Uber Eats is the best-known name in meal delivery, and a major player in the world of gig driving. If you are considering the possibility of gig driving in Canada, take a look at Uber Eats. Here is some essential information to help you explore possibilities.
Uber Eats: How It Works
Uber brought passenger service to Canada in 2012, and added Uber Eats meal delivery a few years later. Uber now has a presence in 9 provinces and 150 municipalities. Its amazing software program, using the Internet, matches customers with drivers who use their own private car to deliver meals from local restaurants. (The app is free – and the same app is used for both Uber Eats and Uber Rideshare.)
As an Uber Eats driver, you are treated as an “independent contractor” (not an employee). This means you sign a contract with Uber specifying the terms and mutual commitments of the arrangement. And it means you must provide the car (covering operating expenses) and the technology (smartphone with Internet connection).
If you are in good standing and logged in, Uber gives you free access to their online platform and matches you with customers in your area who are ordering food from nearby restaurants. Using GPS mapping technology, the app guides you to the pickup restaurant and the delivery location (usually the customer’s home or workplace). The app also displays your earnings information in real time, and keeps a record of all your trips and statistics. (Recently, Uber has also added delivery of small packages, Covid test kids, alcohol, and items from convenience stores & pharmacies. But most of the action for drivers still involves delivering meals.)
Being an “independent contractor” also means you are free to deliver meals whenever & wherever you want (in cities where you meet the requirements). This is one of the main reasons gig drivers like driving with Uber Eats: YOU ARE YOUR OWN BOSS. You can drive as few or as many hours as you choose; and your earnings will be largely a factor of your own efforts. That’s freedom!
Uber deposits your earnings once a week into your bank account. But you can also cash out your current balance in advance, any time you want (once a day). Need $50 in a hurry? Get in the car, deliver 5 or 6 meals, wait an hour for all the tips to show up, cash out immediately, and the money will be in your bank account later that day or the following morning. Nice!
More Gigapedia Articles about Uber Eats
How Has the Covid Pandemic Affected Uber Eats?
The pandemic hitting Canada in 2020 had significant impact upon driving with Uber Eats. Initially, there was extreme concern about the spread of the virus between restaurant staff, drivers and customers. Many drivers played it safe and stayed home.
But with so many people across Canada not leaving their homes (including millions who began working remotely), there was a massive surge in ordering meals online. Restaurants scrambled to switch to delivery mode and get on the Uber platform. Pings for Uber Eats drivers increased quite dramatically. For those drivers who courageously stayed on the road throughout this time, it was a bonanza. Other drivers who were sitting on the sidelines cautiously returned to get in on the action – including many who switched over from Uber Rideshare (which was quite easy to do – both gigs use the same app).
But the gig world had changed. Masks were mandatory everywhere. Hand sanitizer was applied 100 times a day. Distancing was an absolute must. Outdoor lineups became more common. Entry to offices & high-rise buildings was more difficult. But drivers adjusted, took precautions, stayed safe, and made good money.
Let the world recognize that Canadian Uber Eats drivers are PANDEMIC HEROES, courageously delivering food to multitudes of people in lockdown or working remotely or in quarantine, in cities & communities all across our great nation.
Ready to Start?
Once you are confident Uber Eats may be a good fit for you, then you might as well go ahead and take the next step: SIGN UP! It only takes a few minutes to set up your Uber Account, providing basic information to establish your driver profile.
Don’t worry – Uber does not require fees or deposits, and there are no binding obligations or legal traps. At any point along the way, you can pause to get answers to your questions. But if you’re ready to move forward, the sooner you sign up and launch the registration process, the sooner you’ll be out on the road earning money.
(Note: When you click the link to go to Uber’s sign-up page, you’ll notice it mentions Douglas and inserts an Invite Code douglasa1940ue. This tells Uber you were referred by Gig Drivers of Canada. We would be grateful if you will leave the Invite Code in place, so Gig Drivers can receive recognition and a small referral reward to help cover our expenses. Thank you very much!)