Delivery drivers reveal their biggest complaints about customers and why most of them love working during the holidays

• Delivery drivers work double duty during the holidays, but enjoy the extra work due to higher tips.
• A new survey says gig drivers love the holidays but they have a few issues about customers.

Delivering food ordered through apps like Uber Eats and DoorDash is an hour-by-hour hustle. Year-round, drivers often complain about picky customers, poor tips, and bad customer reviews. The work can be equally frustrating for folks carrying packages for the likes of Amazon or UPS.

But, the holidays are actually a great time for most delivery drivers, according to a new survey by Circuit, a startup that provides routing optimization tools for delivery dispatchers and drivers.

The company interviewed 600 delivery drivers and couriers from companies such as FedEx and DoorDash and discovered that nearly all of them prefer working during the holidays – despite a few seasonal hiccups that occur each year.

Harry Campbell, founder of "The Rideshare Guy" blog, said "gig customers do tend to be happier around the holidays" so they are more prone to leave better tips.

"Delivery drivers rely on tips much more so than other areas of gig work like rideshare, so anytime there's a boost to tipping, this is a big benefit for a delivery driver," said Campbell, whose blog aims to help drivers working for services like Uber, Uber Eats, Lyft, and DoorDash.

Here's a list of survey findings, including perks and pet peeves described by delivery drivers:

• Ninety-eight percent of delivery drivers prefer working during the holidays, as 72% report earning bigger tips from happier-than-usual customers. Tips range from $5 to 20% of their order total.

• Among food-delivery drivers, those working for DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub tend to work the most overtime during the holidays.

• FedEx workers log the most holiday overtime among couriers, followed by workers for the US Postal Service, UPS, DHL, and Amazon.

• The No. 1 headache reported by the delivery drivers is customers who intercept package deliveries. Though they are well-intentioned, it's common for customers to intercept a package drop-off because they are trying to avoid spoiling a surprise. But drivers say this disrupts the driver's workflow.

• Food delivery drivers' biggest pet peeve while on the road is people who drive slow in the fast lane. It's speeding that irks couriers the most while on the road.

• Delivery drivers said Indiana was the worst state to drive in during the holiday season. According to Circuit, that's likely because of all the interstates that crisscross through the capital and the snowy weather.

• More than 60% of delivery drivers said they dislike customers who request hidden drop-off locations and who request rush deliveries.

• 20% say decorations interfere with drop-offs.

Are you a food delivery driver with insight to share? Got a tip? Contact this reporter via email at nluna@insider.com or via Signal encrypted number 714-875-6218.