'About helping people': Frigid weather keeps metro delivery drivers busy
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Local independent delivery drivers are taking advantage of the cold to make extra money as more Oklahomans rely on their services.
News 4 tagged along with DoorDash driver Erik Montgomery on Wednesday, who said the past few days have been busier than usual.
Montgomery said he started making deliveries during the pandemic to make extra money from individuals who couldn't or didn't want to take the risk of getting out.
On Wednesday, he said that it was fairly similar in that regard, with winter weather serving as the deterrent for some Oklahomans to avoid the roads.
"It is much busier," said Montgomery. "Orders are way bigger. You know, a $10 order could be a $20 order. The demand is higher."
For the better part of Wednesday, News 4 confirmed that the DoorDash driver app offered its independent contractor's bonus incentives to get out and deliver to busy areas across the metro. From Oklahoma City to Edmond, Yukon, Midwest City, Moore, and Norman, every major surrounding area saw an uptick in the need for deliveries.
Montgomery said some of the largest examples of that demand he saw on Wednesday, were one order for nearly $20 to drive five miles and another order for $30 that required him to drive only 12 miles.
The convenience doesn't make up for the toll that arctic temperatures and dangerous road conditions take.
"It's very cold," said Montgomery. "Extremities get really cold. We just play it safe and pray to God nothing happens."
Montgomery says conditions like Wednesday can be rough for inexperienced delivery drivers. He said they should always make sure they have their vehicle maintenance done and have appropriate cold weather gear in their vehicles since each extra minute spent in arctic cold can pose health risks.
Montgomery also said that as nice as it is to receive extra financial motivation on cold weather days, he also thinks it's important to take the responsibility of delivering to individuals in need seriously.
"It's more about helping people," said Montgomery. "I mean, yes there is a financial part of it, it's a plus to it, but it's just good to give back."