Gridwise blog

Table of Contents

Lecture 1: Navigation Apps

Each has its pros and cons so let's get started with how navigation tools are similar and different. Each navigation tool works by using your mobile smartphones’ GPS location to show you turn by turn directions.

1. Uber navigation
2. Lyft navigation
3. Google maps
4. Apple maps
5. Waze

Uber navigation

Already integrated into the driver app for fluid user experience. This is super convenient when you are behind the wheel as you have less to fumble around with on your phone, although it may not be as up to date on best routes as the leading navigation apps like Google or Waze. This is especially evident when there is heavy traffic or if there are road closures and major construction delays.

Lyft navigation

The same as Uber navigation, Lyft navigation is also built within the Lyft driver app to allow you to seamlessly use the app for each trip. The major difference is that Lyft will add additional riders to your queue automatically. This isn’t always what the driver wants do be sure to turn off new rides quickly after accepting them to avoid this.

Google maps

Google maps is familiar to many drivers especially those working on Android smartphones. This may be a natural choice of navigation app to use for those familiar with Google. A major difference between this navigation app and the native driver apps is traffic slow down updates that may be helpful when you drive rush hours. A downside is switching constantly between the driver apps and Goole maps because this is not built within the driver apps.

Waze navigation

Utilizes crowdsourced data to predict best routes in real-time allowing you to avoid traffic jams, cops, construction, or any other road hazard. Is not integrated with the driver app which means you have to tab out and switch out of the driver app into another app to use. This can be clumsy especially if you are behind the wheel focusing on driving.

We recommend using the built-in navigation tools when you first begin driving rideshare to keep things as simple as possible. You already have too many things going on at once when you first start driving to worry about switching between apps. Just use the built-in navigation on the driver apps so you can focus on learning the trip taking process. Master the art of accepting pings, picking up your passenger, and dropping them off safely first and all within the driver app. Once you get comfortable with the trip process, then explore the other options available to you.

Take Action for Lecture 1

1. Download all of the above navigation apps and play around with them
2. Find the best navigation tool experience you enjoy and stick with it

Table of Contents

Lecture 1: What to expect on your first trip

It’s okay to be nervous on your first trip

Many new drivers are nervous on their first trip. It may seem daunting to juggle the driver app, find your way around town, and then pick up a complete stranger. Feeling anxiety is normal so don’t worry about making mistakes because people are generally nice and you will get better with time.

Here’s what you can expect on your first trip:

1. Using the driver app
2. Navigating to the pick-up
3. Greeting your first passenger
4. Dropping off your passenger
5. Preparing for your next ride

Understanding the driver app

Uber makes the pick-up experience very straightforward in the app. When you tap Go, you’ll be matched with a rider and the app will switch to a navigation view giving you turn by turn directions on a map to the pick-up location.

Navigating to the pick-up

Follow the directions in your app and once you arrive close to your pickup location the app will start a waiting timer and give you the option to start the trip. Do not start the trip until the passenger is confirmed and in your car!

Greeting your first passenger

Before you let the passenger into your car make sure you positively identify them by the name listed in your driver app, and that they confirm your name and license plate as well. Be sure to let them know this is your first trip because this allows you both to lighten the mood, break the ice, and more importantly tell the passenger to have more patience with you as a new driver.

Dropping off your passenger

As you approach the dropoff point the driver app will give you the option to end the trip. Say goodbye to your passenger, and simply end the trip to see your payout. It’s important to only end the trip when the passenger leaves your vehicle.

Preparing for your next ride

Finishing a trip will automatically place you in the queue to accept the next available ping, so be sure to Go Offline by tapping the X button if you want to take a break. Taking a quick break after your first ride is important to gather your composure, and to check your car for any missing items or trash.

Take Action For Lecture 1

1. Get comfortable with your driver app
2. Gather your driver kit as outlined in our cleaning and maintenance lecture
3. Take your first trip!

Being a delivery driver seems simple enough. 

You get a ping on the app, you go to the restaurant, you pick up the order, and you drop it at the customer’s door. Easy, right? Well ... it can be. But the truth is, there’s a lot more to it than that. 

Ask anyone who’s used to working rideshare and suddenly switches to deliveries in an attempt to make up for a severe passenger shortage. Those annoying riders you love to hate can seem far more appealing after you get up-close-and-personal with the broken bags, spilled food, slow service at restaurants, and complicated directions—not to mention inconsistent and often inadequate pay—that come with the delivery game.

Yet even with all those worries and inconveniences, there’s a lot to like about delivery driving. 

For one thing, the business is on a huge upswing now. The COVID-19 crisis fueled the rocket that got delivery off the ground, and now that people are used to it, they’ll probably want to keep enjoying it. 

Also, delivery is an almost-perfect alternative (or augmentation) to your rideshare gig. You still have flexible hours, you’re still in your car, and you still get to collect fees and tips. And if you want, you can even switch back and forth between rideshare and delivery, all on one shift.

Are you ready to become a delivery driver?

The companies you hear about most, Grubhub, DoorDash, Postmates, Instacart, and Uber Eats, are easy to join as a driver. If you already drive for Uber, all you have to do is change your settings to include deliveries.

Working for the other companies is a simple matter of downloading the app, signing up, and waiting for the background check and the rest of the application to clear. 

Unless there’s some kind of problem, you’ll be a full-fledged delivery driver in a day or three. You’ll be provided with some essential supplies, one of which is a thermal bag, usually decorated with the company logo. 

Who needs a fancy thermal bag? 

You do. 

Sure, most restaurants bag their wares, but those sacks aren’t very strong. They sometimes break, and often they don’t have enough insulation to keep food and drinks at the right temperatures like nice, thick thermal bags do. 

Those bags can also stop spills from spreading, and prevent nasty smells and stains from seeping into your upholstery and taking up residence.

Along with the bag, you may receive a company credit card of sorts. But don’t salivate yet; as nice as it would be, you’re not getting a lush expense account. 

The card is for paying the restaurant for your customer’s purchase through the company’s app. The restaurant will swipe it and that will be it. You can’t charge anything else. (#%&!#&$!)

You can use the app for delivery without using the card, at least while you wait for it to arrive so you can activate it. Until then, you’ll only be called for deliveries that are prepaid through to the eatery. 

That’s a good way to start out until you catch on to the delivery game, but it does restrict the number of deliveries available. You’ll be much busier once you activate the card, so you’ll want to do that as soon as you receive it.

Common issues to watch out for

If everything goes smoothly, you should be up and running in a fairly short amount of time. But like all endeavors, there are variables. Besides human error and navigation snafus, some other stuff can make your delivery run unusual.

For instance, there’s the driving distance between your car and the restaurant, plus the trip from the restaurant to the customer’s door to consider. When you take the call, you might not have all that information.

