A Day in a life of Delivery driver in Kathmandu
Many people think this job is easy. It’s not rocket science. You’re just literally dropping off packages and giving them to people.
Having spent a better chunk of time in America, I should say I am familiar with all kinds of unconventional and regular jobs from pizza delivery guy to restaurant servers to on call musicians. At a certain point in my life, I thought I would be a radio jockey. Toned voice, with a good sense of humor and mingling with fabulous people seemed fun. I even got myself trained from an institute but it was thought of as an unconventional part-time job some 20 years ago.
Now fast forward to my current scenario and having worked as a delivery driver for my own company called “The Saal Leaf” for two weeks made me think how unappreciated this job is. I started off doing the job myself because I wanted to know who our real customers will be and what better way to know customers than doing them right yourself. Couple of days ago, I phoned a comrade in China who told me that, during the Corona lockdown, most blocks of flats ordered their food and groceries collectively and the supermarket delivery workers were managing to keep everyone supplied. Sometimes common sense solutions emerge in times of crisis, much more sensible than the individualized day-to-day relations of late capitalism.As many people stay indoors to avoid the spread of COVID-19, drivers on delivery apps are seeing an increase in sales.
We’ve all done it. OK, at least I know I have. As I drop off a pack of pizza, package of food to families, offices and individuals, they don’t see who I am but the job I am doing. Most of the customers just see I am delivering food to them. Some of them, who knows me will be like I am doing a good job, setting and example as a girl who is delivering food to them. And that is the real message to this unlikely tale: Let this story be a reminder to never, ever underestimate your employees.
“When people think about delivering food, they just talk about the kind of food they will be ordering but nobody talks about the drivers. So I kept a diary on the job. This is what a full busy work day in the life of delivery driver in Kathmandu looked like.
Monday
Many people think this job is easy, okay? It’s not rocket science. You’re just literally dropping off packages and giving them to people. I don’t have to deliver hundreds of packages like an Amazon delivery drivers in United States but it still comes with the own set of difficulties. “It’s got its ups and downs, man. I’m not going to lie to you. The day I thought to write this, we had to deliver almost 30 food packages and it was father’s day. The government had still imposed partial lockdown and the next day it was going to be full shutdown. We spent an entire day planning and shopping till late night, day before and today we woke up at 5 to get things done. We also hired extra help and told him “no packages come back, period,” which caused a lot of stress, he said. “It’s like running around like a chicken without a head trying to get everything done.” Since we were just starting out we were real careful we don’t miss any of them. For many it was a big day of celebration where they wanted to surprise their dads. We were able to deliver all the packages except for one box, because the item from our vendor didn’t reach on time and on top of that it was raining so heavy. I felt real bad for that and greatly apologized the receiver.
I’ve been home from work now for about an hour and I’m trying to catch up on all the things that I couldn’t do. My work day lasts 10 hours, plus extra half hour because I live nearby my workplace. This is the best part of having a workplace nearby as I have two small kids and currently because of this pandemic they don’t go to school. My mother is looking after them, I can come back anytime to take a quick peek and go back to work. My greatest fear is that, God forbid, something happens to them I gotta get back super quick and look after. But working today wasn’t too bad. There were no hiccups.
This is a very solitary job, too. It can get lonely because you literally are driving around for 5–8 hours by yourself with no one to talk to. When I get home from work after all those hours, my kids are sometimes asleep, my mother in bed already, and I feel like I missed out on the day.
Today I didn’t do all the deliveries. I tried my hardest but there’s only so much you can do in 9 hours with traffic plus walking. It was very busy day, no breaks in between. I have to do back and forth many times in the other days but today we just planned a route and delivered them one by one. It’s the little things about this job that annoy me sometimes. Making phone calls, choosing to meet nearby, handing over packages. Though how happy they look after receiving them, I always wished they have a little common sense while they are explaining the routes. The real problem is customers that do not consider their unique situation before ordering. If you know your shit is weird, SAY SOMETHING OR DO SOMETHING. If your building tends to be lockdown all the time, bring your ass down. If your building doesn’t have access from the road, surrounding instead by other buildings and can’t even be seen normally, come to the damn street. If you have a disability and cannot come down, then give the best directions of your life in the delivery notes. If the roads at your place are under construction, tell the drivers the way is off road and to come the other way. I guarantee the policy of our company to not leave the motorbike stemmed from the batshit crazy way customers believe that delivery drivers will simply “know.”
So at the end of the day, you feel good in a way, when you hear our service was good. An old man was happy to get food surprisingly from us, which was of course paid by his son living in the US. He was like you have to live to see this day of the power of technology. For me, what matters most is how you see yourself. While staying humble is always a good thing, I don’t pay much attention to what other people say or think. Entrepreneurship can be a lonely road, but If you live by your values, pursue your passion, and treat people fairly and respectfully — you should feel really good about yourself.
There will always be skeptics, naysayer and critics — and they will continue living their conventional, riskless and uninspired life while you go out and change the world.
Don’t let anyone stop you.
Build on.
#fooddelivery #deliverydriver #worklife #covid19 #nepal
