Last Updated: July 3, 2026 | For weather and high-temperature information, please refer to the Central Weather Bureau’s real-time updates.
As soon as July rolls around, when I’m waiting at a red light during my lunch break, it feels like a steamer inside my helmet. Every summer, people in our group chat say things like, “I almost threw up from the heat today,” and there really are fellow riders who end up in the ER with heatstroke. Delivering in the summer is a whole different ballgame compared to other seasons: the heat isn’t just uncomfortable—it directly affects your judgment and reaction time, which ultimately impacts both your safety on the road and your income. In this post, I’ve compiled my own approach to summer deliveries. I’m not trying to teach anyone; I’m simply sharing how someone with several years of experience manages things—how to adjust your schedule, what gear to invest in, how to stay hydrated, when to call it a day, and how to protect your rights if something goes wrong.
First, let’s talk about the time of day—this is the biggest factor. The hottest part of the summer is generally from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., which coincides with the lunch rush—one of the busiest times for orders. It’s hard for full-time workers to avoid this period entirely. My approach is to limit the “time spent in direct sunlight”: I keep working during the midday rush, but once I finish a block of deliveries, I find a convenience store or the shade under a building’s awning to rest for 10 to 15 minutes, letting my core body temperature drop, rather than pushing through until 3:00 p.m. before taking a break. It also makes a difference when waiting for orders—even if you’re waiting for just five minutes, standing in the shade of a covered walkway versus sitting in direct sunlight on your bike feels completely different. Over the course of a whole day, that adds up to the difference between feeling “okay” and “on the verge of heatstroke.” The period from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. usually sees lighter order volume, and the sun is at its strongest—making it ideal for a fixed rest period: having lunch, taking a quick nap, or doing some bike maintenance are all better options than aimlessly circling the streets. Then save your energy for the evening through late-night hours—it’s more comfortable once the sun goes down, and the volume of dinner and late-night orders in the summer is actually pretty good. In fact, many riders shift their focus entirely to the evening during the summer. Even if you’re working the same 10 hours, shifting your schedule to the morning and evening makes a huge difference in how you feel, and your earnings won’t necessarily be any lower.
Another variable in summer is afternoon thunderstorms. In Taiwan, summers are often scorching hot at noon, only to be followed by sudden downpours around 3 or 4 p.m. Rain gear is still a must-have in the car during summer—don’t just leave it in the car just because it’s sunny when you head out. Get into the habit of checking the radar echoes on your weather app before deciding whether to take a long-distance ride—it can save you from getting caught in a lot of unnecessary rain. During thunderstorms, ride-hailing platforms often offer higher fares. It’s up to you to decide whether to take the risk: slippery roads, poor visibility, and crowded sidewalks—those higher fares come at the cost of risk. Especially during thunder and lightning, no amount of money is worth gambling with the weather. The combination of wet roads after a rain shower and high temperatures causing evaporation is also a common cause of crashes in the summer. Slow down a bit when cornering and approaching lane markings. Keep a few plastic bags in your trunk—use them to wrap takeout food or your phone on rainy days. One bag can save you from an insurance claim dispute.
The types of orders also change in the summer. There’s a noticeable increase in orders for bubble tea, ice cream, and iced coffee from convenience stores. Since these items are sensitive to shaking and heat, the insulated box actually serves as a “cooling box” during this time: by placing one or two ice packs inside and securing the drinks upright, you can significantly reduce customer complaints about “drinks losing their temperature” or “ice cream melting,” as well as refund disputes. Food spoils quickly in the summer heat, so the shorter the time meals spend sitting in the box, the better. It’s worth taking an extra second to carefully plan the delivery order when stacking multiple orders together.
By the way, here’s a note on handling disputes during the summer. Frozen items are the most likely to cause issues: ice cream that’s melted to the point of being mushy, drinks with melted ice, shaved ice that’s turned into sugary water—customers are unhappy, the store claims the order was fine when it left, and the delivery driver is caught in the middle. My routine for high-risk orders (frozen items, cakes, fresh produce) is to take a quick look at the condition when picking them up. If I have any concerns, I ask the shop to double-check the packaging right away. If a customer complains in person upon delivery, I take a photo as evidence before leaving—that way, if there’s a complaint later, I at least have something to back me up. It’s hot out and everyone’s on edge. There are plenty of grumpy customers in the summer—those waiting downstairs past their pickup time or whose food has been left out in the sun. If I can avoid snapping back, I do—it’s better to let the platform handle the complaint than to get into an argument under the blazing sun.
