Gridwise blog

The COVID-19 shockwave is still shaking the foundation of the rideshare and delivery driver community. The companies have said a lot about all the things they'll do for drivers, and they have suggested ways for you to stay safe … but what have they actually done?

Not nearly enough.

So with that in mind we’ve put together an open letter to the rideshare and delivery companies, which appears at the end of this article. As you’ll see, we covered a lot in the letter, and asked the companies to take steps that would make the lives of drivers safer and as lucrative as possible during the COVID-19 crisis. 

We’re not asking for much. We’re not asking for handouts. But we are asking Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, Postmates, Instacart, and every other transportation and delivery company to be fair to the backbones of their operations.

The drivers.

The relationship between drivers and rideshare/ delivery companies

Let’s face facts. These companies need drivers. You’re the producers in this game, and without you, they wouldn’t be able to deliver their services. What would their apps be, beyond sophisticated tracking software, without you? Not much. 

Sure, you benefit from having these companies to work for; but you give a lot of yourself to make it happen. That’s never been truer than it is right now.

The unique structure of rideshare and delivery companies relies on a population of gig workers like you. You work for yourself on a freelance basis. You get to choose your hours, but the companies depend on you to keep coming back from day to day.

You can see how much they need you when the companies entice you with bonuses and other perks.

While the arrangement between drivers and the companies works well most of the time, COVID-19 has changed things radically. A new factor, mainly gig workers’ health, has made its way into the cost-benefit analysis of working as a driver. 

Companies acknowledge this risk. But due to the nature of the company-driver relationship, they are also well aware that their liability is somewhat limited. That’s why they may need a little reminding about how much they need their drivers.

Yes, there are benefits to being a rideshare driver. The biggest positive aspect is your freedom, the ability to to choose your own work hours (within reason), and still make decent money. The downside consists of having no unemployment insurance, retirement, or pension funds. As for medical coverage, that isn’t easy to come by either.

Drivers have been working to improve this situation for quite awhile, and now, with the pandemic and its ramifications, the need for companies to consider the needs of their drivers has become glaringly obvious.

What does the company-driver relationship look like under COVID-19 conditions?

The risks for drivers

With a very serious and highly contagious virus making its way through the rideshare population, the risks drivers are taking can be life-threatening. What might happen if you can’t work anymore, either because you’re sick with COVID-19 or have been exposed to it? 

After all, even without any symptoms a driver who’s been exposed needs to be quarantined. The companies will cancel the accounts of drivers the moment they find out they have been exposed to or have tested positive for COVID-19.

Any rational person would understand why the companies must take these conditions into consideration. As for the companies, they should certainly understand the need to take care of their drivers … even if they’re thinking more about other concerns.

The exposure for companies

While drivers fear the risk of catching COVID-19 from being exposed to rideshare customers, the companies fear that if they let a driver keep working, and he or she infects a passenger, they could get slapped with a huge lawsuit.

Although it might not seem right, the companies’ motivations are not just about taking care of their drivers. A lot has to do with limiting their exposure to potential problems down the road.

How can this be fixed?

Once it became apparent that COVID-19 could escalate into a huge problem for the rideshare community, companies started introducing ways to help drivers.

One example is the latest policy updates related to protection from the virus. This included recommending that drivers wear face coverings, and making hand sanitizer and antibacterial wipes available to them. 

There have been reports, however, that these “free” supplies are not readily available from the companies. As soon as Uber announced the availability of wipes and hand sanitizer, for instance, the company closed down the greenlight hubs that were supposed to hand the supplies out.

You can read more about the tactics Lyft and Uber have implemented on their websites.

Postmates and DoorDash are two of the delivery companies that have instituted contact-free delivery, whereby drivers deliver food or other items to the customer’s door and leave the packages there, without having any contact with the customer. Drivers typically take a photo before leaving to prove that the goods were delivered.

This method of delivery is compliant with social distancing rules, and it does protect both the driver and the customer … but it’s still not 100% safe. 

Delivery drivers are going into restaurants, touching surfaces, and getting close to workers when the packages are handed over. Thus, the virus could conceivably be passed along from worker to driver to package—where it can survive for hours.

It would be nice, for those who choose to continue driving, to have clear policies that promote social distancing, provide cleaning and protective supplies, and offer a bit of good advice. But there are also other things drivers would like while COVID-19 continues to rage on.

What’s been missing all along—and is sorely needed—is clear communication between drivers and the companies they drive for. That’s why we’re offering this open letter to the rideshare and delivery companies: to help you, as drivers, clarify your needs and get your message across to the companies. Read it over, and then get back to us with other concerns you might want to add to it.

An open letter to rideshare and delivery companies ...

Dear rideshare and delivery companies,

It’s not easy for any of us to deal with the strange and scary world the COVID-19 pandemic has pulled us into. We know you have concerns about business, and we do too. When there are lots of rides and people are going about their normal activities, we all benefit and we all make money.

In this circumstance, though, it isn’t happening quite that way. Ridership is way down, and delivery is difficult. Many of us are unable to drive because we are sick, or in quarantine, or at risk of exposing family members. Any of these conditions leads to the same fact: 

We’re not making nearly enough money. 

Your company may be able to pull back on what it spends, but that's not possible for drivers. We need to pay our rent, put food on the table, and pay other bills NOW. We can't afford to wait this out.

Here are the issues we need you to address:

Increase driver rates

As drivers, we've endured pay cut after pay cut as major rideshare and delivery companies have actually increased their pricing to customers. During this time, we believe drivers should have the opportunity to make a living wage, which is why we believe rates should go back to 2014 levels.

Financial support

Deciding to drive in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis means we have to calculate the risks and possible outcomes if we were to get infected, or have to stop driving for another reason. By choosing to drive, we are literally risking our lives along with the lives of our family members. Business is already reduced so much that it’s hard to pay our bills; what can you do to help us keep making a living wage? 

We understand the government has taken over to some degree, by offering us a chance to get unemployment compensation. This is complicated, and there are many delays involved. Can we get guidance for collecting unemployment under the new CARES Act? Many of us don’t carry health insurance. What happens, even if we just want to get tested for COVID-19? It would be nice if you’d help us cover these costs.

