You're putting in the hours. You're driving all day. Your odometer keeps climbing. But when you check your earnings... it doesn't add up.
Sound familiar?
If you're driving 150-200+ km per day but barely breaking even, you're not alone. This is one of the most common complaints from delivery drivers in Canada.
But here's the truth: the problem isn't that you're not working hard enough. The problem is inefficiency.
The Math That Doesn't Work
Let's break down a typical "busy" day:
| Metric | Your Day |
|---|---|
| Hours worked | 8 hours |
| Kilometers driven | 200 km |
| Deliveries completed | 40 |
| Gross earnings | $160 |
| Gas cost (~$1.60/L, 10L/100km) | -$32 |
| Vehicle depreciation ($0.30/km) | -$60 |
| Net earnings | $68 |
| Real hourly rate | $8.50/hr |
That's below minimum wage. And you drove 200 kilometers for it.
Why High Kilometers ≠ High Earnings
You're Measuring the Wrong Thing
Most drivers think: "More driving = more money."
But the reality is: every kilometer costs you money. Gas, depreciation, maintenance, tire wear — it all adds up.
The real metric isn't kilometers driven. It's earnings per kilometer.
The Efficiency Gap
Compare two drivers:
| Driver | Deliveries | Kilometers | Gross | Net | $/km |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Driver A | 40 | 200 km | $160 | $68 | $0.34 |
| Driver B | 40 | 100 km | $160 | $114 | $1.14 |
Same deliveries. Same gross. But Driver B takes home $46 more because they drove half the distance.
Where Your Kilometers Are Going
1. Backtracking
Without route optimization:
- Deliver north, then south, then north again
- Pass the same streets multiple times
- End up far from home at the end of your shift
2. Multi-Platform Chaos
If you work multiple apps (which you should for earnings), you're juggling:
- Amazon packages in one direction
- Intelcom stops somewhere else
- Food orders popping up randomly
Without combining them, you're doing separate inefficient routes.
3. Following App Order
Delivery apps give you stops in the order they were assigned — not the most efficient order. They don't optimize for your gas costs.
The Fix: Drive Less, Earn More
Step 1: Know Your Numbers
Track this week:
- Total kilometers
- Total deliveries
- Total earnings (gross and net)
Calculate:
- Kilometers per delivery (target: under 3 km)
- Net earnings per kilometer (target: over $1.00)
Step 2: Optimize Before You Drive
Before leaving:
- Look at ALL your stops
- Group them by area
- Plan the most logical path
Even manual planning can save 15-20% of your kilometers.
Step 3: Use FlexMesh
This is where technology makes the difference.
FlexMesh lets you:
- Scan all waybills from any carrier — Amazon, Intelcom, UPS, FedEx, Purolator
- Combine multi-platform stops into one list
- One-tap optimization — AI calculates the most efficient route
- Follow the optimized path — no more backtracking
Real driver results:
- 20-40% reduction in total kilometers
- Same number of deliveries
- 30-50% increase in net earnings per hour
Step 4: Set a Kilometer Budget
Before each shift, set a target:
- "I will complete X deliveries in under Y kilometers"
- Track it throughout the day
- Review and improve weekly
The Transformation
| Before FlexMesh | After FlexMesh |
|---|---|
| 200 km/day | 120 km/day |
| $68 net/day | $114 net/day |
| $8.50/hr | $14.25/hr |
| Exhausted | Sustainable |
Same 8 hours. Same 40 deliveries. But $46 more per day in your pocket.
Over a month: $920 extra
Over a year: $11,000+ extra
The Bottom Line
If you're driving 200km a day and barely making money, stop driving more. Start driving smarter.
- Track your kilometers per delivery
- Combine all platforms into one optimized route
- Use FlexMesh to eliminate backtracking
- Watch your net earnings climb
The hardest-working drivers aren't always the highest earners. The smartest drivers are.
Sources:
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