Gas prices are on the rise, and it's costing more than ever to fill up your tank. Between the cost of gas and car maintenance, it can be tough to make ends meet.
If you're looking for a side hustle to offset some of those costs, Roadie could be the perfect opportunity for you. Roadie is an app that can help you get paid to drive your car on trips that you're already making anyway!
So how does Roadie work, exactly? And how can you earn money in exchange for delivering packages?
In this article, we'll take a look at how Roadie works and how you can make money by driving and delivering packages using the app.
We know how car expenses can hurt your budget, especially unexpected breakdowns. So, we looked at Roadie and whether it's a good option to earn money when you have a vehicle.
We also checked the official Roadie sources, and reviewed feedback from real Rodie drivers through independent sites.
So whether you're looking for a side hustle or just want to offset the cost of driving, read on to know the best thing we found about making money with Roadie and the crucial factors that could make Roadie not ideal for you.
What is the Roadie app?
If you're looking for a driving side hustle that is a little bit different from food delivery or chauffeuring people around, then Roadie may be the perfect option for you.
Roadie is a peer-to-peer delivery platform that connects drivers with packages that need to be delivered locally.
The company was founded in 2014, but it has recently been acquired by UPS. This shows the potential of this service and what it could mean for earning income.
How does Roadie work?
Unlike Uber, where you drive around people like a personal taxi driver using your car, or DoorDash and Uber Eats, where you get paid to deliver food, Roadie is more like a courier service for packages.
You can earn extra money by picking up and dropping off packages that need to be delivered locally.
The main idea is that you can pick up deliveries on your way to your destination and earn extra. This could include anything from furniture, pets, groceries, personal items, etc.
If you have some free time during your commute or if you're going on a road trip anyway, this could be a flexible side hustle to offset some of your gas and car costs.
As with any other driving gig, there are a few requirements that you'll need to meet before you can start driving for Roadie.
Roadie driver requirements:
- You must be 18 years old.
- You must submit your Social Security Number.
- You must have a valid U.S. driver’s license.
- You must have a car with auto insurance as per your state's requirements.
- You must maintain a minimum 4-star rating in the Roadie community, based on feedback from senders on every Gig.
Roadie app driver sign up process:
You can sign up on drive.roadie.com/signup or download the Roadie app and follow the sign-up instructions. There’s a new application process that includes an online application, background verification, and a walkthrough of the app.
This sign-up process will only take a few minutes and it’s possible to start getting driving gigs on the same day.
Does Roadie run a background check?
Yes, Roadie runs a background check which is part of the sign-up process. This is the reason why you’re required to upload a photo of your driver's license and provide your Social Security Number.
How to find and offer for gigs + complete the delivery
After you’re verified and you’ve downloaded the app, you can start using Roadie.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to find, offer, and complete gigs with Roadie.
Step 1: Before going on a trip, open the app to see if there are available gigs on the map or around the area.
It’s advisable to do these a few minutes before going on your trip as the app uses your current location to match you with available gigs.
It might also take a few minutes before getting notified of available gigs after you've opened the app.
If there are no available gigs, you can put your destination into the app and it will notify you when there are matching packages going your way.
Step 2: If there are available gigs, click on them to see where the package needs to be picked up and delivered.
Once you click on a gig, you’ll see additional details like when the package needs to be delivered, the size of the package, and how much is the payment, etc.
Step 3: Make an offer on the gig you're interested in and wait for the notification if accepted. If there are multiple gigs, these can be also bundled so you can make multiple deliveries when possible.
Step 4: After receiving the notification, proceed to the pick-up location to get the package. Take a photo of the package before leaving the pick-up location so that you can confirm the condition of the package to the sender. Take a photo in good lighting and make sure the full item or package is visible.
Step 5: Tap COMPLETE PICKUP to begin the delivery.
Step 6: Once you get to your destination, tap I'M AT THE DELIVERY LOCATION to let the receiver know that you’ve arrived.
Step 7: If signature of the recipient is required, tap COLLECT SIGNATURE and ask the recipient to sign. Tap SUBMIT to complete signature confirmation.
Step 8: Tap ADD PHOTO and take a photo of the recipient with the item. The photo should show the address or recipient as well as the package.
Step 9: Tap COMPLETE DELIVERY to complete your gig.
Where does Roadie deliver?
Roadie is available in 50 states so you can become a Roadie driver wherever in the U.S.
However, depending on the state where you live, the number of available gigs and the amount you can earn may vary.
Does Roadie pay you well?
When looking to earn extra cash, one of the commonly asked questions is how much is the earning potential. You’re probably wondering if Roadie pays well as a delivery app and if it’s a good side hustle.
How much can you earn with Roadie?
A Roadie driver salary is not fixed as drivers are paid per gig. You’re not paid per hour or per mile, rather, you’re paid per successful delivery. So the amount you can earn depends on how many gigs you accept.
