gridwise stands out as the best mileage tracking app for DoorDash and other delivery platforms because it’s designed specifically for the gig economy. From tracking to insights, it offers everything you need to drive efficiently and profitably.

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How the Gridwise Mileage Tracker Works

Gridwise makes mileage tracking effortless with two flexible options: Automatic Mileage Tracking Plus and manual entry. Additionally, its mileage categorization feature takes organization to the next level, helping you track and optimize every mile for tax deductions and business insights.

1. Automatic Mileage Tracking Plus

Gridwise’s Automatic Mileage Tracking Plus is perfect for gig drivers who want a hands-free solution to ensure every mile is logged accurately.

• Smart Trip Detection: The app starts tracking as soon as you’re on the move and stops when your trip ends. No need to manually start or stop the tracker.
• Cross-Platform Coverage: Whether driving for DoorDash, Uber, Lyft, or any other platform, Gridwise captures all business-related miles, including trips between gigs.
• Always Running in the Background: The feature works seamlessly without disrupting your workflow, ensuring no miles are left untracked.

How to Enable Automatic Mileage Tracking Plus:

1. Open the Gridwise app and navigate to Settings.
2. Select Mileage Tracking and turn on Automatic Mileage Tracking Plus.
3. Grant location permissions to let the app track your drives accurately.

This tool makes Gridwise the best mileage tracking app for DoorDash and other platforms, helping gig drivers save time and maximize deductions.

2. Manual Mileage Entry

Sometimes, a trip isn’t tracked automatically, or you need to log a particular drive. Gridwise’s manual mileage entry ensures no deductible mile is missed.

• Perfect for Custom Trips: Whether it’s driving for a one-off gig, a meeting, or other business-related errands, manual entry has you covered.
• How to Add Mileage Manually:
  1. Go to the Mileage Log section in the Gridwise app.
  2. Tap Add Mileage and input the trip’s start and end points.
  3. Enter the total miles driven and save the entry.

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This feature ensures complete mileage records, giving you total control over your business mileage.

3. Mileage Categorization for Better Organization

Gridwise doesn’t stop at tracking—it takes organization to the next level with Mileage Categorization. This feature allows gig workers to separate their miles into business and personal categories, making tax filing and performance tracking easier than ever.

• Why Categorization Matters:
  1. Helps you distinguish between personal and business drives.
  2. Ensures you claim only deductible miles, keeping your tax records accurate and audit-ready.
  3. Provides insights into how much of your driving contributes to income.
• How It Works:
  1. After a trip is logged—either automatically or manually—open the Mileage Log.
  2. Assign the trip to a category, such as "business," "personal," or a custom label.
  3. Use the categorized data to generate reports during tax season or analyze your driving patterns.

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Example Use Case:

If you drive to a busy hotspot between shifts or pick up supplies for your gig work, you can categorize those miles as "business." Personal errands, like grocery runs, can be categorized separately to avoid confusion when filing taxes.

This level of organization makes Gridwise more than just a business mileage tracking app—it’s a comprehensive tool for precisely managing your gig driving activity.

By combining Automatic Mileage Tracking Plus, manual mileage entry, and robust Mileage Categorization, Gridwise ensures you stay organized, maximize deductions, and gain insights into your driving. It’s no wonder gig drivers call it the best mileage tracking app for delivery drivers and beyond.

How Gridwise Supports Your Gig Work Beyond Mileage Tracking

Mileage tracking is just the beginning. Gridwise goes the extra mile to help gig workers manage their business:

• Expense Management: Log gas, maintenance, tolls, and parking costs. Snap photos of receipts and store them within the app for easy tax filing.
• Analytics and Insights: Track your earnings by platform, time, and location to see which gigs are most profitable. Optimize your schedule based on real data.
• Real-Time Alerts: Stay ahead of changing conditions with airport activity updates, weather notifications, and local event alerts.

These features make Gridwise more than the best business mileage tracking app—it’s a full-suite solution for gig workers.

Affordable Options for Every Driver

Gridwise offers flexible pricing to suit your needs:

• Basic, our free version Includes mileage tracking, expense logging, and basic analytics.
• Gridwise Plus: At just $14.99/month or $71.99/year, unlock advanced features like multi-platform analytics, peak time recommendations, and enhanced insights.

Start Driving Smarter Today

Gig work can be unpredictable, but with Gridwise, you’ll always have the tools you need to stay ahead. It’s not just the best mileage tracking app for delivery drivers—it’s the ultimate companion for anyone working in the gig economy.

Join thousands of gig workers who rely on Gridwise to simplify their work and maximize their income. Download Gridwise today and see how it transforms the way you drive, earn, and save.

