Whether you’re driving for DoorDash, Instacart, Grubhub, Uber Eats, or Shipt, one truth remains the same—fuel is one of your biggest expenses. With rising gas prices eating into every delivery, knowing how to reduce costs without disrupting your delivery flow is key to protecting your profits.
Here are proven strategies delivery drivers can use to lower gas costs without taking detours, delaying deliveries, or overcomplicating their workday.
Track Your Fuel Spending and Set Weekly Budgets
If you don’t track how much you’re spending on fuel per shift, you’re missing opportunities to optimize. Use apps like Drivvo or Everlance to monitor fill-ups, calculate fuel efficiency, and plan weekly budgets based on mileage. Drivers using these tools often identify overfilling, unnecessary route overlaps, and tank inefficiencies they weren’t aware of.
Use Gas Station Loyalty Programs That Require No Extra Stops
You don’t need to drive out of your way to use a rewards program. Sign up for fuel loyalty accounts that work at the stations along your existing routes:
- BPme Rewards: Save 5 cents per gallon and pay from your phone.
- Exxon Mobil Rewards+: Earn points on fuel and in-store purchases.
- Shell Fuel Rewards: Get cents-off per gallon and connect with grocery loyalty programs like Kroger.
These programs apply rewards automatically when you enter your phone number or swipe your linked card—no manual input or coupons required.
Optimize Fill-Ups with Real-Time Price Apps
Instead of stopping at the first gas station you see, use GasBuddy to find the lowest prices near your current location. For delivery drivers working on a tight schedule, setting a threshold (e.g., no more than $4.00/gallon) and filtering stations that meet it helps save without rerouting.
Pay with Prepaid Tools That Lock in Rewards
Drivers can also benefit from using prepaid tools like virtual cards purchased through cashback platforms. Buying virtual cards from apps like Fluz allows you to earn cashback with a Shell virtual card or get rewards with a BP virtual card before you even fill up.
Benefits for delivery drivers include:
- Purchasing virtual cards for exact fuel amounts
- Tracking expenses cleanly for tax write-offs
- Stacking cashback with loyalty rewards
You can apply these cards at the pump or in-store, depending on station policy.
Combine Fuel Points from Grocery Runs
If you shop for groceries during downtime or run errands between deliveries, use chains that offer fuel points. Programs like Safeway for U and Albertsons for U let you earn cents-off that can be redeemed at affiliated stations. Even occasional purchases can lead to discounted fill-ups over time.
Batch Your Routes to Minimize Fuel Usage
Apps like Gridwise help drivers optimize delivery schedules, avoid traffic slowdowns, and calculate the most profitable hours to drive. Delivering in high-density zones or during peak pay boosts allows you to earn more per gallon used—regardless of gas prices.
Final Thoughts
Cutting gas costs as a delivery driver doesn’t mean cutting corners. By combining smart fuel tracking, real-time pricing tools, loyalty programs, and cashback strategies, you can maintain speed, efficiency, and profitability. Whether you earn cashback with a Shell virtual card or use GasBuddy to pick your next station, every small change adds up to more take-home pay.
