When I was delivering for Uber Eats in Los Angeles, I sometimes took $3 deliveries because I was trying to maintain my status as a top performer. At the time, I understood why I was doing it: I believed that staying active, accepting more orders, and keeping my performance high would ultimately help me earn more.
Meanwhile, there were drivers around me who simply refused orders unless they came with a good tip. I remember drivers sitting outside Sugarfish for hours, waiting for the right orders. Then they’d show me what they had earned, including their tips, and I’d look at my own earnings and realize something: I was working harder, but I wasn’t necessarily working smarter.
That experience has stayed with me. Drivers shouldn't have to choose between working endlessly or turning down work just to make the economics make sense. At Tony Delivers, we’re trying to build a system where drivers have better information, more control, and a clearer understanding of what a delivery is actually worth before they take it.
