Riders are shouldering high fuel expenses while being pressured to take on multiple deliveries per trip, making living costs hard to cover. They call on the government for fuel subsidies and urge platforms to negotiate access to safety benefits. They note an increase in new riders joining, but with fewer jobs and unchanged delivery fees.
The rising fuel prices have severely affected food delivery riders. Previously, a few trips daily provided enough income for daily living, but now they must complete over 30 trips a day to earn around 1,000 baht.
Thairath Online's special report spoke with Anukul Ratchakuna, coordinator of the Rider Union Network, who said the surge in fuel costs heavily impacts riders since delivery fees have not increased accordingly. This mismatch with rising living costs means riders bear the extra expenses. Platforms have also changed work conditions and lowered delivery fees, adding to riders' financial burdens, worsened by a sudden 6-baht per liter fuel price hike.
Additionally, riders face hidden costs, such as traveling up to 8 kilometers to pick up orders as required by platforms, with no compensation for this travel expense.
Some platforms bundle deliveries—for example, a rider might earn 20 baht for the first job, but when three jobs are bundled, the rider should earn 60 baht. Instead, riders face reduced fees, such as 45 baht for three deliveries, effectively lowering their per-trip pay. For instance, riders in Krabi province earn the lowest fees nationwide, about 15 baht per trip.
Due to economic instability and job insecurity, more newcomers have entered the rider workforce seeking new or supplementary income. Rising fuel costs have made traditional jobs less viable, pushing people to ride after work hours, though not all find it profitable.
An influx of new riders does not mean higher delivery fees; with static job numbers, riders compete more for the same work, reducing individual earnings as jobs are shared among more people.
Part of the job distribution depends heavily on platform algorithms. For example, if 100 jobs exist but fewer than 100 riders see all jobs equally, the algorithm bundles jobs, so only about 50 riders may receive work, as platforms combine deliveries to cut costs further.
Previously, riders spent about 200 baht daily on fuel; now they pay 300 to 350 baht. To earn a minimum income, riders must work full days. For example, a rider finishing a regular job at 5 p.m. and working two to three hours might get no orders if the platform fails to assign jobs, wasting the fuel cost of that day. Thus, earning 1,000 baht or more daily requires working all day.
To cope with the fuel crisis, some riders take regular jobs and do deliveries as a side gig, while others rely on regular customers to ensure steady income.
Some bundled deliveries combine incompatible items, such as hot noodles with ice cream. Delivering these together risks food spoilage, leading to customer complaints. Some riders choose to pay compensation themselves due to lengthy platform response times, risking losses and potential bans.
Currently, riders must complete 30 deliveries daily to earn a living wage. One platform introduced a fuel subsidy program but requires riders to complete over 9,000 deliveries, an unrealistic target for most.
Riders want government agencies to assist with fuel costs and advocate on their behalf to platforms, which should not exploit workers by forcing multiple bundled deliveries, leaving many feeling their livelihoods are precarious.