In many cases you do get it, and the app will actually show you how long the delivery should take—if all goes as planned. But do deliveries always run so smoothly? The keyword there is always, and the answer is of course not. Here are some other snafus to be prepared for.

The restaurant takes an ungodly amount of time to serve you

This happens a lot since at peak times, there can be tons of people in one place picking up their meals. 

Also, restaurants (like humans) have bad days. They could be short-staffed, or working with one functioning fryer or grill instead of two or three. Don’t get short-tempered, but do take this possibility into consideration when you accept the call.

Whoops! You have to place the order for the customer

Who expected that, right? This can happen with some of the apps. You’ll be cruising down a highway when you accept a call, adjust your route to drive to the restaurant, and then discover ... the customer hasn’t placed the order yet. 

Usually you can see this in the app when you go through the screens, but that’s not something you want to do while driving 65 mph, or while driving at all, for that matter.

You obviously have to pull over to see what the situation is. If you don’t catch it in time, you could arrive at the restaurant before you realize you have to place the order. Then you’ll have to wait 20 or 30 extra minutes for the food to be prepared. 

Time is money, and you don’t get paid very much for waiting. On top of that, your customer could grow pretty hangry by the time you get that food delivered.

Some portion of the order spills in your car

We know what you’re thinking: If you avoid driving drunk people around, you’re protecting your car from disgusting smells—right? Wrong. 

That spilt gorgonzola and garlic salad dressing your customer is salivating for, once dumped on your back seat, will offend your sense of smell and leave your customer hungry—and possibly mad at you.

Other items, like coffee and cola, can spill in the bag(s) and soak the food, rendering the comestibles you’re delivering worthless. Even though the spills aren’t on your vehicle’s pristine surfaces, the loss of the item (in the customer’s mind) will be ... on you.

You need ID from your customer, but he/she asked for contact-free delivery

Most of the time you won’t have to ask for ID unless the customer orders alcohol. If that is part of the order, you’ll typically know it in advance, and the customer will realize that ID needs to be shown.

Now you’ll probably laugh, but this actually happened. A customer asked for contact-free delivery, but the app wouldn’t close without a picture of her ID because it said she ordered alcohol. There was no booze in the order, but there was ... wait for it ... WINE VINEGAR DRESSING. 

The AI in these apps is getting good, but the little robots in there need to work on their discernment skills. The driver had to shut down the app and call the company to get the order to clear. The customer got the order, but she didn’t get billed until the next day. Lucky for the driver, she left an awesome tip.

And now for your 20 helpful hints! 

After reading this far, you may be starting to see the not-so-simple part of delivery driving. You’ll want to do things that avoid wasting time and not leave room for confusion or messes. The best delivery drivers out there are well-prepared, and they work smart, fast, and thoroughly. Here are 20 things you can do to be one of them.

1. Get a bag. If your company provides one, great, but get another one. If the company doesn’t provide any, buy at least two. You won’t believe how much food people can order. It might not fit in a single bag, and we already told you what can happen if you don’t use one.
2. Get a box or crate. This is how you keep everything upright and prevent spills. It can also help to keep food away from the other stuff in your vehicle, such as windshield washer fluid and motor oil.
3. Get a tarp. Some food orders (like deluxe-sized pizzas and 4-foot hoagies) won’t fit in your thermal bag OR your crate. Drape the tarp to cover the floor of your cargo area or the back seat to prevent damage to your vehicle.
4. Activate the company card. If you don’t, you’re going to miss out on a lot of orders.
5. Bring foul weather gear. You’re going to be in and out of your vehicle far more than you’ve ever been with rideshare.
6. Equip your car with cleaning supplies. If that gorgonzola-garlic spill happens, you’ll want to mop up as much as you can ... ASAP.
7. Un-bag beverages and put them in your cup holders. That way, they’re far less likely to spill all over the place.
8. Carry an oven glove or better yet, two. Some orders, especially soups, stews, or trays of lasagna, can be hot enough to burn your hands—and are easy to drop.
9. Make cleanliness a priority. Check your bag and crate often for spills and smears, and keep them clean. They may not stink right away, but a foul stench could develop within hours.
10. Keep your hands on the wheel. If you’re doing anything more complicated than accepting a ping, PULL OVER to interact with the app.
11. Observe your app. If you’re not sure whether you have to place the order, check it out before you travel to the restaurant. And what about alcohol and ID?
12. Scan the restaurant. Many have pickup sections that are separate from the food service area. Don’t stand in a line unless you know it’s the right one.
13. Observe all policies within the restaurant. For instance, you might have to wear a mask and/or abide by social distancing in the space.
14. Watch the app for combined orders. The company will often double you up with two or more deliveries in one trip, if they’re coming from the same eatery or a place nearby, and/or are being delivered in close proximity. Don’t miss picking up the extra food or knowing where it goes.
15. Carry a sharpie pen with you to mark the bags, especially when you’re making a run for two or more customers. Would you want to get Kung Pao chicken when you ordered vegetarian chop suey? Didn’t think so.
16. Watch for cancellations. They will almost always come before you get to the restaurant, but you won’t want to be there picking up a bag of food nobody’s going to pay for.
17. Pack up some extra napkins, utensils, straws, and condiments. When you go out of your way to keep your customers happy, they’ll be more likely to give you big tips.
18. If there’s too much to carry in one trip, make as many as it takes. There’s no award for carrying the most bags with two arms ... and then dropping three containers of soup in the driveway.
19. Always bring your insulated bag(s) or a crate with you when you’re picking up a large order. This will make it easier to manage, and lessens the risk of broken paper or plastic bags.
20. Follow the customer’s instructions, always. If you have questions, CALL THEM. If you communicate clearly, and graciously honor their wishes (within reason, of course), you’re going to make lots of great tips—and you’ll be that best driver out there.

But most importantly, track your earnings!

You simply cannot improve what you don’t measure. That’s why it’s important for every driver to understand how much they’re earning per service.

Drivers can use Gridwise to track their mileage, and earnings, for free, so you can understand what apps are making you the most money.

So if you don’t already have Gridwise app, download it now for free! 

So what are you waiting for? Download Gridwise and start tracking your earnings now!!!!

It’s part of the preliminaries

Signing up with Uber is fairly simple, and you’re in control of most of it. Upload your license, registration, and proof of insurance, and you’re almost there.

But the final part of applying to be a driver, the background check, is a little more complex and isn’t something you can find out about on the spot. You’ll have to wait until Uber has completed a full check of your driving history and criminal record to make sure letting you drive for the company isn’t a risky proposition.

The wait, in most cases, isn’t that long. You’ll usually hear back from Uber within three to five days unless there are delays, such as county records that aren’t available electronically. 

Who’s looking into your background?

