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Budget travelers, say hello to the sharing economy.
>> Available: Android, iPhone, iPad, iPod touch. Requires iOS7 or later.
>> Cost: Free
>> What it does: Connects road trippers/drivers with people who want to send stuff. Roadie calls it “carpooling for cargo.”
>> What’s hot: Some budget travelers might be thrilled by the opportunity to get paid for a one-time delivery while on the road. There are both crosstown drop-offs and cross-country delivery gigs. Roadie says most local deliveries will pay drivers $8 to $20; oversize items might get you $200. If you’re sending, your cargo is insured up to $500. You can view all the gigs by map or list. To be a sender, you’ll need a PayPal account; to be a driver, you must upload your driver’s license, insurance card and banking information.
>> What’s not: The start-up process could have been smoother. I had to restart the app a couple of times and needed superstrong Wi-Fi to sign up and upload my profile pic. The app would be even more useful if it had a “Near Me” button for drivers looking to pick up their next jobs.
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Jen Leo, Los Angeles Times
