One of the ways the world changed during the pandemic was how the population gets their food. When quarantine orders took over, many people found it hard to get into restaurants or grocery stores to get their essentials and meals.
Food delivery services kicked into overdrive. Everything from Uber Eats to Instacart, and different grocery apps became an enormous part of our lives. And while it was convenient and safe for the people buying, it wasn’t so easy for those behind the wheel. There was a huge influx in the number of people who decided to be a delivery driver. It can be a rewarding, but incredibly stressful job.
There are a number of things you need to worry about every day that you drive to deliver products of any kind. If you have to come up to the person’s house and they answer the door, there is a risk of getting sick. If you get into an accident without having food delivery insurance coverage, that’s going to create a financial mess.
We’ll talk about some of the best ways to help prevent the dangers that delivery drivers come into contact with.
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#1 – Protecting Yourself From Getting Into Car Accidents
Driving for a living is a dangerous proposition. The more you are on the road, the higher the chance that you get into a car accident. This means that there are several steps you need to take to make sure that you are as safe as possible when delivering food all day.
Even if you drive your personal vehicle for deliveries, your personal insurance coverage might not cover accidents that happen. You should get commercial insurance coverage to protect yourself in case of an accident that happens on the job. There are many ways to make sure that the commercial coverage is fairly cheap.
One of the ways you can get better coverage is by driving less. If at all possible, make your delivery job a part-time job rather than full-time. This means you aren’t on the road nearly as often, and you are less likely to get into a wreck.
If you do have to work full-time as a delivery driver, there are still ways to get discounts. Try to drive a vehicle that has technological innovations that keep you safe. Items like parking assist, lane correction, and all the requisite seatbelts and airbags.
Newer cars are more likely to have these features than older ones. You should also be motivated to get a newer vehicle as a delivery driver because they are more reliable than older ones. You aren’t as likely to break down or need repairs, which will help you perform your job better.
#2 – Ask Someone to Come With You
This is something that not everyone will have the ability to do. When you are a new delivery driver, see if you have someone in your life who is willing to ride along with you once in a while.
They might be able to help you see things on the road that you can’t see during a long, grueling day. As you get more adjusted to the rigors of driving that often, you won’t have to worry about asking someone to come with you.
If you are driving for a company, let’s say a grocery store, ask your coworkers for their best tips on getting used to delivery driving. They may just have some good advice that can only be understood once you have first-hand experience.
#3 – Use COVID-19 Safety Items
One of the most dangerous parts of delivery driving in the past couple of years has been the increased risk of catching COVID-19. Drivers interact with tons of customers when they drop off the goods at someone’s door. Those customers are usually not going to be wearing a mask because they are in their house.
This makes it even more important for drivers to increase their use of COVID-19 safety. Wear N-95 masks, get all of your vaccines, and stay six feet away from customers if possible. Get tested immediately for COVID-19 if you feel any of the symptoms.
Go on the CDC website to get even more tips and advice on virus protection. They have articles focused on people who are in professions that are at high risk of catching the virus.
#4 – Prepare for Weather
One of the most stressful parts about having a job where you drive all the time is inclement weather. You need to be prepared for all different types of seasonal elements, and not just the snow in the winter. Rain can also be an issue.
Think about using a four-wheel-drive vehicle if you know you are going to be delivering in a rough winter. If you live in an area with a lot of snow, this is easier to prepare for. If you are in a place that doesn’t have that much winter weather, you should still have chains to put on your tires just in case.
Never drive if you don’t feel safe in the weather. Don’t deliver in a blizzard if you fear for your life. No job is worth that kind of risk.
#5 – Don’t Engage in Road Rage
Being on the road a lot is going to present more challenges with road rage than you normally would have. People are going to do things that make you angry over the day. When you have been driving for hours, your temper might flair even more at the slightest inconvenience.
Staying calm is a great way to make sure that you don’t get into any accidents. Fewer accidents also save money on car insurance. If you think you are having trouble with road rage, try talking to a therapist about your anger issues.
Maybe you can take a defensive driving school course. These classes also give tips on how to handle things on the road that would normally lead to rage.
Hopefully, you can see that there is a lot to juggle if you decide to be a delivery driver. It isn’t a job that everyone can handle, but it is certainly a modern career choice. Almost everyone has used a food delivery service in the last couple of years.
There is a lot of money to be made by driving for one of them. Just make sure that you make good decisions when spending so much time on the road.
Shawn Laib writes and researches for the auto insurance site, AutoInsurance.org. He wants to help people understand how good driving skills can open up new career opportunities, such as being a delivery driver.
