7 Perks to Being a Pizza Runner

A pizza runner, or delivery driver as they’re commonly known, is often a thankless job. You deal with rude people, you beat your car or bike to Hell, and you often subject yourself to dangerous elements, such as blizzards and, well, people. Despite all of the negatives, however, there are a number of perks to being a pizza delivery driver.

7. The freedom of driving around: It’s one of the most under appreciated aspects of being a pizza delivery driver. When the sun is shining and the co-eds are out and about, delivering pizzas is one of the best ways to make a few quick bucks.

Of course, there are always those days when it’s raining, or the streets are packed for whatever reason, but for those lucky daytime drivers, cruising the streets with the windows rolled down and the music blaring sure as Hell beats sitting behind an oven and sweating to death as you prepare fatty foods for people who don’t need it.

6. The pay: Contrary to popular belief, pizza delivery drivers can make some decent bank. While many still have yet to learn that tipping, although not required, is customary and, to be frank, the right thing to do, most people to whom you deliver pizza are kind and generous enough to float you a few bucks for each delivery.

Depending on the location in which your store is located and the store itself, drivers can conceivably pull in twenty deliveries in a six hour shift. When combined with an hourly wage (often minimum wage for some places) and an extra $.50-1.00 per delivery cover gas, and you can potentially make a livable wage as a pizza delivery driver.

5. Tax-free income: Stepping it up a notch, a good chunk of a delivery driver’s income is paid in cash, and while you’re technically not supposed to, a number of drivers don’t claim their tips as income.

Now, if a tip is given on a credit card, then you’re kind of stuck and have to claim it, so delivery drivers will always encourage cash as tips. Even quarters. If you’re a delivery driver there’s a good chance that you live in an apartment that has coin-operated laundry, so quarters are always welcome. 

4. The stories: As a delivery driver, you get the opportunity to meet some of the most interesting people, from the lowly trailer park dwellers to the rich and the famous, and this can lead to some interesting stories.

From delivering to sexy co-eds with no shame to altercations with roving bands of pizza-hungry thieves, delivering pizza is the perfect career for those looking for some new stories to add to their repertoire. Unfortunately, it’s incredibly rare for a lonely and sexy housewife to coax you into an illicit dalliance, no matter what Internet porn has led you to believe.

3. The downtime: While those slinging pies next to the super hot ovens are typically working at a non-stop pace, delivery drivers are often given ample amounts of downtown to hang out and wait for the next delivery.

In some of the more corporate pizza purveyors, delivery drivers are often required to assist in various tasks, such as doing dishes or folding boxes. Of course, as a delivery driver, you’re probably a smoker, and everyone knows a smoke break is one of the few acceptable excuses for taking a break every half hour.

2. Flexible hours: Given that pizza delivery is an ideal job for college students looking to earn some booze and/or drug money, many delivery places, particularly the big three of Domino’s, Pizza Hut, and Papa John’s, employ a large number of delivery drivers just in case someone calls out sick.

But it’s win-win for everyone. The restaurants have enough drivers to cover every possible shift, and the drivers can work around their school and binge drinking schedule.

1. Free pizza: It doesn’t matter how much money you make, the best perk associated with being a delivery driver is all the free pizza. While some places absolutely refuse to allow employees from eating the stray pizzas that pop up due to non-picked up orders or false deliveries, most delivery drivers have discovered that sneaking a slice or two is a God-given right.

But God help us all if you were at a place that has a pizza buffet. Any pizzas that sit under the heat lamps without being eaten are tossed after a certain period of time, allowing drivers and other employees the opportunity to snag the leftovers.

It’s kind of a Catch-22, though. Free pizza is great, but your ever-expanding waistline might prove otherwise.