The Spark Driver platform manages the delivery logistics for Walmart and Sam’s Club, utilizing independent contractors to fulfill a variety of customer orders. As the demand for grocery and general merchandise delivery grows, many prospective drivers wonder about the specific requirements of the job. This article addresses the common question of whether drivers are always required to personally shop for the items on every accepted trip.
The Different Types of Spark Driver Trips
The requirement for a driver to shop directly correlates with the specific category of order accepted through the Spark app. The platform organizes assignments into three distinct service models that dictate the driver’s responsibilities upon arrival at the store. These categories are Curbside Pickup, Delivery Only, and the comprehensive Shopping & Delivery service. The nature of the trip assignment determines whether the driver’s role begins with item retrieval or merely package transport.
The driver’s involvement is defined by the service model, meaning shopping is only required for one specific type of order. This structural separation provides flexibility to drivers who may prefer only package transportation or those who enjoy the higher pay associated with in-store work.
Shopping and Delivery Trips
The Shopping and Delivery (S&D) trip places the full responsibility of order fulfillment on the driver before the delivery phase begins. Upon accepting an S&D order, the driver uses the Spark app as an interactive shopping list, which often provides guidance based on presumed store aisle layouts. The process involves systematically locating each product, scanning the item’s barcode to confirm accuracy, and placing it into the designated shopping cart.
When an item is out of stock, the driver must follow the app’s protocol for managing substitutions, which may involve selecting a comparable item or communicating with the customer for approval. After collecting all available items, the driver proceeds to a self-checkout station or a designated lane to finalize the transaction. This in-store process is the most labor-intensive part of the delivery cycle, preceding the actual transportation to the customer’s residence.
Curbside and Delivery Only Trips
Many trip types on the platform exclude the in-store shopping component, significantly altering the driver’s workflow and time commitment. Curbside Pickup orders involve the driver checking into a designated store spot via the app and waiting for store associates to bring the prepared order out. The driver verifies the order details and then waits for the packages to be loaded directly into their vehicle by the store staff.
Delivery Only trips represent the simplest logistical model, as they often involve non-grocery items or pre-sorted general merchandise packages. For these assignments, the driver typically bypasses the main store area and proceeds to a designated pickup location, such as a back loading dock or a separate package room. The driver’s only task is to confirm the package count and load the items.
How to Identify Shopping Requirements in the App
Drivers must identify the nature of the trip before acceptance to ensure they are prepared for the required tasks. The offer card within the Spark Driver app clearly labels the assignment type, allowing drivers to make an informed decision regarding the time and effort involved.
Shopping and Delivery trips are explicitly marked with an “S&D” label or a shopping basket icon, visually communicating the in-store requirement. Curbside Pickup orders are often identified by a specific check-in icon or the “Curbside” label on the offer card. Delivery Only trips are usually labeled with the “Delivery Only” designation, sometimes accompanied by a box icon. Ignoring these visual cues can lead to unexpected time delays once the driver arrives at the pickup location.
The Trade-Offs of Shopping Orders
Drivers often weigh the potential compensation against the time expenditure when deciding between an S&D trip and a non-shopping trip. Shopping orders generally feature a higher base pay compared to a standard Curbside or Delivery Only order, reflecting the added labor of item selection and scanning. However, the time spent shopping can significantly increase the total duration of the trip, potentially lowering the driver’s effective hourly earnings.
The decision is also influenced by specific variables, such as the size of the order, measured by the item count, and the driver’s familiarity with the store layout. A small S&D order in a familiar, well-organized store may be highly efficient, while a large order requiring many substitutions in an unfamiliar location can become highly time-consuming. Drivers must estimate the total time, including shopping, checkout, and delivery, against the offered payout to determine the order’s true profitability.
Maximizing Efficiency on Shopping Trips
For drivers choosing to accept the higher-paying S&D orders, maximizing in-store efficiency is necessary to increase profitability.
Strategies for Efficient Shopping
- Learning the specific layout of frequently visited stores allows drivers to bypass the app’s suggested route and adopt a more direct path, significantly reducing travel time between aisles.
- Grouping items mentally or physically by cold, frozen, and dry categories before beginning the shop streamlines the process, ensuring temperature-sensitive items are retrieved last.
- Efficient substitution practices involve quickly identifying acceptable alternatives when an item is out of stock instead of spending time searching for the exact match.
- Drivers should communicate swiftly with the customer through the app regarding these changes to prevent delays at the checkout counter.
- Avoiding peak shopping times, such as mid-afternoons or weekends, often means encountering shorter checkout lines and fewer obstructions in the aisles, speeding up the entire process.