A busy restaurant pickup can turn a short delivery into a long wait, while a quiet stretch may send you across town between orders. The amount displayed for a shift is only part of the picture; the time and costs around each delivery matter too.
Track the whole shift
For several shifts, record the time you start and finish, the distance driven, and the amount received. Include time spent waiting for orders and returning to an area where you can work, not only the minutes between pickup and drop-off.
Then account for fuel, vehicle maintenance, parking or tolls where relevant, and any platform charges that apply. These costs vary by vehicle, route, and location, so your own records are more useful than someone else’s headline estimate.
Check the practical details
Before signing up, review the platform’s current requirements, payment terms, and how it handles cancellations or delivery problems. Also check how your vehicle insurance applies to paid delivery driving; personal policies may treat work use differently.
Gig income may have tax obligations, so keep records of earnings and eligible expenses and consult current IRS guidance or a qualified tax professional for your situation. Once you have tracked a few shifts, compare what remains after costs with the hours you gave it—and decide based on that, not on the busiest shift of the month.