Looking for a consistent delivery job, with plenty of demand and the opportunity to build your own schedule? The Spark Delivery Driver App, Walmart’s proprietary delivery platform, could be perfect for you!
Walmart Inc. is one of the top five biggest global retailers – yes, global – selling everything from groceries to toys to electronics and so much more.
It was only a matter of time before Walmart got into the delivery business, and, in 2018, Walmart created the Spark Driver App.
The Spark Driver App dispatches gig workers to pick up items at Walmart and then deliver them to shoppers at their homes. Sound familiar?
Keep reading to see if Spark Delivery is a gig job you should add to your repertoire.
What is a Walmart Spark Driver?
Spark is a delivery service platform where drivers are hired as independent contractors, who can choose their hours and batches, to deliver groceries and other products.
Spark delivery is available in more than 600 cities across the U.S. While customers place orders via the Walmart Spark app, Spark delivery drivers are processed via a third party called Delivery Drivers, Inc. (DDI), which processes driver screenings, background checks, payments, and more.
If you see messages from DDI once you’ve started delivering on Spark Driver, that’s who they are! In some cases, the drivers will be responsible for shopping and delivering the order, but in most cases, the driver will go to a designated pickup spot, have the items loaded into their vehicle, and then deliver them to the customer’s delivery address.
Spark delivery drivers can deliver anything from groceries to Dotcom orders, which are “general merchandise, non-grocery products” like shampoo, cleaning supplies, and more.
Walmart Spark Delivery Driver Application Process
First, find out if Spark is in your area on the Join Spark Driver page of the website. If it is available in your area, you can sign up to drive. You’ll need to scroll through the list of cities and states, then choose your region before signing up.
Once you choose your delivery location, you’ll be able to fill out a basic form to get started.
Magan shares that she decided to join Spark Delivery because the opportunity to earn more, consistently, was better:
I started driving on the Spark Driver platform after previously driving for a different food delivery company, because I wasn’t getting as much business as I wanted to. I’ve since changed my focus and prefer to drive on the Spark Driver platform, because the money I was earning was more per trip and more consistent in my area.
Spark Driver Requirements
Requirements may vary by location, but for the most part, to become a Walmart Spark driver, you’ll need:
- to be 18 years or older
- have a reliable vehicle (you cannot use motorcycles or e-bikes to deliver with Spark Delivery)
- have proof of auto insurance
Once you fill out the form you’ll receive an email from Delivery Drivers, Inc (DDI) to log into their portal and fill out more paperwork so they can get your background check started.
The background check will likely take 2-7 business days but may take longer. You’ll receive updates from DDI throughout the approval process.
If you have any questions throughout your onboarding process, you can contact DDI via email at onboarding@ddiwork.com.
After you’re onboarded, you can download the app to get started with your first delivery. The app is available on both iOS and Android mobile devices.
Types of Spark Driver Deliveries & Completing Spark Deliveries
When you’re ready to start receiving delivery requests, you simply go onto the app and switch on “Spark Now” to start receiving requests.
Each offer will provide the information you need to determine if it’s a job you want to take or if you’ll pass.
Like many gig workers, Magan shares that she signed up with Spark Delivery for the flexibility:
The aspect I like the most about the Spark Driver Platform is that I get to set my own schedule. It’s important to me to be available for my family when they need me. If I had a conventional job, I would be restricted to being there for them after my work hours. Other aspects I like are being outside and not sitting in front of a desk all day, learning the routes and roads of my community, and going somewhere or learning something new every day.
Your Spark Delivery request alert includes the estimated minimum payment, pickup and delivery timeframe, locations, and in some markets, the tip amount.
You can only go online during the delivery hours of the store(s) in your market.
Types of Spark Driver Delivery Orders
There are three types of Spark Driver delivery orders you could make:
- Curbside orders: Simply arrive, check in at a reserved curbside parking space, and wait for a Walmart associate to load the order into your vehicle.
- Dotcom orders: These are orders that are non-grocery, like cleaning supplies, home and beauty, etc. You will pick these up inside the store.
- Express deliveries: This delivery option allows customers to receive their grocery orders in two hours or less. You will pick these orders up inside the store.
Spark Delivery Types
Here are the different delivery types you may come across within the app:
- Round Robin: Round-Robin offers are those that are sent directly to an individual driver based on a combination of factors, such as proximity and metrics.
- First Come, First Serve: This type of offer is broadcast to all available drivers in a particular zone. Typically, these offers are sent closer to the scheduled pick-up time than Round Robin offers.
- Surge: In certain situations when order volume is high and driver supply is low, you may see offers sent with higher earnings – “Surge Pricing” – to help incentivize available drivers to accept.
Wondering about how big orders could be? Don’t worry – you’ll know what to plan for based on Spark delivery’s order size chart:
Magan shared what a typical week looks like for her as a Spark Delivery driver, and it certainly leaves a lot of room for flexibility – perfect for parents, caregivers, or those who want to earn money on their own schedule!
My Mondays and Tuesdays are typically slower for deliveries, so I tend to spend more time at home with my toddler or doing family errands on those days. That makes my Wednesdays through Sundays more consistent with deliveries (if we aren’t traveling on the weekend). I usually make deliveries starting after breakfast and wrap up around 4:30 p.m. during the week but I adjust during the school year. If I feel I need more opportunities for earning, I will make deliveries after dinner and/or after my daughter’s bedtime. I am super lucky to have a supportive husband and couldn’t do this without him.
