Gridwise blog

We’ve been talking to a lot of Chicago area rideshare drivers lately about their experiences and we’re constantly hearing about the airports.

Some drivers can’t wait to tell us how much of a waste of time the airports are, however, for some drivers O’Hare is their bread and butter.

Why the disconnect?

It comes down to strategy.

The drivers that are having success are the ones that don’t just show up and hope for the best, they have a rock-solid strategy. Those drivers were gracious enough to talk to us about what has been working for them and in today’s blog post we’re going to share with you what we learned.

This post will include:

1. How to navigate each of Chicago’s airports
2. When to go to each airport
3. How to mitigate your non-airport airport ping risk

How it works

Uber, Lyft, and other TNC’s specially designate airports with a “geofence” that tightly defines the airport area. As a driver, if you have an app on in those areas, you’ll be placed in a queue that acts as a virtual driver line.

As you wait in the queue, you’ll cycle through the line (hopefully quickly) and finally be pinged by a rider.

Navigating O’Hare and Midway

Your first few times as a rideshare driver can be a bit disorienting because of all of the rules and regulations that differ from city to city and airport to airport.

Let’s first talk about what those rules are at each airport and you can comply.

O’Hare International Airport (ORD)

The flagship airport of Chicago/The Midwest is not for the faint of heart because of the high volume of people and cars, not to mention some confusing roads. However, when you figure it out, it is worth it.

Where to wait

The TNC lot at O’Hare is on the Jawa Entry Roadway which is just off Balmoral Ave.

Where to pick up

O’Hare is a large airport so has multiple pickup spots. Passengers arriving domestically will have two places they can be picked up from depending on their location.

Domestic passengers will be directed to one of the following rideshare pickup areas:

• On the upper level between Terminals 1 and 2, directly to the right of Door 2A, between the signs.
• On the upper level between Terminals 2 and 3, directly to the right of Door 3A, between the signs.

International passengers will be directed to the rideshare area on the lower level of Terminal 5 at Door 3.

Midway Airport (MDW)

O’hare’s little brother is certainly a easier airport to navigate because of its smaller size. There are still a few things you’ll want to keep in mind however.

Where to wait

The TNC lot at Midway is at the corner of South Cicero Ave and 72nd Street.

Where to pick up

Midway has a pretty straightforward pickup system. You simply meet your rider on the Arrivals level outside Door 4.

You’ll likely encounter some traffic when going to pickup your passenger, so call them and let them know you are on your way. They should be looking out for you and if possible trying to move closer to where you will be.

When to go to the airports

Now let’s talk airport strategy.

A successful airport driver is a master of his or her time. You don’t want to be caught waiting around for hours in the airport queue while you could be making money elsewhere. You can avoid this by understanding when the most passengers are both arriving and departing.

There are a few go to times when there are many coming into O’Hare and Midway. Monday and Tuesday mornings for instance are a boon for business travelers arriving for a week of work in the city. They tend to leave again Thursday and Friday afternoons which causes another surge of those travelers leaving from Downtown.

• Other busy times for travel include:
• Christmas and Thanksgiving Holidays
• 4th of July
• Saturday’s before Ravens or Redskins games
• The week of large parades

Take advantage of these travel heavy times by positioning yourself in the queue 10 - 15 minutes before there is a peak in arriving airports. You can easily predict when these times will be using the free Gridwise App.

Another great trick is to understand how many drivers are in the TNC lot before you even go. This will help you avoid waiting in unnecessarily long lines. There are a few great Facebook groups that share this information, however, you can get a more real time view of the airport queue using Gridwise.

Many drivers forget about passengers that are heading to the airport, however they can be profitable as well. Position yourself near hotels downtown in the loop to maximize your chances of getting a long airport fare.

Use your cancels wisely

Remember that heartbreaking tale that I told you to start this blog post? Well, the truth is there is no way to guarantee this won’t happen to you.

You can, however, decrease your chances of getting pulled out of the queue for another ride by using your cancels wisely and positioning yourself well within the airport zone.

Uber and Lyft’s ping algorithms are still under lock and key so it’s difficult to completely understand how drivers are selected, however, we do know that riders are supposed to be selected based on proximity to the rider.

So that stands to reason that if you move closer to the airport and away from the surrounding city that you’ll decrease your chances of being pinged outside the airport. The TNC lots are great for this, the cell lots would be better, however rideshare drivers are not officially allowed in those lots. So approach at your own risk.

Your next strategy is to be fully loaded with “timeouts” so you can ignore a call at least once without being sent to the back of the line.

Remember, you only need about a 90% acceptance rate to stay in good standing with the TNC and get your weekly driver rewards, so use the few timeouts you have at the airport if you know you’re going to incorporate them into your strategy for the day.

Things to remember

A great airport strategy can lead to a consistent and predictably high income for the smart rideshare driver. We recently wrote a story about Jeff who has been conquering rideshare up in Pittsburgh for the last year, so you can take his strategy and make it your own. Just remember a few extra things:

• Always reach out to your passenger and confirm their location right before you depart
• DO NOT cancel on a passenger after you’ve accepted a fare. You’ll be moved to the bottom of the queue and could face deactivation by your TNC
• Be mindful of law enforcement and don’t risk getting a ticket by handing out in the cell lots
• Be prepared when you come to the airport. This means trade dress displayed along with your airport placard and citytax emblem, insurance card and registration available and don’t forget your driver's license

Alright, that’s it! Everything you need to know to get started at the airports in Chicago.

