A spotless driving record IRL can’t save you from a bad report.
Disqualifiers are an expected part of any job application, even among the variety of sought-after delivery driver jobs available. What may not be expected is how often those disqualifiers waiver between legitimate reasons and wildly unfair mistakes.
Like when a background check report comes back with criminal charges you’ve never heard of, a wrong name matched to your profile, or other outdated, inaccurate, or unreportable info.
Applicants who find themselves in this situation learn quickly that it doesn’t matter how much you genuinely deserve one of the delivery driver jobs you’re after. It only matters what the data says. So when the data gets it wrong, you pay a price.
Take a deep diver into background check errors on our practice page, and keep reading to learn about how these errors stop delivery driver jobs cold.
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What Are the Best Delivery Driver Jobs?
There is no universal “best” when it comes to delivery driver jobs – only what’s best for YOU.
The industry has options for introverts, extroverts, early birds, night owls, workaholics, casual drivers, and everyone who wants to earn money without saying the words “team synergy” ever again.
A better question is: “What are some delivery driver jobs?” We can help with that!
DoorDash, Uber Eats, Spark Driver for Walmart, Instacart, Grubhub, and Postmates (via Uber Eats) appeal to people who want the power to log in and out whenever life demands it. Parents juggling daycare, students balancing classes, and anyone with unpredictable schedules love these gig-based delivery driver jobs because they offer pure flexibility. You decide your hours. You choose your orders. You avoid bosses and breakrooms entirely.
Then there are structured options like UPS, FedEx, and Amazon. These offer stability, predictable paychecks, and in many cases, benefits. UPS drivers famously earn good wages. FedEx routes attract people who want consistency. Amazon’s delivery network is massive, organized, and always hiring.
And then there’s Amazon Flex – the “choose-your-own-adventure” of delivery driver jobs, where you pick your blocks, work when you want, and earn real money delivering with your own vehicle.
With so many choices, the best job is the one that matches your schedule, stamina, and sanity. But all these options share one universal requirement: getting through the screening process without a surprise disqualification.
Pros and Cons of Top Delivery Driver Jobs
Here’s a breakdown of some of the most popular delivery driver jobs out there. These platforms may look similar on the surface, but each has its own personality, quirks, pay structure, and, honestly, emotional rollercoaster.
- DoorDash – Pros: endless orders and strong market presence. Cons: the app has mood swings that could rival a reality TV contestant.
- Uber Eats – Pros: huge delivery radius and busy meal times. Cons: surge pay sometimes magically vanishes the moment you actually accept an order.
- Instacart – Pros: large batch payouts, especially during peak shopping hours. Cons: customers who treat produce shopping like an Olympic sport.
- Grubhub – Pros: predictable base pay and consistent tipping culture in many markets. Cons: wildly uneven demand depending on your city.
- Postmates (via Uber Eats) – Pros: you might deliver anything from tacos to batteries. Cons: typically overshadowed by Uber Eats since the merger.
- Spark Driver (Walmart) – Pros: high-paying routes, generous mileage. Cons: pickup delays that can feel longer than the Jurassic period.
- Amazon – Pros: structured hours, clear expectations, and benefits. Cons: Highly physical work that can feel like a nonstop cardio workout, with historically limited accommodations for pregnant workers or drivers with disabilities. Large lawsuits in New Jersey underscored these concerns.
- UPS – Pros: among the highest-paying delivery driver jobs in the country. Cons: labor intensity that will make muscles you didn’t know you had sore.
- FedEx – Pros: steady routes with dependable pay. Cons: route difficulty that varies from “refreshing challenge” to “mountain goat required.”
- Amazon Flex – Pros: unparalleled flexibility, you pick your own schedule. Cons: a GPS that sometimes appears to be powered by pure chaos.
The pros and cons mentioned above only scratch the surface of what it’s actually like to work delivery-driver jobs. One critical point that must be explored when discussing these roles is disqualifiers – the factors that can prevent you from driving for your dream company.
Top Disqualifiers for Delivery Driver Jobs
Here’s where the anxiety begins. Everyone applying for delivery driver jobs wonders what will disqualify them. Some search “how to find delivery driver jobs?” and then immediately search “why did I get disqualified?” after the screening email arrives.
While each platform has unique requirements, the core disqualifiers look the same across most platforms. Let’s take a look at the top disqualifiers.
Disqualifier #1: Failing the Background Check (Because of Errors)
Let’s be clear: failing because of TRUE criminal history is one thing. But failing because the system thinks you’re another person entirely? That’s the actual problem.
Most applicants rejected from delivery driver jobs didn’t fail because of real issues. They failed because DoorDash, Uber Eats, Instacart, Grubhub, Spark Driver for Walmart, UPS, FedEx, Amazon, and Amazon Flex rely on third-party screeners who frequently pull in:
- Wrong criminal or driving records
- Outdated charges
- Sealed cases
- Expunged cases
- Dismissed charges listed as active
- Identity mix-ups
- Someone else’s file entirely
This means thousands of drivers every year are wrongly labeled “disqualified” because a database hiccuped. One clerk failing to update a system can cost someone their livelihood. One mismatched date of birth can derail a career. One wrongfully assigned arrest can block you from delivery driver jobs across every app.
