On any on-demand food delivery platform couriers have the opportunity to stack multiple jobs or accept batched deliveries. This is one of the best hack to maximize earnings.

But when is it a good time to stack jobs?

During my first week as a courier for both Postmates and Caviar, I didn’t stack jobs very well. I accepted multiple jobs with a focus on making more money and totally ignored the logistics of the individual deliveries. As a result, I created more work for myself. Just imagine a guy in jeans and a hoodie, carrying both a Postmates and a Caviar bag, running almost a mile from where he parked, out of breathe, and trying to balance a box of pizza while looking out for cracks in the sidewalk to avoid tripping; All the while, constantly checking the GPS on his phone and hoping the running will end soon. That’s what happened to me in the Sellwood/Eastmoreland neighborhood as a result of poor stacking. I was lucky no cops were in the area and thought I had just told an old lady “Shut up you ya old bag!”

I’ve learned not to put myself in a situation like that since my first week. So here are some tips I have for courier-stacking jobs in the gig economy.

#1. Make sure the second (or third or fourth) pick-up location is convenient.

Before accepting another job on top of the one you’re currently working, make sure the pick-up location is ‘along the way’ of the first drop off location. It goes without saying, you should not stack jobs if they are not in the same direction or are not within a reasonable distance of each other.

If I’m in the middle of a delivery heading east, I wouldn’t accept a job in which the pick-up location is west, opposite the drop-off location of the job I’m completing. This is less of a problem with Caviar than it is with Postmates since Postmates is more of a free for all. Caviar’s dispatch team try their best to assign couriers jobs that make the most logistical sense.

I’ve noticed each mile takes about 3 minutes with a car. So for each mile that the second restaurant is not along the way with the drop-off location of the first order, that’s 6 minutes (3 to the 2nd pick-up and 3 to head toward the 1st drop-off) of extra commuting. This doesn’t take into account the time it takes to park, place the order, and wait on merchants. If time is sensitive (as it is with Postmates for example), I’d recommend avoiding stacking a job that is more than 3 miles out of the way because this would delay the delivery of the first order by at least 20 minutes. This could hurt you in tips or rating (depending on the platform).

Keep in mind that customers can see your GPS location through the web or mobile app. If you go in the opposite direction, they could text you. This creates the perception that they aren’t a priority to you and could affect your rating if the platform you deliver for uses a rating system like Postmates’. I once stacked a job in the opposite direction of the drop-off and the customer texted me, “Hey you’re going in the opposite direction, are you getting my food?”

They’re watching you… Avoid doing opposite direction stacks.

#2. Make sure you know what parking situation you’re getting into.

Before accepting a second job, make sure that the restaurant you’re adding has adequate parking.Trying to complete multiple deliveries in a timely manner is stressful enough, wasting your time trying to find a parking spot doesn’t help the cause. In the situation I mentioned earlier, I stacked a delivery for SE Laurelhurst Public House in Sellwood and that place has horrible parking. I ended up parking about two blocks away from the restaurant.

#3. Don’t stack unfamiliar restaurants.

If a job becomes available for a stack but it’s with a restaurant you’ve never delivered for, it’s best not to accept it. For one reason or another, some restaurants are consistently slow when it comes to getting food out. Make sure you’re stacking restaurants that get orders out of the kitchen quickly.

Additionally, if you’ve never delivered for a restaurant before, you have no idea what kind of parking situation you’re getting into. See tip #2.

#4. Avoid busy streets.

In every city, there will be streets or avenues or boulevards that are always busy and filled with slow, cautious driving. Make sure when you accept a second (or third) job, that they aren’t located on busy streets.

Not only will busy streets mean traffic, but it typically means no available parking spaces. I don’t mean to beat a dead horse, but see tip #2.

#5. Avoid adding a downtown restaurants.

Downtown usually means busy streets and limited parking (and expensive parking meters). Avoid stacking a job that requires going into downtown (unless you’re there already) for pickup, especially if time is sensitive.

Customers may use on-demand food delivery for downtown restaurants when they anticipate a crowded restaurant and long waits for seats. They want to pass this hell to you. Don’t accept this damnation when stacking.

#6. Stack when you are relaxed.

Regardless if you’re on bike or driving a car, as a courier you’ll be on the road with other vehicles. Safety and attention to traffic is very important. Don’t stack jobs if the logistics of the deliveries put you in a high-stress state where you are distracted while on the road. Stacking can make you a few extra bucks but that is never worth getting injured on the job.

Which reminds me, get health coverage!

#7. Don’t stack during rush hours.

#8. Make a list of stacking friendly restaurants.

Make list of restaurants that are suitable for stacking. Having this list handy when you’re on the road helps tremendously. Any restaurant that has good parking, not on a busy street, or quick to prepare food should be on your list. Of course, if a restaurant is on your list, but it’s in the opposite direction of where you’re going, do not accept the job.

Stacking is one of the best courier hacks for maximizing your earning while delivering for an on-demand food delivery company but that doesn’t mean you should stack every chance you get. You can get yourself into bad situations that are counterproductive. For example, taking on too many jobs can cause you to perform poorly and have your rating tanked. Learn from my mistakes.

Hopefully the tips above help you make better decision when stacking. Good luck and happy stacking!