Is Roadie Legit & Worth It? (Ultimate Driver Review!)
If you’ve looked into gig economy apps before, you've probably seen some common recommendations, like delivering for DoorDash or driving for rideshare apps.
These driving gigs are popular for a reason: they provide realtively stable work, a solid hourly wage, and are extremely accessible.
But, if you don't want to work for food delivery apps or ridesharing companies, you're still in luck!
There are numerous driving apps that pay you for making local deliveries, and the best part is, you can make even more money than many delivery gigs if you have a pickup truck or larger vehicle.
That's right: with companies like Roadie, you can earn up to $60 for completing local deliveries and up to $650 for completing long distance gigs!
So today, we're taking a deeper dive into Roadie to find out the true earning potential, how to become a driver, and if this side hustle idea is worth your time.
Driving for Roadie could be a worthwhile way for you to make money with your truck or other vehicle. The only question is… Is Roadie legit?
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What Is Roadie?
Roadie is a person-to-person delivery platform based in the U.S. that offers same-day deliveries for businesses and everyday customers. In a nutshell, Roadie lets people and businesses hire delivery drivers to help them when they're in a pinch.
Examples of things Roadie drivers can deliver include:
- Furniture
- Home moves
- Artwork
- Animals
- Luggage
- Flowers
- Groceries
- Large appliances
- Vehicles
- Small parcels
Roadie was founded in 2014 by Marc Golin, who got the idea when he needed a few boxes of tile delivered to him ASAP and no one was around to help.
The genius behind Roadie is that drivers can deliver packages along the route they drive or to customers who are in their area, so it's an efficient way to make extra money on the side.
However, Roadie drivers can also make deliveries to different cities or even across multiple states, so it's a fairly comprehensive delivery solution.
So, the bottom line is that Roadie lets drivers like you earn extra money by making deliveries in your spare time.
Whether your truck can hold a few boxes or massive cargo, you’ll be sure to find jobs working with Roadie!
Is Roadie Legit?
Yes, Roadie is legit. There's payment proof online, and the company has between a 3 and 4 star rating on review websites like Indeed and Glassdoor. Ultimately, Roadie is a straightforward way for drivers to make a little bit of extra cash without driving for too many hours.
You’re not going to make a full-time job out of Roadie, but it can definitely help cover your groceries for the week or help pay off your car loan.
Just make sure you’re factoring in costs like gas, repairs, and other miscellaneous expenses.
The only complaint I’ve seen so far is with issues receiving payment because drivers can’t verify their bank account through the Roadie app.
Assuming you get that sorted out, then the pay from this app actually seems to be quite worth it if you’re already driving somewhere anyways.
How Does Roadie Work?
Making money with Roadie takes five simple steps:
- Sign up to become a Roadie driver
- Choose gigs you want to work in the app
- Have the customer accept your delivery offer
- Make the delivery
- Get paid
That's a brief overview of how Roadie works, but let's dive into the details a bit more!
Once you sign up to become a Roadie driver, you see delivery requests within the app that are specified towards your type of vehicle. For example, if you have a large pickup truck, you can see deliveries gigs that involve delivering furniture or larger, bulky packages.
In contrast, if you have a smaller vehicle, you can focus your efforts on delivering smaller parcels and packages that fit in your car.
In any case, you choose deliveries that fit your schedule and you see all of the information upfront so you can choose to work gigs that are worth your time.
Here’s some of the information included in a posting:
- Address
- Mileage
- Payment amount
- ETA
- Urgency of pickup
- Size of the gig
- Amount of items
- Weight and dimensions of items
- Additional info (what’s included inside, fragile, keep upright, etc.)
As you can see, you pretty much have every piece of information you’ll ever need to know if you’re going to accept the job or not.
In the example above, the Roadie delivery gig pays $19, involves delivering baggage that weighs 30 pounds, and has a delivery time of 8pm.
Again, the payment is already disclosed well before you accept the offer, so there’s no guessing (compared to some other gig economy apps).
The handy Roadie Driver app also sends you notifications when there’s a matched gig nearby. Plus, you can accept extra deliveries that are already on the way while you're driving to boost your earnings and work more efficiently.
