It is easy to see why many people turn to freelance delivery work either as their main source of income or to earn on the side. If you have a license, you can take on shipping jobs and pick and choose your own schedule. Additionally, these days, there are always shipping jobs that can be completed, so you can always make money with this line of work. It is also a challenging role and not for everyone, so it is helpful to know a few tips that will help you to maximize earnings, keep customers happy, and improve your reputation.
Communicate & Maintain Professionalism
Delivery work mainly involves working alone (a perk for many), but you must still communicate with customers and maintain a professional image. You should be friendly, yet professional when making deliveries, as well as keep people updated on any delays or issues and respond to questions swiftly. You should also pay close attention to any special delivery instructions there are.
Plan Your Routes in Advance
When working as a delivery driver, you will always want to choose the best route for each delivery. This is important because it will maximize the amount of work that you can do each day, allow you to make deliveries on time to keep customers happy and reduce your fuel costs. This is why you should be using a high-quality GPS that will make it much quicker and easier to plan the most efficient route.
Use Load Boards to Find Shipping Work
You might wonder how to find a steady stream of work when you are working as an independent driver. One of the easiest ways to find continuous shipping work is to use a load board, like https://www.shiply.com/us/shipping-jobs. Here, you can browse hundreds of available jobs and choose the ones that are best suited to you. This helps maximize your earnings, avoid empty trips, and build a positive reputation as a delivery driver. If you are just getting started, this can also be a great way to build experience.
Keep Your Vehicle in Top Condition
When you rely on your vehicle for deliveries, you need to make sure that you keep it in the best condition. An issue with your vehicle could stop you from earning and even damage your reputation if you are unable to make a delivery, so maintenance is important. You should perform regular car maintenance, get any small issues resolved quickly, and stick to the car service schedule.
Use Accounting Software or Hire an Accountant
As a freelancer, you must have a system in place for managing your finances. This can be tricky, but it is made a lot easier with the use of high-quality accounting software. Alternatively, you could hire an accountant to manage this task for you. This would give you more time and energy to focus on delivery work.
These tips should be useful for any independent delivery driver and will hopefully help you to maximize earnings, keep customers happy, and develop a positive reputation.
