If you have ever wondered why two days with the same route and the same number of stops can lead to different pay outcomes, start time is often the reason. Even a small shift in when your day begins can change the flow of your route, the amount of time you spend on the clock, and the chances of earning overtime. These changes are not always obvious to new drivers, but they make a real difference over time.
How Start Times Shape Route Flow
Many stations release vehicles in waves. When you start on the earlier side of your normal window, you often reach your first neighborhood ahead of competing traffic. Earlier routes tend to move more smoothly because fewer delivery vehicles from other companies are on the road. Several studies from transportation logistics firms have shown that road congestion increases steadily every hour after 8 a.m. This means that a 20- to 30-minute difference in your start can shift you into heavier traffic later in the day, even when your mileage stays the same.
Less traffic early in the day usually means fewer delays finding parking, crossing busy streets, or reaching apartment complexes. These small moments add up. A smoother route flow increases the chances of finishing early enough to either take on additional tasks or qualify for natural overtime as the week progresses.
How Start Times Influence Overtime
Overtime in last mile delivery is often tied to weekly hours rather than daily totals. A slightly earlier start can push your finish time just far enough into the afternoon to create consistent weekly overtime. A slightly later start can do the opposite.
Most drivers find that once the first day of the week runs long, the rest of the week follows the same pattern. Research published by workforce scheduling analysts shows that the first shift of the week often sets a “time anchor” for the rest of the days. This means that if you begin Monday later than usual, your finish time tends to drift later throughout the week, which can reduce paid overtime if your employer has strict caps or adjusts routes to keep hours controlled.
The Hidden Impact of Midday Volume
Parcel volume reaches midday peaks at many stations due to incoming trailers and mid-shift sorting waves. If your start time pushes you into a busy return period when heading back for rescues or supplemental packages, you are more likely to receive extra work that extends your hours. Drivers who routinely begin earlier sometimes miss these peak waves entirely, which reduces their overtime hours even when they are moving efficiently.
This is why two drivers with equal performance can earn different amounts in a given week simply because their start windows are not identical.
Why New Drivers Often Miss These Patterns
New drivers tend to focus on stop count and mileage because those are the most visible parts of the job. It takes time to recognize how start times influence building operations, traffic density, loading delays, and midday volume. Veterans often notice that their most profitable weeks follow periods of consistent starts, while irregular start times lead to unpredictable checks.
How You Can Use This to Increase Your Take Home Pay
Here are practical ways to make start time work in your favor.
Ask about expected launch windows. Even when schedules cannot change, knowing the earliest realistic launch time helps you plan your day and avoid drifting into slower start habits.
Arrive ready to roll as soon as your vehicle is released. Delays at the beginning of the day ripple forward, especially once traffic thickens.
Track your weekly hours. If you pay attention to when your pay tends to peak, you will notice patterns tied to your start time.
Plan around station volume. Understanding when your building receives midday freight can help you anticipate whether you will be pulled in for more work and whether it benefits you financially.
Keep your start times consistent whenever possible. Even a 20-minute difference each day adds up to real weekly hour swings.
The Bottom Line
Start times are one of the quietest but most powerful factors affecting take home pay in last mile delivery. A consistent and slightly earlier start time often leads to smoother routes, better pacing, and more dependable overtime opportunities. Once you understand how these patterns work, you can make decisions that increase your earning potential without needing to change routes, apps, or equipment.