You fought hard to make sure drivers remain independent contractors rather than become employees. But remember: if we get sick, or are scared of getting sick, you’ll lose the people who normally do your driving or delivering. It’s time for you to step up and stand behind us.

If we do get sick with COVID-19, the monetary compensation you offer is nowhere near enough to carry us through an illness of this severity, especially if we develop complications. The most generous of the offers from companies is for two weeks of pay. What if we’re hospitalized, or sick for two weeks and then quarantined for two more? More flexibility and understanding in this area would do a lot to help your drivers and delivery people feel relieved, happy, and loyal to you.

Clearly communicate about policy.

Rumors fly freely during a crisis, and this one is no exception. Can you be more specific about our status as “essential employees?” Many drivers are afraid to go out at all for fear of violating stay-at-home orders, and others wonder what will happen if they’re caught driving after a curfew time.

Is my company sticker in the window enough, or should you provide a document that says it’s okay for me to be out in a car despite the stay-at-home order? If you don’t want to bother with the letter, please at least let us know our sticker, amp, or branded bag will be enough to satisfy the needs of authorities who might stop us.

These restrictions seem to be changing all the time, so knowing the rules we have to work with, from the companies we work for, would help immensely.

Show concern for our health and safety.

Even in the event we do have some business, we worry about our health and safety. You say you’ll provide us with supplies we can use to protect ourselves, such as masks, hand sanitizer, and disinfectant wipes, but it seems impossible to get those items from you. So, we’re having to use our own money to buy those items—from earnings that have already drastically declined.

We understand that you’re not doing so great now either, but the fact is you have more and better resources for procuring these things than we do. We’d like to see more consistent instructions about where to pick up the supplies you’re already distributing. 

It would be wonderful if you were to deliver the supplies in accordance with the promises you make in all the PR-focused news articles we’re reading.

Show appreciation for your drivers.

When the world isn’t normal (like right now), customers who use rideshare and delivery services start making requests that make our jobs harder. We often get put in a tough position, especially with people coming into our cars and getting closer to us than they should.

A simple email thanking us for taking the risk to drive, or telling us what we can do to stay safe, would be a welcome morale booster, but it’s not enough. Hazard pay, considering the risks we take driving in these conditions, would be appropriate. It also wouldn’t hurt for you to remind customers how much of a chance we’re taking, and maybe encourage them to keep their distance and tip more than usual. 

Best regards,

Review your situation

If you’re skeptical about whether the companies will ever read or hear about your concerns, you’re probably not far off the mark. However, just seeing some of the concerns that are important to you in writing might be enough to get you thinking, and taking action to ask for what you need—and deserve. At least we hope so.

Gridwise will be addressing more driver concerns about working (or not) in the COVID-19 environment. Look for future articles about payments, protecting your mental health, and other alternatives for work as we all wait for the rideshare and delivery world to return to its normal state.

Make sure you download and stick with the Gridwise app, too. We always strive to provide information and tools that will make your job easy, interesting, and profitable.

The coronavirus nightmare has been especially hard on rideshare and delivery drivers. Rides are waaaaaaaay down, and even if you’ve defaulted to alternative means, such as food delivery, business is nowhere near what it was before this health crisis started.

The gig driving industry is not the only sector of our economy that’s suffering, but we’re certainly feeling a lot of financial pain. Most of us probably expected to fall between the cracks because we’re independent contractors, rather than employees. But, to our great relief (and shock), that didn’t happen this time. A miracle has apparently occurred in the halls of government, and now independent contractors are getting a BIG  break.

Congress has come up with a bipartisan bill that, once fully ratified and signed by the President, will be put into law. As of this writing, the legislation has been blessed by the Senate and awaits final approval from the House of Representatives. Once it becomes law, it extends unemployment benefits to part-time workers—and yes, that includes rideshare and delivery drivers!

We know you’re champing at the bit to have the information you need to get these benefits, so we’ll cover it quickly and easily for you.

What Exactly Is the CARES Act?

The bill in question is known as CARES, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Securities Act. In Section 2102 of the act, there are provisions that make it possible for rideshare and delivery drivers who have lost business due to the coronavirus crisis to collect unemployment compensation.

You can read the full CARES Act here.

Do Rideshare and Delivery Drivers Qualify to Receive Benefits from the CARES Act?

Drivers will certainly recognize themselves as workers who are defined in the act as “those not traditionally eligible for Unemployment Compensation, (such as the self-employed, independent contractors, and individuals who were scheduled to begin work but are now unable)...” With this bill, which specifically relates to the coronavirus-related crisis in the United States, rideshare and delivery drivers will qualify for unemployment compensation.

So gig workers are now eligible for their respective state's unemployment benefits AND the extra $600/week bonus that is also part of the legislation.

What Benefits Will Rideshare and Delivery Drivers Get? For How Long Will We Receive Them?

For a number of reasons, benefits won’t be the same for everyone. They vary from state to state, and the amount you qualify for will depend on how much you regularly earn. Most likely, you’ll have to show your earnings statements from the company that runs your driving platform. Specific stipulations have not been fully announced as of this writing, and may vary from one state to another.

As far as what we know is being offered, the federal provisions in the legislation state: 

“These individuals would be provided broad categories of eligibility such that nearly any individual whose employment is adversely impacted by COVID-19 (including individuals who quit their job), other than those able to telework or receiving paid leave, would be eligible for up to 39 weeks of benefits, fully funded by the federal government. These benefits will cover weeks of unemployment from January 27, 2020, to December 31, 2020, that are directly attributable to COVID-19.” 

How Do I Apply?

Before you start stretching your hands to warm up your fingers, and fire up your device so you can fill out the online application, take a few moments to keep reading ... 

First, you'll have to wait for the bill to be approved by the House of Representatives and signed by the President. Once that happens, it will become law. Then it will be time to apply for benefits.