Are you an experienced TNC airport warrior? Did we miss any great airport tips? Let us know and we’ll add them to the list!

Rideshare drivers know that the most interesting part of the job is by far the passengers. Some passengers can be a joy to talk to, some can be a complete bore, and a special few will stand out in our minds forever as simply, "The Worst".

We do our best to avoid these passengers by checking their ratings before accepting the ride, but when you're working your tail off as a late-night driver, near colleges, or in big cities, sometimes you're going to have some unpleasant experiences.

It's just part of the job.

Over the past few weeks, we've been hanging out with drivers, listening to their best passenger stories, and gathering advice on how to deal with bad passengers.

So in today's post, we're going to have a laugh (and possibly a cry), as we look at the 5 worst types of rideshare passengers and give you advice on how to best deal with them.

The Eater

"The Eater" is a normally solid rideshare passenger, which is what makes them so deceptive. They might have a 4.9 rating, but for some reason they pick you and your freshly detailed car to transform into this "The Eater".

How to spot them?

You can't spot an eater until you drive up to them and see a pizza box or McDonald's, Burger King, or Wendy's bag in their hands. They'll likely already be snacking when you first see them while using their pants as a napkin.

When they jump in your car, don't expect them to ask if they can eat in your car, and don't expect much conversation. You should, however, be looking out for hands with just a bit of sauce on your cloth seats.

How to deal with them?

Nip this one in the bud right when they get in your car by letting them know that they need to keep their food in the box or bag at all times. For most passengers, this is enough to keep the sauce stains at bay, but some of the hungrier passengers may need a reminder or two. And don't for a second let them put their box down.

They have a way of "forgetting" things in your car. Check out the video below for a cautionary tale on the eater.

At the end of the day, these passengers are a pain, but if you're upfront and explain that eating is NOT OK in your car, you should be fine.

Keep some cleaning supplies in the trunk just in case.

How do you rate them?

The rating for this type of passenger really depends on if they listen and if they leave a mess. If you have a passenger that decides not to obey the rules and leaves an empty box as a gift in your car, they get 1 star... 4 stars if they keep it clean.

The Backseat Driver

Above all else, this passenger is just incredibly annoying. For some reason, they think they know the roads better than the all powerful, all seeing Google and can't wait to tell you about it.

How to spot them?

It's impossible to know if you're getting a backseat driver until it's too late. But when you get one, you'll know immediately. From the get-go, you'll be micromanaged like a 14-year old at their first grocery store job.

At times it will almost feel like the passenger is competing with your voice navigation and you'll find yourself wondering if all this hassle is worth arriving 60 seconds earlier, IF they are correct with their "shortcut" (hint: they aren't).

How to deal with them?

Your best bet here is to remain cool, calm, and collected. Yes, this is annoying, but things certainly could be worse. Simply remind them that you do indeed have a GPS that uses all of Google's superpowers to tell you the very best route to drive depending on traffic conditions.

This type of passenger is likely not to listen the first time, so remain calm and just point out traffic conditions that Google Maps or Waze is alerting you to that are changing the route that you take.

If you're like me and like to find more laid back passengers that just let you do your thing, think about leveraging events. Passengers leaving concerts, games, plays and other events are usually not in a huge rush so will just sit back and enjoy the ride.

How do you rate them?

This depends on the attitude of the passenger. If they get snarky, they get 2 stars. If they can find it in themselves to take a chill pill, we can do 4-stars.

The Drunk

Possibly the most disruptive type of passenger is the drunk, and for obvious reasons.

If you're not a late-night driver you may have been able to avoid this type of passenger, but those of us driving after 11 pm Thursday, Friday, and Saturday know these folks all too well.

How to spot them?

You can spot an intoxicated passenger a mile away. They are usually in one of three states:

1. Swaying vigourously in the wind as they wait for you to drive up and stumble to the car.
2. Leaning on a light pole, nearly completely bent over, visibly one shot away from covering the whole sidewalk with vomit.
3. Actively covering the whole sidewalk with vomit.

How to deal with them?

The one thing that you want to avoid at all costs is someone painting your car puke orange. Yes, you will have the opportunity to collect a cleanup fee if someone can't hold their alcohol, but your night will be over and you'll be spending your time cleaning up a mess instead of making money.

So when driving during popular going out hours you'll want to be selective about who you pick up.

Passengers #1 and #2 are likely going to be fine. They've had a few too many but should be able to keep it together. If they seem like they're teetering, you'll have to make a judgment call on if you want to risk it or not.

These passengers are likely going to be either way too excited or immediately pass out. If they are with a group, they'll likely be the former and will be very chatty. Go ahead and chat with them, but always remain professional.

Some of my best tips have come from groups that have clearly done their fair share of pregaming before going to the bars. So don't be afraid to chat, but know where to draw the line.

Passengers in category #3 usually haven't called you themselves, but a "friend" has. This "friend" will try and plop your would be passenger into your car even though they are clearly blacked out and probably won't be able to get out of your car even if they make it home.