Magan adds that, as a busy parent, the best times for her to earn the most are evenings and weekends:
Since school has been back in session, the best time for me to make deliveries has been in the evenings after 5 p.m. and on weekends. I’ve learned to counterbalance this by focusing on my personal life more during the beginning of the week (Monday and Tuesday).
How Much Do Spark Drivers Make?
According to the drivers we spoke to, Spark delivery drivers can make $15-20 per delivery, depending on the type of order and where you drive.
Suppose your market has several Walmarts participating in Spark delivery (not every Walmart participates!) and many people in your city use Spark. In that case, you’ll be busier than a smaller market with fewer Walmarts and/or orders.
Spark Driver Tips
Spark delivery drivers can accept tips. Drivers will see pre-delivery tips listed in the Earnings tab of the Spark Driver App 48 hours after delivery.
Customers can make edits to their pre-delivery tip up to 48 hours after the delivery is completed. Spark delivery drivers keep 100% of their tips.
How is Spark Driver Earnings Calculated?
As with other app-delivery services, pay isn’t clear-cut.
According to Spark’s FAQ, driver earnings are calculated “based on a variety of factors, such as distance traveled, delays encountered at pick-up, order size, complexities at the delivery drop-off location, and so forth.” Spark drivers are paid every Tuesday via their Branch app.
Promotions and Incentives
Spark drivers can also earn incentives to boost their earnings, including:
- Lump-Sum Incentives: This baseline incentive type offers eligible drivers one defined bonus payment for completing a set number of trips.
- Example: Complete ten trips between X/XX – X/XX and earn an extra $30.
- Guaranteed Earnings Incentives: If eligible drivers do not earn a set amount of earnings after completing a certain number of trips, Spark Driver will pay the difference, making the established earning amount guaranteed
- Example: Make $300 guaranteed as a new driver by completing 15 trips within the first seven days.
- Tiered Incentives: Tiered incentives include a series of Lump Sum incentives presented in increasing tiers, providing a higher total earning opportunity for each subsequent tier.
- Example: Complete four trips to earn an extra $20, six trips to earn an extra $20, or eight trips to earn an additional $35.
- Pay-Per-Trip Incentives: Simply put, this incentive provides an extra earnings amount upon completion of a single trip.
- Example: Earn an extra $5 for each trip completed after 4 pm today.
Spark Driver Personal Experience
So what is delivering with the Spark Driver App really like?
We got the firsthand scoop from small-town Texas Spark Driver Magan B. Below, she shares with us what she likes most about being a Spark Driver, how she sets her schedule, and how goal-setting helps keep her on track.
How did you sign up to be a driver on the Spark Driver platform?
I signed up to be a driver on the Spark Driver platform through the Spark Driver App in a few simple steps.
Why did you start driving on the Spark Driver platform?
I started driving on the Spark Driver platform after previously driving for a different food delivery company because I wasn’t getting as much business as I wanted to. I’ve since changed my focus and prefer to drive on the Spark Driver platform, because the money I was earning was more per trip and more consistent in my area.
What do you like about being a driver on the Spark Driver platform?
The aspect I like the most about the Spark Driver Platform is that I get to set my own schedule. It’s important to me to be available for my family when they need me. If I had a conventional job, I would be restricted to being there for them after my work hours. Other aspects I like are being outside and not sitting in front of a desk all day, learning the routes and roads of my community, and going somewhere or learning something new every day.
What does your average week look like? When do you make most of your deliveries?
My Mondays and Tuesdays are typically slower for deliveries, so I tend to spend more time at home with my toddler or doing family errands on those days. That makes my Wednesdays through Sundays more consistent with deliveries (if we aren’t traveling on the weekend). I usually make deliveries starting after breakfast and wrap up around 4:30 p.m. during the week but I adjust during the school year. If I feel I need more opportunities for earning, I will make deliveries after dinner and/or after my daughter’s bedtime. I am super lucky to have a supportive husband and couldn’t do this without him.
What’s the best time for you to make deliveries?
Since school has been back in session, the best time for me to make deliveries has been in the evenings after 5 p.m. and on weekends. I’ve learned to counterbalance this by focusing on my personal life more during the beginning of the week (Monday and Tuesday).
What can you share about your earnings?
My earnings enable me to provide for my family. I let the customers know how much I appreciate them for giving me the support I need to take care of my loved ones. I’m looking forward to a, hopefully, busy holiday season!
What is your recommendation for drivers interested in the Spark Driver platform?
I set a daily financial goal for myself each day, week, and month. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be as intentional with my opportunities. This helps me decide which offers to meet my personal goals and are the best use of my time. I live in a smaller town so learning what that means took me a while, so I’d also recommend having patience.
Should You Sign Up and Deliver with Walmart Spark?
If Spark is available in your area, check it out as another app to help fill in your gaps. Just keep in mind, if it’s new to the area or new to the specific store, it might take time for the store to understand how to keep up with the demand.
For Magan, who lives in a smaller town, she said it’s crucial to set daily earnings goals for yourself. This will help keep you on track and help you make the most of your time on the road:
I set a daily financial goal for myself each day, week and month. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be as intentional with my opportunities. This helps me decide which offers meet my personal goals and are the best use of my time. I live in a smaller town so learning what that means took me a while, so I’d also recommend having patience.