Uber uses a third party company, Checkr, to perform background checks on potential drivers. If your check comes back clean, an Uber representative will contact you after the company has had time to review it. Be patient. Once Uber is confident that your background doesn’t pose a risk, if everything else is in order they will be happy to welcome you as a driver.

Uber will also contact you if anything turns up on your record that could make you an unsafe driver.

While you’re waiting for the results of your background check, you can log into Checkr’s Candidate Portal, fill out a brief online form, and find out your status. 

What are they looking for?

You may have heard that Uber often gets sued by riders, drivers, and even the states where the company operates. Because of the litigation risk, Uber must protect itself from any liability associated with exposing a potentially dangerous person to the public. Background checks vastly reduce that liability. 

Equally or even more important than the threat of litigation is Uber’s responsibility to keep riders and drivers safe. That’s why your DMV records, as well as any criminal records, will be thoroughly reviewed during this phase of your onboarding with Uber.

To pass the background check, you must have a valid driver’s license from a U.S. state for at least one year, and for at least three years if you’re 22 or younger. (Just in case you were wondering, this time requirement doesn’t include learner’s permit driving time.)

Your license must not have any disqualifying records, which might include:

• Major moving violations, such as driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI) or reckless driving, within the last seven years
• More than three minor moving violations in the past three years, such as speeding tickets (20+ mph over the speed limit), or failure to obey traffic laws

If you have a criminal record, it must be free of:

• Felony convictions 
• Violent crimes
• Sexual offenses for the last seven years
• Outstanding charges that haven’t yet been resolved in your favor

Note that this is a general list of qualifications; some states have stricter standards than others. In California, for example, you must not have had a DUI conviction within the last ten years.

In New York City, rather than background checks being performed by Checkr, the Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) will perform the check as part of its licensing procedure. You must be licensed by the TLC to drive for Uber in New York City.

Check your locality for the standards and the number of years required for Uber to clear your background check and allow you to drive.

Will they check my credit?

No, Uber will not check your credit unless you’re renting a car through them. If you’re using your own car to drive for Uber, you won’t need to worry about a credit check.

Is all this checking confidential?

Yes, background checks are completely confidential. Personnel at Checkr, as well as those at Uber who review the results, are forbidden from sharing information about you outside the purpose of conducting the background check and determining if you qualify to be a driver.

What’s this background check going to cost me?

The background check is totally covered by Uber. It won’t cost you anything except the time and trouble of submitting your information and waiting for the results.

Can I monitor the background check process?

Uber won’t usually contact you until the background check is complete. If you’re curious about how it’s coming along, you can visit Checkr’s Candidate Portal, or check your status in the Uber app by tapping My Profile. You’ll be able to see what your status is based on the word used to describe it. For instance … 

• Onboarding is Uber’s way of saying your documents and background check are under review;

• Waitlisted can mean there are issues with your documents. Or, if you’re already a driver, Uber might be re-running your background check;

• Consider is a yellow light that could turn red. It means your background check is being closely reviewed because there are issues;

• Active means you’re good to go. You can move into driver mode and start earning money;

• Rejected is exactly what the word implies: you didn’t get accepted, or you were deactivated. You can try to reapply, but your first step is finding out why you weren’t approved.

What can I do if I get rejected?

First, don’t panic; mistakes can be made during the background check. If you believe that you meet all the qualifications to be a driver, and you’ve been rejected, it’s worth contacting both Uber and Checkr to find out what’s going on.

If a problem is found with the background report, you’ll receive an email from Checkr, so you can first try replying to that. Checkr doesn’t have the last word, though, when it comes to whether or not you’ll be activated. 

If you can get Checkr to amend the report by correcting the error, you’ll then have to re-submit it to Uber.

Remember, however, that Uber cannot do anything to change the results of your background check. Rather, the company uses the findings to make a determination as to whether you’re eligible to drive. 

If you want an explanation about why you’ve been rejected, you can request that by getting in touch with Uber. You can call or email, but for something this personal and important, you may want to visit an Uber Hub in person. Here’s a list of all the hubs with addresses, driving directions, phone numbers, and business hours.

Although it’s important to advocate for yourself, Uber officials won’t change their minds about the results unless there really is something incomplete or inaccurate in your original background report.

Once it’s over, will I have to go through the background check again?

Uber will repeat the background check at least once a year. They’ll want to know whether you’ve received any recent citations or if any new criminal charges have been filed against you. 

As long as Uber’s standards remain the same from year to year, and you haven’t had any new citations or criminal charges, you’ll remain in good standing with the company. If, on the other hand, Uber does change its standards and your record doesn’t meet them, you could be deactivated.  

It is also possible that another employee could review your background check after the first review, and make a different decision. It always pays to contact Uber if you have questions about your status as a driver, and why it might have changed.

Be safe, stay safe

Being a rideshare driver requires you to be safe and responsible, both on and off the road. Protect yourself, protect your riders, and keep the Uber community safe.

There’s nothing like stating the obvious: The gig economy has been turned upside-down these past few months. Most drivers prefer carrying passengers over doing deliveries, mainly because passenger rides are more lucrative and easier to come by. Delivering food involves parking, getting in and out of the car, carrying sometimes heavy loads, possibly spilling potent-smelling foodstuffs in your nice, clean car, and after all that … not getting much money. Before COVID-19, most drivers weren’t all that excited to work for delivery companies because they didn’t have to. But now, everything is different.

The big gig shift

There’s still a lot of fear over COVID-19 and all the risks associated with its spread. That, combined with government stay-at-home and shelter-in-place orders, has decimated much of the driving business. While we certainly expect that the day will come when people resume going to and from work, then out to dinner, drinks, and/or large events, right now driving is a very sporadic and challenging way to generate income.

Where are our passengers? Most of them are at home, either working from there or furloughed from their jobs. Whereas they once ran their own errands and did their own shopping, they’re now willing to pay for the privilege of staying huddled in their houses—which means they’re shelling out extra money to get their purchases delivered. And they’re tipping pretty well, too.

This situation makes working for delivery services much more attractive than it was when driving passengers was profitable. The restaurants our riders used to frequent are now takeout only. The bars where they met their friends after work are shuttered. So, people are looking for ways to get their favorite foods and beverages delivered to their homes. 

This shift in customer activity has done more than just make delivery companies seem more attractive than before. It’s created a business boom for these companies, as well as a demand for more gig workers to keep their machinery moving. One in particular is making a splash due to an immense amount of expansion: Instacart. 

An app-based service for grocery, pharmacy, and pet-supply shopping, Instacart has hired more than 300,000 shoppers and delivery drivers in the last few months alone, and plans to hire 250,000 more. Just like the coronavirus itself, no one saw the staggering demand for new workers coming. Even Instacart didn’t anticipate this level of growth. In an April 2020 interview, Instacart president Nilam Ganenthiran said that because of the coronavirus pandemic, “Every day is a new Black Friday for us.”

