DoorDash drivers are starting to notice a new type of order called DashLink that is a lot different than the everyday lunch delivery.
On a DashLink order, you pick up multiple packages from one location—like a DashMart— then deliver each package to a different location.
DashLink offers are typically longer delivery routes. The orders that we reviewed had 25+ stops with up to 40 miles of driving.
So far, the initial payouts have been big! Check out this DashLink offer that paid $245 for 28 stops.
$245 for one (very long) delivery route!
One large DashLink offer can be enough to hit your earnings goal for the day.
For now, you have to be in an eligible market to receive DashLink orders and DoorDash hasn’t said exactly where they are available.
In eligible cities, DoorDash launched a Waitlist feature that allows you to get in line for a DashLink order. If you get the invite to the Waitlist, definitely sign up.
Read on to learn more!
More examples of Dashlink Offers
The Dasher below got a $191 offer to do 28 tops on a 43-mile route. That’s over $4 per mile!
Most Dashers would jump to accept a $191 order
Below, a DashLink offer for $120 with 24 stops on a 20-mile route. Petco is the pickup location.
24 stops for Petco customers. Make sure your car has enough room
The Dasher below joined the Dashlink Waitlist and got a $129 offer for a Petco delivery. It took 3 hours to do 14 stops over a 73 mile route, with a 30 mile drive home.
$129 for 70 miles is an offer that most would take
How to get DashLink orders
DashLink orders appear just like any other offer. But in cities with the Dashlink Waitlist feature, joining the waitlist can significantly increase your chances of landing an order.
Being in proximity to a pickup location can increase your chances of getting a DashLink offer if you aren’t on the Waitlist. But if you’re on the Waitlist, your proximity doesn’t matter.
The Dashlink Waitlist
DoorDash may invite you to a Dashlink Waitlist if you are in an eligible market and if your account was preselected.
The Waitlist allows you to sign up ahead of time to receive Dashlink offers later in the same day. Offers are prioritized for drivers on the Waitlist
Once you’re on the Waitlist you’ll see the total number of offers for the day, the number of drivers waiting in line, your estimated pickup window, the pickup address, and the average estimated order earnings.
Keep an eye out for the Waitlist invite
How to sign up and join the Waitlist
DoorDash will send a Waitlist link if you are eligible. Tap on the link to sign up.
When available, the option to join the Waitlist appears in the Dasher app near the Dash Now button.
How the Waitlist works
Waitlists open early each morning around 7 AM and spots are limited. You won’t be able to join if there are already enough drivers signed up.
Waitlist spots may open later in the day if drivers don’t accept offers, so check back to see if a spot opens up for you.
After you get on the Waitlist, note your estimated pickup time and make sure you are online close to that time.
DashLink offers will pop up in the same way as a typical offer. You can decline offers, but you will be removed from the Waitlist if you decline more than 2.
You are free to pick up other orders while you are on the Waitlist.
The Waitlist feature will show you a pickup location with a highlighted area around it, but you don’t have to be inside that zone to receive offers.
DashLink orders are usually for DashMart, Petco, and other retailers
For now, Dashers have shared DashLink orders for Petco and DashMart. DoorDash may also use DashLink to subcontract a route of same-day deliveries from other retailers or shippers.
With 20+ deliveries from stores like Petco, make sure to leave plenty of room in your car. And if you drive a smaller 2-door vehicle, you might not have enough room to fit every package.
Long routes can mean more miles and complications
Any Amazon Flex driver can tell you that long delivery routes come with a new set of complications.
DoorDash drivers are used to hassles like no parking, no gate code, and customers who don’t pick up their phones, but when you have 25+ stops, complications can seriously extend your day and lower your earnings per hour.
Some DashLink orders also have high mileage. You have to keep a close eye on the payout per mile of a DashLink order and try to target $1.50/mile or more. A $100 DashLink order isn’t very profitable if you have to drive 150 miles.
The pay is high for now, but will it stay that way?
Some of the earliest DashLink orders that we’ve seen have impressively high pay. The orders shared earlier in this post are for $120, $191, and $245. That’s $4–$10 per mile!
Meanwhile, pay for regular DoorDash orders seems lower than ever. Earn by Time offers for only $12 per hour are common, and many deliveries only offer base pay for up to half an hour of work.
So why do DashLink orders pay so much? If DashLink is like other new order types, pay always starts out high and then trends lower as time goes on.
DoorDash needs to kickstart the program and get Dashers into the habit of doing DashLink. As the program matures, pay will probably decrease closer in line with typical order pay.
Other special order types on DoorDash
Tamika says
I would love for it to be permanent feature for drivers to do dashlink. I would rather do delivery than deliver food personally so hopefully Door dash will make it permanent especially in Michigan.
Doug H says
If you like that type of work you should try Amazon Flex too
Anonymous Dasher says
I do feel that stores should utilize USPS for orders that are more than 10 miles away, as they have apparently reduced the Dashlink pay since this post was made. I keep getting offers that would take me as far as 25 to 50 miles from home and pay $1.50 to $1.72 per mile for the route or less. With the same distance driving home, that would be only $0.75 to $0.86 per mile. Most CA drivers expect orders to pay $2 or more per mile due to the high cost of living here and $5+ gas prices.
USPS has a new commercial ground shipping method with very reasonable rates, and can deliver items in only 1 to 2 days within the state or even a few states over. We already have the infrastructure for fast, reliable shipping so why not use it? A clothing store here is sending hundreds of orders by Dashlink that it would make much more sense to ship in my opinion.
Dashlink offer amounts are also not taking into account bridge tolls. A $7 toll on the way there or home would eat into those earnings even more.
Doug H says
Thanks for your comment. I’d love to balance out this post with examples of lower-paying orders. If you screenshot any, send them over to me at [email protected] and I’ll post them!
Sty says
The Miles are always WRONG… it’s not 23 miles it more like 1 dollar per mile and you might end up 75 miles away from your home. Also you do not get peak pay if it is active. No tip nothing. Choose these offers very wisely. Dashlink has been going on for about a year now. The orders could be 35+ packages not 20.. lol I will gladly share my screenshots of the bs dashlink orders.
Doug H says
Thanks for the comment. Go ahead and send some screenshots to me if you want: [email protected]