You’ll file your application with your state’s unemployment agency. This website is a useful source with a pulldown search menu so you can check your own state’s unemployment policies.

Once the CARES Act has been signed into law, individual states should be prepared to receive and process applications for unemployment compensation from gig workers, including rideshare and delivery drivers. 

Don’t be surprised if you experience some disruptions in service, because of an overwhelming demand for unemployment compensation. Your state’s website will undoubtedly be under strain. Try applying during off-hours, when traffic volume may be lower.

What If I’m Still Working?

Even if you’ve continued to work during the coronavirus crisis, your income is probably less than it usually is. You’ll have to indicate your income on your application, and check with your state about how this affects your compensation.

What Happens When It’s Safe to Go Back to the Normal Work Schedule?

When you learn more about the regulations in your individual state, you’ll see that unemployment compensation will be extended to you only as long as you’re not making more money than the maximum allowed by your state.

You will have to decide for yourself when you’re ready to go back to work, especially if you have a health condition that would make you highly susceptible to the virus and its potential effects. It may also depend on how much your area is affected by COVID-19 as the pandemic drags on.

The reality is, however, that any unemployment you receive will probably not be as bountiful as your regular earnings. So once you’re certain that the danger has passed, you’ll probably want to go back to your regular gig.

Will Rideshare and Delivery Drivers Get the $1,200 Stimulus Payment Everybody’s Talking About?

Yes--as long as certain conditions are met. There’s nothing about being a rideshare driver that would qualify or disqualify you for the cash payments being offered by the federal government. The cash payment is being awarded to the entire American population, as long as …

• You have a Social Security number (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number does not qualify)
• Your adjusted gross income is $75,000 or less ($150,000 for married couples)
• You filed a federal income tax form in 2019 or 2018

As of this writing, the stimulus check will be $1,200 for each adult in the household, $2,400 for each couple (in the case of joint filing), and $500 for each child in the household. 

If you filed and received an IRS refund electronically in the past few years, your stimulus payment will be directly deposited in that same account. If this account has changed, you’ll want to report the change to the IRS. In all other cases, a check will be issued to you and sent via the U.S. Postal Service.

Has the Tax Deadline Been Pushed Back?

Yes. The normal tax filing deadline date is April 15, but this year it has been pushed back three months to July 15, 2020. 

As a driver (and independent contractor) you’ll undoubtedly owe taxes when you file for 2019. So, the three-month extension might seem like a relief to you—but don’t waste that time. Instead, use it to plan and save for your tax obligations.

Note that this extension officially applies to federal taxes only. Even though it is likely that states will also extend their deadlines, you’ll want to check your state’s treasury office to understand exactly when those taxes are due. This website can help you find information for your state.

Other Benefits

The CARES Act includes a few other benefits that will be important for some rideshare drivers:

• All federal student loan payments will be suspended through Sept. 30;
• Foreclosures on federally backed mortgages are blocked for at least 60 days (if the homeowner stipulates that their finances have been affected by the coronavirus outbreak);
• Eviction filings at properties connected to the federal government are temporarily banned.

What Should Drivers Do Now?

Having the protection of unemployment compensation is a big comfort, especially at a time like this. The individual stimulus payment is pretty sweet too. It’s a nice surprise that, despite all the negative press about being independent contractors, we rideshare drivers can share in the emergency measures that are being taken—and in the process, we can rest easy about being able to pay for our essential needs.

At Gridwise, we’re always looking out for drivers, and hoping to make your lives easier. Let us know how this new legislation pans out for you, and make sure you download our app so you can continue to reap the benefits Gridwise has to offer.

Above all … be careful and be safe.

When all’s right with the world, being a rideshare driver is a great way to earn money. You’re your own boss, you get plenty of human interaction, and the wages are better than most full-time or part-time jobs that offer far less flexibility and enjoyment. 

In today’s climate, with the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis heating up from a simmer to a rolling boil, our world has changed--a lot. In an effort to curtail the virus, public officials are ordering non-essential businesses to close, bars are no longer open, and many restaurants have switched to take-out only. Schools have closed, sporting events, concerts, and other large public gatherings are canceled or postponed. To say there have been drastic changes is an understatement. 

These unprecedented moves are unsettling to everyone, but for rideshare drivers they are especially disturbing. Without people moving from place to place, where will you find your business? Chances are, while these measures are being taken, the places where you routinely pick up riders look like ghost towns.

Then there’s another problem: What if you take a rideshare customer in your car, find out the person is sick, and discover you’ve picked up way more than you bargained for? Even if you don’t fall ill, you could wind up carrying the virus to someone who is especially vulnerable. Or, you might discover that you’ve been put into quarantine, because a government official found out you were exposed and ordered you to live in temporary isolation.

It’s easy to see how quickly your rideshare income can shrink and even disappear as this crisis builds. Suddenly, being an independent contractor, free of restrictions and able to take advantage of flexible hours, doesn’t seem quite so appealing.

Here at Gridwise, we take this crisis and the way it affects rideshare drivers very seriously. That’s why we developed a summary of what financial help is available to you, with up-to-the-minute information and links that could be your lifeline at this critical time.

1. How to get help from rideshare companies
   1. Lyft
   2. Uber
2. Managing monthly finances
   1. Mortgage and Rent
   2. Utilities, phone, and internet
   3. Food
   4. Car
   5. Credit card
   6. Student loan

Don’t Panic

There’s no doubt that this is a major, disruptive event, regardless of the scale of stress it’s measured against. Still, it’s important that the uncertainty of these times doesn’t push you (or any of us) to get caught up in the vortex of negative energy that’s sure to be a part of the public reaction.

There will be places to fall back on financially, whether that is your rideshare company, the companies to whom you owe money on a monthly basis, charities, or the government. Let’s look at some of them here, and give you the opportunity to form a strategy that will protect you from losing your ability to cope.

Help from Rideshare Companies

If you’re an active driver, you’ve probably already received a notice from Uber and/or Lyft telling you that they will offer support to drivers who are either diagnosed with COVID-19, or who have been quarantined by a government entity. Here are the details for both companies.

