How Much Does a Takeaway Delivery Driver Make? - How Much Does a Takeaway Delivery Driver Make

How Much Does a Takeaway Delivery Driver Make?

If you’re considering becoming a takeaway food delivery driver, then you’re probably wondering how much money you can actually make.

What does it take to become a well-paid delivery driver? How much does a takeaway food delivery driver get paid on average? What are the usual hours? And what kind of tips can you expect?

In this blog post, we will answer these questions as well as weigh up some of the pros and cons to see if becoming a delivery driver is the right choice for you.

What Does it Take to Become a Takeaway Delivery Driver?

As a food delivery driver, you are responsible for picking up and delivering orders from various restaurants for customers in your local area. This may vary if you are self-employed, but in most cases, in order to become a delivery driver, you must have access to your own car, a valid driver’s license, and be at least 18 years of age. You must also complete a driving record check and pass a background check.

how much delivery driver earningsBeing a courier is a customer-facing role and working as a delivery driver means that you are the face of the restaurants you are delivering from. Therefore, there are a few key things you need to do in order to provide great service and ensure customer satisfaction when you deliver food. First, you must be on time for every delivery. This means being available when the customer orders their food and arriving within the allotted time frame. If there are any issues, for example, with traffic or unforeseen circumstances, it is important that you communicate this via a call or the food delivery app they have ordered from to ensure customers are not kept waiting unnecessarily. The more efficient you are with your delivery, the more you can do and the more money you will earn!

The Average Salary of a Takeaway Delivery Driver

The average salary for a food delivery driver in the United Kingdom tends to be slightly above the national minimum wage. It varies depending on your employment status (if you are self-employed), the type of delivery service, the geographical location, and the level of delivery driving experience you may have. In general, however, many drivers earn an hourly minimum wage plus overtime pay, you may even receive tips!

earn more deliveringA Just Eat driver, for example, will be paid on an hourly basis so you can earn up to £10.20 per hour no matter how many deliveries you make. On the other hand, Deliveroo bases its pay on the number of deliveries made and distance travelled meaning you can earn anything from £2 to £20 per hour. Tips can also account for a significant portion of a driver’s income and typically, drivers get to keep all tips made from their deliveries.

How to Maximise Your Earnings as a Food Delivery Driver

There are a few things that you can do to maximise your earnings as a delivery driver. It is good to keep in mind when accepting jobs that sometimes restaurants with higher delivery fees pay more but the best tip to ensure increased earnings is to stick to deliveries in busy areas, like city centres or near university campuses, and avoid delivering during slow times. Often, the more shifts you take on and the more deliveries you carry out, the more you will be paid. Especially during seasonal periods as holiday pay can be great! Try to also keep your delivery times as short as possible too so you can cover more deliveries per hour during each shift!

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To encourage customers to tip you a little extra money on top of your pay, remember to be courteous and helpful. Do your best to answer any queries they have and deal with any issues as swiftly and politely as possible. You need to be respectful when interacting with customers. This includes being courteous, understanding, and patient, even if the customer is not. A smile can go a long way in this industry!

Tips for New Drivers

If you thinking of applying to become a takeaway food delivery driver or you are new to your role as a courier, here are a few tips to help you at the start of your journey:

1. Be familiar with the area you will be driving in.

This will make it easier to find your way around and avoid getting lost. By knowing the general areas in which you will be delivering as well as alternate routes to your destinations, you can ensure more timely deliveries and less time stuck in traffic jams.

2. Plan your route ahead of time.

This will help you avoid making unnecessary detours and save time. Taking advantage of (legal) shortcuts and being efficient means you may have time to take on extra deliveries which can mean extra cash!

3. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.

It’s important to be aware of traffic and pedestrians when driving in busy areas. Driving for a living means you must be responsible on the roads. Follow the speed limit and obey all traffic laws. This will not only help keep you safe on the road and avoid driving tickets or fines but will help maintain a good brand reputation for the company you deliver for.

Pros and Cons of Working as a Food Delivery Driver

food delivery earningsSo now you know a bit more about how much delivery drivers make, is this the role for you? As with any job, there are pros and cons. Here are some key benefits along with some things you may want to consider:

Pros

  • You can set your own schedule and fit work around any existing commitments
  • You can work as much or as little as you want
  • You can choose your own routes (perfect if you love to drive!)
  • You have greater independence than with many other jobs

Cons

  • Customers can sometimes be difficult to deal with
  • It can be difficult to get additional hours during the least busy periods of the year
  • The work is often very demanding both physically and mentally
  • It can be stressful to be responsible for delivering packages on time

Wrap Up

Delivery drivers are an integral part of the takeaway food business and becoming a courier can be a highly rewarding job.

We hope this blog has provided you with some key insight into how much food delivery drivers can make and has inspired you to get involved in this thriving and innovative industry.

For more info, check out some other related blogs on how to get a job as a delivery driver and whether a delivery driver job is worth it!

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