Deliv Driver: Requirements, Salary, Application Link, and More

Have you been checking out the gig economy for a side hustle?

Or maybe you’re interested in shifting careers to a part-time job?

Then you’ve probably come across rideshare and crowd shipping services that hire independent contractors to perform driving and delivery services for local retailers.

Deliv, an on-demand delivery service based in Menlo Park, California, was a popular option for drivers from 2012 to 2020 because it offered good pay, flexible scheduling, and an easy signup process.

In 2012, the same-day delivery market was still in its fledgling days, so Deliv didn’t have too much trouble breaking into the market.

Unfortunately, Deliv closed for business in 2020.

Still, before that, it had given drivers in nearly 2,000 cities the opportunity to jump into the gig economy.

Keep reading to learn a bit about what Deliv was, and what you could expect as a Deliv driver.

What Was Deliv?

CEO Daphne Carmeli of Menlo Park founded Deliv as a same-day delivery service in 2012.

It was staffed by gig workers who would deliver goods from shopping malls and other local businesses to customers.

It was staffed by private contractors and operated with no physical assets, which made it easy to charge retailers low fees.

In 2017, Deliv expanded its market to 1,400 cities.

In addition, the company partnered with roughly 4,000 retailers to bring same-day service to its customers.

At the time, Deliv’s reach was pretty significant because it rivaled Amazon’s same-day delivery service that Amazon offered to Prime members.  

Customers who used Deliv would do their online shopping as usual.

Then, they could select same-day delivery at checkout for their shipping method.

Deliv would send a driver to pick up the customer’s delivery order and deliver it, usually within just a few hours.

Deliv was a bit different from other crowdshipping services in that it didn’t deliver groceries or food from restaurants.

Instead, drivers would deliver orders from local retailers such as shopping malls and small local businesses.

This gave Deliv a bit of a leg up in a niche market because the big delivery companies at the time didn’t offer same-day services from those types of retailers.

The most significant benefit for drivers was that Deliv didn’t require drivers to transport people, only goods.

That meant drivers didn’t have to deal with passengers who might be rowdy, rude, or demanding.

Where Could You Drive for Deliv?

Delivery services and ridesharing jobs are great options if you’re looking for a part-time job or side hustle.

Deliv was no exception.

It had a large fleet of vetted drivers at the ready to handle all of its customers’ deliveries.

Deliv started out in Menlo Park with a 19-city reach in the Bay Area.

By 2017, it had expanded to nearly 1,400 cities, offering delivery drivers in a large swath of the country.

Just a few of those cities were:

• Austin
• Bay Area
• Boston
• Chicago
• Dallas
• Las Vegas
• New York
• Seattle
• Washington, D.C.

Drivers for Deliv had to schedule themselves with the company so the company could ensure their fleet for each day was big enough.

Although some drivers didn’t really like that rule, it made sure Deliv was fully staffed at any given time.

Unfortunately, once Deliv sold its technology to Target and went out of business, many drivers were stuck looking for new work.

Some were able to sign on with Shipt, Target’s same-day delivery company, while others had options including UberEats, Instacart, and other crowdshipping services to choose from.

How Much Did Deliv Drivers Make?

You’re likely curious how much Deliv drivers made when the company was in business.

Deliv paid its drivers quite well for their services, considering the status quo in the gig economy at the time.

And on top of their regular pay, they would also earn tips.

Rates for Deliv Drivers

Deliv offered its drivers a “Time on Task” rate that they paid by the hour, along with $.50 per mile driven.

The hourly rate ranged from $13-$18, which was standard for this type of service.

However, that hourly rate was subjective and was based on job availability, tips, and distance.

That said, although the Time on Task rate was standard, there was one way Deliv stood out from other delivery services.

The most significant benefit Deliv offered its drivers was that drivers were paid whether they were actively delivering or not.

As long as a delivery driver was scheduled to work and signed into the app, they would get half of the standard hourly pay.

So, on average, even if jobs weren’t available, drivers would still get roughly $6-$9 per hour.

In addition, drivers in large cities with a lot of traffic to navigate would typically earn more than those in more rural areas.

All vehicle-related expenses were tax-deductible.

Did Deliv Drivers Get Tips?

Like other same-day delivery services, Deliv drivers would also earn tips on top of their Time on Task pay.

Tips would bring drivers’ standard hourly rate up quite a bit in some cases.

However, in cases where drivers could only make one delivery per hour or only a few within a shift, the hourly breakdown may not have been that great.

Requirements to Drive for Deliv

Many drivers were eager to sign up for Deliv because it was another gig job to choose from in the world of Uber and Lyft.

Deliv driver and vehicle requirements weren’t terribly strict.

Still, there were a few specific things a delivery driver needed to prove before Deliv would hire them.