Read on here about how much these gig workers make

• How Much Do Uber Drivers Make?
• How Much Do Lyft Drivers Make?
• How Much Do DoorDash Drivers Make?
• Everything You Need to Know About Amazon Flex
• Walmart Spark Delivery Driver Pay: How Much Does a Walmart Spark Driver Make?
• How Much Can You Make on Instacart?
• How Much Do Shipt Shoppers Make?
• How Much Do Uber Eats Drivers Make?

If you spend even one shift as a rideshare driver, you discover your income is not limited only to what you earn through giving passengers rides. You make more than the Uber and Lyft driver pay by generating tips. 

This past July, an article in USA Today titled Do You Tip Uber and Lyft Drivers? Rideshare Tipping and Compensation Explained recommended that passengers set a tip of $4 to $6 for rideshare. 

However, not every passenger that hops in your car will be a generous tipper. So what can you do to increase tips? Take a few minutes and read on as we reveal some conventional–and unconventional–ways to generate more tips and how to make the most money on Uber and Lyft.

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Tips come from everyone

Anyone involved in a service industry where gratuities are part of the custom can tell you that good tips come from the least expected sources. This is true with rideshare, too. You may transport an attorney across town or take a flight attendant a few miles to the airport, and you find that only the flight attendant tips. You may drive someone home from what appears to be the most menial job, and they leave you a five-dollar tip. It may not always sense, but this is what happens. The moral: Don’t dismiss any passenger as the source of a tip. 

But there is more you can do.

12 ways to increase your rideshare tips 

1.  A clean car goes a long way

According to an article by the U.S. Census Bureau titled America’s Love Affair With (Clean) Cars, “because many see their cars as an extension of their personality, maintaining an image by keeping their cars clean also matters.” Now that more people use rideshare as their main form of transportation, the clean rideshare car becomes an extension of their personality. They’ll tip for it, too. 

Many drive-through car washes offer unlimited drive-through washes for a monthly fee, as low as $20. They take five minutes. Use their vacuums to clean the interior. Don’t forget the windows, too. 

2.  Have a dress code for yourself

You don’t have to wear a button-down and tie (although some drivers do), but some drivers have found success in dressing up a little for the job. One driver in Los Angeles wears a bowtie during the cooler months. It is part of his image, and he says he gets comments all the time—and tips, too. 

3.  Collect good tunes

The best Lyft or Uber driver advice for improving tips is to build a good music playlist. Build an extensive music library with Amazon Music, Spotify, and others. Strive for an eclectic collection. Everyone likes Sinatra, even the younger crowd. Throw in Billie Holiday, Tony Bennet and Lady Gaga duets, jazz, classical guitar, doo-wop. Experiment and see which genre of music works. 

4.  Be a good conversationalist, but know when to be quiet

Talk it up with your passengers. Stay away from politics and sex, but most everything else is fair game. It’s always best to listen more than you talk. There is a certain anonymity to being a rideshare driver. People expect they’ll never see you again, so they feel as if they can tell you anything. Occasionally you get a passenger who doesn’t want to talk. Respect their desire for silence. 

5.  Maintain a supply of goodies

We mean gum, breath mints, and water. If airport pickups are part of your passenger base, know that many folks sleep on the plane. They need to freshen up when they get off. No one wants to show up at a meeting with dragon’s breath. A case of water costs less than five dollars. Make sure every cupholder in your car has a bottle, replenishing as needed. You get extra points for toothpicks. The ones individually wrapped in cellophane are perfect. 

6.  Have a stash of power cords for recharging phones

It is amazing that on just a ten-minute ride, you can get a passenger that wants to charge their phone. You can earn a tip if you can accommodate them. Keep three extra power cords in your car: the USB-C, the iPhone lightning charger, and a micro USB. Keep a few extra hidden away, too. These things tend to grow legs and walk. Make sure they are long enough to reach your back seat unless you are fortunate enough to have a USB charging port back there. 

7.  Have three or four cash apps 

We mentioned this a few blog posts back. Many car dealerships have agreements with Lyft or Uber to take clients home or drive them to the dealership when they get their car serviced. There are also medical insurance companies and others that contract with rideshare companies for patient transportation. Sometimes the customer wants to tip the rideshare driver but can’t because the ride is not on their app and they don’t have any cash. It is worth downloading a few of the more popular cash apps on your phone, such as PayPal, Cash App, Venmo, and others. 

8.  Use icebreakers in group rides 

Have you ever had a Lyft shared ride or an UberX Share, and when the second passenger gets in the car, all conversation screeches to a halt? It’s a psychological thing. Nobody wants to be vulnerable. Well, it’s your car. You run the show. Try playing two truths and a lie. Everyone tells three things about themselves. Two are true, and one is a lie. Everyone else in the car gets to guess which is the lie. It is a lot of fun. One driver reports that the most interesting truth he had in his car was a woman who spoke six languages. Some might work for you. Ironically, people use these group rides to save money but end up tipping you for a great rideshare.