When every day feels like the busiest shopping day of the year, you know there are employment opportunities galore at Instacart. There are a few different ways you can work for the company. You can shop and then deliver, pick up and deliver only, or simply be a shopper. This flexibility might make it easier for rideshare drivers to adjust to working for an outfit like Instacart.

What about Instacart worker safety?

It’s pretty obvious why customers (including our past and future riders) enjoy getting their groceries and other items delivered; it’s always convenient to use a service like this one. But with the COVID-19 scare it has become, quite literally, a life-saver. The main reason people use this shopping service so much and so often is they don’t want to go into the stores and risk being infected with the coronavirus.

One of the difficulties Instacart has faced recently is directly related to worker safety. After making recent promises to provide hand sanitizer and other safety equipment to their drivers, they were unable to deliver the goods. Drivers and shoppers also felt let down in other ways too, and they were unhappy with Instacart’s response to their demands. So, in late March 2020, Instacart workers went on strike. 

Although the company didn’t meet all demands, they did take measures to help protect the shoppers and drivers who work for them. They have instituted safety programs, and even worked with a third-party manufacturer to create their own line of hand sanitizer. They began providing safety kits to all workers that contain a reusable cotton mask, a thermometer, and hand sanitizer. 

Another safety precaution implemented in April 2020 involves shoppers and drivers participating in mandatory wellness checks before starting work. They take an in-app survey about whether they’re having any COVID-19 symptoms such as fever, coughing, or shortness of breath. If they have no symptoms, they can begin their day’s work. But if they do have symptoms, they’ll be temporarily deactivated and told to call their doctor. 

While this is a step in the right direction, there’s no guarantee workers will be honest about that fever or nagging cough, and the app can’t take workers’ temperatures—not yet, anyway. Still, it probably does comfort shoppers and their customers to know these precautionary measures are in place.

Is working for Instacart worth it?

Until the rideshare business comes back, most drivers need to consider other ways to make money. As long as you’re healthy, and don’t have any high-risk considerations to factor in, a job like this one might work out for you. Sure, unemployment is available for gig workers during the COVID-19 crisis, but we’ve heard from many drivers who say they’re facing long and frustrating delays.

What are the risks with COVID-19 and beyond?

Once the novel coronavirus is finally under control and the “all-clear” sounds, the economy will inevitably be different. Will rideshare come back to the way it was before the coronavirus crisis? Maybe, maybe not. If it doesn’t, it would be a good idea to have a Plan B in place, like working for Instacart to back you up and supplement your income.

The other side of the after-COVID equation is whether Instacart’s services will still be in demand when the fear of catching the viral disease dies down. It’s hard to know for sure—but our research tells us that people have grown fond of having someone else do their grocery shopping, so the demand for this service is likely to remain strong.

It’s a huge timesaver, and many people consider it well worth the extra money Instacart tacks on for its fee. The ebb and flow of economic trends seems to indicate business may not be as brisk as it is right now, but it will probably remain much stronger than it was before the outbreak. 

What about money?

Feedback on working for Instacart is mixed. There are many reports of big tippers. There are also complaints that people put the big tip on the order, and then remove it just as it's been completed. Drivers left holding the bag are stuck with the average $15 per delivery. Those who get big tips, however, can make as much as $25.

Just as with rideshare, delivery pay will vary according to the market where you work. Your take will be bigger in more densely populated areas, and you’ll make more at certain times of the day. Also remember that if you decide to be a full-fledged shopper, you’ll be spending time inside the store, standing in line to get in and to get checked out, on top of driving there and delivering the items to the customer.

Overall, if you can make some money, that’s preferable to making NO money while you sit and wait for the rideshare business to pick up again. Right?

Is Instacart for you?

Once you’ve binged yourself numb on TV series and old movies, you could come to the point where you either want or need to get out of your house and get to work for a service like Instacart.

So here’s a link to help you get started. When the future is uncertain, it’s always a good idea to keep your options open. And remember—with Gridwise, you can track your earnings, as well as your rideshare stats, right on the app. Download it now!

Tell me this … who doesn’t want to save gas? As far as I know, the answer is “no one.”

In high school, I would scrounge around my cup holder and jacket pockets in search of spare bills and coins to buy some gas.The words “fill ‘er up” seldom left my lips, since I usually managed to find just enough for a gallon or two to putz around town. 

Things have certainly changed over the years. Now, as a rideshare driver, I fill my tank multiple times a week to keep up with the demands of passengers with places to go. As you undoubtedly know, car payments, insurance, maintenance, and gas are the major costs that make up a driver’s expenses. Depending on your vehicle and how often you drive, these costs can really add up—meaning less money for you at the end of the day.

How can you cut back on gas costs while driving for rideshare? 

I’m glad you asked. “Drive less” is the obvious answer, but since that’s not an option, there are some simple tips and tricks to help you cut down on usage and maximize your tank of gas. Read on to learn more.

Let’s take a step back ... what do you drive?

I’m sure you’ve heard the term “gas guzzler” to describe a car that gets terrible gas mileage. If that’s what you’re driving, it’s probably the reason you’re burning through so much gas. But before you go out and buy a Toyota Prius (50 MPG fuel economy, in case you’re wondering), here are some things to consider about the vehicle you purchase and how you maintain it. 

Focus on fuel economy

Basically, fuel economy is defined as the number of miles you can drive on a single tank of gas—which is why that Prius may be sounding pretty good right now. The higher the miles per gallon (MPG), the lower the number of weekly tank fill-ups, which means more money in your pocket. When comparing vehicles for purchase, fuel economy is the most important factor to consider. 

Bigger isn’t always better

Unless you plan on driving for UberXL or Lyft Plus, you don’t necessarily need a big car. That’s good, since larger cars usually come with higher price tags and lower fuel economy. In contrast, a four-seater like a Honda Civic or a Ford Fusion can provide you with enough spacious seating, as well as good fuel economy. 

It’s not the age, it’s the maintenance 

There is a common perception that that old cars burn more gas, but that isn’t always true. The MPG largely depends on the type of vehicle and how it’s been maintained. So if you’re thinking about buying a car, keep in mind that a used car could save you a lot of money on your monthly expenses. 

If you do decide to go the used car route, be sure to talk to the dealership about prior maintenance and learn all you can about how well the car has been maintained. Even one that’s ten to fifteen years old can hold its original fuel economy when properly taken care of.

If you opt to buy a new car, take care to preserve your fuel economy by performing routine maintenance and keeping the car’s fluids topped off. 

Go ahead and fill ‘er up

So you have your fuel-efficient vehicle, and now it’s time to hit the road. But first, you need to buy gas. Here are a few things to consider before filling your tank.

