Driver Handbook
Every driver must read and acknowledge this handbook before becoming active. It explains your contractor status, Academy certification, how DriverPay™ works, how the AI Driver Scheduler™ matches you to shifts, and what to review before accepting assignments.
Version 2.0 · Effective Date: September 2026 · FoodRunz, a DivaddLimited Company
Your Contractor Status
You are an independent contractor, not an employee of FoodRunz or the vendor. This means:
- You are responsible for your own taxes, insurance, and vehicle maintenance.
- You are not entitled to employee benefits.
- You have the right to accept or decline assignments.
- You control how you perform your deliveries, subject to platform standards.
This contractor model applies to both independent FoodRunz drivers and GigSmart drivers using the platform.
Driver Academy™ — Mandatory Certification
Before you can be assigned to any vendor shift, you must complete the Driver Academy™ and pass the certification quiz. The Academy is a smartphone-first training program covering delivery standards, customer service, conduct, safety, and FoodRunz operational protocols.
Your certification status is checked every night as part of the DriverPay™ settlement process. Uncertified drivers are excluded from payout eligibility until they complete the Academy and pass the quiz.
You can access the Driver Academy™ from your DriverDashboard. The training is self-paced, and your quiz score is recorded on your driver profile.
AI Driver Scheduler™ — How You Get Matched
Vendors submit shift requests through the AI Driver Scheduler™ using plain-language descriptions of their needs. The AI generates a staffing plan, the vendor approves it, and the system searches for matching drivers.
You are matched based on:
- Your preferred zones and delivery areas
- Your availability (days and times)
- Your expertise (standard delivery, catering, multi-stop, large orders, corporate events, etc.)
- Your driver tier (Standard, Silver, Gold, Elite)
- Your reliability score and customer service ratings
When matched, you receive a shift notification. You must accept or decline through the platform. Once accepted, the assignment appears in your active shifts and you are expected to arrive on time and complete all deliveries.
Shift Decline Policy. Declining three or more shifts within a 30-day rolling window triggers an automatic warning. Repeated declines may result in tier demotion. Your decline history is tracked on your profile.
DriverPay™ — How You Get Paid
DriverPay™ is FoodRunz's national driver compensation system. Every completed delivery creates a permanent ledger record (DriverPayTransaction) that tracks the delivery fee, verified tip, and any additional compensation owed to you.
Nightly Settlement. Each night, the DriverPay engine batches your eligible completed deliveries into a single settlement grouped by shift. Your settlement includes:
- Delivery compensation: $3.99 per completed delivery
- Verified tips: Customer gratuities confirmed through ClearPay™ reconciliation
- Additional compensation: Assignment guarantees, bonuses, or event flat fees
Settlements are paid out via Stripe Connect transfers to your connected bank account. You can choose nightly, instant, or weekly payout methods depending on your preference and tier.
Payout statuses track each transaction: Pending → Verified → Eligible → Paid. Transactions may be placed on Hold if a ClearPay™ exception is flagged, or marked Disputed if a vendor or driver raises a concern.
ClearPay™ Reconciliation — From Your Side
ClearPay™ verifies every completed delivery against the vendor's POS records before your payout is released. This ensures the delivery fee and tip you're owed match what the vendor collected.
What this means for you:
- If a delivery reconciles cleanly, your payout proceeds on the nightly schedule.
- If a mismatch is detected (missing POS order, missing tip, refund), your payout for that delivery may be held until the exception is resolved.
- FoodRunz's DriverPay AI automatically investigates flagged exceptions and may resolve them without vendor involvement.
- You can view the reconciliation status of every delivery in your earnings dashboard.
ClearPay™ protects you by creating a transparent, auditable record of every transaction — so disputes about what you're owed are backed by data.
Review Each Assignment Before Accepting
Before accepting a recurring assignment, you will see a Driver Opportunity Preview with key details. Review these carefully — they help you make an informed decision without guaranteeing future earnings.
Driver Opportunity Preview
| Information Provided | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Vendor name | The business you'll be driving for. |
| Business category | Restaurant, catering, food truck, etc. |
| City | Where the vendor is located. |
| Schedule requested | Shift type — single day, recurring, 30-day, Weekendz, catering event, corporate event, or multi-stop event. |
| Days of the week | Which days the vendor needs coverage. |
| Hours requested | Shift start and end times. |
| Estimated deliveries per shift | Average number of deliveries you can expect. |
| Estimated weekly deliveries | Projected weekly delivery volume. |
| Estimated monthly deliveries | Projected monthly delivery volume. |
| Typical delivery radius | How far deliveries typically go from the vendor. |
| Parking information | Where to park at the vendor location. |
| POS provider | The vendor's POS system (Square, Clover, Toast, etc.) — determines DriverPay™ integration level. |
| Tip payment schedule | When you'll get paid — end of shift, daily, weekly, or custom. |
| Minimum driver tier required | Whether the vendor requires Silver, Gold, or Elite tier. |
These details help you evaluate an assignment. Earnings are not guaranteed and depend on actual delivery volume, tips collected, and the vendor's tip payment schedule.
Driver Tiers & Performance
Your driver tier reflects your performance, reliability, and customer service. Higher tiers unlock access to premium shifts, catering events, and corporate deliveries:
- Standard: Entry tier — eligible for standard delivery shifts.
- Silver: Established reliability — eligible for multi-stop and higher-volume shifts.
- Gold: Strong track record — eligible for catering events and large orders.
- Elite: Top performers — eligible for corporate events, premium assignments, and priority matching.
Tier advancement is based on total deliveries completed, shift completion rate, customer service ratings, reliability score, and decline history. Vendors may set minimum tier requirements on their shift requests.
Reporting Payment Concerns
If a vendor fails to pay you as agreed:
- Submit a payment dispute through the FoodRunz platform with supporting evidence.
- FoodRunz investigates the claim and may request additional documentation.
- For verified non-payment, the Driver Payment Protection Program™ may advance payment to you at FoodRunz's discretion.
- FoodRunz pursues reimbursement from the vendor under the vendor agreement.
- The vendor may face suspension or deactivation for verified non-payment.
Note: This is not an unconditional payment guarantee. FoodRunz investigates each claim and reserves the right to deny advances in cases of fraud, disputed deliveries, or insufficient evidence.
Required Acknowledgments
The following acknowledgments must be checked during driver onboarding:
I understand that customer gratuities are paid by the vendor, not by FoodRunz.
I understand that FoodRunz does not process customer gratuities.
I understand that I must complete the Driver Academy™ and pass the certification quiz before I can be assigned to any shift.
I understand that my payouts are processed through DriverPay™ nightly settlements via Stripe Connect, and that only Academy-certified drivers are eligible for payout.
I understand that every completed delivery is reconciled through ClearPay™ and that flagged exceptions may delay my payout until resolved.
I understand that I will receive shift requests through the AI Driver Scheduler™ and that I must accept or decline through the platform.
I understand that declining three or more shifts within a 30-day period triggers a warning and may result in tier demotion.
I understand that I should review assignment details before accepting an opportunity.
I understand the process for reporting payment concerns through the dispute system.
I understand that the $3.99 delivery fee is collected by the vendor and designated for my compensation through DriverPay™.
I understand that the Driver Payment Protection Program™ may advance payment for verified non-payment claims at FoodRunz's discretion.
Related Resources
This Driver Handbook supplements — but does not replace — the formal Driver Agreement. In the event of any conflict, the executed Driver Agreement controls. FoodRunz reserves the right to update this handbook and platform policies at any time with notice to active drivers.