Small Expenses Worth Making for Gear
Sun protection isn’t about avoiding a tan—it’s about preventing sunburn that would keep you from riding properly for several days. A long-sleeved, cooling-fiber sun-protective jacket is more practical than a short-sleeved shirt plus sunscreen; sunscreen washes off as soon as you start sweating while riding. Light colors are better than dark ones, and mesh fabrics that allow airflow are better than tightly woven ones. For helmets, choose a style with front and rear vents; you can wear a sweat-wicking balaclava underneath and change it whenever it gets wet—it’s safer than letting sweat drip into your eyes. Sunglasses or photochromic lenses should be standard equipment—without them, you really can’t keep your eyes open on stretches of road exposed to the afternoon sun. Phone overheating is a summer staple—try to position your phone mount so it avoids direct sunlight for as long as possible; the navigation screen can overheat, dim, or even shut down completely much more easily than you’d think; Some people attach small sunshades to their phone mounts—it’s a makeshift solution, but it works. Take care of the bike itself, too: for gas-powered bikes, check the coolant temperature before heading out—it rises quickly in summer traffic jams; inflate tires to the manufacturer’s recommended pressure. Combining high road temperatures with incorrect tire pressure will significantly accelerate tire wear. If you ride an electric scooter, be prepared for the fact that battery range drops by about 10% in high temperatures compared to spring and fall, so plan your stops at battery swap stations with a bit more leeway. I usually bring two water bottles: one for regular drinking, and one frozen until it’s half-solid, which I use in the afternoon to cool my neck—once it thaws, it’s ready to drink. Also, there are small, affordable items like cooling towels (just wet them, wring them out, and shake them a couple of times for an instant cooling sensation) and motorcycle seat heat shields (so you won’t jump up in pain when sitting down after parking for half an hour at noon)—once you’ve used them, you’ll never go back. All these items together cost less than one or two thousand, but they’ll come in handy all summer long.
Hydration and Your Body’s Warning Signs: Don’t Be Stubborn
The key to staying hydrated is to “drink small sips frequently, before you get thirsty.” By the time you’re thirsty, it’s already too late, Personally, I force myself to take a few sips after every two or three deliveries, and around noon I replenish some electrolytes—mixing a sports drink from the convenience store with an equal amount of water is enough; there’s no need to guzzle the undiluted, sugar-laden version. I keep a few salt tablets or pickled plum slices in my pocket, which really make a difference on days when I’m sweating heavily. Drinking coffee or sugary bubble tea as if they were water actually makes your body even more dehydrated—though many people refuse to believe it. As for food, don’t eat a heavy lunch—your blood will be diverted to digestion, making you feel even more sluggish in the afternoon. Instead, eat small, frequent meals; you’ll feel much better. The quality of your sleep the night before directly determines your heat tolerance the next day; staying up late and then pushing yourself in the sweltering heat is a recipe for disaster. Warning signs to watch out for: reduced sweating, a throbbing headache, nausea or vomiting, a racing heartbeat that won’t settle down, or feeling unsteady on your feet—these are signs that heat exhaustion is progressing to heatstroke. If you experience any of these, stop taking orders immediately. Go to a convenience store to cool off in the air conditioning, and use ice water to wipe your neck and wrists to lower your body temperature. If there’s no improvement after 15 minutes, seek medical attention immediately. Don’t think, “I’ll finish this delivery first and worry about it later.” You can always take another delivery, but if you collapse, you won’t be able to work for several days—it’s not worth it no matter how you look at it.
Is heatstroke considered a work-related injury?Many people are unaware that heat-related injuries sustained by food delivery riders while on the job due to high temperatures may be recognized as work-related injuries. If you have occupational accident insurance (including those who have enrolled in Labor Insurance through a labor union on their own), be sure to ask your doctor to issue a medical certificate when seeking treatment, and keep your order records and screenshots of your route for that day—these will be needed when applying for benefits later; If you reported the incident to the platform’s customer service at the time, be sure to keep those records as well. In recent years, the Ministry of Labor has been continuously reviewing measures to prevent heat-related hazards for outdoor workers. Once the dedicated law for food delivery workers takes effect, the platforms’ insurance obligations and occupational injury compensation regulations will become clearer, so it’s worth keeping a close eye on protections against risks like extreme heat; If you’re a full-time delivery rider and don’t yet have any labor insurance coverage, take the time to enroll through your professional union before summer arrives. It only costs a few hundred dollars a month, but it makes a huge difference if something goes wrong. I’ll post updates on the progress here atTakeout News Section, For an overview of the key points regarding compensation under the Ministry of Labor’s subsidiary regulations, you can start by reading this article:Delivery Riders Eligible for Up to 6 Months of Compensation! Ministry of Labor Announces Key Provisions of Three Subsidiary Laws Under the Special Act on Food Delivery ServicesThe
Finally, let’s be honest: Summer brings a high volume of orders and often higher bonuses, making it the season when many people want to boost their earnings. But in the sweltering heat, the first rule of any income strategy is to take care of yourself—adjust your schedule, check for thunderstorms before heading out, make sure your gear is up to date, stay hydrated, and stop working as soon as you notice any warning signs. Summer is a long season, and those who can consistently work through the entire summer will ultimately earn more than those who push themselves for one day only to be out of commission for three. Stay safe out there, and drink plenty of water.