Get the right kind of gas

For obvious reasons, I can’t write an article about saving money on gas without mentioning the various fuel types available at the pump. First, be aware of what level of octane your car requires. Most vehicles require 87 to 91 octane, with some luxury vehicles requiring an octane level of 91 to 95, or diesel. The driver’s manual in your vehicle will explain what you need. Unleaded, regular gasoline with an octane level of 87 is typically the cheapest fuel you can buy, and what most drivers today use in their vehicles.

Don’t overfill

We may not cry over spilled milk, but we can cry over spilled gas when it costs more than $3 a gallon. Most cars will automatically stop the pump once the tank is about full, and I’ll be the first to admit I’ve squeezed the lever once or twice more to get every last drop. What we don’t realize is that topping off can cause liquid gas to enter the charcoal canister, which in turn affects your car’s performance and causes it to run less efficiently. This can ultimately result in damage to your car’s engine. So try to resist topping off the tank. 

Consolidate and conserve!

Running out to get gas before your workday can be a pain, but running out of gas (especially while driving) is worse. Consolidate trips and stop while you’re already on the road to keep from burning more gas. Pro tip: If you fill up during the cooler hours of the day, there will be less evaporation loss. It may seem a bit ridiculous, but in the long run it can add up. #science

Check your tires

Another way to make sure you’re getting the most out of your tank of gas is by making sure your tires are properly inflated. In fact, studies have revealed that you can save 0.6 percent of each tank of gas by driving with tires that are inflated to the proper pressure. 

While you’re driving

Now that we’ve covered the things to consider while buying a car, as well as what to know and remember about gas, what comes next? The actual driving! Here are some suggestions to consider. 

Avoid idling

As drivers, we often find ourselves sitting in our cars with the radio and AC on, awaiting the next ride. Depending on how quickly this happens, we sometimes end up sitting for up to an hour—burning fuel and not making any money. During slow parts of the day, wait for rides with your vehicle off and the windows down. If the weather is bad, you could wait in a coffee shop instead.

Avoid quick starts and sudden stops

We’ve all been there. We’re sitting at a red light, with a merging lane ahead, fervently waiting for the light to change so we can beat the car next to us as though we’re racing in the Daytona 500. As satisfying as this may be, it takes a toll on gas mileage—especially if you don’t end up beating that other car and end up having to slam on your brakes. 

Drive at moderate speeds

Just like sudden starts and stops can burn fuel faster, so can driving at high speeds. Avoid pushing your engine to its limit and burning an excessive amount of gas (and possibly getting a ticket) by staying within the speed limit. 

Avoid traffic when possible

Although this is much easier said than done, sitting in traffic is basically sitting idle for extended periods of time with quick starts and stops every couple of minutes. If possible, seek alternate routes and avoid heavy traffic.

Learn the art of cruising

One of the first lessons I learned about driving is that I didn’t always need to have my foot on the gas pedal. By taking your foot off the gas and just cruising when going downhill or at an appropriate speed, you’ll save fuel and avoid sudden starts and stops. 

Other ways to save

Fuel rewards programs

A variety of credit cards offer gas benefits that can save you quite a bit of money when filling up. Depending on the type of reward, you can earn anything from points toward discounted gas to gift cards.

If a credit card doesn’t seem like the right fit, some grocery store chains offer gas rewards for shopping at their store, which can add up to some pretty great discounts on fuel purchases.

GasBuddy 

The GasBuddy app will show you where the lowest gas prices in the city are. While it doesn’t make sense to drive miles and miles to fill up just to save a couple cents, it is good to keep in mind in case you’re driving in the area. GasBuddy is available on iOS and Android. 

Rideshare fuel rewards 

We’ve talked about the benefits of Uber Rewards, and that includes a specific Visa card that gives you up to 3 percent cash back depending on your level within the program. Lyft also offers a rewards program called Accelerate, with silver, gold, and platinum tiers that allow participants to earn up to $0.07 off per gallon at participating Shell gas stations.

The bottom line

Apart from a car payment, gas is the top rideshare expense that reduces your hard earned profits. By being conscious of the little things we do to waste gas and trying to minimize them, you can maximize your profits and hopefully make less stops at the gas station.

There are no words to fully describe the tragedy that has characterized the events of this last week in the United States. The seriousness of this situation makes what we do here seem trivial—yet we know it's affecting individual drivers professionally as well as personally.

Although Gridwise is by no means a political group, we are a group that’s devoted to drivers; in fact, our sole mission is helping all drivers reach their potential both on and off the road. And a huge part of that mission is our commitment to stand with every driver who has experienced injustice or inequality—along with our strong condemnation of all acts of racism, discrimination, and senseless violence.

So with that, we’re going to do everything possible to help drivers navigate this extremely difficult time.

There’s no doubt that the civil unrest itself, and its aftermath, will have a huge impact on rideshare and delivery drivers. The instability of the environment created by civil unrest, along with the looming COVID-19 pandemic, make it tough to do your job.  

If you decide to work in areas where there could be unrest, we want every driver to be safe, so we put together this post which details what drivers need to know about driving amid protests.

In this article we will cover …

• Why this situation is so difficult 
• Measures you should take to protect yourself
• How the rideshare and delivery companies are reacting
• Actions you drivers can take to prepare for a more prosperous future

The wild ride of 2020—wasn’t COVID hard enough?

The COVID-19 shutdowns have already decimated business for many, maybe even most of us. If you asked, “What else can happen?” you may have your answer by now. 

It’s especially tough to deal with yet another condition that makes it difficult for drivers to function fully, but deal with it we must. We’re going to have to think smart and take self-protective actions.

If you work anywhere near a city, you’ve seen demonstrations before. Protesters gather, possibly blocking a road or a bridge, or spilling out into the streets around a park. There might be spatterings of violence, but it typically gets handled, it stops, and before too long life comes back to normal.

Well, that was then. We’re in entirely new territory now. For one thing, the unrest is not confined to one or two cities—it’s countrywide. And along with peaceful protestors come bad actors who never cared about what the protests stand for, but simply want to cause destruction and looting.

Also, protests are not restricted to residential neighborhoods. The most activity is taking place in the central business districts of the urban areas we normally serve as drivers, and in some cases it is spreading to the suburbs.

Ideally, you won’t have to drive anywhere near any of these bad actors—but these days, they’re not easy to avoid. 

We’re not about to tell you to go out there and drive, nor will we advise you to stay home. What we will do is respect your right to make your own decisions about whether you will or won’t drive, and in both cases, we’ll offer some items to ponder.

Measures you should take to protect yourself

Check your insurance

• Have you taken a look at your insurance policy lately? Would it cover something like vandalism? When bad actors who don’t represent peaceful protestors, are picking out cars at random to set on fire, you don’t have to drive your car anywhere for it to be damaged or even destroyed. Make sure your policy will cover it if that happens.

