A DoorDash driver has gone viral after revealing the modest sum he made from an exhausting 12-hour shift, sparking a heated discussion online about gig economy pay.
Spencer Joyce, who works in the Virginia Beach area, posted a video to Instagram documenting his challenge to accept every order he received during the marathon shift. He began work at 8am and didn’t finish until around 9:15pm, racking up almost 10 active hours of deliveries once short breaks were factored in.
By the end of the day, Joyce had driven 221 miles. His pre-tax earnings — before factoring in fuel, vehicle wear-and-tear, insurance and other costs — came to just $215. His largest tip was $14.25 from a Food Lion grocery order, while the smallest was $3 from a Starbucks run.
“I’m tired as hell and my car needs a tune up badly now,” he told viewers in the clip.
Reaction to the video was swift. One commenter wrote, “Damn man, you could make more working pretty much anywhere.” Another called the pay “horrible for 12 hours,” while a third admitted, “I thought you were going to say between $400-$500.” Others expressed respect for his determination but warned that delivery apps aren’t a path to wealth.
In a follow-up post, Joyce clarified that this shift was part of an experiment for a YouTube video on his channel, Embrace The Suck 21. Normally, he rejects orders under $6 or those that pay less than $1 per mile, and he often works across multiple apps, including Instacart.
Speaking to UNILAD after the video gained traction, Joyce explained he has been doing DoorDash on and off since 2019 for extra income. Recently, he found himself relying on it more heavily after losing stable housing and moving into his car while waiting to start a trucking job.
“I fell on hard times after just getting my Commercial Driver’s License & having to wait a little bit to start work,” he said. “Doing DoorDash and Instacart was my lifeline.”
Joyce also revealed that he begins a new job as a truck driver on August 11th, adding that he never expected the video to go viral.
The post has reignited debate about the realities of gig work in the US, with many pointing out that headline earnings often shrink dramatically once expenses are deducted — a reality many casual viewers of such challenges may not consider.
DoorDash has been contacted for comment.