With the ongoing Iran-US war contributing to a significant spike in gas prices, DoorDash is stepping in to support its drivers in the US and Canada.
The company was announced on Monday, implementing a temporary program aimed at easing the financial burden on Dashers who rely on their vehicles for deliveries.
DoorDash’s relief program, which runs through April 26, offers weekly payments to eligible drivers. People who drive at least 125 miles per week can receive payments starting at $5, which translates to an estimated savings of $1 to $1.50 per gallon. The support could be particularly important for drivers in suburban and rural areas who travel longer distances.
Additionally, drivers who use DoorDash’s Crimson Debit Card will benefit from an additional 10% cash back on gas purchases, potentially saving them up to $1.90 per gallon.
Gas is one of the biggest expenses for delivery drivers. Unlike traditional employees, gig workers are responsible for covering their own expenses, including fuel, vehicle maintenance and insurance. A Human Rights Watch research from May 2025 found that gig workers in Texas spent an average of $100 per week on fuel, or $2.76 for each hour worked. At the time of the survey, the price of natural gas in Texas was about $3 per gallon.
Now the situation is even more tragic. According to AAAthe national average for regular gas is now just under $3.96 per gallon. That’s over $1 higher than it was a month ago. In some areas, prices have even reached around $4 per gallon.
As gas prices rise, weekly fuel costs for drivers can rise dramatically without any increase in pay rates from the rigs they work for. At the same time, demand for deliveries may fluctuate due to the higher overall cost of living, meaning drivers can’t always count on more orders to offset costs. The result: Drivers earn less per delivery while working the same or longer hours. For many, this turns gigging from a flexible source of income into a financially unsustainable job, forcing some drivers to reduce hours or leave the industry altogether.
Techcrunch event
San Francisco, California
|
13-15 October 2026
The gas reward program resembles a similar program that DoorDash implemented in 2022 when gas prices rose after Russia invaded Ukraine. In the same year, Uber introduced a fuel surcharge to support drivers and Grubhub increased pay for its drivers in the face of record gas prices.
It remains uncertain whether other delivery services will follow DoorDash’s lead this time.
