Delivery drivers often battle the challenges of navigating wrong addresses, heavy traffic, and upset customers.
While drivers with more experience in the field have learned how to handle these obstacles, others are still discovering how to deal with every unique situation.
Locate2u spoke to delivery drivers to better understand the intricacies of their jobs.
Delivery drivers need route optimization software to create more effective routes and speed up food deliveries, especially during peak hours.
Delivery drivers’ battle with wrong addresses
Delivery driver Wason Suman started delivering parcels on his scooter two years ago. He says it’s challenging at times, especially during the night shift. Nothing is more frustrating than customers giving inaccurate addresses.
Suman says, however, that it helps to be able to speak directly to the customer to clear out the problem on the spot. “Most of the time, we can’t find the customers’ addresses. They gave us the wrong address. We start to chat with them so they can give us another address,” says Suman.
Peter Mariyabwna has more than ten years of experience as a food delivery driver. He often arrives at his delivery point, but there’s no customer in sight.
“Sometimes their phone is off. Then we need to communicate with the office to let them know about what happened to the customer,” explains Mariyabwna.
How delivery drivers deal with traffic
Mariyabwna and Suman’s delivery company doesn’t use route optimization software.
This makes Mariyabwna’s job incredibly difficult. He says each driver uses his preferred GPS app on his mobile device.
Suman also uses a local app to navigate through traffic. “If we see there is traffic, we change the way.”
Mariyabwna says adding adverse weather conditions to the mix makes coping even harder. “When it’s raining, and we take a delivery to the customer, it’s tough, but we just try to push through.”
To tip or gift your delivery driver
Customers often want to reward or thank their delivery drivers, especially during hot summers or peak seasons. Families often leave snacks or cold water for them to take to make their job a bit more bearable.
But Suman and Mariyabwna both agree: They prefer money instead of a food parcel. They get paid for each delivery made, and when there are fewer orders for the day, it means less pay.
Desmond Mabuza says he understands that not all customers are the same and can afford to pay extra. “Sometimes it is tough, and sometimes it’s good.”
NOW READ AND WATCH: Thank My Delivery Driver: 6 Simple Ways
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About the author
Mia is a multi-award-winning journalist. She has more than 14 years of experience in mainstream media. She's covered many historic moments that happened in Africa and internationally. She has a strong focus on human interest stories, to bring her readers and viewers closer to the topics at hand.