Lyft

While Lyft openly expresses a promise of financial support for drivers, there are not many details about exactly how much help will be available and how it can be procured. The company’s statement reads as follows:

“We will provide funds to drivers should they be diagnosed with COVID-19 or put under individual quarantine by a public health agency. This helps support drivers financially when they can't drive, while also protecting our riders’ health. These funds will be given to affected drivers who are identified to us by public health officials or who contact our support team to self-report and provide documentation that they have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or put under individual quarantine by a public health agency. We will provide funds to affected drivers based on the rides they provided on the Lyft platform over the last four weeks.”

If you’re eligible for the support Lyft offers via this policy, contact Lyft support here.

Uber

Uber’s policy is quite specific, which has its good and bad points. While you can know what to expect as an Uber driver, there are limits on the help that’s being offered. In general, if you have been diagnosed with COVID-19, or if you are placed under quarantine by a public health official, or if you are asked to self-isolate by a licensed medical provider, you’re eligible for help. You can also get assistance if Uber restricts your account because you have the virus, or have been exposed to someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19.

Also, to get financial help from Uber, you must have a record of driving for the company that shows you were active within 30 days before March 6, 2020. Then, Uber will examine your average daily earnings for the previous six months, and pay you that amount of money … but only for two weeks.

This policy might evolve as the coronavirus crisis unfolds, but in any case, it makes sense to take advantage of whatever assistance Uber is offering. You can read the company’s entire policy and report your situation to Uber here.

If you are still unable to work after two weeks of compensation, there are other ways to get financial support and cope during the coronavirus crisis.

Managing Monthly Finances

It’s a fact that the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak will affect almost everyone. Remember that you’re not alone, and asking for help or leniency isn’t going to make you a less honorable or competent human being. There are many ways you can help yourself, and get help from others.

Assess the Damage and Set Priorities

When you lose your source of income, even if the flow is only temporarily interrupted you still have bills to pay. So, you’ll need to prioritize. Take a hard look at exactly what money you have coming in, and then figure out what you must pay first, rather than looking at all your expenses at once. This helps keep you from becoming overwhelmed.

Essential Living Expenses- Mortgage & Rent

The first thing you have to pay for is a place to live. Whether this involves paying rent or making a mortgage payment, keeping a roof over your head is your first priority. If you can’t make this payment, you need to communicate with your landlord or mortgage lender so you can potentially work out an agreement of some kind. 

Start by studying your lease or mortgage agreement. Maybe you can make a late payment, or work out a plan for paying less over a longer period of time. In any case, communicate your situation and ask for what you need. This gives you a far greater chance at getting a reasonable response than if you simply fail to pay anything--which could result in losing that roof over your head.

Keeping Your Place on The Grid - Utilities, Phone, Internet

The same goes for utilities. If you anticipate problems keeping your utility bills paid, contact the companies immediately to negotiate a payment plan. Here’s a timely USA Today article about how utility, phone, and Internet providers are giving consumers a break during the coronavirus crisis. 

No matter what your specific financial challenges may be, the crucial element is communication. Companies, big and small, are more likely to work with you when you are open and honest about your situation, and show your willingness to pay what you can.

If your landlord, lender, or utility company can’t or won’t be flexible, there are places to get help. You can get grants from organizations such as Catholic Charities, as well as the government. Check out Lavish Green, a portal online that leads to opportunities for procuring grants that help with rent, utilities, and other basic expenses.

Staying Well-Fed

Food is a high-priority item, and there are ways to keep to a food budget manageable, even when your income is low. Preparing meals at home, of course, is the number-one way to keep food expenses under control. Make simple dishes that stretch a long way. Be prepared to serve up leftovers, and learn to like them. Your culinary creativity will come into full bloom. If you don’t know how to cook, or would like to learn more, visit your local library. You’ll be amazed at all the cookbooks that can be yours for the borrowing.

Good nutrition is crucial, because you want to keep your immune system strong and your mind nimble as the environment becomes increasingly uncertain. Make sure you’re eating enough and getting solid protein, despite the need to conserve your financial resources. Consider canned tuna, beans, and other meats and vegetables as cheap-but-practical staples that are easy to prepare.

If you are simply too short of money to buy food, you do not need to go hungry. Visit a local food bank, where you can get basic food staples at no cost. They are usually sponsored by charitable organizations, or they might receive grants from various levels of government.

Another option is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which was formerly known as food stamps. Along with the new name came a simpler, more private way of redeeming SNAP benefits: a debit card that looks just like any other kind of plastic you’d use to pay for groceries. Visit this website to find out more about the SNAP program, including eligibility requirements. But don’t put it off--apply as soon as you know your income will be interrupted. That way, you’ll be able to receive help before you run out of the food you have on hand.

Keeping Your Car

Reduced income can definitely affect your ability to make car payments. Similar to mortgage payments and rent, you may be able to negotiate for lower payments, or even skip them for a short period of time--and as a rideshare driver, you’ll want to take care of this as soon as possible. 

While most companies allow you to miss three payments before they start the repossession ball rolling, you don’t want to take any chances with losing your means of transportation--and livelihood. Save yourself a panic situation by taking care of this sooner, rather than later. 

It might also comfort you to know that as the coronavirus crisis continues to expand, auto companies are taking action to alleviate pressure from those of us who depend on our cars and are unable to handle loan payments at this time.

Ford, Nissan, GM, and Toyota said they’ll provide payment relief options such as deferred payments and extensions to people who have been affected by the virus. All these companies joined Hyundai in delaying payments on new cars. Hyundai also said it would provide up to six months of payment relief for customers who lose their jobs.

Even if you hear about your car loan company offering these relief measures, remember that you must communicate with them to let them know you need their assistance. Also, they’re awarding this support on a case-by-case basis, so your credit rating is going to be an important factor in whether you’ll get them to help you out.

The Credit Card Conundrum

Like other types of creditors, credit card companies will treat you better if you (A) communicate with them, and (B) at least try to pay something on your bill, rather than nothing at all. You must do this carefully, though, and get their consent to an alternate arrangement. 