According to the Roadie website, Roadie drivers can make an average of $13 per local trip and up to $650 on long trips. You can also get tips, which you can keep 100%.
With Roadie, you’ll be able to see upfront the payment details of each gig so you can choose whether to accept it or not. This gives you the flexibility only to work on delivery gigs that are worth your time (and gas!)
How do Roadie drivers get paid?
As a Roadie driver, you can get paid through these two methods:
1. Weekly Direct Deposit
You’ll be automatically signed up to this payment method once you provide your bank account. Payment is processed every Tuesday and will reflect on your bank account within 1 to 3 days. This payment method is free of charge.
2. Instant Pay
After 7 days from your first gig and after completing five gigs, you can sign up for the Instant Pay option which allows you to get paid right away.
The fee is $1.99 per transaction and a limit of 10 cashouts a day or $5,000, whichever comes first. You can only cash out $2,000 at a time, and your bank must support this feature.
How long does it take to get paid from Roadie?
You can get your payment weekly which is processed every Tuesday. As it takes one to three days, expect the cash to be in your bank account before Friday of every week. If you need the cash instantly, you can set up Instant Pay once you're eligible.
Does Roadie give you a gas allowance?
Unfortunately, Roadie doesn’t pay for gas. You have to shoulder the cost of your own gas as you’ll be using your own car to make the deliveries. If you’re not going on a trip or the delivery is not on your usual route, you need to calculate whether the gig is worth your time and effort.
Do Roadie drivers get tips from customers?
Yes, customers also give tips to Roadie drivers, and you get to keep them 100%. When you click on a gig, the gig will indicate whether the rate already includes the tip or not.
Making sure that you deliver the package on time and in good condition can help you get a good rating which leads to more tips.
What are the pros of using Roadie?
If you’re considering using the Roadie app, here are some of the good points you should know:
- You have flexibility in choosing available gigs. You don't have to take any gig; rather, you can just review the details and choose ones that fit your schedule and route.
- You can earn money while going on your usual route.
- Dealing with packages can be less demanding than driving people or delivering hot food that may go stale.
- You can keep 100% of all the tips that you earned.
What are the cons of using Roadie?
As with other apps, there are some downsides or factors that could be improved when driving with Roadie.
- There's no guaranteed hourly rate or salary. You’ll only get paid for successful deliveries, which means that if you don't close gigs, you'll also not have any earnings.
- According to some Roadie reviews, there are areas or periods where there are no gigs available or you don't get accepted for gigs you have offered for even if already at the pick-up location.
- Some gigs are not worth the time and effort especially if you're going out of your way to do deliveries.
- Gas costs are very high so going on long trips specifically to deliver a Roadie gig might not be worth it.
Is Roadie Legit?
Yes, Roadie is a legit app. They have been around for quite some time now and have partnered with big retailers, such as Delta Air Lines, Walmart, The Home Depot, and Best Buy, to give drivers opportunities to deliver packages.
It has also been recently acquired by UPS, which is one of the biggest logistics companies in the world. This only shows that Roadie is indeed a legit side hustle opportunity for car owners.
How to make more money as a Roadie Driver
If you’re interested in some techniques on how to maximize your Roadie earnings, check out our tips below:
1. Take multiple gigs in one trip. For example, if you offer for a gig at Best Buy and are accepted, tap on ARRIVE but don't mark the item as picked up. You can then offer for more Best Buy gigs so you can make your trip worthwhile.
2. Offer for gigs when already doing your own shopping or trips. For example, if you have a long drive home from your office to your house, check if there are gigs available nearby or in the nearest partner retailers before driving home to offset your gas costs.
3. Keep a good rating by being punctual, delivering on time, and treating your customer's package carefully. If you have a 5-star rating, you might enjoy getting more gigs in the future.
Are there other apps like Roadie to make money?
Yes. One surefire way to maximize your earnings when doing driving gigs is to use multiple apps at once, also known as multi-apping.
This means using several apps to find gigs near you so you can stack them up and finish them all in one go while still getting paid for each individual gig.
If you want to explore other driving apps like Roadie, here are some other companies that might have gigs available in your area:
Summary: Is being a Roadie driver worth it?
Overall, Roadie is a worthwhile side hustle if you’re going on long drives and trips anyway. Since the app was primarily designed as an “on-the-way” app, it can only be worth your time and effort if you’re already making the trip with or without the Roadie gig.
For instance, if you’re driving your parents to the airport, why not check if a Roadie gig is available so you can make extra while driving back home? However, if you’re planning to use Roadie as your sole source of income, you might find that the gas and car maintenance costs could outweigh your profit.
Aidan has been writing about personal finance for over 6 years. Prior to this, he worked as a Corporate Finance Analyst where he specialized in Due Diligence, Company Valuations and more. He is a CFA charterholder.