• This might be the moment when you recognize that your ability to make a living as a driver depends on your car. Make sure you are insured, both while driving for rideshare and when you’re not. If you haven’t yet, you may want to come clean with your primary insurance company and get a policy that doesn’t get nullified the moment they find out you’re a rideshare driver. Most policies won’t cover you for using your vehicle commercially—don’t get caught in that situation! Consider paying the extra money for your own peace of mind.

• If you don’t have it yet, consider getting gap insurance. This is a policy that covers the difference between the value of your vehicle and what you still owe on it. For example, if your vehicle with a $10,000 value is totaled, and you still owe $15,000 or $20,000 to your bank or finance company that holds the car loan, you’re stuck with owing the difference. Gap insurance will cover that amount, and it can be a life saver.

• When or if you do decide to drive for a rideshare or delivery company in this environment, you might want to check what’s in the policy that goes into effect when you drive for them. What would happen if you were to get caught in a situation where bad actors are stopping vehicles and smashing windows and kicking in side panels? You’ll want to be fully insured, with coverage for your passengers as well as yourself.

Abide by curfews

• If you decide to drive or deliver, please be aware of your local curfews. We would be delighted to list every city that has a curfew and tell you if it’s okay to be out driving while they’re in effect, but that’s impossible. There are just too many cities with curfews in effect, and their rules are not only different, they change constantly. 

As an example let’s look at June 1, 2020, in three different cities: 

• Pittsburgh’s curfew went into effect at 8:30 p.m. local time. The terms of the curfew were that if you entered the downtown area, you would be stopped by law enforcement. The rest of the city was not affected.

• In Los Angeles, the starting time for the curfew changed throughout the day, and wound up being 5:00 p.m. Other districts, such as Beverly Hills, began their curfew at 1:00 p.m. Under the terms of this restriction, no one was allowed to be on the streets at all after curfew.

• In Washington, D.C., curfew began at 7:00 p.m., and during the curfew no one, unless designated as an essential worker by the mayor, was permitted to be on any street or in any park or public place. The “essential workers” mentioned in the mayor’s statement included credentialed media and healthcare personnel, when engaged in essential functions.

Most curfews end at 6:00 a.m., but some end at 6:30 a.m. Obviously, it’s different everywhere, just as curfew starting times differ.

• Be aware of the curfews in your area, and know that if you don’t abide by them, you could be arrested. 

• You can find out about your curfew through local news outlets on the Internet, or on radio or TV, and “311” services that might give you up-to-the-minute details on restrictions in effect for your locale.

• We can’t stress enough the seriousness of abiding by curfews. If you violate it, and get slapped with a misdemeanor, you’ll have to worry about taking time off for a court appearance AND clearing future background checks. Another thing to consider is that unlike the COVID-19 curfews, these restrictions are being enforced not only by local police, but in some cases also sheriffs, state troopers, and even the National Guard may be involved.

As we said, your decision to drive is yours alone. 

We just want you to know about the risks, and what you could be up against if you decide to take them. 

How are rideshare and delivery companies responding?

In compliance with city orders, Uber suspended services in Los Angeles, Oakland, San Francisco and parts of Minneapolis during curfew hours, according to a CNBC report.

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi tweeted Sunday that the company would donate $1 million to the Equal Justice Initiative and Policing Equity "to support their important work in making criminal justice in America more just for all."

Similarly, Lyft confirmed to USA TODAY that it is following local guidance "when relevant." Lyft also donated $500,000 in ride credit to national civil rights organizations.

According to a Buzzfeed news article, DoorDash is “tailoring operations based on the guidance they have received from governments,”.

A Postmates spokesperson said the company is “adhering to curfew orders” and “working directly with Mayoral administrations to balance our essential services designations with the curfew orders as each municipality has a distinct approach.”

A spokesperson for Seamless and Grubhub said the company is “evaluating the situation in each city individually and making decisions based on" input from “local officials, restaurants and drivers.” The company said it is suspending operations when curfew begins in some cities, but declined to name specific locations, citing the “fluidity” of the situation.

Given how fluid the situation is, drivers will need to be diligent about checking to see what apps have shut down and where.

This is when it pays off to be on multiple platforms.

Now, let’s turn our attention to what might happen, and how you might shield yourself from the impact.

Take action to make sure you’ll stay solvent

This situation is a tragedy, no matter how you look at it.

If the protests along with COVID-19 force you off the road, you’ll need to take some self-protective measures. Here are a few suggestions.

• Unemployment compensation. If you haven’t applied for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance yet, consider doing so. Because of COVID-19, business is not really back to normal anywhere. Even if you’ve been driving all along, you can still file claims for future weeks, since complications from the unrest could prevent you from making much money. Check out how rideshare drivers and delivery drivers can file for unemployment.

• Additional sources of financial aid. There are other ways to receive compensation. Most of these funds have been set up for COVID-19, but as the ripple effects of the pandemic continue to impact the rideshare business, you can still look to these sources for help. Learn more about how rideshare drivers can get more financial assistance.

• Find some side hustles. As an independent contractor you’re highly motivated and capable of disciplining yourself to go to work, even when there’s no boss telling you to be there. That makes you an ideal candidate for the many freelance jobs that are available. Learn more about how there are many, many ways to make money from your home.

• Volunteer to help with cleanup. This is an act of kindness, rather than a money-maker, but it’s a way to get out and do something good for your community. It will make you feel good, and it can help to get things moving faster, too. Plus … you never know who you might meet. There could be an employer in need right there who offers you a part-time gig to tide you over until happier and more wholesome times return.

Less stressful horizons ahead

It’s been a sad time in our world, and so far 2020 has brought more than its share of trials and challenges. Still, it’s up to us to make the most out of even the worst situations. We hope this post helps you think about your options, so you can do what’s best for you.

Whether business comes back right away or not, here at Gridwise we’ll continue to look out for the rideshare and delivery driver community, giving you our best ideas and advice in blog posts and in J & Brandon’s amazing podcast.

We also love to hear from you! Comment below if you have any further ideas or contributions to make. Also, be sure to download the app to have instant access to information, income tracking, and discounts and deals for drivers.

It’s no secret that working rideshare and delivery with a lethal virus in the air is a big risk. Yet many of us agree to take on the risk because we need to earn money, and also because it feels good to know we’re transporting essential workers to their posts and keeping families fed. 

Given all this, you would think that people would notice the service drivers are providing, and want to reward them for putting their lives on the line. There are some customers, in both the rideshare and delivery businesses, who do tip as they should. Many even tip more than what we’d expect, but…

There are some customers who tip very little—or not at all. Although it boggles the mind how this could be possible, it happens. 

