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Are There Any Real Differences Between Uber and Lyft in 2019?

In 2019, can anyone really say there is much difference between Uber and Lyft? Not so fast – there are still key differences between Uber and Lyft! Senior RSG contributor Jay Cradeur analyzes a recent article breaking down these differences, and shares his thoughts on how drivers can still take advantage of these differences.

As part of my job as a contributor to The Rideshare Guy, I peruse my Google News feed for interesting stories about Uber and Lyft and anyone in the gig economy.  Recently, I came upon an article titled:  Uber and Lyft drivers reveal the biggest differences they’ve noticed between the 2 ride-hailing giants.

Drive with Uber 1

As a long time driver, I was curious to see what this article would present as the big differences between Uber and Lyft.  I feel that as time goes by, Uber and Lyft are becoming virtually indistinguishable, and I was curious to see if my fellow drivers agreed with me.

Below is how the drivers interview feel, and my comments in agreement or disagreement.

Earn 3x driving kids to school

ZumTriple your ridesharing pay. Zūm drivers average $32/hour and many make $750+ a week. Work when you want. Get repeat rides and drive only on weekday mornings and afternoons. Apply to drive here.

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How I Launched My New Rideshare Podcast in 7 Easy Steps

Exciting news: we have a new ridesharing podcast to tell you about! Senior RSG contributor Jay Cradeur recently launched a new podcast called the Rideshare Dojo Podcast, and below he explains the steps he took to create, design, and deploy his podcast.

There are two things about rideshare driving that I belligerently enjoy:  listening to music and listening to podcasts.  Since I began driving in December of 2015, I have developed a huge appreciation for jazz musicians such as Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Stan Getz.

Concomitantly, I have become a loyal podcast listener of Marc Maron, Joe Rogan, Sam Harris and now, Conan O’Brien.  For about a year now, I have also been driving around thinking to myself: “I think I can do that! Wouldn’t it be great to have a podcast for drivers, by drivers?”

Then I started to visualize a podcast just for rideshare drivers and passengers.  Like many of my ideas, it sat rattling around my head for many months.

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From Rideshare Driver to Notary Public: One Driver’s Plan B

Is there life after rideshare? For many drivers, the answer is an enthusiastic ‘yes!’ Senior RSG contributor Jay Cradeur highlights one driver’s life after rideshare as a notary public, which he pursues in addition to driving for Uber and Lyft. His story, and how you can learn more and pursue your own Plan B, is below.

Drivers, want to share your success stories, how rideshare driving has helped you find your plan B or what you’d share to new drivers just getting started? Reach out to us here and we’ll be in touch!

I first met Nathan Daulton when he contacted The Rideshare Guy and expressed his distress over a citation he had received at the San Francisco International Airport.

Nathan had been working with a company called Carvertise and one of the yellow vests at SFO had written up a citation for advertising on airport property.  At the time, no one knew whether you could or could not advertise.

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Why Is Uber Sending Out Postcards To Recruit Drivers?

Drivers are the key to Uber and Lyft’s success: without drivers, at least for now, Uber and Lyft couldn’t exist. However, according to a Rideshare Guy driver survey, drivers are still leaving in record numbers. Senior RSG contributor Jay Cradeur covers what Uber is doing to combat this problem – and you might be shocked by what he finds.

Uber and Lyft have a big problem. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to see it: out of every dollar that Uber and Lyft generate, somewhere between 50% to 90% is going out to the drivers, including for driver recruitment costs and more.  If you take a look at the payment detail of any trip, you will see that some rides earn Uber a tidy sum in the 50% range.  However, I have also seen rides in which Uber lost money due to extremely high surge payments on short rides.  Either way you look at it, a significant portion of the revenue goes out to drivers.

However, without drivers, Uber and Lyft would not have a business.  While AVs (autonomous vehicles) loom large for the future, they are not ready to replace drivers just yet.  With Uber and Lyft’s venture capital-fueled low rates, it’s no surprise Uber and Lyft are not profitable.

Given that these behemoths are not profitable, and their biggest expense is the driver, what can a company do?  In this article, we will look at the many ways Uber and Lyft have attempted to recruit and maintain a fleet of drivers while also moving toward profitability.

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Here’s What it Takes to Buy a Car as a Rideshare Driver

It seems pretty obvious: without a car, you can’t be a rideshare driver. But how, when, and what type of car to get for rideshare driving is more complicated, involving money and time. Sounds like you need a car buying guide for Uber/Lyft drivers! In this Throwback Tuesday Classic, senior RSG contributor Jay Cradeur walks us through the steps of what you need to know when you’re considering buying a car for rideshare.

The single most important tool every rideshare driver must work hard to maintain and improve is his or her mind.  The more you know, the more you will maximize your revenue.  And the better you are at reading your passengers, listening and talking when appropriate, the more “stars and tips” you will receive.

But the second most important tool is your car.  You will spend hours and hours driving in your car. How you obtain your car is important as well, lease versus purchase.  After renting a car with Fair for a couple months, I recently decided to purchase a car and ran into many opportunities and many roadblocks.   This article will share the several potholes you can avoid if you decide you want to make a car purchase.

Looking for a car and don’t want to buy your own? Check out our Vehicle Marketplace.

car buying guide uber and lyft drivers

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