Predictable routes. Predictable pay.
Four ways to drive with Shuttlebee — pick the one that fits the life you're trying to build.
Our routes are scheduled, recurring, and prepaid. That means you know your week before it starts, and you get paid every Monday for the week before.
Path A — Staff Driver
Steady paycheck. Real benefits. We provide the vehicle.
Who this fits
You want predictable hours, a regular paycheck, and to be home for dinner. You don't want to own or maintain a vehicle, and you'd rather have benefits than maximum flexibility.
What you drive
A Shuttlebee vehicle, on assigned routes — school runs, after-school activities, contracted routes in your area.
What you take home
- –$18–$25 per hour, W-2, depending on route type, experience, and driving record.
- –Up to ~25% more per activation for backup-route drivers who've prepared for additional routes and are on call.
- –Paid weekly. Direct deposit hits 2–3 business days after Monday's settlement.
What's covered for you
Vehicle, fuel, insurance, maintenance, dispatch, route planning, ongoing training.
What you cover
A small set of clearances required by law for anyone driving children. In Pennsylvania, that's roughly $52 total for fingerprint, PATCH, and child-abuse clearances — submitted directly by you because the state requires it. Pediatric First Aid and CPR certification within 30 days of your first route; Shuttlebee refunds the cost after 60 days of service.
The path forward
First revenue route around week 3 after onboarding. Eligible for health, dental, vision, PTO, and 401(k) with match after 12 months. Senior Driver at year one. Driver Trainer at year two. Internal moves available into dispatch, safety, fleet, or recruiting.
Path B — Lease-to-Own
Drive now. Own it later.
Who this fits
You want to own a vehicle but don't have the capital to buy one outright today. You're a career driver who wants stability now and independence in two to three years.
What you drive
The vehicle you're buying. It's yours from day one in everything but title.
What you take home
- –$25–$35 per hour effective, after expenses, as a 1099 contractor.
- –Lease payment is auto-deducted from each weekly settlement, so you never have to budget for it separately.
- –Paid weekly, same Monday rhythm.
What's covered for you
On-route liability, dispatch, technology, customer base, route assignments.
What you cover
Fuel, maintenance, your own taxes, and commercial auto insurance. The lease payment itself, deducted from settlement.
The path forward
Same 4-week onboarding as Path A, plus a financing process — credit application, down payment, and a lease-to-own agreement. You'll want your own attorney to review the agreement; we expect that. Driver Finance walks you through it. The vehicle is yours outright at 24–36 months.
Honest note
Leaving the program early can leave a remaining balance on the lease. The agreement is the source of truth — not this page, not your recruiter. Read it. Ask questions. Bring counsel.
Path C — Affiliate Driver
Your vehicle. Your hours. Our routes.
Who this fits
You already own a qualifying vehicle, you want flexibility, and you're comfortable as a 1099 contractor managing your own taxes and expenses.
What you drive
Your own vehicle, after it passes our safety and child-passenger inspection at a Shuttlebee-certified shop. Model-year cutoff applies — check eligibility in the application.
What you take home
- –Depends on the hours you commit and your vehicle's operating costs.
- –Use the take-home estimator below to see a realistic weekly range for your situation.
What's covered for you
On-route liability, dispatch, technology, customer base, route assignments. We can also coordinate commercial-grade auto insurance that meets our minimums.
What you cover
Fuel, maintenance, depreciation, your own taxes, and your personal/commercial insurance.
The path forward
First revenue route in 2–3 weeks — the fastest start of any path. Most Affiliate Drivers stay in this model long-term. It's built for autonomy, not for graduation.
Path D — Affiliate Carrier
Build a transportation business on our platform.
Who this fits
You want to own multiple vehicles and build a small fleet. You're ready to run a business — entity, EIN, commercial insurance, the works.
What you drive
Your own vehicle, as an owner-operator. Every Affiliate Carrier starts behind the wheel. You drive first, scale second.
What you take home
- –A successful long-term carrier on our platform typically operates 3–10 vehicles at 12–20% margins after expenses.
- –Your timeline depends on route performance, operating discipline, and market conditions. We don't quote business-level revenue — anyone who does is guessing, and your real numbers will come from your own books.
What's covered for you
On-route liability for your drivers, dispatch, technology, customer base, route assignments, and a dedicated Carrier Success partner from kickoff onward.
What you cover
Vehicles, fuel, maintenance, your drivers' pay, commercial insurance at carrier levels, state operating authority where required, platform services fee on booked routes, your own taxes and your business's taxes.
The path forward
Two onboardings in parallel — driver onboarding plus business onboarding (entity formation review, EIN, insurance, authority, Carrier Success kickoff). Vehicle two typically arrives at 6–12 months once you're profitable on vehicle one. Shuttlebee University provides training models for planning purposes; they are not earnings projections.
Take-Home Estimator
See a realistic weekly range with line items broken out. Path D routes to Carrier Success instead — fleet earnings can't be modeled with a slider.
Which path are you considering?
W-2 means standard payroll taxes are withheld for you. Your actual take-home will be lower than gross depending on your withholding elections.
Illustrative only. Your offer letter and route assignments are authoritative. Actual earnings depend on hours, route mix, vehicle costs, and tax situation. Route revenue assumption is a working estimate pending Finance confirmation.
What Shuttlebee provides vs. what you provide
This is where the platform-services line gets its full explanation.
| Item | Path A | Path B | Path C | Path D |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle | Shuttlebee | You (financed) | You | You (and your fleet) |
| Fuel | Shuttlebee | You | You | You |
| Maintenance | Shuttlebee | You | You | You |
| On-route liability insurance | Shuttlebee | Shuttlebee | Shuttlebee | Shuttlebee |
| Commercial auto insurance | Shuttlebee | Shuttlebee | Shuttlebee | You + your drivers |
| Dispatch & route planning | Shuttlebee | Shuttlebee | Shuttlebee | Shuttlebee |
| Customer acquisition | Shuttlebee | Shuttlebee | Shuttlebee | Shuttlebee |
| Technology platform | Shuttlebee | Shuttlebee | Shuttlebee | Shuttlebee |
| Payment processing & weekly settlement | Shuttlebee | Shuttlebee | Shuttlebee | Shuttlebee |
| Background & compliance support | Shuttlebee | Shuttlebee | Shuttlebee | You |
| Federal / state taxes | Withheld for you | You | You | You + your business |
| Driver training | Shuttlebee | Shuttlebee | Shuttlebee | Shuttlebee + University |
When you get paid
Routes you drive Monday through Sunday settle the following Monday. Direct deposit lands in your account 2–3 business days after that. Same rhythm on every path.
Not sure which path fits?
It takes about two minutes. Five questions, real answers, and a recruiter follow-up if you want one.