BUT…

There are some drivers who are making a LOT of money from tips, including now amid COVID-19.

Over the past week we sat down with a few rideshare drivers who have had success getting tips, and we drilled them on the strategies and techniques they use. Some of them have even had days where they made $50 in tips.

And in today’s post we’re going to share with you what works best. We’ll cover ...

1. What it’s like to have a poor tipping experience
2. Why passengers should be tipping more
3. Why passengers might not tip more
4. How the companies can incentivize passengers to give bigger tips
5. Things you can do to improve your chances of getting more and better tips

Going that extra mile, but coming up empty

Although the prevailing belief is that we’re not supposed to expect tips from our customers, most people should know it’s only polite to tip the driver. In COVID-19 conditions, it’s hard to believe people expect drivers to go through with driving and delivering without being compensated at least a little bonus on top of the fare. They depend on our services, and again, we’re taking big risks to deliver them.

Here’s a scenario. You get a call on Uber Eats, Postmates, Grubhub, DoorDash, or whatever food delivery service you use. Picking up the food entails putting on your mask, going into the store, often waiting for extended periods, remembering to social distance (six feet from other delivery drivers!), and then finally getting the heavy bag loaded with a bunch of burritos placed into your delivery satchel or crate … or your (recently sanitized) hands.

You go back to the vehicle, load the food, take off your mask, and the destination is revealed: It’s an apartment building … in a high-crime area. Worse, the delivery instructions say, “Please find my name in the directory, call me, and I’ll buzz you in.”

After driving there, you have to put your mask (and possibly gloves) back on, grab the heavy bag of burritos, ring the main door, wait for what seems like forever to get an answer, and when the door finally clicks unlocked, you have to go inside, board an elevator (with WAY LESS than six feet between you and the people in there with you), pass by several of his sketchy-looking fellow tenants, find the guy’s apartment … and deliver the food.

You try to smile through the mask (and by the way, he’s not wearing one), and greet him cheerfully. You hand him the food, being careful not to touch him, and showing him where you haven’t touched the bag. You think you’ve done so well!

He accepts the food and closes the door in your face. 

When you close out the delivery on the app you notice that, for your half hour of time and trouble, you’re going to collect $7.50. Is there a tip? NO.

It’s the kind of delivery that makes you want to go straight home, get yourself lost in Netflix, and wait for the unemployment payment to roll in. 

Show us the money

In ordinary circumstances, people tip when we give them extraordinary service. In rideshare, this might mean using your street-savvy senses to find an extra-expeditious route to the airport during rush hour. In delivery, it could mean remembering to bring extra napkins, or adding extra condiments in the bag.

In the COVID-19 environment, any service we offer is extraordinary. For all the reasons we listed, people who choose to work in these conditions deserve the respect and remuneration for going above and beyond the call of what a driver would call “duty.” While we, as drivers, definitely know this is the case, customers may have a different point of view.

Why people might not want to tip

You’re not serving them beautiful meals on a plate

When it comes to food delivery, you have to consider the customer’s point of view. They’re probably paying more than they ordinarily would for the food, because restaurants pad the price to compensate for paying the delivery company’s fee. 

People are typically more willing to give tips in restaurants because someone takes their order and serves them their food. In the delivery situation, they figure the company is paying you anyway, so why should they tip you? Unfortunately, there’s no way for them to tell how little you’re getting for each trip.

They already got hit with a service charge

Grocery delivery customers have even more things to consider. Not only are they trusting someone else to pick out bananas at the right stage of ripeness, they’re paying a service fee to the grocery delivery company. 

The tip they would give you comes on top of that. Customers are not prone to fork out even more money when they’re already getting hit with a premium charge for the food they buy for their families.

They’re waiting longer, too

In the rideshare world, things are not much better. There aren’t as many rides, and quite often we end up driving 10, 15, and 20 minutes in between rides. Customers would know this because they have to wait for you. As it turns out, they’re just ticked off that you didn’t come as fast as you used to when there were more drivers on the road. 

Also, there are instances where the rideshare companies slap a surcharge on the customer, particularly if you had to drive a long distance to take the trip. Adding a tip on top of all that may just be more than a lot of people can afford.

They figure it’s the company’s job to pay drivers extra for working in the pandemic

It’s hard to blame them for that, but the reality is, the companies are also taking a hit during COVID-19. Many are suspending delivery charges to keep the food going out to hungry customers, and the rideshare business has been decimated through this crisis. Still, people don’t feel they should pick up the slack, and when we turn the tables, we can’t really disagree with them.

What the companies do to get tips for us—and what they could do better

While tips are supposed to come to us because of what we do as individuals, the companies also play a part in it. During the COVID-19 crisis, in-app suggestions from the companies could have an influence on their tipping habits. Let’s see what the individual companies are doing—and not doing—and how they contribute to the average driver’s tip jar.

Uber’s policy

Uber got in a lot of trouble a few years ago for not having an in-app tipping option. That has changed, thankfully. Now, for both Uber rideshare and Uber Eats, after the customer rates the driver, tipping options come up, for a 10%, 20%, or 30% tip. Customers can also tip you through their email receipt, up to 30 days after you drove or delivered for them. Uber also mentions that it’s fine to tip in cash.

How to do better

While an easily clickable range of tips could turn out to be pretty sweet if you’ve just done an $80 airport run, a 30% tip on a $10 burger and fries order is only going to be $3. It would be nice ... if they sent messages to riders and delivery customers explaining how important it is to tip drivers extra for going out into the COVID-19 environment to provide services for them, even if it’s just to the local fast food eatery.

Lyft’s policy

Lyft’s tip policy is almost identical to Uber’s, with an in-app tipping option and directions on the website (and in the rider app’s help section) on how to honor the driver’s service.The one difference with Lyft is that the time range for tipping is only 72 hours. 

How to do better

Here again, more reminders about what drivers go through to make sure customers have a safe and pleasant ride, and how much they deserve to be paid extra in these challenging times.

DoorDash’s policy

DoorDash offers the option for in-app tipping, but the screen for this comes up at the time they place their orders. That isn’t great because it’s hard for customers to know what kind of service they’re going to get. What if they tip someone 30% in advance and they bring smooshed fries and a cold burger, with half a milkshake dripped all over it? 

It’s still possible to add or change a tip after the delivery, but the customer would have to go back to the help section to get that done. The worker who delivered the disaster of an order would probably lose that tip, deservedly so. But ... if someone wants to tip you big after the fact, the need to find the right page in the help section is going to make that much less likely to happen. 

How to do better

DoorDash really needs to change the ways they offer options for customers to tip, so they can do it on the front and back ends of the order. Also, they could do more to emphasize how much the drivers are doing for their customers.

