DoorDash has received Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification to operate its own commercial drone delivery service, marking a significant step in the company's efforts to expand its use of autonomous technology for order fulfillment. The San Francisco-based delivery provider announced on Wednesday that it secured the FAA’s Part 135 air carrier certification, which permits operations beyond the visual line of sight of the drone operators.
For several years, DoorDash has delivered food and other items using drivers, bike couriers, and partner-operated drone services. The company has worked with established drone providers such as Wing, a subsidiary of Alphabet, and Flytrex to offer aerial delivery in select U.S. markets. However, this newly acquired certification allows DoorDash to develop and operate its own drones, alongside the necessary ground infrastructure and digital systems to handle order coordination, pickup, and delivery independently.
DoorDash aims to launch its in-house drone delivery service this fall. The company has been conducting pilot programs with various restaurants, some of which reported increased order volumes during testing. According to DoorDash, more than 20% of its orders require delivery distances of three to five miles, which currently take roughly 25% longer to fulfill compared to shorter trips due to the challenge of quickly finding suitable delivery personnel. Drone delivery is seen as a way to reduce these delays, especially for remote or hard-to-reach locations, while lowering the company’s reliance on human couriers whose wages contribute to operational costs.
The drones being developed by DoorDash primarily consist of components sourced in the United States. The company plans to provide additional details about the service during its annual product event in September. While DoorDash expands its in-house drone efforts, it intends to maintain partnerships with existing hardware providers to continue complementing its overall delivery network.
DoorDash also noted that a majority of deliveries will still be handled by human drivers, particularly in scenarios unsuitable for autonomous machines, such as navigating apartment buildings or managing large, complex orders. The company emphasized that its strength lies in integrating the aerial systems with real-time inventory management and efficient handoff processes at restaurants.
The move into self-manufactured drone operations also reflects a broader strategic interest in reducing dependence on technology partners shared with competitors like Uber Technologies, which has invested in some of the same autonomous delivery firms.
This development highlights DoorDash’s ongoing commitment to leveraging emerging technologies as part of a broader industry trend toward faster, more efficient last-mile delivery through both robotic and human means.