If at all possible, avoid these passengers. They are a safety risk to you and themselves as they can be unpredictable. When you see this, I would recommend telling their friends that they will need to cut their night short and escort their friend home.

How do you rate them?

If they puke in your car they get 1-star + a cleaning fee and probably some unkind words... If they hold it together and are entertaining, let them pass with 4 stars.

If you want to avoid these types of passengers at all costs, adjust your driving strategy away from the late night bar scene to something like airports. You can even use the Gridwise app to check how many passengers you have incoming and the queue length.

Download Gridwise to see airport demand and queue lengths

The Underage Rider

Most TNC's clearly state that their service is intended for people over 18 and that anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

People don't care.

They will make you drive all the way to them so you can find their clearly underage kid waiting.

How to spot them?

When you drive up and what looks like a 15-year old is hailing you, you've got an underage passenger.

What to do about them?

There are two major camps for how to deal with underage passengers. Many drivers will play it safe, cancel the request, and contact their TNC. This can result in the passengers account being deactivated.

Most drivers, however, will take the approach of picking the passenger up and then explaining to them that Uber and Lyft is intended for passengers that are 18 or older. That will usually result in the passenger saying they didn't know, which we all know isn't true. So just reiterate that it's important for them to follow this rule.

How do you rate them?

1-Star... stop breaking the rules!

The PAX that asks if you can go through a drive through

This passenger for some reason believes that you are their own personal chauffeur. This passenger usually asks you to stop at a McDonald's or Wendy's, but sometimes will go as far as asking you to make a pit-stop at Chipotle...

Yes... we've seen this happen.

How to spot them?

This is usually a group of passengers that may be heading home from an event, so it's understandable that they are hungry.

If you pay attention to their conversation you'll start to hear rumblings of "I'm hungry" and "We should grab something to eat while we're out"... that's when you know you're in trouble.

What to do about them?

When you're asked to make a pit stop, remember that the bulk of your pay comes by the mile, not by the minute. So sitting in a drive through inching toward the payment window for 10-minutes likely isn't worth your time.

To avoid this, you can simply state that it's against Uber's Terms of Service to make these types of stops. Unfortunately, the conversation is likely not going to end there, so you have to be adamant, but polite.

Some passengers will go as far as offering a generous tip if you stop. If so, the stop may be worth it. You'll have to be the judge there.

If you do give in and take them to a drive through, make sure you position the back window in front of the speaker and the payment window. Also, don't expect any food kickbacks, but it's worth asking!

How do you rate them?

5-stars if you get a food kickback or a nice tip... 3-stars if you just get nagged.

Summing Things Up

We all know some passengers can be an incredible pain, and this is just the beginning of the list. When these situations come up, remember to keep your cool and understand that you're not conducting brain surgery. One bad passenger or one bad rating isn't going to make or break you.

Even the worst rides will rarely last more than an hour, and then you don't have to see them again. So don't let a bad passenger ruin your mood. Keep your smile, and keep making money! Or, keep your spirits up by reading more on how much rideshare drivers make.

If you have any memorable experiences with passengers, please share below!

If you’re thinking about jumping into the rideshare game, there are a lot of factors to consider, including which ones are the top rideshare services drivers are using. But another very crucial element takes the cake. Sure, we can talk all day about how to plan your strategy or strike up conversations to get better tips, but none of that matters if you don’t have a good, reliable car to get you and your passengers around. And deciding what car to buy—or whether you even need to buy a new car—takes some consideration.

First of all, it’s important to know the car requirements for each rideshare platform. Though it can vary from city to city, to drive for UberX driver in most, you need a four-door, 2002 or newer vehicle. For Lyft, you need a 2005 or newer in most cities.

If you’re planning on driving multiple passengers, however, you’ll want to spring for a bigger car. UberXL and Lyft Plus require a vehicle that can hold up to 6 passengers, so the little four-door sedan won’t cut it.

Then, of course, there’s the luxury side of things, which is more strict. To drive for UberBlack or Lyft Premier, your car has to be a pristine Jaguar, Lexus, BMW or similar. UberBlack takes it a step further by requiring that the car have black leather interior as well.

Most likely, though, you’re not looking to buy a Jaguar or a passenger van, but something basic and dependable. So here are the five cars you should consider.

1. Toyota Corolla

The Toyota Corolla is a good bet for an inexpensive, durable car. New ones start around $18,500, and get 30 MPG in the city, 40 on the highway. It’s also a four-cylinder engine, so that means less fuel consumption.

The Corolla is also on the Consumer Reports list of cars that can reach over 200,000 miles, which is important if you’re going to be driving all day every day.

Corolla’s are known to need little maintenance, and when they do it’s relatively inexpensive.

One downside is that the handling and maneuverability aren’t the greatest, but what it lacks in movement it makes up for in reliability.

2. Toyota Prius V

The Prius is the car for good gas mileage, with an added bonus of environmental sustainability, if you’re into that kind of thing. Prius’s boast 51 MPG on the highway and 48 in the city, so you’ll save at the pump and maximize profits for sure. The only downside is the initial price tag; new Prius’ start at around $23,500.

