Driver Advice - Page 3 of 14

by Will Preston on December 4, 2017 82 Comments

Is Uber Stealing Tips?

Since Uber launched tipping, we’ve gotten several e-mails and reports from drivers claiming that Uber is stealing tips. Some drivers emailed me saying their app glitched and the tip disappeared, some told me their passengers tipped them through the app but the driver never received it, and some just don’t trust Uber.

They’re all valid questions and concerns though, so we asked senior RSG contributor Will Preston to take a look at whether or not Uber is stealing tips from drivers.

There are several stories in the Uber forums of drivers that feel that Uber is “stealing” their tips. While anything is possible, I decided to do an experiment to really test and see if Uber is actually stealing tips. If true, I would catch Uber in the act almost immediately – or not. Here’s what I did and how it turned out.

Find your next ride with FarePilot

FarePilot shows you hotspots to help you get more rides. Download it here.

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by Scott Van Maldegiam on November 20, 2017 17 Comments

The 4 Most Lucrative Days Of The Year To Be a Rideshare Driver

With Halloween fresh in everyone’s mind, I thought it might be a good idea to take a look at what other days of the year rideshare drivers might see record numbers. My reasoning behind this list is pretty simple: follow the alcohol. We already know that Friday and Saturday nights are peak demand times since everyone is out and about drinking, so it only makes sense that the biggest rideshare days of the year would coincide with the biggest drinking holidays of the year.

New Year’s Eve

If you’ve been driving for any amount of time, you’re probably already familiar with the stories from NYE. New Year’s Eve is off the hook busy: multipliers are maxed out and this year’s NYE will likely be the biggest rideshare night we’ve ever seen! When I say maxed out, this means 8x for Uber and 3x for Lyft.

Most rides after midnight between 12:30 and 2:30 were steady at this high multiplier. The rest of the night is commonly above 4x except from about 10 until 12 when there is a bit of a lull. Plan to wait to eat dinner and take a break during this time. I started this past year about 3pm and I remember having a 5.5 multiplier around 5:30pm so demand is strong most of the day.

It is not unheard of to make $500-$1,000 on NYE (even in the lowest cost market of Chicago) but you have to be prepared for the drama. There are mainly 2 types of riders on a night where there are high expectations. There are people who had fun and those that didn’t. There isn’t much in between and those that didn’t have fun will be surrounded by drama and tears, so be ready. [Read more…]

by John Ince on October 23, 2017 29 Comments

The Ultimate Driver’s Guide to Terrible Passengers

We’ve all had those terrible passengers: the rude, condescending, or just plain weird, and everyone handles them in a different way. Today, senior RSG contributor John Ince shares his ultimate driver’s guide to terrible passengers, including how you can spot them ahead of time and divert them while you’re driving. Any tips we missed? Leave them in the comments!

My evening has gone really well and then suddenly I sense things are about to get very challenging… because I’ve just picked up a genuine, 100%, problem case terrible passenger. If you’ve driven for any amount of time, you know what I’m talking about. I have a different name for them, but it’s not something we can publish… basically, it’s “R.A.H.” (Rider… fill in the blank), as in my evening has just gone awry because of an R.A.H. Dealing with terrible passengers from time to time is an unavoidable part of our job.

After 3 years dealing with terrible passengers, I’ve come up with seven basic varieties. I’m sure there are more. Perhaps you’ve encountered a special or unique kind of terrible passenger not on this list. If so please share your terrible passengers stories with the rest of us – in the comments.

Editor’s Note: If you need a break from all of the people who get into and out of your car, try delivering with Caviar for a night (or even a few hours). Sign up here.

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by John Ince on September 18, 2017 46 Comments

Biggest Frustrations of Being a Rideshare Driver

If you’ve been driving rideshare long enough, you’re bound to have encountered a few frustrations as a driver. From the distracting, like technological glitches, to the mildly annoying, like some passenger music preferences, we all have a list of frustrations. Today, senior RSG contributor John Ince highlights his biggest frustrations as a driver. Agree this these, or have a list of your own? Let us know in the comments!

Join us for our next Youtube Live Q&A session Tuesday September 19 at 5pm PT! You can subscribe to our Youtube channel here and be sure to turn on notifications (instructions here) so you know when we go live.

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by John Ince on August 28, 2017 13 Comments

10 Mistakes Made by New Uber Drivers

New to driving for Uber or Lyft and want to make money? Then there are certain mistakes you want to avoid! Today, senior RSG contributor John Ince tackles the 10 biggest mistakes new rideshare drivers make and how you can avoid them. Get on the road without any of the newbie mistakes and start earning money without worries! Notice anything we missed? Leave your mistake – and how to fix it – in the comments.

Are you a new Uber or Lyft driver? If so, you may be nervous to get out on the road, concerned that you won’t get any rides or people will rate you poorly, or you won’t make very much. If those are your concerns – don’t worry! We’ve all been there and, for the most part, passengers are decent and you won’t be kicked off the platform your first night.

That said, there are a few mistakes many new drivers make and don’t even realize it! Here’s a list of 10 mistakes newbie rideshare drivers make and how you can avoid them.

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