Driver Education
Thank you for becoming a Recyclops Contract Driver and for helping your area recycle!
Please review the following information carefully. It helps you to understand your responsibilities as an independent driver for Recyclops.
Getting Started
DOWNLOAD THE CIGO APP
Cigo is the app used to create and track routes. Your Driver Operations Specialist will provide you with login credentials.
Lesson 1: Cigo Education Videos
The below modules will help guide you on how to use and navigate the Cigo Tracker app on your smartphone device.
01
Click here
Module 1:
Downloading Cigo Tracker
02
Click here
Module 2:
Cigo Main Settings
03
Click here
Module 3:
Customers & Job Functions
04
Click here
Module 4:
Completing Jobs
Lesson 2: Communication
Operations Specialists assign your route 24-48 hours prior to your route day. Communication with your Driver Operation Specialist is imperative to a successful route.
Drivers must begin and complete their route by 9:00 am and finish by 5:00 pm respectively. If you are unable to begin and complete your route, please communicate with your Driver Operation Specialist immediately.
Notify your Driver Specialist in a timely manner if you are:
- Unable to accept your route
- Foresee a delay in your route (starting past 9 am local time)
- Plan on taking a vacation or unable to accept routes for a set time
If you can’t perform a route that you previously accepted, please communicate with your Driver Specialist immediately so that the Driver Operation Specialist can contract the route to another driver.
Failure to complete a route that you accepted can also result in immediate termination of your contract.
Lesson 3: Completing a route
Completing a Route
If you have trouble locating the physical address for your pick-up on your route, reach out to your assigned Operation Specialist. Take a photo of the location in question and submit it through Cigo.
Drivers must complete a driver report at the end of each route.
Click on the link to submit the report:
https://recyclops.com/resources/drivers/driver-report/
Incomplete Route
We do not compensate drivers who do not complete their assigned route unless they experience a mitigating circumstance such as a mechanical problem or severe weather that prohibits route completion.
Drivers citing a mitigating circumstance for not completing their route must provide proof of the circumstance such as a photo of a flat tire or extreme weather condition to their Driver Operations Specialist.
Any other reason for a failed route results in not being paid.
Proof of Pick-Up
Lesson 4: Storage Units
Where is the Storage Unit?
Your Driver Operations Specialist will provide you with the location of the storage unit in your area as well as any access codes that you may need. The storage unit will also be flagged as the first stop in Cigo.
Full Storage Units
It is policy to update your Driver Operations Specialist with photos of the unit to keep them informed of the unit capacity. Weekly pictures of the unit need to be submitted to verify capacity and cleanliness of unit.
Storage Unit vs MRF
In most locations, we use a MRF (Material Recovery Facility). When a MRF is not available in that area we unload recycling into an assigned storage unit. Once full, we have the unit cleared and recycling hauled away.
Lesson 5: Materials
Materials
Your assigned storage location is where you will pick up,
•rolling recycling cans (if offered in your location).
This is also the location you may need to unload your recyclables unless otherwise specified.
Recycling Bags & Cans
Your assigned storage unit has Glad boxes containing recycling bags and/or rolling recycling cans. We stock units with materials based on the area. You are responsible for delivering these materials to new customers. Each customer in Cigo will have instructions if bag deliveries are required and how many.
A photo is required for all bag deliveries in Cigo. Please submit the photo under customer fulfillment for proof of bag delivery.
Getting to know the bags
There are 3 different bag types for “mixed recycling” and 2 different “glass bags”.
Mixed Bags (teal)
1. 4 rolls/per customer
2. 45-count mixed bags (2 boxes per customer)
3. 110-count mixed bags (1 box per customer)
Glass Bags (yellow)
1. 2 rolls/per customer
2. 26 count (1 box per customer)
Lesson 6: Hauling
Getting Started
Recyclops requires all haulers to use a 26-foot U-Haul truck. Options may vary based on your location.
Driver Rents U-Haul – You rent a 26-foot U-Haul and provide your own insurance. (Note: insurance is optional at your own risk)
OR
Recyclops Rents U-Haul Truck – We rent the U-Haul for you and provide the insurance.