When job seekers wonder why they “failed background check,” the answer is very often: because the system messed up, not you.
Disqualifier #2: Driving Record Problems (Record of bad driving)
Your driving record can absolutely affect your eligibility for delivery driver jobs, but the reality is often more nuanced than people fear. Companies like UPS, FedEx, Amazon, Spark Driver for Walmart, and Amazon Flex tend to take driving histories seriously because their insurance policies require it.
Major violations – DUIs, reckless driving, hit-and-runs, or repeated suspensions can trigger automatic disqualification.
But here’s the twist: DoorDash, Uber Eats, Instacart, Grubhub, and Postmates are generally much more flexible. A minor speeding ticket from two years ago usually won’t torpedo your chances. Still, if you have a pattern of dangerous driving, companies may see you as a liability behind the wheel.
Fortunately, real disqualifications from driving history issues happen far less often than rejections caused by inaccurate reports or misattributed driving records.
Disqualifier #3: Documentation Issues (Incomplete or Inaccurate Docs)
This is one of the most frustrating, and strangely common reasons candidates get rejected from delivery driver jobs.
We’re talking about simple, fixable problems like blurry driver’s license photos, mismatched names or addresses, or incomplete account information. Rideshare Apps like those mentioned above, rely heavily on automated verification systems.
When those systems hit a snag, they don’t message you politely; they just flag your file and stop your onboarding. The good news? Documentation issues are usually the easiest disqualifier to resolve. They don’t reflect your history – just your upload quality, timing, or technical hiccups.
These issues only become serious if a company blocks communication or refuses to reopen your application.
Disqualifier #4: Not Having Insurance
Failure to maintain up-to-date insurance can bar drivers because companies must protect themselves and meet state insurance minimums.
Drivers without valid auto coverage are often contractually ineligible and may also violate local law, making them a high financial risk to onboard. Unlike softer gig violations, “no insurance” is treated seriously because a single crash could trigger liability far beyond the driver.
This one isn’t about nuance – insurance coverage is a baseline requirement to stay qualified behind the wheel.
Disqualifier #5: Failing the Drug Test
Drug test failures primarily affect applicants for structured employers – UPS, FedEx, Amazon, and sometimes Spark Driver for Walmart.
But gig-based delivery driver jobs like DoorDash, Uber Eats, Instacart, Grubhub, Postmates, and Amazon Flex sometimes require drug testing, too. When they do, it’s usually tied to insurance or DOT requirements.
A failed test can be a legitimate disqualifier, but even here, mistakes happen. Testing labs mix up samples. Chains of custody are broken. Reports are sent to the wrong company. And yes, occasionally a lab misreads the results entirely. The danger isn’t always the test – it’s the process.
But even with this disqualifier, wrongful rejections can still trace back to background check errors, not drug screening errors.
How to Beat the #1 Disqualifier If the Info Is Wrong
Fixing wrongful disqualifiers is possible. If you’ve failed a background check for delivery driver jobs, the good news is that the law is on your side.
Companies that screen driving candidates are legally required under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) to report accurate information and – to correct mistakes. When they don’t, you have the right to dispute it, demand corrections, and even obtain compensation.
Here’s how people fight back:
- Get a copy of your background check report.
You can’t fix what you haven’t seen. Request the full report directly from the company that screened you. They’re required by federal law (FCRA) to give you a free copy. - Compare it to your actual records and highlight everything wrong.
Look line by line. Is that your address? Your charges? Your dates? Your identity? Were the records sealed? Many people find someone else’s record mixed in with their own. - Gather proof that the errors are, in fact, errors.
This could include court documents showing dismissals, expungement orders, identity theft reports, or anything proving the report’s inaccuracies. - Submit a written dispute ideally via certified mail.
Why certified mail? Because you need proof they received it. Screening companies don’t always act fast, and paper trails matter when dealing with corporations that treat accuracy like a suggestion. Keep a copy of what you send and the mailing receipt! - Contact Consumer Justice Law Firm for help – ASAP.
This step is especially important because disputing alone doesn’t guarantee the company will fix your background check. And if the errors already cost you money, time, or job opportunities, you may be entitled to money.
GET JUSTICE! Fight for fixes & money!
Once you’ve taken the first steps pf gathering your report, identifying errors, and sending a dispute, you need someone who knows how to fix background check errors and force background check companies to follow the law. This is where we come in.
Consumer Justice Law Firm handles these exact cases every day, representing people who were wrongly disqualified from delivery driver jobs with Amazon, Amazon Flex, DoorDash, Uber Eats, Instacart, Grubhub, Spark Driver for Walmart, UPS, FedEx, and every other platform that uses background screenings.
Our attorneys know the Fair Credit Reporting Act inside and out. This means, we know what the screening companies must do, what they routinely fail to do, and how to make them correct misinformation quickly. We use targeted legal strategies to pressure them to fix the inaccuracies that impacted you.
And if the errors cost you income or caused financial or mental/emotional hardship – you may also be entitled to monetary damages. We pursue that too! We handle the legal side while you focus on getting back to work.
Call us today so we can fight to get you back behind the wheel – and back to earning!
FREE Consultations! You pay $0 upfront or out of pocket. We only get paid when we win. No Justice, No Fee.TM