Have you attempted to start Dashing, only to be greeted by the error message that says “dasher must be active to schedule dashes?”

This error message can affect both new Dashers, as well as long-time DoorDash drivers as well.

But what causes this error message, and is there anyway to fix it?

In this article, we’ll cover everything that you need to know.

Dasher Must Be Active To Schedule Dashes – Meaning

Doordash Delivery Worker

If you are receiving the message that the dasher must be active to schedule dashes, this means that your account is currently inactive.

This can be caused by a large number of factors. Most commonly, it affects new DoorDash drivers who have not yet been fully approved, or are missing critical information. In other cases, it can mean that your account has been disabled, either temporarily or permanently.

Let’s look over each potential cause in more detail.

1. You’re New, And Your Application Hasn’t Been Approved Yet

This is by far the most common reason.

If you’ve recently signed up to become a driver for DoorDash, the ‘dasher must be active to schedule dashes’ error simply means that you haven’t fully approved and activated yet.

Unfortunately, becoming a Dasher takes some time. There is a lengthy approval process involving a background check and other verification, which often takes 3-5 business days.

However, in many cases we’ve heard drivers say that it can take several weeks before they are fully approved.

In the meantime, you won’t be able to do any deliveries for DoorDash, as your account isn’t activated until the background check is complete.

This means you should simply wait, and continue to monitor your email for status updates regarding your application.

Note that even if your background check has passed and your bank account has been added, there may still be some delay until your account is fully activated – even if the Dasher app prompts you to start your DoorDash. Typically, this delay only lasts a few additional days at most.

If you have already received your red card and the error message is still appearing, we recommend that you contact DoorDash support.

2. You’re Missing Information Necessary To Dash

This one also applies if you’re new.

If you’re fully activated and should be able to dash, but the app isn’t letting you, it could be due to missing information.

For example, DoorDash may only allow you to partake in deliveries for a limited amount of time, until your red card arrives.

Additionally, there’s a chance that you’re missing information about your vehicle within the app.

To update this, go to your account and select ‘Vehicle’. Then, select your vehicle information.

You should also check to make sure your driver’s license is still valid and on file.

Then, when you go back and attempt to start Dashing, the app should finally let you.

Even if you’ve been Dashing for a while now, it still may be worth to check this. The Dasher app occasionally experiences errors and it may be a good idea to verify your vehicle information wasn’t removed by mistake.

3. You’ve Been Permanently Suspended

This is the one that most people fear.

If you’ve been driving for a while now and suddenly experience an error telling you that you must be active in order to schedule dashes, it could mean that your account was active before, but isn’t any longer.

If this is true, DoorDash should send you an email notifying you of this decision, as long as a reason why it happened. Other former DoorDash drivers have mentioned that DoorDash is sometimes quiet vague about this though,

Typically, Dashers may be suspended for breaking DoorDash rules, treating customers poorly, or receiving too many low ratings. However, sometimes this can happen at no fault of your own.

DoorDash requires you to maintain a rating of at least 4.2 stars, and an order completion rate of 80%. If you fail to meet these metrics, your account may be suddenly deactivated.

This can be particularly worrisome, as customers occasionally leave ratings significantly after the order has been completed.

In order to ensure you aren’t deactivated, you should always ensure that your ratings are as high as possible, and you rarely cancel accepted orders.

Some other reasons DoorDash driver accounts may be deactivated include:

  • Tampering with food.
  • Driving while under the influence.
  • Theft.
  • Duplicate accounts.
  • Engaging in fraud.
  • Being extremely late with deliveries.
  • Abusing customers.

DoorDash does have an appeals process if you’ve been deactivated, that may allow your account to be reinstated. To learn more about DoorDash appeals, click here.

4. You’re Temporarily Deactivated, And Have Been Placed On A Waitlist

Did you know that even if you’ve been Dashing for a long time, it’s still possible to be temporarily deactivated?

This happens when there are too many other DoorDash drivers in your area.

While the waitlist is more common for new applicants, it is even possible for established drivers to be placed back on the waitlist.

However, established drivers seem to be given priority – if an area has too many Dashers already, DoorDash will typically hold off on allowing new drivers in, rather than moving current drivers back to the waitlist.

Unfortunately, there’s not a whole lot of information available on how DoorDash chooses who is moved back to the waiting list.

It’s likely that drivers who Dash frequently, and consistently maintain high ratings are less likely to be deactivated. If you’re already close to the threshold for deactivation, DoorDash may be more likely to move you back to the waitlist in the event of there being too many other drivers.

As for how long this lasts, it’s hard to say. While new drivers can sit on the waitlist for months at a time, we’ve also heard of temporary deactivations only lasting a couple of days at a time.

Outside of contacting DoorDash support to inquire, there isn’t much else you can do but wait.

5. DoorDash Is Experiencing An Error

Finally, it’s also possible that DoorDash is currently experiencing some sort of error with their platform.

This isn’t uncommon, and you may be one of the drivers that is affected.

If you are being told that the dasher must be active to schedule dashes and none of the other reasons apply to you, it may simply be due to an issue on DoorDash’s end.

Unfortunately, there isn’t really anything you can do to fix it, except to wait.

If the error still appears after several days, it’s worth contacting DoorDash support to see if you can find out any other information. Chances are, it’s affecting other drivers as well.

Conclusion

If you are receiving the ‘dasher must be active to schedule dashes’ error, it’s almost always due to one of the reasons above.

Whether your account simply hasn’t been activated yet or you’ve been permanently banned from driving for DoorDash, knowing the cause of the error can help you take steps towards fixing it.

I hope that you’ve found this article helpful. If you have any other questions about driving for DoorDash, please ask them using the comment form below. Additionally, if you’ve experienced this error and managed to fix it, please share what worked so you can help other drivers.

Wishing you the best,

– James McAllister

About the author 

James McAllister

James is the owner of JamesMcAllisterOnline.com. He started his first blog at the age of 11, and has since gone on to start several successful businesses. In total, these businesses have sold hundreds of thousands of units and have touched millions of lives. Here on JamesMcAllisterOnline.com, he shares his knowledge that brought him to where he is today. If you want to connect with James, follow him on your favorite social networks!

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