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FarePilot: A Tool That’s Helping Me Find Rides

Christian here, This post is sponsored by FarePilot but as always, all thoughts, experiences, and opinions are my own. I wasn’t sure if I’d like the FarePilot app at first, but it started growing on me once I gave it a chance and now I dig it. You can take it for a test run yourself by using their link here (yes it’s free).

I know my area fairly well, but there are still a lot of rides that take me up into the hills, out in the weeds, or into the middle of suburban neighborhoods where I feel hopelessly lost.

New Lyft Driver - Earn 1500:week

Instead of waiting around for a ride, I often just drive back to The City as quickly as possible to be in familiar territory. I know I can probably find rides in a new place, but I don’t know where to hang out for them.

…that’s when FarePilot comes in.

Find your next ride with FarePilot

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

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Do Uber Drivers Need To Have Car Seats for Children?

It’s a question almost every driver will get from passengers: I don’t have a car seat, but can I bring along my [baby, toddler, small child]? Today, we have a guest post from driver Jeff Parrott, who explains what the rules really are, what drivers are expected to do, and how drivers can diffuse tense situations with passengers. Have you received a request for a child without a car seat? What are your best suggestions for handling this request?

The text came in just moments after I accepted her Uber ride request: “I have my daughter, but no car seat.”

I was quick to respond: “I’m sorry, I can’t take her without a car seat.”

For a second, I felt relieved that her text had spared us both an awkward encounter. There is nothing worse than pulling up to a requester’s address and seeing an adult standing there with a small child and no car seat. How angry will she be when I deny her? How much time will I waste explaining why?

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How Can Drivers Get Maximum Value for Themselves?

A common theme among drivers is we’re not (usually) paid a fair compensation rate for the work we do. However, we’re all on the same playing field… right? Senior RSG contributor Jay Cradeur recently found out a discrepancy in how Uber and Lyft pay drivers, and how these different types of pay can be leveraged by drivers to drive smarter, not harder.

Have you noticed that whenever you call in to either Lyft or Uber’s Customer Support, they always say things like “Hey Jay, thanks for being one of our best drivers.” Or they say “We sure do appreciate your professionalism.”

You get the point.  For the past two years, I actually believed these platitudes were sincere.  Perhaps I tend to be trusting, and therefore I am more inclined to be duped.

A common theme among drivers is we’re not (usually) paid a fair compensation rate for the work we do. However, we’re all on the same playing field… right? Senior RSG contributor Jay Cradeur recently found out a discrepancy in how Uber and Lyft pay drivers, and how these different types of pay can be leveraged by drivers to drive smarter, not harder.

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What Does Uber’s Long Pickup Fee Look Like for Drivers?

Have you seen a ‘long pickup fee’ in your city? Not every city has these fees yet, but if you’ve driven very far to pick up a passenger lately, you may have seen the additional money in your driver account. So what is this long pickup fee, what triggers a ‘long’ pick up and how much extra can drivers make? Senior RSG contributor Will Preston answers these questions, plus what drivers need to know about the pickup fee below.

Like seemingly everything with Uber, long pick-up fees sound good at first but aren’t always what they seem. Yes, you can now be compensated when you drive more than a certain number of minutes to a destination. But depending on what happens once you get there, you might be in for a surprise.

Have you seen a ‘long pickup fee’ in your city? Not every city has these fees yet, but if you’ve driven very far to pick up a passenger lately, you may have seen the additional money in your driver account. So what is this long pickup fee, what triggers a ‘long’ pick up and how much extra can drivers make? Senior RSG contributor Will Preston answers these questions, plus what drivers need to know about the pickup fee below.

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Why Your Uber Driver App Isn’t Working

Thursday Feb. 8, 2018: It appears that the Uber app is down for some drivers in the United States.  Seems like Uber is aware of the problem and working on fixing it – you can follow our Facebook page here for updates.

Harry here.  I often get frantic e-mails and Facebook messages from drivers who are having trouble with their Uber driver app.  I’m usually able to help with a lot of these issues, but you may not have days or even hours to wait for me to respond.

E-mailing Uber about technical issues is, well, a lost cause to put it nicely, but in today’s article, RSG Senior Contributor, Scott Van Maldegiam, breaks down all of the troubleshooting steps you can take to fix the problem on your own. He’s even got a few proactive ones that could prevent problems in the first place.

What To Do About The Uber Driver App Crapping Out

What To Do About The Uber Driver App Crapping Out

We have all had times when we want to throw our smartphones against a brick wall.  They can be amazing devices at times, but they aren’t always perfect.  And when these devices affect our ability to make money, it can be especially frustrating.

Today, I’ll talk about what problems may occur, and what you can do to fix the problem ASAP.  I will also talk about general troubleshooting and preventative measures to avoid problems in the first place.

👉Related article: Essential gear for rideshare drivers [Read more…]