DoorDashers are getting paid to close Waymo's self-driving car doors

Source: Engadget

Background

A Reddit user in the DoorDash driver community reported receiving an offer to close a Waymo vehicle’s door. The job paid a guaranteed fee of $6.25, with an additional $5 after the DoorDasher verified completion. Waymo confirmed to 404Media and TechCrunch that it is indeed paying Dashers to shut the doors of its self‑driving cars, as a door left open would otherwise prevent the vehicle from moving.

Pilot Program Details

Waymo and DoorDash are running a pilot program in Atlanta. If a Waymo vehicle’s door is left ajar, nearby Dashers receive a notification. Because Waymo’s self‑driving vehicles cannot depart with an open door, the program is presented as a way to improve fleet efficiency. Waymo told 404Media that the program began earlier this year and that payments are structured to ensure “competitive and fair compensation for Dashers.”

Previous Collaboration

This is not the first partnership between the two companies. In October 2025, Waymo’s self‑driving cars became a delivery option for DoorDash customers in Phoenix, Arizona. Customers opting for autonomous delivery must select “opt in to autonomous delivery” at checkout and retrieve their order from the car’s trunk upon arrival.

Source

Originally published on Engadget: