A few years ago if you heard that you could land a job where you schedule your own hours, be your own boss, and make between $10 and $15 an hour, you would have thought it was crazy.
But now, with the recent rise of on-demand services like Lyft, Uber Eats, and Postmates, it has never been easier for people to secure flexible employment opportunities. Jobs that did not exist several years ago are now readily available for people to make extra money on the side or even as a full-time job.
Take, for instance, Postmates, an on demand food delivery service that will deliver nearly anything directly to your doorstep.
Let’s look more closely at the opportunities this service offers, and how to take advantage of them: how exactly does Postmates work and what are the requirements of becoming a driver?
What Is Postmates and How Does It Work?
Postmates will deliver food, drinks, or groceries from any store or restaurant directly to your front door.
When a user submits an order through the app, the driver heads to the appropriate location and purchases the order with a Postmates credit card. The driver takes a picture of the receipt within the app to record the purchase.
The item is then delivered to the customer’s location using directions from the app. It’s as easy as that!
The great part about being employed by Postmates is that you can set your own hours, work as long as you would like, and enjoy more flexible employee requirements than services like Uber and Lyft.
We’ll show you what we’re talking about.
Postmates Driver Requirements
In many ways, the requirements for becoming a Postmates delivery driver mirror those of services like Uber and Lyft. However, there are a few exceptions that open doors to many people who may be interested in becoming a Postmates driver.
The requirements for the Postmates application process are as follows.
Driver’s Age
Drivers only need to be 18 years old to be employed by Postmates. This is a definite plus for younger college students who need some extra cash for their weekend festivities. Platforms like Uber, Lyft, and Uber Eats all require drivers to be at least 21 years of age.
Criminal Background Check
Background checks are administered by a third party and cover national and county-level databases and records. To complete the check, you will need to provide your social security number. Postmates reserves the right to refuse employment if you have any of the following on your record:
- Violent crimes
- Felonies
- Sexual offenses
- Drug-related convictions
DMV Background Check
If you are choosing to deliver orders using a vehicle or a motorcycle, you will be subject to a DMV driving record check. This requires a driver’s license and valid insurance.
As long as you have solid driving experience and don’t have many traffic violations or serious convictions like a DUI or hit-and-run, you shouldn’t have anything to worry about.
But again, Postmates reserves the right to refuse employment if you have a driving history they are not comfortable with.
Vehicle Requirements
This is one of the great things about being a Postmates “driver.” You technically don’t even need to own a vehicle to carry out your duties.
If you don’t own a car or motorcycle there are other options that are available to you. This includes delivering orders on your bike, scooter, or even by foot in some cases.
If you do decide to deliver orders using your car or motorcycle, there are nearly zero requirements for your vehicle. The standards your vehicle must meet are that it needs to be in driving condition and have valid insurance.
This is quite the opposite from other delivery companies that require thorough mechanic inspections, vehicle age requirements, and high cosmetic standards. With Postmates, there’s need for you to worry about all of these headaches.
Other Requirements
Last but not least, you are not permitted to use drugs or alcohol while on the job. You must also not have been previously banned from the platform. Both seem quite obvious and straightforward.
Getting Set up as a Postmates Driver
So you’re sold on becoming a Postmates courier. Let’s walk you through the entire application process.
1. Create an Account on the Website and Complete Your Profile
The required information is quite basic at the beginning: name, photo, date of birth, phone number, type of mobile device (iPhone or Android), the region you will be driving in, and your vehicle type.
You will also need to put in your address. Make sure this is right, because a welcome kit with important Postmates on-boarding information will be sent to your home.
2. Complete the Fleet Agreement
The Fleet Agreement is all the legal jargon that you should look over before deciding to drive for Postmates. Take a few minutes to read the terms and conditions so you are aware of exactly what you are signing.
3. Pass a Background Check
You must authorize the completion of the criminal and DMV background check. This is the point where you provide your Social Security number. The results should take about 3–10 days to be delivered, so be patient.
4. Set up Direct Deposit and Activate Your Postmates Credit Card
Login to your driver dashboard and make sure your direct deposit is set up. This makes it quick and easy to get paid after you start knocking out deliveries left and right.
Also you will receive your very own Postmates credit card in the welcome kit that was sent to your home. Once you activate this card you will use it to purchase items that your deliveries require.
5. Download the Postmates App and Start Making Deliveries
Last but not least, download the Fleet app and get started. There are many delivery requests out there waiting for you to take. You might as well start making a little extra money as soon as possible.
Should I Become a Postmates Driver?
Before you decide about delivering for Postmates, you need to figure out if working in the gig economy is right for you. It may seem like you can just sign up and make $10 to $15 an hour or more right off the bat.
This is definitely attainable for new drivers, however, it’s not always the case. And while it’s true that you can make your own schedule, work as many hours as you’d like, and be your own boss, all of those things come with caveats.
It is important to understand how much work it takes to yield the desired income you are happy with. If you want to make a lot of money, you need to realize that it will be a full-time job that requires a great deal of time and energy, just like any other job.
A great deal of self discipline is also required to force yourself to get out of bed, get off the couch, or say no to those social plans on Friday night in order to put in some hours delivering orders.
As long as you set your expectations beforehand, you should be happy with your results.
Your Next Gig Awaits You
So what do you think? Does it sound like you’d enjoy being a delivery driver for Postmates?
With low barriers of entry, this opportunity may be a great starting point for those looking to get their feet wet in a gig-based job.
We hope this guide helped you better understand what is needed to be a Postmates driver and if it is a right fit for you. Good luck!
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