9.  Watch over unaccompanied women

A rideshare driver with daughters made it a habit of watching unaccompanied women passengers get in the door of their house, but he sensed that some of them were uncomfortable with him watching. That's when he made it a point of telling them, “I am going to watch you get in your front door. I want to make sure you’re safe.” The unexpecting and surprising result is that 75% of them tipped.  

10. Return lost cell phones

There isn’t a driver around who has not had a passenger leave one in the car. This happens regularly when you work the bar crowd. Take the phone home and put it on your nightstand. They will most likely call it when they wake up in the morning, preferably a little more sober than the night before. One driver reported adding more than $80 in tips to his previous night’s earnings by returning three lost cell phones. The best part? Two people drove to his house to pick theirs up. The third was willing to meet him that night when he went out to rideshare again. If the owner doesn’t tip you, report it to Lyft or Uber. They automatically ding the passenger $15, which gets credited to your account. 

11. Hand out smiley face stickers

This sounds corny, but it works. Keep a few sheets of smiley face stickers in your glove compartment, center console, or tucked in the sun visor. When a passenger says or does something nice, or if they seem a little down, peel off a sticker and give it to them. Blue collar men in overalls will get out of your car wearing that sticker like a badge of honor, and they’ll tip, too.

12. Learn the second language in your market

Master key phrases or become conversational in the second language you’ve always wanted to learn. Many non English speakers are delighted when they find you took the time to learn how to communicate with them. They reward it, too. Check out Babbel, Duolingo, or any other language learning apps. They have short lessons of 10 to 12 minutes. Perfect for between rides. 

BONUS: Have a snappy response to “I’ll tip you in the app.”

Every rideshare driver knows that 80% of passengers uttering that phrase will never tip. Imagine if all the passengers who say, “I’ll tip you in the app,” actually do. Prepare a snappy response. One driver on Facebook a few years ago had this standard response: “I appreciate that. I use my tip money to buy medicine for the kids.” Another approach is to say, in a joking way, “Oh, wow, you just jinxed it. Four out of five people, when they say, ‘I’ll tip you in the app,’ never do. It’s common knowledge.” Now you’ve challenged them to tip you. Work on your delivery of this one. You’ll see those tips increase.

Hot driver tip - use Gridwise 

Gridwise has many features that help drivers boost their earnings. In addition to having a free Uber and Lyft mileage tracker, Gridwise helps gig driver income with:

• When to Drive and Where to Drive - these features show you profitable neighborhoods and times of day to drive.
• Airport info - use the app to find out when the peak times are for arrivals and departures at the airports in your market.
• Event info - doing rideshare to take people to and from events? Gridwise shows all events in your area and lets you set reminders for when the event is starting and ending.
• Gridwise Gas - Gridwise users save 2¢ per gallon.

Ready to earn more on the road? Use some of these tip boosting recommendations and download Gridwise!

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The holiday season isn’t just a time for giving—it’s also a time for earning, especially for gig workers. As delivery services like FedEx and UPS gear up for the seasonal rush, they offer a prime opportunity to earn more through temporary roles. These positions are perfect for rideshare and delivery drivers seeking to maximize their income during one of the busiest times of the year. Whether you’re looking to add another revenue stream or simply want to capitalize on the high demand, seasonal delivery work offers flexibility, competitive pay, and a chance to finish the year strong.

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Why Consider Seasonal Delivery Jobs?

Seasonal delivery jobs with FedEx and UPS stand out for several reasons. During the holiday months, these companies see a surge in package volumes, which means they’re eager to hire. Here's why it’s a great option for gig workers:

• Higher Pay Rates: Seasonal positions often pay above the standard rate for delivery jobs. Drivers and helpers can earn $20 to $25 per hour or more depending on location and experience.
• Job Flexibility: These roles cater to both part-time and full-time workers, allowing you to choose shifts that suit your lifestyle. Whether you’re free in the mornings, evenings, or weekends, there’s likely a shift that fits.
• Simple Requirements: Many roles only ask for a valid driver’s license and the ability to handle physical work. This makes it easy for new workers or those transitioning from other gigs to get started quickly.
• Steady Demand: Unlike rideshare or food delivery jobs that can experience lulls, delivery roles during the holidays are consistent. Companies guarantee shifts, so you’ll always have work.

Added Bonus: These jobs can provide valuable experience in logistics and supply chain management—skills that can open doors for future opportunities.

FedEx vs. UPS: What to Expect

When it comes to seasonal work, FedEx and UPS are the heavyweights. Both companies are reliable and offer great benefits, but they have some differences that might influence your choice.