Do NOT simply skip a payment or pay less than the minimum amount due without talking with the company first. It’s important to know that if you skip payments for 60 days, your account will go into collection. After 90 days without submitting a payment, you’ll be subject to having your account closed and sold off to a collection agency--and you could wind up being sued. 

The worst possible thing you can do is ignore your bills. This will have an extremely bad effect on your credit rating, and ultimately, your economic freedom.

So how can you avoid encountering the wrath of the credit card companies, when your income doesn’t provide enough to make the minimum payments? You can arrange for a “workout plan,” with the cooperation of each credit card company. This will allow you to restructure the loan, and get it paid off in increments that are easier for you to manage. The company might eliminate fees or interest to make it easier for you to manage. This arrangement, aptly, is also known as a “debt management plan.”

Depending on your situation, it might make sense for you to arrange for a hardship plan. You must have paid your bills on time up to the time your income dissipated, and you must agree to continue making payments as soon as your income is reinstated. 

The hardship plan puts your account on”hold.” You won’t be charged during the time period you are unable to pay, but you won’t be allowed to use your card until you begin to make payments again. This could be good, but make sure you still have a way to pay for gas.

Without question, it’s best to communicate with the credit card companies as soon as you know you’re not going to be able to pay them. Look further into the methods outlined here, and know what will work best for you before you call. It might take some effort to get to the right supervisor or manager, but your persistence will pay off. 

For more information on how credit card companies are working with consumers during the coronavirus crisis, check out this CNBC article. Here’s another article on dealing with creditors that you might also find helpful. 

Help with Student Loans

It’s really difficult to get out of paying your student loans, but there are remedies available when your income trickles down to a slow drip. Again, make sure you communicate with the financial institution that gave you the loan, and if you haven’t already, you can begin to negotiate what is called an income-driven plan. 

This arrangement is usually restricted to government-backed loans, and is not as easy to procure in the case of private loans. The plan allows you to set up a payment schedule based on the monies you have coming in, and would take account of your reduced income.If you already have an income driven plan, you can renegotiate it at this time.

In the case of private loans, you can try to negotiate a hardship modification for your plan. This might give you some relief, but in the future your payments could rise higher to compensate for the break you get now.

At the moment, there are no public plans to offer relief from student loans due to the coronavirus crisis. It would take an act of Congress to make changes to current laws, so it might be worth a call to your representatives to alert them to your needs, and request that they take action.

What’s Next?

The situation surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic is changing rapidly, so it’s impossible to know exactly what’s coming next. As of this writing, the U.S. Senate is reworking a bill that was originally crafted by the House of Representatives. The bill is expected to help compensate people and companies for loss of income that has resulted from the coronavirus outbreak. In addition to income supplements, there will be other accommodations, including a deferment of the April 15th tax payment deadline, for three months. This was announced by U.S. Treasury Secretary Mnuchin on March 17, 2020.

This will be good for you as a rideshare driver, as you’ll be able to put off paying your tax bill. However, if you have other employment besides driving, and think you’ll have a refund coming, it makes more sense to file before the usual deadline.

On March 16th, the President and Vice President’s task force announced recommendations that limit public gatherings to 10 people or less at least through March 31st. Although a national lockdown has not occurred, there are new guidelines that urge people to avoid unnecessary travel and eating in restaurants, food courts, and other public places. 

Also, a growing number of states have passed their own restrictions, which are discussed in this March 17, 2020 article. 

For now, the food to-go business seems to be in for a boom, so it could be time to branch out to one of the delivery services as a source of income--but only if you’re healthy. If you have symptoms of COVID-19, which you can learn about here in an informative article by the CDC, you will need to get help and stay isolated to keep the virus from spreading.

Pool & Share Rides Suspended

On March 17, 2020 Uber and Lyft announced they would suspend pool and share rides, to help stem the spread of the virus. It makes a lot of sense to limit the number of people who are in your car at one time, for you and your passengers.

Take Care and Stay Safe

We hope this article has given you some ideas about where you can get the help you may need. We also hope you’ll take all necessary steps to stay strong and healthy.

Uber offers these tips to keep your drives safe: 

• Wash your hands before and after entering your car
• Give space by asking passengers to sit in the back seat
• Cover the mouth or nose to contain coughs or sneezes
• Consider rolling down the window to improve ventilation

Follow these and other common-sense practices, and we’ll get through this together.

Apps are a part of life for most everyone, but for rideshare drivers they’re essential. In fact, it’s hard to imagine how we’d stay in business without them.

First and foremost, we have our rideshare apps. Uber and Lyft are both pretty sophisticated. When you think about it, the whole process of how drivers and riders find one another is miraculous and awe-inspiring.

With that said, we do a bunch of other things in our cars, from listening to music that we and our customers can live with, to knowing where and when the next thunderstorm or snow shower might blow in and totally change our driving game. Also, there are those pesky realities like the need for road service and car maintenance, and fun diversions we can deploy while we’re waiting for rides in the airport queues.

We’ve listed some of our favorite apps here, which will hopefully give you some tips that make your driving experience as profitable and enjoyable as possible.

Gas Discount apps for Uber and Lyft Drivers

There are tons of fuel payment apps, and most gas brands have their own. Some help us save a few pennies on the gallon, in addition to offering the option to pay from your phone rather than in-store or through the pad on the pump.

Here are a few others that help us find the fueling stations of our choice, save some cash, and pick up other fun freebies.

GasBuddy: Helps you find cheap gas prices near you and maps the fastest route to the station of your choice. Rewards and a “Pay with GasBuddy” card are among the perks. You can shop other brands off-road and rack up points, which you can use for more gas savings.

GetUpside: Along with locating nearby gas stations, this app gives discounts at the stations, as well as at restaurants and grocery stores. You’ll only find stations that offer cash back for gas, though, so if you’re already on empty you might want to seek out other options. 

Gas Guru: If you just want to find the nearest gas station, this app is what you need. You can sort your lists by price as well as distance.