Driver Requirements

Independent contractors who wanted to drive for Deliv had to meet the following requirements:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Have a valid driver’s license
• Have at least one year of experience driving
• Pass a background check
• Have a clean driving record
• Be able to lift up to 50 pounds
• Speak fluent English
• Own a smartphone

In addition to the things required to drive and sign-on, a driver’s background needed to meet the following requirements:

• No more than two moving violations and 1 at-fault accident in the prior three years
• No DUI or DWIs in the previous seven years
• No drug-related offenses during the last five years
• No other major driving offenses, such as felonies or driving with a suspended license, within the previous five years

Vehicle Requirements

Deliv was quite specific about the type of vehicles its drivers needed to have to work for the company.

Specifically, the vehicle needed to:

• Be no more than 15 years old
• Have working air conditioning
• Have the state minimum insurance coverage
• Be registered

Deliv didn’t require a particular type of car its drivers used.

However, larger vehicles were preferable because they could haul more deliveries.

Trucks and SUVs would also help a driver load up more deliveries at a time.

What Was the Deliv Application Process Like?

The application process was relatively simple for Deliv.

All you had to do was upload some basic information about you and your vehicle, and you’d be set to go.

Driving and Criminal Record Check

Each driver had to pass a driving and criminal record check.

Drivers needed to be free of past crimes and have a clean driving record to drive for Deliv.

The main thing that was different about Deliv than other companies, such as Postmates or DoorDash, was that Deliv required drivers to pay for their own background checks.

The other companies didn’t.

Information Needed

Deliv required some basic personal information of all applicants for drivers to be considered for the job.

• Full name
• Email address
• Phone number
• Market (where you lived)
• Vehicle type
• Bank account information

Deliv also required drivers to upload their license, registration, and proof of insurance.

How Long Did the Application Process Take?

Once drivers submitted the necessary information, Deliv would notify them relatively quickly to let them know if they’d been hired.

The process was pretty straightforward, so it didn’t take drivers long to get signed up to drive.

How Did Car Insurance Work With Deliv?

To drive for Deliv, drivers had to show proof of auto insurance on their vehicles.

If your policy denied a claim, Deliv’s own policy had the following features:

• Liability up to $1,000,000
• Collision up to $50,000 with a $2,500 deductible. Note: this only applied if you had collision coverage on your own policy.
• The policy went into effect immediately.

Deliv Comparisons

Deliv was similar in many ways to other on-demand delivery services, such as DoorDash or Postmates.

However, there were also some critical differences between them.

One of the main differences between Deliv and other on-demand services was that drivers always received the minimum payment amount, or half of their Time on Task rate, as long as they were signed on to work.

For other companies, drivers would only get paid if they were actively taking deliveries.

However, other companies allow drivers to work whenever they want.

Deliv required drivers to schedule themselves for specific hours.

They couldn’t simply pick up jobs at any time.

Deliv vs DoorDash

DoorDash is an on-demand shipping service that delivers take-out, groceries, and alcohol to customers.

Unlike Deliv, DoorDash doesn’t deliver goods from shopping malls or small retailers.

However, it delivers orders from a variety of convenience stores.

DoorDash is available in more than 4,000 cities and partners with 300,000 restaurants, so there’s no shortage of work for drivers.  

Deliv vs GrubHub

Similar to DoorDash, GrubHub‘s primary focus is on food delivery from restaurants and convenience stores.

As of 2022, they serve 3,200 cities and partner with 300,000 restaurants.

Compared to Deliv’s partnerships and reach, GrubHub’s footprint is massive.

That means more drivers can pick up far more jobs and potentially be pickier about which ones they take.

However, GrubHub doesn’t do deliveries from retail stores or malls.

Deliv vs Postmates

There were two significant differences between Deliv and Postmates, which is another grocery delivery service.

First, Postmates covers the cost of its drivers’ background checks.

Conversely, Deliv required drivers to pay for their background check out of pocket.

Second, with Postmates, drivers don’t have to schedule themselves for delivery.

Instead, they simply take the jobs when they’re available.

Deliv vs Instacart

Instacart is a grocery delivery app that delivers food and other items to customers from a wide range of stores.

Although Instacart’s primary market is groceries, you can also order from various retailers, including Michael’s, Dollar Tree, and Five Below, among others.

How to Apply to be a Deliv Driver

Deliv had a pretty simple application process.

First, the driver would fill out the online application and select their service area.

In the company’s early years, only people in the Bay Area could work for Deliv.

The company’s market expanded significantly in the following years, though, which opened up opportunities for more drivers.

Once you filled out the application, you would’ve been prompted to upload the necessary documents, including a valid license, current registration, and proof of insurance.

The next step was to sign the TOS to acknowledge that you understood what Deliv required of its drivers.

You’d also need to complete a driver profile.

Finally, you’d complete the certification process and quiz, then submit your background check and wait for it to clear.

Once hired, you’d download the app and start picking up jobs.

Deliv Driver FAQs

Still curious how things worked for Deliv drivers when the company was up and running?

Here are a few common questions.

Final Thoughts

Getting a job in the gig economy is a quick, simple process that can be incredibly rewarding.

Not only is delivering for a crowd shipping company fun, but it can also be very lucrative if you hustle and stay on your toes.

Although Deliv isn’t in business any longer, there are still plenty of companies you can sign up to work for, so why not give them a shot?