If you’re in for the splurge, though, the Prius will get you far. Consumer Reports also has it in the “over-200,000-miles club,” and some even say it can take you 315,000 miles with proper upkeep. For the basics, maintenance is as affordable (and infrequent) as any other Toyota, but replacing the battery comes with a hefty price tag.

The car is also fairly heavy, so brakes can wear out faster. Additionally, the weight makes for a semi-clunky ride, so your passengers may not be as comfortable as in zippier cars.

3. Chevy Volt

The Volt has a lot going for it. Like the Prius, it is a hybrid electric car, and that makes for fewer and cheaper trips to the gas station, which you’ll need to make up for the sticker price: The 2017 Volt starts at $33,220.

Fully charged, the Volt can go 50 miles on the battery alone and more than 400 with a fully charged battery and a full tank of gas. In gas-only mode, the Volt gets 37 MPG. In combined gas-electric mode, it jumps up to 62 MPG.

The Volt is also speedier and handles better than most hybrids on the road, so you can expect smoother driving and a fatter wallet. And because it is so fuel-efficient, buying the Volt also means receiving an additional tax credit come tax season.

The Volt will also last you a long time. Green Car Report found a 2012 Volt that surpassed 300,000 miles and counting.

Like the Prius, the maintenance cost that could get you is the battery. But so long as that lasts as long as it should, regular maintenance on the Volt will be cheap.

4. Toyota Yaris

If you’re looking for a reliable new car but don’t want to shell out too much cash, the Toyota Yaris may be the right choice. At $15,250, the light, compact Yaris will get you some bang for the buck: It gets 30 MPG in the city and 36 MPG highway.

Fuel-efficient and easy to maintain, the Yaris will also last you awhile: Forbes counts it as one of the cars that will go to 200,000 miles, and others have reported having a Yaris last beyond 250,000.

Some downsides: The Yaris is compact, so tall drivers—and passengers—may have a hard time getting comfortable, and the hatchback style leaves less room in the back for luggage. It also doesn’t handle as smooth as some cars, but it’ll get the job done.

5. Ford Fusion

If you’re looking for a smooth and responsive ride at a decent price, the Ford Fusion may be the car for you. Fusion’s start at $22,600 and are known for their quick response and easy handling, and also have low and affordable maintenance.

The Fusion’s only get 23 MPG in the city and 32 on the highway, however, so for those long days of driving, you might have to make frequent stops for gas. But, a Fusion will last you a long time: Many Fusion owners report pushing their cars beyond 200,000.

Best way to get a car

1. Buy. Before splurging on a new car, there are some things you should think about. For one, can you really afford a new car? Most Uber drivers make $14 to $16 an hour, and to get a loan for a new car requires good credit.Additionally, consider your needs outside of work. Do you need a new car anyway? Do the cars that are best for rideshare driving match your personal needs?With all that taken into consideration, buying a car may be the best option for you. And while a bright, shiny new one may sound appealing, that’s not the only option. You can always buy a mildly used car, or even lease one.
2. Hertz. If you’re not in a position to buy a car, or just don’t want to own one, there are other options.The car rental service, Hertz, has partnered with Uber and Lyft to provide rideshare rentals at affordable prices. Lyft's deal starts at $165 for weekly rentals, and after a certain number of rides per week (based on your region), drivers can earn bonuses that cover the rental cost.For Uber, $180 per week will get you a car, but after 75 rides, you can get the car free.
3. Hyrecar. Another option is to rent a car from a private person instead of a company. Hyrecar connects rideshare drivers with car owners and allows you to rent them at varying rates. There are no contracts or sign-up fees, and daily rates are as low as $35. Weekly rates float around $200 to $300.Hyrecar is also great if you want to try rideshare driving for a while before committing to buying a car for the job.

If the thought of becoming your own boss, setting your own schedule and getting out of that office has led you to consider becoming a full-time rideshare driver, you’re not alone. Thousands of people across the world have dropped the 9-to-5 in favor of driving, but, of course, it’s not always as easy as it sounds.

Here are five important things to consider before taking the leap.

Am I ready to drive 12 hours a day?

Sure, it’s nice to dream about driving just a few hours here and there whenever you want, but that won’t really work. To make a living as a rideshare driver, you may have to work overtime. In other words, being a full-time driver is really full-time. So the first thing you need to ask yourself is, am I ready to drive 12 hours a day (at least sometimes)?

Here are some things to consider:

• Back pain: 12 hours is a long time to sit. And this extended time in one position can really hurt your back, or exacerbate already-existing back and body issues. Is this something you can deal with?
• Lack of exercise: Being in the car that long also means you’re not exercising. Sure, that 9-to-5 office job meant little exercise too, but at least you got up and walked to the copier, or did a few blocks on foot to grab lunch, or stood on the train during your commute. With rideshare driving, it’s hard to avoid sitting the whole time.
• Boredom: Think back to that really long road trip you took. Remember how boring those hours of driving were? Really consider if you could do that five days a week.
• Overall long hours: There are a million other reasons why the long hours might get to you. Do you have side projects you still want to work on? A family at home that you want to spend time with? A dog that needs walking? Think of all your other obligations and aspirations and be honest about how much time you can take away from them.