Fuelly: Assuming your car’s onboard computer doesn’t already have this capability, Fuelly will help you calculate your gas mileage.

iExit Interstate Exit Guide: Perfect for those trips that take you out on a highway you don’t know so well, iExit gives you info on what options you have for gas, food, lodging, ATMs, and other items that will comfort you on the return trip.

EVgo (network for EV): As more electric vehicles hit the road, demand for this app is sure to grow. It maps out EV charging stations and assists in the payment process.

PlugShare: Also for electric vehicle drivers, PlugShare maps out charging stations and lets you connect to a community of other EV drivers.

Music apps for Uber and Lyft Drivers

Most people know about Spotify, Pandora, Apple Music, Google Play, and Amazon Music. There’s also iHeartRadio, TuneIn, and others.

Here are a few you might not know about, plus tips on other apps that can work seamlessly with your faves.

Waze: Wait—isn’t Waze a nav app and driver community? Yes, but … it also lets you interface directly to the music app of your choice. When you connect it through your Waze settings, it will launch automatically. Just tap on the little music note on your map. Works especially well if you link to Waze through your rideshare app.

Steereo Driver: This one is, potentially, music to a driver’s ears. You play new tunes (pre-loaded by the app) for your passengers, and Steereo pays you for playing the music. There are a few caveats, but for a driver who puts in serious hours, it could make a rather rockin’ “ka-ching” sound.

Crazy Taxi City Rush: Sick of playing dorky games while you’re waiting for pax in the airport queue? Now you can play this resurrected Sega classic, and fantasize what it would be like if you could be an Uber driver and a crazy taxi pilot too.

Weather apps for Uber and Lyft Drivers

It’s virtually impossible to avoid having a weather app on your device, but not all of them are good for rideshare driving. Videos, for example, are not the optimal way to get the basic information about the weather while you’re tooling around town or driving down the highway. 

Here are a few apps you can use for weather and some other conditions that might also affect your driving performance.

Dark Sky: This weather app’s specialty is alerting you to precipitation, but it’s also pretty good at giving straightforward summaries of existing conditions and forecasts. It’s simple, but extremely useful.

Weather Underground: Don’t let the subversive-sounding name fool you. This is a legitimate, legal weather app powered by IBM. This app gives more detail on its main page, offering everything from winds and air quality to moon phases and hours of sunlight. 

Allergy Pollen Count: This information is nothing to sneeze at! Allergies can make us miserable, not to mention that itchy eyes and runny noses are not attractive traits for drivers. This app lets you know what’s in the air on any given day in your local area, so you can bring along the remedies you need to breathe freely. 

Roadside assistance apps for Uber and Lyft Drivers

Honk: When the worst happens, and you need a tow, tire change, a jump, fuel, or lock-out service, Honk can help. Prices for service start at $49, and there are no membership fees.

AAA: Old, yes. Reliable, that too. Not bad traits. At times the waits can be long, but depending on where you live, AAA can offer great service and other benefits to members. Their app offers discounts, travel services, and mapping. TripTiks—but digital. Sweet!

Urgent.ly: Like AAA, you’ll have to join the club to benefit from its services. This provider claims to be faster, more streamlined, and less expensive.

The Swiss Army Knife of rideshare tools

GRIDWISE: So full transparency here, I’m going to plug Gridwise. That’s because the best app that a rideshare driver can have to maximize their earnings and minimize their tax deduction is Gridwise.

Gridwise users can use our airport passengers graphs and queues to know exactly when they should wait at the airport for a juicy airport ride.

And Find popular events full of potential passengers with our event listings and reminders.

While effortlessly tracking ALL rideshare miles to maximize their tax deduction

Drivers can even compare their earnings per hour, mile, and trip across multiple platforms so you know what services are best for you

What? You don’t have Gridwise yet?

Download our app! 

Now that we’ve shared our favorite apps for drivers, what are some of yours? If you know of one or two that make your lives easier, it’s only fair to share! 

Whose Safety Is It, Anyway?

We hear a lot about Uber and Lyft rider safety in the media, but what about driver safety? Background checks and intermittent verification of IDs improve the likelihood that passengers are safe... but what about drivers?

Thus far, neither Uber nor Lyft requires a background check for passengers. Depending on which expert you ask, it may or may not be legal to investigate customers, and it certainly isn’t very practical. 

Riders want to download the app and use it right away. There is no time for them to be checked to prove that they aren’t, say, a serial assault felon, a sexual predator, or… an axe murderer. Plus, the companies don’t want to pay for those millions of riders to have background checks.

The fact is, most passengers are perfectly nice, and are kind and decent people. They want a safe, comfortable, and uneventful ride to get them where they need to be, and that’s all. 

Most rideshare drivers are good human beings too—and safer than many people riders are likely to meet. They’ve been background-checked, and their cars and safety records must undergo rigorous inspections to qualify to work for the rideshare company.

Of course there are inevitably a few bad apples, such as the drivers who fly off the handle when placed under stress. And, from the driver’s point of view, there is always a chance that someone who is mentally unstable, or even criminal, will get in the car. 

Just as passengers have the right to know they are safe with their drivers, drivers have every right to ask just how safe working in rideshare is for them.

Some Facts About Driver Safety

If you only paid attention to media reports, you’d think the rideshare driver community was a collection of social deviants. You might also conclude that rideshare companies don’t care enough about safety, or protecting riders and drivers.

As it turns out, neither of these assumptions is true. In December 2019 Uber published its US Safety Report, which is an extensive research study covering driver and rider safety. The study examined data from 2017 and 2018—a timeframe when an average of 3.1 million trips took place each day in the United States. There were many interesting conclusions, with some that stand out more than others. Like this one:

“...our data shows that drivers report assaults at roughly the same rate as riders across the 5 most serious categories of sexual assault. Drivers are victims, too.”

If you need visual evidence of the bad things that can happen to drivers, you can watch the videos below to see a driver get attacked for not dodging traffic in Queens, New York. 

If you conduct your own online video search, you’re sure to find other instances of drivers getting threatened, injured, and worse.