Pay – We calculate a flat rate pay based on the haul and the time it takes to load and unload the truck. We also consider fluctuations in the price of gas. We deduct the rental fee of the truck from your total compensation if Recyclops rents the truck for you.
Example:
Driver rents U-Haul- Compensation = $385.00
Recyclops rents U-Haul-Compensation= $385.00-$126.00= $259.00
Gas – You need to fill the gas tank to the same level it was at pick-up. If you do not do this, we deduct a $30 fee from your compensation as well as an extra $1/gallon to fill the tank to the original level.
PPE Gear
Some Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) may require that you wear PPE (Personal Protective Equipment).
Items you may need for your haul:
Safety Vest Hard Hat
Gloves Closed toe shoes
Long Sleeve Shirt Pants
Eye Protection Ear Protection
Loading U-haul Step 1
Step 1: Take a photo of the storage unit and save it to a smartphone device before starting. (You will need this photo for your haul report) Load the contents from the storage unit into your U-Haul. Make sure the unit is closed and secure when you have finished.
Tip: Start at the front of the truck (closest to the wall) and work your way backward. It is helpful to have cardboard on one side and bags on the other.
Loading U-haul Step 2
Step 2: Once you clear out the unit and load everything into the U-Haul, take a photo of the following: (save the photos to your device, you need these to upload to a report at the end of your haul)
-Photo of the cleared storage unit
-Photo of the odometer
-Photo of the gas gauge.
Loading U-haul Step 3
Step 3: Transport the contents to your assigned destination MRF. Once you arrive at the MRF, identify yourself as a contract driver with Recyclops.
**Consult with your Operation Specialists about the specific requirements for the MRF in your area.
Loading U-haul Steps 4-6
Step 4: Once you are at the MRF you need to have the truck weighed. Sometimes the scales are on the side of the building. Once weighed, you unload either all the OCC (Cardboard) or bagged recycling. This also depends on the MRF. In some cases, MRF’s will require the OCC to be weighed separately.
Example of the location of scales:
Step 5: Once you finish the first unload, return to the scale to get your second weight. After this, you complete unloading the remainder of the truck.
Step 6: Once the truck is empty, you return to the scale for a third time to weigh the truck. When finished, please obtain 2 scale tickets from the MRF.
You need a photo of the tickets for the report you submit in your haul report.
Example of receipt:
Loading U-haul Steps 7-8
Step 7: If we rented a U-haul for your haul, you need to return the U-haul to the location where it was originally picked up. Make sure you have the same amount of fuel in the tank from when it was first picked up. If not, you are responsible for the difference in gas price and additional fees.
Before returning the truck:
Take a photo of cleared out truck
Take a photo of the final odometer reading
Take a photo of the gas gauge
Step 8: Filling out the haul report is the final step. Make sure to upload all of the photos from the beginning of the haul through the end of the haul. You also need to include the tickets from the MRF.
(Note: Submission of report and receipts are required in order to receive payment for the haul)
Report here: https://recyclops.com/resources/drivers/haul-report/
Tips to increase efficiency:
- Bring your own commercial-sized broom to sweep the last several pieces out.
- Use gas stations that offer fuel cards or shopping bonuses to save cents on gallons.
- Take photos that are saved to your gallery for you to reference and remember the gas gauge level.
- If you are in an area that permits flexibility, try to find an optimal time frame that limits the amount of traffic you travel through.
Lesson 7: MRFs
MRF-Material Recovery Facility
When loading a trailer or vehicle for a haul, it is important that you separate the contents of the trailer or vehicle into mixed recycling, glass, or old corrugated cardboard (OCC).
Loading them separately lets you unload recycling at the MRF, the MRF can weigh the trailer or vehicle after each unloaded material.
Mixed recycling and glass are an EXPENSE to Recyclops while OCC is a revenue source.
The MRF should provide you with a weight receipt for each unload of recycled material, take a photo of this receipt, and submit it to your Driver Operations Specialist.
Please note that the MRF may instruct you to unload everything together because this would increase expenses while decreasing their expenses. You must inform them that you need to unload separately so we can reduce our expenses to the MRF and receive compensation for the OCC.