Of course, there are ways to drive full-time and not totally sacrifice your well being. You just have to commit to remaining healthy while driving. Here’s how you can do it.

• Set aside time for exercise. Either before, during or after your shift, try to fit in at least 15 minutes of strenuous exercise a day. Even if you can’t hit the gym, take a break and stretch, do some jumping jacks or take a walk.
• Make it fun. You’re going to have to entertain yourself for long hours, so make sure you’ve got some stuff to occupy your mind while you drive. Load your phone up with good music, download some interesting podcasts for between rides, and brush up those conversation skills.

When do I want to have flexibility?

Like any full-time job, it’s good to have a set schedule that you stick to at least most of the time. And when you’re your own boss, you can build your schedule in whatever way makes sense to you. But there are some caveats when it comes to rideshare driving.

For one, you will want to maximize your earnings by working during peak hours. That means doing the morning commute, evening commute, nights and/or weekends. And because that means you’ll be working when most people aren’t (and for long hours on top of that) you have some FOMO. Here’s what you can do about that.

• Plan to be around when your friends and family are. If you need to help get your kids off to school, plan on skipping the morning commute. If you and your family like to go out on the weekends, drive during the weekdays. If you like to go out at night with your friends, drive during the day. In other words, identify the times that are important to you, and try to maximize the hours you work around that.
• Use your off-time well. If you drive late, it may be tempting to sleep in until your next shift, but try to be disciplined about maximizing your off-time as much as you do your working hours. If you’re enjoying your remaining time, the 12-hour shifts won’t feel so bad.

Am I a people person?

At its core, rideshare driving is a service job. And like all service jobs, you have to be good with people to enjoy it and do it well. If you’re considering jumping into the game full-time, make sure you ask yourself if you’re ready for what that means.

• You will be meeting and talking to a lot of people. If you don’t find people’s stories interesting or find yourself exhausted by the thought of talking to so many people every day, you may not be cut out for full-time driving. On the flip side, if this idea excites you, you’re in the right business.
• Ratings and tips depend on likeability. Whether you consider yourself a people person or not, your ratings and tips will be determined by how people perceive you. So if you want to get that extra boost in cash – and keep your job – you’re going to have to be likeable.

That said, you can still do this job even if you’re not an extrovert. Here are some tips to be more outgoing, and maybe even become more of a people person:

• Open up. The first step is just plain talking. Always greet your rider, ask them how they’re doing, and learn some good conversation starters. Ask questions, talk about the weather, or ask them where they’re headed.
• Read people. Knowing when to talk is just as important as knowing when to stop talking. Learn to read your passengers for cues of conversation willingness. Are they looking at their phone? Have their head tilted back and eyes closed? That’s a good time to turn on some music and let them be.
• Have a good time and don’t be too serious. People always like a happy person, so don’t be too serious. Even if you’re not talking, a rider can pick up on your mood, so if you’re enjoying yourself, you’re more likely to get better ratings and tips, and have better conversations.

Do I have the right equipment?

Rideshare driving isn’t just about having a clean car and knowing how to drive. Any pro driver will tell you that you shouldn’t go full-time until you’re stocked with the right equipment, from car to GPS.

So before getting started, make sure you have:

• A newish, reliable, low-mileage, efficient car. Don’t skimp, but don’t go overboard, either. Lease payments can be pricey, but so can repairs. Do your research and find the right car for you.
• The right tech. Get a smartphone mount for hands-off, easy driving; a dashcam in case something happens; a mileage log; an illuminated Uber/Lyft sign for night driving; plenty of phone chargers for you and your passengers; and a good GPS system.
• Emergency equipment. Make sure you’re prepared for emergencies with a first aid kit, seat belt cutters and a roadside tool kit.

Am I ready to treat this like a business?

The last question you need to ask yourself is if you’re ready to be a small business owner. That may sound a little overly ambitious, but the truth is, if you’re your own boss, you are a business owner. And that means there’s some extra things to consider.

Here are the main things you need to think about – and be on top of – as a full-time rideshare driver:

• Car maintenance. Driving full-time is going to put some wear and tear on your car. And that means you’re going to have to get it maintenanced more often than you’re used to. That means you need to not only be on top of getting new tires, oil changes, and tune ups on the regular, you also need to set aside money in order to do so.
• Healthcare. Now that’s you’re not employed by a company, you’re going to be paying your own healthcare costs. Depending on where you are and what your general health is, they may or may not be a big deal. Before going full-time, really think about what you can and can’t afford to live without.
• Taxes. Taxes are way more complicated when all your paychecks aren’t automatically deducting taxes and you don’t get a single W2. Consider how organized you are before doing this full-time. Can you keep track of expenses? Do you know the rules of filing as a freelancer? Make sure you know what you’re getting into so it won’t come back to bite you.

So... what else are we missing from this list? Full-time drivers, what else should part-time drivers consider before taking the full-time plunge? Which apps are your favorite for rideshare and delivery?

Let us know in the comments below!

We get it. Driving can be a grind, and it’s not always going to be a good time. Sometimes you’ll get a grouchy passenger, or a nightmare pool, or a bad review. And while these days are always going to happen, there are some things you can do to make driving more enjoyable, despite the odds.

