GoPuff is one of the fastest-growing delivery services in the United States.
Founded in 2013 by Yakir Gola and Rafael Ilishayev, it’s grown from a Philadelphia-based service to one available in more than a thousand cities.
But if you’re looking to join the growing fleet of GoPuff drivers, you’ll want to know how the GoPuff driver app works before signing up.
This guide will explore everything you need to know about goDrive, the driver’s GoPuff app.
Table Of Contents
What Is the GoPuff Driver App?
The GoPuff driver app is called goDrive.
This app allows GoPuff delivery drivers to access scheduling services, pick up orders, confirm ID, and communicate with customers.
What Items Do GoPuff Drivers Deliver?
GoPuff drivers deliver various items, including snacks, beverages, household goods, alcohol, and fresh-cooked foods.
Generally, all items available via GoPuff are separated into the following categories:
- Fresh food
- Alcohol
- Snacks
- Drinks
- Ice cream
- Grocery
- Bath and beauty
- Quick meals
- Health
- Home and office
- Baby
- Pets
- Cleaning
Everyday essentials available via the GoPuff app come from local GoPuff fulfillment centers.
Consequently, customers cannot order food items from local grocery stores or restaurants via the GoPuff app.
How Does the GoPuff Driver App Work?
The GoPuff driver app (goDrive) is available for both Apple iOS and Android phones.
However, you’ll need to visit the Apple App Store or Google Play app store to download the app.
Once the app has finished downloading, you’ll need to open it to access the sign-up prompts and become a GoPuff driver.
Registering as a GoPuff driver is a multi-step process, so knowing what to expect can save you time and keep you from feeling frustrated.
Signing Up as a Driver
The first time you open the goDrive app, you’ll be prompted to complete a quick questionnaire to determine your eligibility.
Generally, applicants will need to meet the following requirements to become GoPuff drivers:
- Be 21 years old or older
- Have a valid U.S. driver’s license
- Have valid vehicle registration and an active automobile insurance policy
- Have a smartphone with a cellular plan
Some applicants may also need to complete an alcohol delivery training course before gaining access to the scheduling and delivery capabilities within the goDrive app.
After submitting the answers to the questionnaire, you’ll need to provide personal information, including your driver’s license information and vehicle registration number.
You’ll also need to submit a W9 for independent contractors and agree to a background check.
Once you’ve submitted this information, you’ll complete a driver-partner onboarding session.
This onboarding consists of a short quiz that tests you about the various apps you’ll need to become a GoPuff driver (WhenIWork, goDrive, UltiPro), the methods used for scheduling shifts, and how to make deliveries.
You’ll also review safety guidelines and payment options during the onboarding session.
When you’ve finished the onboarding and passed the quizzes, you’ll receive a confirmation email detailing your background check results.
A separate email will outline the steps you’ll need to take to get started as a GoPuff delivery driver.
GoPuff utilizes a scheduling system found within the goDrive app, though some areas also use WhenIWork scheduling services.
But the company seems to be shifting away from WhenIWork and focusing its scheduling within the goDrive app.
Schedule Shifts
When opening the shits tab on the goDrive app, you’ll be able to view the current week and the upcoming week.
You can choose available shifts for the next week, and you might also be able to select shifts for the current week.
Typically, shifts become available for the current week when other drivers cancel their scheduled shifts.
Immediate (current week) shifts are highly competitive, so drivers need to act quickly to pick up these dropped work periods.
If you ever need to cancel a shift, you can use the sliding Schedule/Available tab to view your scheduled shifts.
You’ll then select the work period you’d like to cancel and choose Drop Hours.
GoPuff Fulfillment Center
There are hundreds of GoPuff warehouses and micro fulfillment centers located throughout the United States, United Kingdom, and France.
These warehouses utilize services like RangeMe to keep inventory stocked and costs low.
When you become a driver, you’ll receive the address for the nearest micro fulfillment center in your area.
Then, you’ll start each shift at this fulfillment center and stay at the fulfillment center when waiting for orders.
All items delivered via a GoPuff delivery service come from a GoPuff warehouse, so staying close by when you’re working a shift is crucial.
Failing to do so can result in missed pick-ups and delayed deliveries, both of which can affect your earnings and work reputation.
Many GoPuff fulfillment centers require their drivers to submit to a quick temperature check before starting their workday.
This practice ensures that all drivers are in excellent health before handling customer items.
Delivery Radius
The precise delivery radius for GoPuff deliveries varies slightly, but the general rule is that all deliveries should be within a 30-minute driving range of the fulfillment center.
This policy ensures that all GoPuff orders arrive within an approximate half-hour time range.
Where Can You Drive for GoPuff?
GoPuff services are available throughout the United States, the United Kingdom, and a handful of cities in France.
As such, you can drive for GoPuff throughout the United States, from San Antonio to New York.
The only exceptions are Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming.
You can check out this comprehensive list to discover which cities participate in GoPuff services.
In the United Kingdom, you can become a GoPuff driver in the following cities:
- Birmingham
- Bristol
- Cambridgeshire
- Cardiff
- Leeds
- London
- Manchester
- Merseyside
- Newcastle upon Tyne
- Nottingham
- Sheffield
Those looking to drive in France can become a GoPuff driver in:
- Lille
- Marseille
- Paris
Frequently Asked Questions
Below you will find some of the most frequently asked questions regarding the GoPuff driver app, goDrive.
So, if you have some lingering concerns, be sure to check out these questions and answers just below.
When Are GoPuff Shifts Released Each Week?
The local fulfillment center releases GoPuff shifts.
Depending on where you live and work, GoPuff workers at the fulfillment center release shifts every Thursday or Friday at noon.
Naturally, you can also choose your own shifts a week in advance.
What Can I Do to Get GoPuff in My City?
If your city doesn’t offer GoPuff services, you can contact support by contacting GoPuff customer service at 1-(855) 400-7833.
You can also use Twitter to request expanded services to your area.
Just tweet ‘@gopuff’ or ‘@GoPuff_Support’ with the name of your city and your request for GoPuff availability.
The GoPuff team is likely to respond to your request!
Can I Drive for GoPuff and Another App at the Same Time?
It’s entirely possible to drive for GoPuff and another food delivery app.
However, driving for multiple services at the same time can be challenging, as GoPuff drivers are expected to prioritize GoPuff orders during their pre-scheduled GoPuff shifts.
As such, it’s possible to work for GoPuff for several hours then switch to a different app (Uber Eats, Amazon Flex, DoorDash, etc.) when your GoPuff shift is finished.
Final Thoughts
The GoPuff driver’s app is called goDrive.
It allows drivers to schedule shifts, locate order recipients, and check earnings.
GoPuff and the goDrive app are available in more than a thousand major cities throughout the United States.
To learn more about becoming a GoPuff driver, check out this full guide now!