You can also track your earnings very easily and have unlimited 24/7 driver support in case you’re having trouble with a delivery.
The process is actually super simple and can help pay off your truck payments (or other expenses) in no time.
1. Roadie Driver Requirements
To become a Roadie driver, you need to follow a few requirements and have a working smartphone with data in order to complete jobs while on the go.
It's also worth noting that Roadie is available in all 50 U.S. states but isn't available internationally.
If you're looking for more international gig work, I suggest checking out driving for Uber Eats.
Before you sign up as a driver, you must gather a few important pieces of information and pass a couple of requirements.
Roadie driver requirements include:
- Being at least 18 years old
- Having a Social Security Number
- Having a valid U.S. driver's license
- Maintaining a minimum of 4 star rating as a Roadie driver
- Pass a background check
As long as you have those qualifications, you will get accepted to Roadie.
Your rating is very important on Roadie, so make sure you’re being friendly to senders (the customers). The senders are the ones who rate you after every delivery.
If you help them carry their boxes, act friendly, arrive in a timely manner, and keep the sender updated on the package status, you will keep your rating high.
Again, this is super important since if your rating drops too low for too long, you won't be eligible to make money with Roadie.
2. Sign Up
To sign up for Roadie, head over to roadie.com/drivers and fill out the “Driver Sign Up” form at the top of the page. You can also apply by downloading the app directly onto your smartphone and fill it out from there!
After you’ve done your initial sign up, you will be asked to:
- Upload a photo of your driver's license
- Enter your S.S. number
- Verify your age
- Confirm a background check
You also snap a quick photo of yourself in order to confirm that your driver’s license matches your face and to use as your profile photo as a driver.
Once you’re fully accepted into their system, you can finally start driving for Roadie by accepting new gigs!
3. Find And Accept Gigs
Available Roadie gigs are available within the app, and tapping on a gig brings up all of the delivery information and payment amount as mentioned.
If you see a delivery gig that you want to complete, you tap “offer to drive” to try and secure the job.
From there, Roadie lets you know when you're matched with a gig. Roadie trys to pair you with several gigs along your driving route to make driving more efficient.
Once you get approved for a gig, Roadie lets you know and you're ready to start driving to make some extra cash!
4. Complete Deliveries
Once you're ready to complete a gig, you tap the “Start Gig” button within the Roadie app to begin driving.
The app helps you navigate to the dropoff point, and some gigs have a certain time you have to drop off the package by.
But, the beauty of Roadie is that you can generally choose when, where, and how you want to make money with your deliveries.
There isn't a schedule holding you back or certain time frames you need to be available for…simply hop on, accept gigs, and drive to make some fast cash whenever you feel like it!
Just pay close attention to the delivery notes when you accept a gig. Some information might tell you to hold the boxes a certain way or leave information about the dropoff point.
If the package doesn’t get to its location in-tact or is damaged, you risk not getting paid and lowering your overall rating.
It's also worth noting that you can cancel a gig in the middle of a delivery in the case that something urgent comes up by contacting the support team and notifying the sender.
5. Get Paid
Once you complete your delivery and everything is in-tact, you get paid directly into your Roadie account for each gig.
According to Roadie, drivers can earn up to $60 for local deliveries and up to $650 for long-haul deliveries, so there's some serious money to be made!
Just note: it takes about 3-4 days for the gig to show up in your app.
Roadie pays drivers every Tuesday through direct deposit, and it takes between one to three days for money to reach your bank account.
It’s absolutely crucial that you make sure your bank account is verified through the Roadie app. There have been many customer complaints about not receiving their payment because of this.
The only method of payout is direct deposit at the moment. There is an option to do instant payout for a small fee, however.
Extra Reading – How To Make $50 Per Day.
How Much Do Roadie Drivers Make?
The average Roadie driver makes $15 per trip. How much you earn really depends on several factors, including delivery distance, package weight, bulky items, and how difficult the delivery is. Overall, Roadie Drivers can make about $15 to $100 a day if there are enough deliveries for them to complete.
