enlarge Gregory Rec/Staff Photographer

Matt Walton heads out to make a delivery in Portland last week for Leonardo’s Pizza. Walton said high gas prices have “really, really been kicking my butt.”

enlarge Gregory Rec/Staff Photographer

Anthony Pesce, who has been delivering for the Wok Inn in Portland for 11 years, says customers often give him a bigger tip to cover gas costs. “There’s a lot of compassionate people out there,” he said.

enlarge Gregory Rec/Staff Photographer

Matt Walton gets in his car at Leonardo’s Pizza to make a delivery last week. Walton, a student at the University of Southern Maine, said gas costs have been eating into his profits, so he’s thinking about picking up a second job.

Kevin Prime has delivered pizza for Portland Pie Co. for the past four years.

He winces when asked if the job's still worth doing.

"It's almost getting to the point where you can't afford to be a delivery guy," said Prime, of Portland. "The cost of gas is so expensive."

Gas prices are clobbering just about everybody these days. A gallon of regular on Monday was averaging $3.58 in Maine, up 28 cents from a month ago and 70 cents from a year ago.

But the increases have been particularly hard on people who make their living by delivering products – be it pizza, Chinese food, newspapers or other goods. Such workers must use cars, and usually are responsible for gas, insurance, maintenance and other costs. And they often make less than the minimum wage of $7, because workers in service industries who receive tips can be paid half the minimum wage.

Prime said he puts 200 to 250 miles a week on his Honda, and a fill-up that used to cost $30 now eats up $50. Portland Pie pays its drivers $6 an hour, plus tips. The small local chain also has tried to help drivers by adding a delivery surcharge – $1.50 for most trips, $3 for those farther afield.

Prime said his customers seem aware that he's responsible for gas. When he delivers their pie, they'll ask if there's a delivery charge. When he tells them about the $1.50 or $3, they often say that's not enough.

"They'll give you a few extra bucks," Prime said.

That's been Anthony Pesce's experience, too.

"There's a lot of compassionate people out there," said Pesce, who has been delivering for the Wok Inn on Forest Avenue for 11 years.

The Portland resident is a self-employed independent contractor; the restaurant doesn't pay him a salary. He makes $5 per local delivery, $6 to Westbrook and $7 to South Portland, plus tips.

Pesce, who usually works 54 hours over four days, spends about $60 to fill up his minivan. That adds up to roughly $500 a month.

"I'm sure it's going to get higher – that's the scary part," Pesce said.

Matt Walton, a student at the University of Southern Maine, took a job delivering for Leonardo's Pizza when it opened last fall. At first it wasn't too busy and gas prices weren't a big factor. But business picked up, and he would be in his car from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Fridays.

"Overnight, the last couple of weeks, it shot up," Walton said. "It's really, really been kicking my butt."

He gets paid $5 an hour, plus tips, which is better than the half-minimum wage of $3.50. Walton also gets $1.10 per delivery, to help with gas. He said he's thinking about picking up a second job, one that he can get to by riding a bike.

Prime, of Portland Pie, said he's cutting his personal expenses by going out less. And he leaves his car at home when he does go out.

The rising overhead for delivery people is one indicator of the challenges facing their employers.

Dave Tucci, vice president of Portland Pie, said all his suppliers are raising prices to offset cost increases for transportation and commodities such as wheat and dairy products.

Some suppliers have changed their delivery systems, insisting on minimum orders, he said. Others are adding fuel surcharges onto deliveries.

Even though Portland Pie also has raised prices, the company's profit margins have shrunk, Tucci said.

For every dollar made on pizza, he said, 32 cents goes to food costs and 32 cents to labor. The remaining 36 cents covers overhead, such as rent and insurance, and profit.

Fuel prices also can affect labor costs, Tucci said.

"I've got one cook that drives in from Standish. Is he going to work for $9 an hour when it costs a gallon or two to come in?" he asked. "He's looking for a higher wage. We're trying to reduce turnover. I'm prone to pay him $1 more an hour."

Tucci said he and the company owners used to tweak the menu prices once a...