Lesson 8: Customer Stops
Bagging Recycling
We request customers bag their recycling for you to pick it up. We do this to protect you as the driver, reduce contamination, and ensure efficiency in transportation. Bags will be stored in your assigned storage unit. Review your route on Cigo to see if there are any customer stops where bags will need to be delivered. (Note: not all areas have bags, as stated above some areas contain carts. If you are not sure reach out to your Ops Specialist.)
Cardboard
Customers may also place flattened cardboard into a larger unbroken box for ease of handling, next to or under bagged recycling for pick up as well.
Reporting Issues
If a customer does not bag their recycling or flatten their cardboard, please collect recycling, submit a photo through Cigo and mark it as “damaged” put a description in the notes detailing why you marked it damaged, and mark it complete. Notify your Ops Specialist. This allows us to contact the customer to ensure the customer is aware of our policy for putting the recycling out correctly.
Lesson 9: Driver Pay
Driver Pay Day & Taxes
Beginning Monday, October 3rd, 2022, we are adjusting our payment process to pay you faster for your routes. Instead of receiving payments on Tuesday and/or Friday, you can expect your payment within two days from the day you completed your route. In some cases where a route takes further review, it may take longer than two days.
The Federal Reserve Clearing House processes all direct deposit payments. They don’t process over the weekend.
We set up your direct deposit account for payments through Paylocity. You receive an email that walks you through setting up your account.
You are a 1099 contractor. Your payments are not subject to any federal, state, or local taxes.
Non-Payment Policy
Driver Pay Calculations
Driver payments are based on an algorithm that analyzes data such as the number of stops, distance traveled, and the number of unloads.
Excess Recycling Pay
During different times of the year such as holidays, customers place excess recyclables out for pick up. Consequently, we created an excess recycling pay to account for this excess recycling.
You must collect ALL recycling that customers put out during this time frame. If it is an amount that is WELL beyond reason (as seen in the picture below) then please send the picture to your manager as well as in Cigo for additional compensation.
In order to receive your excess recycling pay, you must report the extra material in accordance with the below requirements.
- Customer must have over 10 flattened large boxes and/or more than 5 bags of recycling material
- Drivers will be compensated 2 different rates per stop: During the dates of 12/12 – 12/25 each driver earns an additional $1.00/stop per residential stop that meets the excess recycling pay criteria. During the dates of 12/26 – 1/8 each driver earns an additional $2.50 per residential stop that meets the excess recycling pay criteria.
- You must report the excess recycling as “damaged” in Cigo.
- We require a clear photo displaying the “extra” material (all materials placed out for collection) as well as a clear photo of the home and house number to confirm customer stop accuracy.
- If you mark the stop as complete/incomplete instead of “damaged”, you do not receive the excess recycling pay.
Example of excess recycling:
Submit as “damaged” and upload one photo at a time. Once done mark “complete”
Complete (without damage)= Normal Recycling
Complete (with Damage)= Excess Recycling
Incomplete= No recycling out or other issues (e.g. contamination, wrong bags, unbagged/loose recycling
Excess recycling pay is extra pay in addition to your normal route pay.
Pay will be submitted in two different deposits one after Dec 26th and the other after Jan 8th.
Lesson 10: Operation Specialist
We assign a Driver Operations Specialist to each driver.
Your Ops Specialist helps to ensure your success by building and monitoring your route as well help resolve any problems you may encounter.
As part of the contract driver team, it is important for you to understand your role as a driver.
It is important that we establish great communication and working relationship with our drivers.
To keep a great working relationship please always inform your Ops Specialist ahead of time if you are unable to complete your route, or if you have upcoming commitments that might interfere with a route you are assigned.
Tips & Tricks
Use a tablet instead of a phone for a larger screen.
Avoid toll charges.
Add additional storage capacity to your vehicle (e.g., side walls, trailer, cargo box, etc.) and install an easy-to-use tarp system.
Leave can lid open/up-side down so you know that you’ve already picked up recycling at a location.
Keep cardboard, bags, and glass bags separate for quick unloading.
Be prepared, make sure you bring what you need to complete your route safely and efficiently and prepare for all weather conditions.