The type of deliveries you get really impact how much money you make with Roadie.
For example, delivering a bulk set of furniture 20 minutes across town is likely to pay more than delivering some flowers over the same distance…in truth, the real money comes from the larger, trickier deliveries.
Here are some approximate Roadie driver earning estimates you can keep in mind:
- Local Deliveries: Earn between $8 to $60 per delivery
- Long-Haul Deliveries: Earn up to $650 for long-distance deliveries
Now, according to Indeed, Roadie drivers earn around $23.34 per hour on average, so this is well above minimum wage.
The best way to maximize your earnings is by accepting multiple gigs within the same general area so you can make deliveries faster and also save money on gas.
A few users stated making closer to $10 per trip, and I would agree that this seems to be more accurate.
This video from Roadie driver and YouTuber Hustling And Driving also provides a lot of insight into how much Roadie pays drivers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJzbkdsacqg
The comment section of this video is also very useful, and there a lots of other Roadie drivers sharing how much they can make in a day or per trip with this gig platform.
Extra Reading – The Best Jobs Like Instacart To Make Extra Cash.
Is Roadie Worth It?
Roadie is worth it if you want to make some extra money on the side by delivering packages. You can make meaningful profit even after accounting for taxes, gas, and vehicle depreciation. And it's a flexible side hustle that lets you deliver when you want to.
However, you can't replace your full-time job with Roadie. It's just a side hustle for extra income, and not a full-time job or very steady gig.
Ultimately, decide how much money you want to make per month and think if Roadie can make that sort of income. If it can help you reach your goals, it's probably worth it.
Other Roadie Driver Reviews
I think it's always a good idea to see what real drivers are saying about a company if you're thinking about trying a new side gig.
Generally, Roadie reviews are fairly positive. If you look on Reddit, you can see that indeed, some drivers are earning about $20 per hour by delivering for Roadie.
In this driver's case, they completed 10 deliveries from Home Depot and made $103. Here's what they said about driving for Roadie:
“I had 10 Home Depot deliveries this morning from 6 to 11:30 and made $103. I would say that's not bad.”
Now, the main complain I've seen about Roadie is that you can potentially make more money working for gig apps like DoorDash or Instacart.
Additionally, food delivery gigs don't involve delivering bulky items, heavy lifting, or possibly dirtying your vehicle with things like mulch bags or building supplies (as an example).
Finally, you can also get paid to workout with food delivery apps by delivering via bike, so it's more flexible.
However, one clever tip I saw from a Roadie driver is to double-up on delivery apps rather than relying just on Roadie.
In this Reddit review, the driver states they wouldn't just drive for Roadie, but accept a Roadie delivery and then slowly work their way back home by using apps like DoorDash and Uber Eats.
I think this is, ultimately, the best way to make money with Roadie.
Use it as a delivery option when it makes sense and the pay is decent, but don't just stick with a single app.
Extra Reading – DoorDash Driver Tips & Tricks To Make More Money.
Pros And Cons Of Roadie
Here are a few pros and cons to help you decide if Roadie is a good choice for you!
Pros:
- Excellent way to make money with a cargo van or truck
- Know how much you’re getting paid upfront
- Easy to use app
- Average of $15 per trip
- Work on your own time
- High earning potential for longer trips
Cons:
- Gas costs aren't reimbursed
- Not enough gigs in less populated areas
- Issues with customer service (receiving payment)
- Wear and tear on your vehicle over time
- Not always worth it for “out of the way” trips
At the end of the day, it's up to you to decide if the time, fuel costs, and vehicle depreciation are worth the extra cash.
If the math checks out, Roadie is worth driving for!
Other Apps Like Roadie To Make Money
If you like the idea of driving for Roadie to make money but want to try some Roadie alternatives to test other gig apps, some companies you can consider include:
- Food delivery apps like Uber Eats, Grubhub, and Postmates
- Grocery delivery jobs like becoming an Instacart Shopper or working for Cornershop or Shipt
- GoShare
- Dolly
- ParaWorks
- Grabr
- CitizenShipper
- Wonolo, which can include delivery gigs
- Amazon Flex
Again, where you live largely impacts the earning potential for any delivery app, and food delivery gigs will generally have the most demand.