Just ask Paul.

Paul moonlights as a driver in the D.C. and Northern Virginia area in the evenings and on the weekends. He has a full-time job doing something that he loves, but decided to give rideshare driving a go after a friend suggested he make a little extra money on all the driving around he was already doing. And he thought, why not?

The prospect of a little extra vacation money was tempting, but really, Paul’s in it for the fun. That’s right – for fun.

“Uber’s marketing makes it sound like you can make a ton of money, but you aren’t exactly going to get rich here,” Paul says. “But overall, as long as I’m in the black, I’m a happy camper. Even if it’s only 10 bucks this week, 100 bucks next week, and it’s still fun, that’s all I care about.”

Sure, not everyone has the luxury of driving part-time for fun and a little extra cash. But there’s still something to be learned from Paul’s attitude. So why does he love driving so much?

“The people, hands down,” he says. “I love meeting all different kinds of people.”

If you get in Paul's car, you can't help but notice.

Paul is a self-described people-person and has got “the gift of gab,” so for him, the best part of the job is chatting with his passengers, and getting them to open up.

Of course, he recognizes that sometimes people don’t want to talk, or they’re in a bad mood. When he comes across that, he decides to try to make them feel better non-verbally.

“I turn the music down a little bit, change it to jazz, get them to relax without saying anything,” he says. “I try to get some positive vibes into that person.”

Because he likes talking to new people so much, that is what keeps him going, and makes what could be a long shift in the car fly by.

“You know how runners get a ‘runner’s high?’ Sometimes I’ll get a driver’s high,” he says. “Just, ‘What a great day to be driving!’ People are climbing in the car, I’m making money. And I’m just like, ‘This is great.’ And next thing I know it’s eight hours later. It feels good and you don’t want it to stop. And it’s not even based on the money. It’s just a feeling.”

Building a Youtube Channel

Paul also decided to make driving fun for himself by setting up a YouTube channel for drivers, Uber DC, which is full of tips, stories and even a game show.

The impulse to start filming came right when he started driving. As a golfer, Paul had gotten into GoPro cameras and filmed some of his rounds. He had a YouTube account but hadn’t done much with it. Then when he decided to start driving, he got a “wild hair” to film his first day.

The six-minute video chronicling his first fares is by far his most popular one with over 550,000 views. But in the two years since, he’s made countless others, and has even created regular segments: “Tip Jar Tuesday,” in which he counts his tips for the week and gives advice to other drivers for how to get more, and “PAX - A Rideshare Game Show.”

PAX is where Paul gets truly unique – and has the most fun. If he has a long drive with a passenger ahead – and the passenger is willing – he’ll play a live trivia game with them, MCed and filmed by him.

Paul gets the questions online and prints and laminates the cards himself. Then he puts them in a little black bag, which passengers can select from.

Paul also keeps a sign on the dashboard that says “Ask Me About PAX” – a natural conversation-starter even if the passenger doesn’t want to play.

Challenges

Of course, it hasn’t all been easy. When he first started, the biggest issue was learning the app.

“First of all, you want to make sure you’re hitting all the buttons right,” he laughs. “A couple times I forgot to start the trip. So, in the beginning, I took long breaks between the rides to reevaluate what I did and make sure I did it right.”

Next came the unfamiliar territories.

“It took a while to comfortable knowing the neighborhoods I was driving in.”

Even as a pro driver now, he has hit some obstacles. Recently, when trying to meet a Quest, he decided to take a pool ride. After waiting past the allocated two minutes for his passenger to arrive, the rider came out and said it would be another minute. Paul then started the trip, waited two more minutes, and then canceled the ride when the passenger didn’t reappear.

In the end, what should have been $4 for his wasted time ended being $0, and his complaint to Uber didn’t get him his money. But that doesn’t get him too down.

“It happens,” he says. “I just keep driving.”

Strategy

This “just-keep-driving” attitude is also at the center of his driving strategy.

“I just go from point to A to point B,” he says, admitting that he doesn’t have much of a master plan when he gets in his car beyond getting pings. “It blows me away that people turn down rides.... The whole idea is to make money, and the way to make money is to have a body in your car.”

Granted, that might not work for everyone. But for Paul’s goal of having fun – and maybe playing some trivia – he doesn’t care where he’s going as long as he’s going.

Paul’s driving tips:

1. Know your market.
   GPS is helpful, but Paul says it’s important to know where you’re going, have a plan and work it.
2. Be people-friendly.
   If you’ve taken anything from Paul’s story, it should be this.“You’ve got to put that smile on and be people friendly,” he says. “Treat people the way you’d want to be treated.”While this means chatting with people and maybe playing a game or two, it also means going out of your way to be helpful. This means opening doors, helping with luggage and groceries, and waiting for passengers to get inside the house before driving off.
3. Don’t take it personally.
   When you run into that inevitable unhappy passenger, don’t let it ruin it your day.“People have bad days, but it’s only one ride,” he says. “You’ve got to have thick skin. If you’re a real sensitive person, this isn’t the job for you.”

Check out Paul's PAX Game Show Season 3 Episode #26 below:

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPJGRMWBP2o[/embed]

Introducing: Shift Tracking

This week we’re releasing the ability to track your performance metrics across ALL your rideshare services.