But wait! Before you run off to cancel your driver account out of sheer terror, you should know about an essential finding of the Uber study, as the report states: “The vast majority (99.9%) of Uber trips end without any safety-related issue at all.” Of the more than 3 million trips studied for 2017 and 2018, for example:

• 1.4 percent of trips had a support request of any kind, most frequently for issues such as lost items, refunds, or route feedback;

• 0.1 percent of trips had a support request for a safety-related concern, the majority of which were about minor safety issues such as complaints of harsh braking or a verbal argument;

• 0.0003 percent of trips had a report of a critical safety incident, which are the incidents referenced in the report.

How Do Companies Protect Drivers?

All companies are concerned about the people who work for them, even if the employees are contractors. The main reason (despite their efforts to make us believe they “love” us) is their own legal liability.

Could Uber or Lyft be sued if you are attacked by a rider? Probably. Would you win the lawsuit? Assuming you have the financial means to even start a lawsuit, you might win, but it isn’t a done deal. Because drivers are contract employees, there surely won’t be any workers’ compensation, or the opportunity to organize and push for safer working conditions.

Protective Practices

In some cases, rideshare companies protect drivers with insurance policies. For example, if you were outside your car, helping a rider with luggage, and got struck by another vehicle, your medical costs would be covered by the company’s insurance.

However, when the harm done to a driver is not accidental (such as harm caused by a rider committing a crime), the resolution is not so crystal-clear. 

To protect themselves a bit better, rideshare companies have taken measures to increase the level of driver safety. Here are some of them.

In-app Assistance

Calling 911

Always call 911 for a true emergency. Along with making the call with your phone, another option is using your driver app.

Uber has an almost-instant way to contact emergency rideshare services. From any ride-related screen, the driver can tap on the blue shield icon in the lower left hand corner, and then call 911. A similar screen is available to both drivers and riders in the Lyft app.

Following Your Ride

Uber’s Follow My Ride feature allows family members or other loved ones to monitor your movements, stops, and, of course, your location.

You can set up the app to contact anyone you designate to “watch over” you. When you activate Follow My Ride, this person will be able to monitor your trip, and know exactly where you are at all times. 

It’s always best to leave emergency situations to the professionals, but it can’t hurt to have someone who knows and loves you on call. This person can advocate for you, and make sure you get the right kind of help in a timely manner.

You control when Follow My Ride kicks in, so you won’t be under constant surveillance. There’s no need to let your loved ones know how many times you stopped for a milkshake—but you’ll be glad to know that when you tap the button, they can be alerted to watch your every move.

Built-In Monitoring Features

Thanks to GPS, and those clever coders who care enough to consider driver safety, there are ways for the rideshare company to detect when you might be in trouble. 

Uber already has the Ride Check feature up and running. You might get a ping from it when your rider is taking an extra-long time to buy lottery tickets on the way home, or if you have a collision. If you don’t answer the ping by indicating that you’re safe, Uber will offer tools to help get you out of a serious or threatening situation.

According to representatives from Lyft, the company will roll out a similar app feature in the near future.

General Safety Guidelines

Abiding by Community Standards

Uber and Lyft stress that the purpose of their “community standards” is to ensure driver safety, as well as the safety of riders. 

Physical contact, sexual assault or misconduct, discrimination, threatening language or actions, and unwanted contact after the ride, are all violations of community standards. They are also grounds for being deactivated from rideshare platforms. If you feel that you are the target of any of these acts, report it to your rideshare company.

If you are physically assaulted or threatened, you should immediately call 911. Once the authorities have processed the incident, you should also contact the rideshare company to report it. Get your side of the story on the record, right away, before the rider presents an account that is very different from yours.

Driver General Safety Practices: Do’s ... and Don’ts

There are many ways you can protect yourself as a driver, but carrying a weapon is NOT one of them. Unless you are an authorized person, such as working for the rideshare company as a security officer, you are not allowed to carry any firearm with you. 

This prohibition may extend to items such as stun guns, tasers, and knives. Check with Lyft or Uber before you bring anything that might be classified as a weapon into your car while you’re on duty. 

If a rider spots a weapon in your car, you could be reported, and you will be deactivated. This goes in both directions, of course. If you notice that a rider is carrying a weapon, you have every right to refuse the ride, and to report the person to the rideshare company. 

Uber does have one exception to its firearms policy. If a firearm is legal under state regulations, and it is unloaded, contained in a hard case, and in the trunk of the car, Uber will allow the firearm to be carried while a driver is online.

Now, here are some tips that can help keep you safe. Some are suggested by the rideshare companies, and all really come from a reasonable application of common sense.

• Wait for riders to identify you by name before you let them in your car. This way, you know they are the person authorized (and identified) on the account.

• Don’t accept riders who are not the person on the account. For example, if the account says you’re going to pick up Marvin, and the rider announces that she’s his girlfriend, you can, and probably should, refuse the ride.

• Keep the conversation casual and consensual. Learn how to monitor how much a rider wants to talk, and follow the person’s lead. Even if you wind up having a lovely chat, don’t give out any information about yourself that could lead to unwanted contact after the ride.

• Never allow a minor (a person under the age of 18) to ride in your car without an accompanying adult. This is in violation of company policy for both Uber and Lyft, and your insurance will not cover this rider in the event of an accident.

• Stand just outside your vehicle if the parent of a minor child should leave them there, even momentarily. This helps you avoid any appearance of being less than a safe and watchful adult.

• Don’t make stops unless they are put into the app by the rider. You want the app to continue tracking your position, and how long you stay in one spot.

• Don’t be scared. Your own fear can be your biggest enemy in an unsafe situation. If you don’t already have training, consider taking a self-defense course. While you hope you never have to engage in actual hand-to-hand combat, you’ll learn how to carry yourself and be aware of your surroundings. These are the things that make you feel safe and be safe, everywhere, especially when you’re driving for Uber or Lyft.

Both rideshare companies provide a lot of features that ensure your safety as a driver. In addition to in-app safety resources, there is a lot of safety information that every driver should know before going out on the road.

