If the thought of becoming your own boss, setting your own schedule and getting out of that office has led you to consider becoming a full-time rideshare driver, you’re not alone. Thousands of people across the world have dropped the 9-to-5 in favor of driving, but, of course, it’s not always as easy as it sounds.
Here are five important things to consider before taking the leap.
Am I ready to drive 12 hours a day?
Sure, it’s nice to dream about driving just a few hours here and there whenever you want, but that won’t really work. To make a living as a rideshare driver, you may have to work overtime. In other words, being a full-time driver is really full-time. So the first thing you need to ask yourself is, am I ready to drive 12 hours a day (at least sometimes)?
Here are some things to consider:
- Back pain: 12 hours is a long time to sit. And this extended time in one position can really hurt your back, or exacerbate already-existing back and body issues. Is this something you can deal with?
- Lack of exercise: Being in the car that long also means you’re not exercising. Sure, that 9-to-5 office job meant little exercise too, but at least you got up and walked to the copier, or did a few blocks on foot to grab lunch, or stood on the train during your commute. With rideshare driving, it’s hard to avoid sitting the whole time.
- Boredom: Think back to that really long road trip you took. Remember how boring those hours of driving were? Really consider if you could do that five days a week.
- Overall long hours: There are a million other reasons why the long hours might get to you. Do you have side projects you still want to work on? A family at home that you want to spend time with? A dog that needs walking? Think of all your other obligations and aspirations and be honest about how much time you can take away from them.
Of course, there are ways to drive full-time and not totally sacrifice your well being. You just have to commit to remaining healthy while driving. Here’s how you can do it.
- Set aside time for exercise. Either before, during or after your shift, try to fit in at least 15 minutes of strenuous exercise a day. Even if you can’t hit the gym, take a break and stretch, do some jumping jacks or take a walk.
- Make it fun. You’re going to have to entertain yourself for long hours, so make sure you’ve got some stuff to occupy your mind while you drive. Load your phone up with good music, download some interesting podcasts for between rides, and brush up those conversation skills.
When do I want to have flexibility?
Like any full-time job, it’s good to have a set schedule that you stick to at least most of the time. And when you’re your own boss, you can build your schedule in whatever way makes sense to you. But there are some caveats when it comes to rideshare driving.
For one, you will want to maximize your earnings by working during peak hours. That means doing the morning commute, evening commute, nights and/or weekends. And because that means you’ll be working when most people aren’t (and for long hours on top of that) you have some FOMO. Here’s what you can do about that.
- Plan to be around when your friends and family are. If you need to help get your kids off to school, plan on skipping the morning commute. If you and your family like to go out on the weekends, drive during the weekdays. If you like to go out at night with your friends, drive during the day. In other words, identify the times that are important to you, and try to maximize the hours you work around that.
- Use your off-time well. If you drive late, it may be tempting to sleep in until your next shift, but try to be disciplined about maximizing your off-time as much as you do your working hours. If you’re enjoying your remaining time, the 12-hour shifts won’t feel so bad.
Am I a people person?
At its core, rideshare driving is a service job. And like all service jobs, you have to be good with people to enjoy it and do it well. If you’re considering jumping into the game full-time, make sure you ask yourself if you’re ready for what that means.
- You will be meeting and talking to a lot of people. If you don’t find people’s stories interesting or find yourself exhausted by the thought of talking to so many people every day, you may not be cut out for full-time driving. On the flip side, if this idea excites you, you’re in the right business.
- Ratings and tips depend on likeability. Whether you consider yourself a people person or not, your ratings and tips will be determined by how people perceive you. So if you want to get that extra boost in cash – and keep your job – you’re going to have to be likeable.
That said, you can still do this job even if you’re not an extrovert. Here are some tips to be more outgoing, and maybe even become more of a people person:
- Open up. The first step is just plain talking. Always greet your rider, ask them how they’re doing, and learn some good conversation starters. Ask questions, talk about the weather, or ask them where they’re headed.
- Read people. Knowing when to talk is just as important as knowing when to stop talking. Learn to read your passengers for cues of conversation willingness. Are they looking at their phone? Have their head tilted back and eyes closed? That’s a good time to turn on some music and let them be.
- Have a good time and don’t be too serious. People always like a happy person, so don’t be too serious. Even if you’re not talking, a rider can pick up on your mood, so if you’re enjoying yourself, you’re more likely to get better ratings and tips, and have better conversations.
Do I have the right equipment?
Rideshare driving isn’t just about having a clean car and knowing how to drive. Any pro driver will tell you that you shouldn’t go full-time until you’re stocked with the right equipment, from car to GPS.
So before getting started, make sure you have:
- A newish, reliable, low-mileage, efficient car. Don’t skimp, but don’t go overboard, either. Lease payments can be pricey, but so can repairs. Do your research and find the right car for you.
- The right tech. Get a smartphone mount for hands-off, easy driving; a dashcam in case something happens; a mileage log; an illuminated Uber/Lyft sign for night driving; plenty of phone chargers for you and your passengers; and a good GPS system.
- Emergency equipment. Make sure you’re prepared for emergencies with a first aid kit, seat belt cutters and a roadside tool kit.
Am I ready to treat this like a business?
The last question you need to ask yourself is if you’re ready to be a small business owner. That may sound a little overly ambitious, but the truth is, if you’re your own boss, you are a business owner. And that means there’s some extra things to consider.
Here are the main things you need to think about – and be on top of – as a full-time rideshare driver:
- Car maintenance. Driving full-time is going to put some wear and tear on your car. And that means you’re going to have to get it maintenanced more often than you’re used to. That means you need to not only be on top of getting new tires, oil changes, and tune ups on the regular, you also need to set aside money in order to do so.
- Healthcare. Now that’s you’re not employed by a company, you’re going to be paying your own healthcare costs. Depending on where you are and what your general health is, they may or may not be a big deal. Before going full-time, really think about what you can and can’t afford to live without.
- Taxes. Taxes are way more complicated when all your paychecks aren’t automatically deducting taxes and you don’t get a single W2. Consider how organized you are before doing this full-time. Can you keep track of expenses? Do you know the rules of filing as a freelancer? Make sure you know what you’re getting into so it won’t come back to bite you.
So… what else are we missing from this list? Full-time drivers, what else should part-time drivers consider before taking the full-time plunge? Which apps are your favorite for rideshare and delivery?
Let us know in the comments below!
