So you’re ready to hit the road as a new Postmates driver but there’s one last thing you have questions about — the driver background check.
You may be thinking, “What is Postmates looking for and am I eligible to drive?”
We’re here to help you answer some of those questions.
Postmates is like an all-in-one on-demand delivery service for nearly anything a customer needs.
In a way, it’s like a combination of DoorDash and Instacart that will deliver customer’s groceries, takeout orders from restaurants, alcohol, and any other store supplies.
If you want to become a Postmates courier, you’ll need to pass a background check.
Since this is a mandatory requirement, we want to give you everything you’ll need to know to pass your screening with flying colors and get on the road.
In this article, we’ll go over why Postmates requires a background check, how the background check works, and what Postmates is looking for throughout the process.
Let’s get started.
Why Does Postmates Require a Background Check?
Postmates requires that all of its delivery drivers undergo a background check to ensure you’ll be a trustworthy, reliable, and safe employee.
By conducting background checks on the entire Postmates fleet, Postmates can be sure that their drivers meet certain criteria and will be trusted on the road.
This is common amongst food and package delivery companies.
Competitors like Grubhub also background check their drivers, as does rideshare service Uber, and even care platform Care.com.
The process is just like a typical employment background check, and looks for issues on your driving record and criminal history.
Safety
For starters, as a Postmates courier, you become the face of the company and will be interacting with Postmates customers daily.
One of Postmates top priorities is that its customers and couriers are safe.
By requiring all couriers to undergo a background check, customers can be assured that they’ll have a safe and comfortable experience.
Liability
Also, there’s a good chance that you’ll be operating a motor vehicle to make Postmates deliveries, as you would with most delivery jobs.
That brings forth a lot of liability for Postmates since you’re driving on their behalf.
Not only do they want to do their due diligence, but they also want to make sure other motorists and pedestrians on the road are safe.
Prepaid Credit Card
Lastly, when you become a Postmates worker, you’ll be given a prepaid Postmates card (PEX card) that you’ll use to purchase order items.
Since they are putting a prepaid card in your hand, they must be able to trust that you won’t use it in an irresponsible way.
They aren’t going to just hand out credit cards to those who have a lengthy criminal history.
How Does the Postmates Background Check Work?
When you go through the courier application process, you’ll be subject to a series of Postmates requirements.
This includes a criminal background check and, if you’re planning on driving, a DMV driving record check.
The Postmates background checks are conducted by a third-party company called Checkr.
For more information on the screening process, you can head to Checkr.com for more details.
So what information do you need to provide to get started?
What Information Do You Need to Provide?
To begin the background check process, you’ll need to provide Postmates with some personal information for identification purposes.
The required personal information you need to provide includes the following:
- Date of birth
- Social Security number
- Driver’s license (if you’re planning on driving)
After you provide this information, you’ll need to consent to the background check.
So what is Postmates looking for?
What Is the Background Check Looking For?
The Postmates background check weeds out those who have a blemished criminal history or spotty driving records.
If you have a clean criminal and driving record, you should have nothing to worry about.
It’s important to note that Postmates reserves the right to refuse anyone employment based on the results of the background check.
It’s completely up to their discretion as to which offenses they deem unacceptable and can disqualify you from consideration at their own will.
If you’re a little unsure about a minor offense or a few unpaid parking tickets, then let’s go over exactly what Postmates is looking for and what will disqualify you from employment.
Criminal Background Check
The criminal background check will browse through national and county-level databases and records looking for serious convictions.
Serious infractions will immediately disqualify you from working with Postmates.
A few examples of charges that will get you barred include the following:
- Violent crimes
- Sexual offenses
- Felonies
- Drug-related convictions
Again, if Postmates sees something they consider a red flag, they are able to disqualify you from contention.
Now, what about the motor vehicle record check?
Motor Vehicle Record Check
The DMV driving record check is used to make sure Postmates is hiring responsible and safe drivers.
Postmates inherits a great deal of liability with you behind the wheel, so they want to make sure they aren’t working with unsafe drivers.
While a minor infraction isn’t a deal breaker, there are some convictions that will immediately disqualify you from employment.
Here are a few serious driving infractions that will count against you in regards to your driving history:
- DUI
- Reckless driving
- Hit and run
- Accidents
- Suspensions or revocations
- Drug-related infractions
If for any reason Postmates discovers that you’ve been charged with any of these infractions even after you pass your background check, it still reserves the right to discontinue your employment.
How Long Does the Background Check Take?
While Postmates does not give an exact estimate as to how long the background check will take, typically you’ll need to wait one to two days to get your results back.
To check the status of your background check, you can download the Fleet app — which works for iPhone or Android — and check the status of your application.
If your background check is still not completed, you’ll see a message that says “Background check pending.”
Keep checking your Postmates app until you see that your background check has been processed and is approved.
If it is a week or more and you’re still not approved, then reach out to contact Postmates support to find out what the holdup is.
Can You Dispute the Results?
Yes, you can dispute the results, but only if you think there was a mistake made.
If you feel that you were disqualified from employment due to an error in the background check results, then by all means reach out.
But on the other hand, if you’re disputing a conviction you may not have the best of luck.
Again, Postmates has the right to refuse employment for anything they see unfit.
What Are the Other Requirements to Become a Postmates Driver?
Besides passing a background check, there are a few more Postmates driver requirements.
In order to deliver for Postmates, you must be at least 18 years of age.
This is good news for those younger drivers who are unable to drive for competitors, like Uber, Lyft, and Uber Eats.
In regards to vehicle requirements, Postmates is quite relaxed.
In fact, in some cities you don’t even need to own a vehicle to make deliveries.
In more dense cities you’re able to deliver orders on foot.
If you do decide to use a vehicle, the vehicle requirements are pretty much non-existent.
You simply need to be able to get from one place to the next.
There isn’t even an inspection needed, however, you do need to be legally licensed, registered, and insured.
Get Screened and Get on the Road
Overall, if you have a relatively clean background, you shouldn’t need to worry too much about the background check.
Postmates is really just trying to weed out those who have serious convictions or have a rocky criminal history.
At the end of the day, Postmates wants to make sure that everyone — including customers and drivers — have a safe and positive experience.
If that means having to be screened for employment, then so be it.