But if you want to make money driving, all of these Roadie alternatives are worth looking into!
Extra Reading – How To Make Money With Amazon.
Frequently Asked Questions
It wouldn't be a complete Roadie driver review without tackling some of the most important and commonly asked questions people have about driving for Roadie:
Do Roadie Drivers Get Tips?
Yes, Roadie drivers can receive tips by the sender. However, you should note that it’s not required, nor is it very common for most deliveries.
Some gigs include a “Guaranteed Minimum Tip” tag which grants you a small tip whether the customer decides to leave a tip or not.
There is also an option to see if a tip is already included in the gig offer before you accept it. Be sure to look out for those to maximize your earnings.
But, if you're looking for tips, driving for companies like DoorDash or Uber Eats is a better option.
When Does Roadie Pay?
Roadie pays you every Tuesday through direct deposit. It takes between one to three business days for the money to transfer to your bank account.
Does Roadie Pay for Gas?
No, Roadie doesn't pay for gas. They claim that their payments are enough to recoup your gas costs and be able to write off your mileage in your taxes.
But, Roadie drivers are independent contractors, so you're responsible for tracking your income, paying bills and gas costs, and accurately filing your taxes.
My suggestion is to use a mileage tracking app like Everlance to track how much you're driving for Roadie and your driver earnings.
You can claim some of the miles you drive when filing your taxes, so it's definitely a smart move for gig workers to get in the habit of tracking mileage.
Plus, if you want an accurate idea of how much money you're making with Roadie, you need to know your expenses!
Pro Tip: Save Up To $0.25 Per Gallon With The Upside App!
Is Roadie in My Area?
Roadie is available in all 50 states in the U.S. whether you’re in a big city or a small town. Gigs are more common in heavily populated areas, though, so keep this in mind.
Extra Reading – The Best Ways To Make $5,000 Fast.
Does Roadie Run a Background Check?
Yes, Roadie runs a background check on all drivers before they can accept their first gig. You must have a valid driver’s license and Social Security number to be eligible to drive for Roadie.
How Much Can You Make With Roadie
The average payment per trip is around $15 according to Roadie and about $23 according to Indeed. This means you can probably make a few hundred dollars in extra income per month if you get enough deliveries.
Some drivers make anywhere between $8 – $650 depending on a few different factors (how many drivers in the area, delivery volume, special requests, etc.).
But you shouldn't expect a steady stream of gigs, especially if you live in a small town or smaller city.
Really, Roadie provides an option to diversify your income and make some extra cash, but I wouldn't expect full-time income here.
Extra Reading – 20+ Jobs That Pay $5,000 A Month.
How Much Does Roadie Pay Per Mile?
Roadie doesn't pay drivers per mile. Delivery distance is a contributing factor of how much Roadie pays drivers, but you also bid on jobs and other factors influence how much money you make.
What's The Roadie Lawsuit About?
In 2019, a company known as Bags sued Roadie over a patent infringement complaint. The case was eventually dismissed and was also quite confusing since Bags didn't have much of an argument to go off of. Overall, the Roadie lawsuit made a bit of a splash but doesn't impact driver's ability to make money with the platform.
Extra Reading – The Best Apps That Pay Real Money Instantly.
Final Thoughts
I hope this Roadie driver review helps you decide if Roadie is worth it and understand how much it pays.
If you want a flexible side job, Roadie is pretty handy. And it pays a decent amount per hour, especially if you live in large cities.
And, if there aren't enough Roadie gigs in your area, you can also sign up for other driving gigs like Uber Eats and Instacart since these apps have a much higher demand for drivers.
Best of luck!
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Roadie Driver Review
Name: Roadie
Description: Roadie is a peer-to-peer delivery platform that lets drivers earn extra cash by making local and long-haul deliveries.
Operating System: Android, IOS
Application Category: Gig Economy Apps
Author: Daniel Friedman
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Earning Potential
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Hourly Pay
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Requirements
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Extra Costs
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Getting Paid
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Customer Service