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Un-Blacklisted by ezCater — The Full Story!!
- Joseph Mandracchia
- Oct 24
- 4 min read
A few days ago, I shared how I was unexpectedly blacklisted from receiving ezCater orders. I hadn’t been active for long, and suddenly my account showed as “invalid.” across a bunch of different platforms under the RMDA.
No email, no notice — the only reason I found out was because of the connections I had, and if I was anyone else, it would just be radio silence and confusion.
So in this video, We are talking about:
How I was Blacklisted and Unblacklisted from ezCater
What I have been told vs How it ACTUALLY is
What this means for transparency in the gig-economy space
Everything in between!
Disclaimer: The content of this video does not contain and is never intended to be legal, business, financial, tax, or health advice of any kind, This video is for entertainment purposes only. It is advised that you conduct your own research and consult with qualified professionals before applying anything you find online.
I also want to be clear that everything we are going to go over is very market dependent, and what applies to me and my market may not apply to you.
Where It Started — The JackRabbit Connection
Before all this began, I was working with JackRabbit Deliveries, one of the DSPs participating in the RMDA’s ezCater program.
During that time, I raised legitimate questions about payout discrepancies and tip transparency — concerns that many drivers had and few were willing to voice or if they were voicing it, they weren’t being heard by the right people.
Not long after, my JackRabbit account was suddenly deactivated without written notice or a clear reason.
Sometime later, JackRabbit Deliveries was removed from the RMDA’s ezCater program altogether for compliance and insurance-related violations.
That removal confirmed that my earlier concerns had merit — but by that point, my own reputation within the network had already taken a hit.
After JackRabbit was expelled, I learned from other DSPs that I had been “blacklisted” from ezCater orders entirely — even though JackRabbit was no longer part of the system and I had never received any direct communication from ezCater themselves.
In other words, I was penalized by association long after the source of the problem had been removed.
The Confusion: When a ‘Blacklist’ Has No Paper Trail
Once word of this “blacklist” spread, things got messy fast.
Heather from Red Wagon told me she couldn’t dispatch me anymore because ezCater was the RMDA’s client and she didn’t want to create friction, and because she didn’t have any other business in South Florida, or very little business in South Florida, there was no reason to keep me onboarded.
Jeff from Foodfetched suggested I contact Paul, the RMDA President, since he might be able to step in.
But the story kept changing.
One person said it was ezCater’s decision, another said it was an RMDA issue, and another told me to “apologize to ezCater profusely or move on.”
No documentation. No explanation. Just calls, emails and Slack messages I couldn’t see, and a lot of speculation and hearsay.
So I did the only thing a professional driver can do in that situation: I documented everything — every conversation, every call, every screenshot.
The Breakthrough: RMDA Intervenes
After just a couple of days of back-and-forth and verifying what little information I had, I finally got a concrete answer.
Paul from the RMDA reached out to confirm that he had taken my case to the RMDA board and spoken directly with ezCater.
The result was clear: ezCater is not interfering with any DSP that chooses to work with me.
In other words, whatever restriction had been claimed no longer exists — and may never have been a true platform-wide ban in the first place.
Paul also confirmed that the RMDA will notify its member DSPs about this clarification so everyone is working with accurate information going forward.
For me, that was the moment this entire situation shifted from frustration to resolution.
Why Transparency Matters
This story isn’t just about being un-blacklisted — it’s about transparency and accountability.
When drivers are suspended, restricted, or flagged without warning, there needs to be a documented process and a path to appeal.
Drivers shouldn’t be left guessing why their income suddenly disappeared.
That’s why I’ve been working with the RMDA on a Tip Verification Program and compliance framework — so drivers can report issues like missing tips or payment discrepancies and get a verified response through an independent channel.
This experience validated exactly why that system needs to exist.
The Bigger Picture
Being “un-blacklisted” doesn’t erase the systemic issues that caused the confusion in the first place — but it does prove that open communication and documentation can lead to real results.
The next step is building structure behind that communication:
✅ Clear verification timelines
✅ Consistent escalation channels
✅ Accountability for every party involved
That’s what we’re working on now through the Driven Wyld and RMDA collaboration.
Final Thoughts
I’m grateful to be back on track and able to take ezCater orders again — but more importantly, I’m grateful for the lesson this taught me, or more appropriately what lesson this displays for gig workers everywhere.
Persistence and documentation matter.
So does having the courage to ask questions when something doesn’t feel right.
If you’re a driver facing a similar situation, don’t give up.
Keep records, ask for clarity, and stand your ground with professionalism.
We’re not just drivers — we’re independent contractors, and we deserve transparency in how our work is handled.
Thanks to everyone who followed this journey and supported the mission.
We’re just getting started on delivering a more fair and transparent gig economy to you.
If you would like to add some other perspective to the Full Story of getting un-blacklisted, feel free to email me: drivenwyld@gmail.com and who knows? Maybe your email or perspective and be featured in a post as well!
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