FedEx

• Roles Available:
  • Driver Helper: Assist delivery drivers with package drop-offs.
  • Package Handler: Work in the warehouse loading and unloading trucks.
  • Seasonal Driver: Deliver packages using FedEx vehicles.
• Pay Rates: Drivers can earn up to $25/hour. Helpers and handlers typically earn around $15-$20/hour.
• Physical Workload: Expect to walk and lift packages throughout your shift, which can be physically demanding.
• Best Fit For: Those who prefer a dynamic workday and are comfortable with a physical role.

UPS

• Roles Available:
  • Seasonal Driver: Deliver packages independently.
  • Package Handler: Sort packages in the warehouse.
  • Driver Helper: Ride along with drivers to assist with deliveries.
• Pay Rates: Similar to FedEx, with bonuses often included for peak times.
• Unique Perks: UPS tends to offer more full-time seasonal roles, which might appeal to those looking for steady hours.
• Best Fit For: Workers who want long-term opportunities or the potential to convert into permanent positions.

Pro Tip: Both companies often reward workers with bonuses for completing the holiday season without absences or missed shifts.

Maximizing Earnings During the Holidays

While seasonal delivery work pays well, there are ways to boost your income even further. Here’s how:

1. Choose Peak Shifts: Early mornings, evenings, and weekends are when demand (and pay) is highest.
2. Stay Local: Deliver in areas you know well to save time and complete more deliveries per hour. Familiar routes can also reduce stress during busy shifts.
3. Track Bonuses: Companies like UPS and FedEx frequently offer surge pay or bonuses for shifts during critical times, such as Christmas Eve. Sign up for alerts to grab these lucrative opportunities.
4. Combine Jobs: If you’re already driving for platforms like Uber or DoorDash, consider alternating shifts. Use delivery work to fill gaps when rideshare demand slows.
5. Use Efficiency Tools: Apps like Gridwise help you track mileage, optimize routes, and monitor your earnings across all your gigs. This keeps you organized and ensures you’re maximizing your time.

How Gridwise Can Help You Succeed

Seasonal delivery jobs can be fast-paced, and balancing them with other gigs or personal commitments can get tricky. That’s where Gridwise comes in:

• Optimize Your Schedule: Gridwise’s “When to Drive” feature helps you find the most profitable hours for delivery and rideshare work.
• Track Your Earnings: See exactly how much you’re earning from FedEx, UPS, and other platforms. This clarity is essential for identifying your most profitable gigs.
• Mileage Tracking: Seasonal delivery roles require a lot of driving. Gridwise logs your mileage automatically, making tax deductions easy and accurate.
• Expense Management: Beyond mileage, Gridwise lets you track fuel costs, maintenance expenses, and more, giving you a complete picture of your profitability.

Gridwise Plus Bonus: If you want advanced features like weather alerts and real-time market trends, consider upgrading to Gridwise Plus. It’s the ultimate tool for staying ahead of the game.

Gridwise: Your Ultimate Partner for Holiday Success and Year-Round Gig Optimization

The holiday season is a prime opportunity for gig workers to maximize their earnings, and seasonal delivery jobs with FedEx and UPS offer an excellent way to do just that. These positions provide competitive pay, flexible schedules, and steady demand, making them a top choice for gig drivers who want to capitalize on the busiest time of the year. But to truly unlock the full potential of seasonal work, the right tools and resources are essential.

The Gridwise App is the ultimate companion for gig workers. It’s more than just an earnings tracker—it’s a comprehensive tool designed to help you work smarter, not harder. With features like When to Drive, you can pinpoint the most profitable times to be on the road, while earnings tracking helps you keep tabs on income across multiple platforms, including FedEx, UPS, Uber, DoorDash, and more. Gridwise also streamlines expense management with automated mileage tracking, ensuring that you don’t miss out on critical tax deductions.

Additionally, the Gridwise Job Board is a powerful resource for finding new gig opportunities. From seasonal delivery positions to rideshare and food delivery roles, the job board connects you with companies actively hiring in your area. This makes it easy to diversify your income streams and find roles that align with your skills and availability.

By integrating Gridwise into your workflow, you’ll not only optimize your earnings during the holidays but also gain valuable insights to carry into the new year. Whether you’re planning your schedule, tracking your mileage, or searching for your next gig, Gridwise equips you with the tools you need to succeed in the competitive gig economy.

Get ahead this holiday season and beyond—download the Gridwise app and explore the Gridwise Job Board today. Your next big earning opportunity is just a click away!

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Already gig driving? Check out these resources:

• How To Make $1000 A Week With Amazon Flex
•  How To Make $1000 A Week With DoorDash
•  How to make $1000 a week with Uber Eats
•  Increase Your Earnings in 2024! How to Make $1000 per Week With Uber
•  How to make $1000 a week with Instacart
•  How To Make $1000 A Week With Walmart Spark