Grubhub’s policy

Grubhub offers customers the opportunity to tip at the end of the order. They even suggest tip amounts based on the full cost of the order, not just the food. This is an excellent policy, particularly when customers are ordering drinks as well as food.

On the Grubhub blog, there’s an article about tipping your Grubhub driver. It mentions how important it is to the driver to receive this extra amount. And ... they even suggest that you never tip less than $5.

How to do better

Grubhub doesn’t go out of its way to let customers know how much extra work and risk drivers are going through with the pandemic. If they were to do so, their already generous efforts to help drivers to get more tips would be even more beneficial.

Postmates’ policy

The Postmates app lets customers leave tips after they receive the order. This is the reverse of DoorDash, and it presents similar problems. What if the customer forgets to go back into the app to leave a tip? As for cash tips, in the COVID-19 environment most customers don’t want to see you face to face. They want you to leave it at the door and walk away, to avoid spreading the virus.

How to do better

Postmates needs to give its customers more opportunities to leave a tip—and more reminders as to why it’s important, especially considering the extra hardship drivers endure these days.

Instacart

The giant grocery delivery company has even more of a checkered history than Uber when it comes to their tipping policy. In the past, they’ve even taken tips that customers added on—and took part of it away from the driver to add to their service charge. After being called out on this, the company changed its ways.

Working for Instacart is even more involved than rideshare or food delivery because in most cases, there is actual shopping involved. A lot more time is necessary for each order, and the basic pay is not very high. This makes it even more essential for the company to convey the importance of tipping.

Instacart suggests a tip of 5%, then allows the customer to adjust it—or remove it altogether. Because there’s already a service charge for all orders, many customers balk at also adding on a tip.

How to do better

It would be nice, especially because of Instacart’s past troubles, if they provided the public with more information about how their shoppers and drivers deserve generous tips.

What drivers are doing to get bigger tips

If you’ve been in the rideshare or delivery business long enough, you know that the more you relate to your customers and provide those extra touches, the more likely you are to get good tips. Even though it’s true you’re doing the world a favor just for being out there, you should avoid acting like that’s how you feel. 

We sat down with a few drivers who are regularly making $50+ per day in tips, and they gave us their insight about how rideshare and delivery drivers can increase gratuities.

Tips for rideshare drivers

Have great customer interactions.

“Everyone is pretty sensitive right now,” says James, a Pittsburgh rideshare driver and Gridwise user. “So it goes a long way to simply do what you can to brighten a passenger’s day. That makes it hard to forget to tip.”

If you want to consistently receive tips, you need to make an impression on your passengers that causes them to remember you.

How?

Make sure to have extremely positive interactions with customers from the moment they call you to the moment they leave your car.

James offered the following examples of ways to create a positive customer experience.

• Put on your mask before the customer enters the car.
• When you’re wearing a mask, it’s hard for your customers to see that million dollar smile! Wave at them, in the friendliest way you can think of, so they know you’re happy to welcome them.
• Offer to play the kind of music or other entertainment the rider would prefer.
• Offer to open car doors and the trunk to allow the rider to avoid contact with these surfaces.
• Ask your passenger if the temperature is comfortable.

Keep your car clean.

“It’s all about having a clean car these days,” says Regina, a Chicago area rideshare driver. “With COVID-19, everyone wants to feel clean and safe, so the more you can do to make sure your car feels, smells, and is clean, the more you’re going to get tipped.”

We couldn’t agree more with Regina here. Uber and Lyft know how crucial cleanliness is in this COVID-19 world, and so should you.

Regina offered some tips to ensure your car feels spotless to passengers:

• Put on your mask before the customer enters the car. This is often the first signal to a passenger about the cleanliness of your vehicle.
• Offer the customer the option of cleaning any surface he or she would like with wipes or whatever cleaning products you’re using in your car.
• Follow all company and state guidelines for protecting you and your riders from the virus.
• Offer to open car doors and the trunk to allow the rider to avoid contact with these surfaces.
• Spray air freshener after every ride.
• If possible, arrive with your windows open to show the passenger that air has been flowing throughout the vehicle.

If they’re up for it, spark a conversation.

Who doesn’t love a talkative passenger?

People are incredibly interesting, and one of the best perks of being a rideshare driver is that you get to meet and chat with dozens of people each week. However, amid COVID-19, people could be less inclined to speak for fear of spreading the virus through their breath.

“You need to read the room,” says Kate, a Lyft driver in NYC. “Sparking conversations certainly helps with tips, but some passengers just want to sit there and think about nothing. I respect that.”

If a passenger has earbuds in, is working, has his or her eyes closed, or just looks preoccupied, be cautious when sparking up a conversation. You can throw out a question or two to test the waters, but don’t be pushy.

Let them be the DJ.

No matter what’s going on in the world, most people love music.

Music is a big part of the in-car experience, so asking passengers if they want to listen to a certain radio station is a great way to make them more comfortable. If you want to take things a step further, offer an auxiliary cord to your passengers and let them completely choose the music you listen to during the ride.

Letting passengers play DJ also gives you the opportunity to connect with them. Some passengers will have similar tastes in music as you, and you can share your experiences or recommendations with them. This is a great way to spark an enjoyable conversation.

Tips for delivery workers

Execute the delivery as quickly and smoothly as possible.

“Before anything else, you just have to get the food to the right place, as quickly as possible, with as few issues as possible,” says Reggie, a Miami-based DoorDash driver. “If there are issues with the order or speed of the order, that’s when you start to run into problems.”

Use a mask and gloves to demonstrate your efforts to avoid spreading the virus.

“A lot of people are going contactless delivery,” says Laurie, another DoorDash driver in Miami, “but when you do see a customer, you want to make sure that you have on your protective gear.” 

If you leave the order at the door, let the customer know you’re there so it doesn’t get cold or eaten by neighborhood animals—including humans.

“It’s honestly surprising to me how many food delivery people I see that just leave the food there with no notice,” says Reggie. “You did all that work to get them the food, send a message to tell them it was delivered!”

Take a photo of the delivery at the door, if instructed.

“As a customer, I love to get the photo of the food at the door,” says Oscar, a NYC-based Grubhub driver. “A lot of people live in apartments and have to go searching for their food. Simply alleviating that can be huge.”

If you get to meet them, give the customer the receipt. Often, this inspires them to tip you, as they see the amount and that the tip isn’t on there.

“My favorite trick is to give them the receipt,” says Oscar. “A lot of people don’t really realize that they’re not tipping sufficiently, so putting that in front of them and showing them that it’s not is a great way to spur more tipping.”

A (hat) “tip” to you

We hope this discussion about tipping in the COVID-19 environment addresses some of your concerns, and gives you the tools you need to keep the tips coming. You are doing a great service by working in this scary world we find ourselves in, and you deserve all the appreciation the world can afford to give you.