• Click here for Uber Safety Tips
• Click here for Lyft Safety Tips

Do Rideshare Companies Do Enough?

Despite the in-app assistance and general education the rideshare companies offer to their drivers, being a rideshare driver can be risky. Friends, relatives, and even riders ask questions like, “Aren’t you afraid to let strangers ride with you in your car?”

Ideally, drivers would be more certain about the backgrounds of the people they pick up as passengers. A quick criminal background check could go a long way to prevent horrendous incidents. The rider might cover it as part of the agreement to use the service, or the rideshare company could share the cost.

One solution might be a classification system for riders, just as there are for drivers. Of course, the mutual rating system is already in place—although the stars don’t really offer a lot of assurance. In the flurry and potential rush of accepting a ride, a customer would rarely have a rating that was consistently low enough for a driver to notice.

If rideshare companies created a distinctive classification for riders who have undergone a background check, this would provide some level of protection. Yet even with a system like this, there would be no guarantee that someone who passed a background check last week won’t turn into a raging maniac after a bout of raucous partying this Saturday night.

The companies’ reliance on “community guidelines” is overly optimistic. People may not read the guidelines thoroughly, and even if they do, they will likely forget much of what they learned when faced with difficult situations. From the over-caffeinated office worker who needs to vent to an impaired passenger looking for the next bar, rideshare drivers are faced with some tough customers, and are often at risk because of it.

The best way to stay safe while driving for a rideshare company is to use your own common sense, and make safety your top priority. Use the tools the companies provide, and learn how to protect yourself. 

Bending the rules or going against your instincts can be far more costly than the few bucks you might make by taking rides that put you in uncomfortable or unsafe situations. While you want to please your customers and support your rideshare company, the most important thing to keep in mind is to always protect yourself.

Some drivers in California can now choose their own rates! Check out the Gridwise Podcast on your favorite podcasting platform and hear what this new development could mean for drivers!

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Every 3 or 4 Uber rides I take I find a driver with his car decked out like this:

I’ve seen a few that looked like this:

And this guy:

I get it. These drivers are just trying to make sure they have as high of a rating as possible and maybe even pull in some tips.

I understand their thought process, but for just a minute put yourselves in the shoes of a passenger and think about how much you would really care about these extra treats:

It’s Tuesday morning and you’ve already had one of those days. You woke up nearly 30-minutes late because your phone charger decided it wasn’t going to work that night and that your phone was better off dead.

So you end up rushing to get ready for an 8:00 am meeting that your boss sprung on you at the last minute, but your oh so reliable roommate forgot to pick up the dry cleaning like he promised.

Again.

So looks like you’ll be stuck trotting around the office all day in pants you haven’t washed in three wears and your dingiest white shirt.

Now, would you rather a have driver that:

1. Arrives in a car equipped with no extra phone chargers and somehow finds every traffic jam in the city making you even later, and putting the final nail in your career coffin… but they offer you water and a mint!

OR

1. Arrives in a clean car, offers you a charger for your phone and finds the best route to get you where you are going quickly… and no treats.

Which one are you tipping?

Still not convinced? Well, we asked 1,000 rideshare passengers if they ever take water or snacks from drivers when offered and almost 75% of them said no.

Tips and 5 Star ratings come from customer interactions

To be clear, we're not saying that rideshare drivers should never offer their passengers treats, but you shouldn't be paying for those treats out of your own pocket (more on that later) and you shouldn't expect treats to be the only driver behind your tips and 5-star ratings.

The thing to remember is that people give tips because of the driver and their vehicle, not just because of the treats that they give you.

This simply means that you need to be sure to have positive interactions with your passengers.

You can start with the first interaction. Instead of just asking them if they are the correct passenger, ask them if they are in a rush as well. If they are, see if you can find a safe route to get them to their destination more quickly.

But let's be real for a second. 95% of the time you're not going to be able to make a huge difference in how quickly you drop off a passenger, but passengers will appreciate that you put forth the effort.

Remember that your passenger's first, second, and third goal is to get where they’re going safely and quickly (in that order).

A driver that is familiar with traffic patterns and alternative routes that can help passengers arrive at their destination faster is much more valuable than a bottle of water.

Depending on who’s in your car, let your passengers know about interesting concerts, festivals, parties, or other events that are happening in your city. For tourists, simply letting them know where the must-go places in the city are is invaluable information and creates another positive interaction.

Oh, but do you know how to guarantee a positive interaction with your passengers?

Offer them a phone charger.

People are serious about not letting their phones die.

Nothing is worse than being caught with your battery at 2% when you need a ride or need to call someone, so take advantage of this opportunity to create a positive interaction.

Use Cargo To Give Away Treats (For Free!)

Again, we're not saying that giving away treats to passengers is horrible, you just shouldn't spend YOUR hard-earned money on those treats. Instead, consider using Cargo, which is essentially an in-car vending machine that drivers can use 100% for free.

Drivers can use this link to simply apply to be a driver with Cargo and receive your free Cargo box. In no time you'll receive your free Cargo box that you can install in your vehicle and passengers can purchase items or receive free items through your box.

Best of all, you NEVER have to worry about inventory. Cargo will handle refilling inventory at absolutely no charge to you.

By focusing on positive interactions while letting Cargo take care of the candy and treats, you'll be better positioned to maximize your tip income and ratings!

We are PUMPED to announce that Gridwise has just launched a new weekly podcast where Gridwise J and myself (Brandon Sellers) will be talking about all things rideshare from news to data insights to driving strategy.

We're going to try and keep each episode around 20 - 25 minutes and you'll get a new episode every Thursday.

The first two episodes are ready below for drivers to listen to:

Gridwise's rideshare weekly #2: THE podcast for Uber & Lyft drivers

Gridwise's rideshare weekly #1: THE podcast for Uber & Lyft drivers

If you like the podcast, please help us!

If you enjoy these candid conversations, support us to keep this going:

• Share the podcast with your friends
• Let us know what topics we should cover next
• Let us know WHO we should interview next
• Subscribe on YouTube

Give our podcast a listen and let us know your thoughts in the comments!