So what does this mean?

Drivers will have the ability to track and analyze the following metrics:

• Total Miles Driven
• Total Earnings
• $/hour
• $/mile
• trips/hour
• $/shift
• $ to miles profit
• Tax savings

All in the Gridwise App.

Gridwise has been doing a great job helping drivers understand where and when they should drive, but one thing that always comes up when we talk to drivers is performance metrics.

Rideshare drivers told us that you want to know how much you’ve been driving and how well you’ve been driving.

Now you can track this.

Here’s how it works.

As a driver you now has a button that says “Go Online” at the very top of your screen in the Gridwise app. You can press that button and you’ll start a driving session.

Now, you’ll see a “Shift Active” bar.

Here you’ll get a real-time look into how far you’ve driven and how long you’ve driven for the day, the day before, and the entire week.

Turn your shift status to on every time you start driving so that your miles and time are automatically tracked.

After you’ve finished a shift, you’ll be prompted to input your driving statistics for your session.

And you’ll be able view your weekly and daily results in the analytics tab. This will include your total earnings, total number of rides given

You'll then receive a shift summary email with more detailed stats.

This feature is now live for ALL Gridwise users, so log in and start tracking your performance!

If you’ve been driving for rideshare services for a while, you probably know that Uber and Lyft are trying to incentivize you at every turn. Sign up bonuses, Quests, Boosts, Surges – these can be beneficial, or just plain distracting.

The trick is to know exactly how to use the promotions on all these apps to your advantage, and to weave them into the strategies you’ve already cultivated. And as you know, we've combined multiple studies and reviews to find out exactly which are the top promotions and top rideshare driving services.

So, if you don’t already know, here’s a quick intro to Uber’s Boost and Quest promotions.

How Boost works

The idea behind Boost is to guarantee drivers higher fares in certain locations at certain times. Essentially, it’s a way for Uber to get drivers where they’re most needed, and to “boost” your fare to make it worth it.

Unlike Surge, Boost isn’t dependent on an unexpected increase in rider demand. Instead, it’s a more predictable uptick, which means you can factor Boosts into your day in advance if you look in the promotions tab of your Uber app.

The app will tell you exactly when and where the Boost is going to happen, and exactly how much of increase you’ll see in fare price. But generally, the Boosts happen in expected areas and windows of time: Commuter hours in your city’s downtown district, for instance.

These higher fares increase in multiples, so 2x, 1.3x, etc. That means if you’d normally make $10 for a trip, and your Boost is 2x, you’d make $20. At 1.3x, you’d get $13.

The Boost applies to your fares as long as the rider requests within the Boost zone, and it applies to UberX and UberPOOL rides.

Also, Boost doesn’t cancel out Surge fares – if Surge pricing is ever higher than the Boost multiple, you’ll make the Surge amount.

How Quest works

Quest’s are Uber’s goal-setting promotions, which incentivize you to take a certain number of trips in a certain time period by dangling a bonus at the end of the stick.

An example might be, take 10 trips between 9pm and midnight on Friday and get an extra $20. Some are bigger, some are smaller. It all depends on the demand in your city, and likely your previous behaviors in the app – how many trips you’ve completed, when you’ve completed them, etc.

Unlike Boost, getting these bonuses is completely dependent upon completing the required number of trips within the designated time period. But there are some other requirements to factor in, too. The Rideshare Guy lists the following requirements:

• Completion rates: To get your bonus, you have to complete 25 percent of your accepted rides. This should be an easy one for a regular driver.

• Acceptance rates: You also have to accept at least 80 percent of the rides offered to you. This is where it can get tricky. If it’s busy and you’re getting pings from distant locations that you don’t want to accept, you could lose your Quest by denying them. On the other hand, you could up your driving time and cut down the total number of rides, jeopardizing the Quest from the other side.
• Types of trips: Quest generally applies to most types of trips, including UberX, UberPOOL, UberEATS and other location-specific trips.
• Excluded trips: Quest doesn’t apply to destination trips, rider cancellations or driver cancellations. So you can’t accept a trip then cancel it just to meet your quest.

Keep in mind that Quests are mostly offered in larger Uber markets, where the demand for rides is strong and rideshare companies are constantly competing for drivers’ services. If you’re in a smaller city, you might not get these offers.

Building your Quest strategy

When building your strategy, the first thing you want to ask yourself is, “Is this worth it?”

If you’re being offered $20 for 20 rides, is that amount of money really worth the extra effort? If it’s not, it never hurts to accept the quest anyway, but don’t overextend yourself or throw away your strategy to try and beat a quest.

If it is worth it, there are some tactics you can use to make sure you reach that goal.

1. Know where and when to drive.
   The key to unlocking those bonuses is knowing where and when to find shorter rides and frequent requests. Depending on the city, this is most likely in the downtown area, near universities, and near the bar and restaurant hotspots. Here are a few handy guides to the best places to drive in D.C. and Pittsburgh:
   • Pittsburgh Driving Strategy: Your Guide to Peak Driving Hours
   • D.C. Driving Strategy: Your Guide to Peak Rideshare Driving Hours
2. It goes without saying, too, that you have to hit these spots at the right time. If you’re going downtown, do it during commuter or lunch hours. Go to the university later at night and on the weekends when the students are going out to drink.Late night is always good if you’re in the right spot. If you’re looking for something other than the usual bar scene, check your Gridwise app to see where some events might be letting out soon.
3. Consider airport rides with caution.
   To reach a Quest goal, you probably want to avoid the airport. While those can be meaty fares, you don’t have that kind of time when you’re pushing up against a quest deadline.However, some cities – like D.C. – have centrally located airports (DCA). If you can do airport rides without losing out on the distance, it’s always a safe bet. Just remember to check the airport queue with Gridwise to maximize your time.

3. Don’t forget about UberPOOL and UberEATS.
   Using UberPOOL and EATS is a great way to up your ride count. You know as well as we do that POOL can be a headache, but because you can get up to three rides in as little as 10 minutes, it can really help nudge you towards a Quest goal.UberEATS can factor into your strategy, too. For one, EATS rides are generally pretty short, so when you accept one, you can be pretty sure you’re not getting way off track. Also, you can easily sandwich EATS between your commuter and late-night hours, so you minimize your downtime.

Building your Boost strategy

Taking advantage of Boost seems pretty straightforward. You see the zone with the highest fare increase, go to it, and wait for the requests to pour in.

Of course, it’s not so simple. As you know, there’s going to be more competition in a Boost zone, and that means all the rides could be snapped up before any of them reach you. So here’s how you can try to get around that.

1. Get a head start.
   Uber will alert you ahead of time to let you know the Boost zones and times for the entire week and weekend. Typically you’ll get an email Sunday night letting you know the Boosts for Monday through Thursday, and another email on Thursday detailing the Friday through Sunday Boosts.Also, they are typically pretty predictable: The boosts will be where the most people are going.So get there early. If you’re going for a morning rush hour Boost that starts at 7am, get there a few minute early to catch the first rides.
2. Check your positioning.
   You’ve probably had it happen before where you’re sitting in a Boost or Surge zone and you’re not getting any rides. What’s the deal?Turn on your rider app and check out the activity around you. On the map, you can see if you’re in a swarm of drivers. If there are more than two other cars around you, it’s going to take longer to get a ride.Even worse, if you’re in the middle of the swarm, the cars on the edges will get the requests first because they will likely be closer to the passenger. So remember to check your position and repark to optimize your location.
3. Know when it isn’t worth it.
   Permanent Boost zones can be more of a headache than a help sometimes. If you’re not having luck getting frequent rides in the zone, it can be best to go outside the limits and focus on ride quantity instead of fare – especially if you’re trying to complete a quest.

Use Boost and Quest together

Of course, the best way to optimize any promotion is to combine it with another. While Quest is a good way to consistently get bonuses, and Boost is harder to predict, pursuing both simultaneously can really help you pull in extra cash for doing the same amount of work.

However, there are risks with this method. Because Boost zones are so competitive and it’s harder to predict the distance you’re going to travel, you can lose out on the frequency required to get a Quest goal.

Additionally, if you are chasing a Quest and a Boost ride comes in that you don’t want to take because of the distance (i.e. to the airport), not accepting the ride can hurt your chances of getting your Quest bonus.

Clearly, it’s all a delicate balance. The key, then, is to stick to your strategy. If you’re going to go for a few Boost rides, make up that potential time lost by running a few UberEATS rides, or going for a POOL.

No matter your action plan, stick to what works for you, weave in the promotions and don’t be wooed by incentives that don’t fit your style.

Drivers in all markets can now see how many other rideshare drivers are in the airport queue for each sub-service.

Yep.

This means that before you decide to head to the airport you can check Gridwise and see if there are more than enough drivers at the airport to meet demand.

When we talk to drivers, we hear that airport passengers can be very profitable because rides are longer, which can increase the amount rideshare drivers make. But sometimes it’s just not worth it to wait at the airport for 90+ minutes for a ride.

Well, we decided to do something about it.

So now drivers can compare the number of drivers at the airport and decide if it’s a good time to be there.

For example:

We can see that there are anywhere from 31 – 40 Uber drivers and 21 – 30 Lyft drivers in the queue and the airport is currently peaking with 1,449 passengers arriving in the next 30 minutes.

There are not many drivers at the airport and plenty of passengers arriving, so I would jump in the short queue if I was nearby.

Sooo... how does Gridwise know the airport queue lengths?

Simply put… drivers tell us.

Drivers have the ability to enter their position in the queue using the “Queue Lengths” tab in the airport section of your Gridwise app. Drivers can enter their position in the queue even if they are not in the airport lot, and for any individual sub-services such as UberX and UberXL.

This lets your fellow drivers know how busy, or empty, the airport queue is.

It will always be our mission to improve the lives and rideshare experience for all Gridwisers and help every driver work better together. That’s why we’ve also given drivers the ability to see a list of every driver that has submitted a queue for the day.

This ensures that drivers know who is providing information, and allows a mechanism to report someone that is submitting false or misleading reports.

More than ever before, Gridwise helps drivers work better together. So download the Gridwise mobile app and start using the new Airport Queue Lengths feature today!