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As I write this article I am no less than a week past committing the cardinal sin of driving for a rideshare service.

Yes… I chased a surge.

Don't laugh at me! We've all been hypnotized by that beautiful dark shade of red. I also had just dropped off a 3x surge rider so I was feeling lucky. Like today was my day! So with a glimmer of hope and determination in my eye, I set off to go conquer another surge!

What a bad idea that was.

Not only did I miss the surge, but I wasted 30-minutes stuck in traffic all while a surge appeared from the EXACT area that I had just come from.

As rideshare drivers, we must face the fact that surges just are not worth it. So in today’s post, we’ll examine why chasing surges is a no-no for good rideshare drivers and 4 tactics you should use instead.

Let’s dive in!

What surge prices REALLY do

Uber and Lyft’s surge algorithms remain somewhat of a mystery, however, our friends over at Cornell have done a great job of decoding and explaining how Uber’s Surge pricing works… But let me explain this it to you in English.

Ideally, the number of drivers in a given area will be exactly equal to the number riders in a given area. So whenever there are more riders than drivers, rideshare services will launch a surge.

This doesn’t necessarily mean there are a ton of potential riders, there is just an imbalance. So the surge is simply meant to do one thing:

Redistribute drivers.

The problems with Surging

This model wouldn’t be so bad in a perfect world, however, two things happen that work against the rideshare driver.

1. Riders can easily game the system multiple ways
2. MANY more drivers than necessary will flock to a surge area.

Now let's pause for a quick question.

If I offered to give you a 50% discount on your steak dinner tonight if you wait ten minutes, would you do it?

Yep, you would in a heartbeat.

Riders are the exact same way. If they can just wait for 10-minutes for a cheap ride, they will wait out the surge. This means while you and 50 other drivers are headed to an area, riders will actually stop requesting rides.

“I’ve sat right in the middle of surges downtown for 15 - 20 minutes and never received a call,” says D.C. rideshare driver David. “I used to chase surges, wait there for 20 minutes and get nothing. I stopped making that mistake pretty quick.”

By simply waiting a few minutes and even checking other apps, riders can “game” the system and wait until Uber pulls all of us drivers to their area and subsequently drops prices. So while you’re chasing the big red zone, your riders are just waiting until it disappears before calling you.

You end up driving across town for a normal fare. Not great.

Riders are also becoming more aware of the predefined surge zones that rideshare services have created, which means they can simply walk a few blocks and be in a non-surging zone. It’s not uncommon to get pinged from just outside a surge zone while you are driving IN a surge zone. Again, not great.

What’s the impact of surges?

While income from surges can add a nice boost to your daily payouts, it certainly won’t make up the bulk of your earnings. In fact, a 2017 report from RideSharingDriver indicated that less than 10% of uber driver earnings came as a result of incremental income from surges.

Given these numbers, if you’re a part time driver averaging $1,500 per month driving Uber or Lyft, you can expect surge charges to make up less than $150 of your monthly pay.

Not. Great.

Find demand, don’t chase surges

With only a small piece of our earnings coming from surges, not to mention the fact that Uber is constantly considering doing away with surges, drivers need to be maximizing earnings by minimizing ideal time and maximizing their chances for long rides. So how do you do it?

1. Brave the bars
2. Wake up for the morning rush
3. Know about big events
4. Get out in the rain

Brave the bars

The late night bar crowd on Thursday’s, Friday’s, and Wednesday’s can be a gold mine for the driver willing to deal with a more “exuberant” crowd. From about 9:00 - 11:00 you can find riders that are headed to the bars from the more docile parts of the city. Then from 1:30 - 3:00 you can catch riders in popular going out area’s who will need a designated driver to get them back home. These areas will almost always have big increases in demand which turn into predictable and sustainable surges.

You’ll have to deal with riders that may have had too much to drink so come prepared with a barf bag and a few cleaning supplies to ensure that you can get back on the road quickly. Puke related accidents don’t always happen though.

“I’ve completed more than 3000 rides over the past 4 years for Uber and Lyft and have never had someone vomit in my ride.” says one of our Gridwisers Jeff. “I could just be lucky, but people for the most part just fall asleep”

Wake up for the morning rush

If you’re not a night owl then you better be an early bird if you want to maximize your earnings from ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft. Demand during the early morning hours from 6:00 - 10:00 is very high in most cities because of the high volume of commuters either going to work, going to the airport, or leaving the airport.

Depending on your city, you can find workers either coming from the suburbs or more residential parts of the city into the downtown areas.

Mornings are also a great time to catch business travelers going to and coming from airports. You can use your Gridwise app to know when flights are coming in and catch a big fare at the airport. Or hang near hotels and find a traveler catching their early flight.

Know about big events

If you want to predict rider demand look no further than your local sporting, concert, and theatre venues. When they are having some of their bigger events, hundreds to thousands of people will be looking for rides to their next destination after the event is over.

You can spend an hour so looking through multiple websites for events or you can check use Gridwise to see a listing of events in your area.

[su_note note_color="#fefedf"]Free Bonus: Know what events are going on in your city in seconds using theFREE Gridwise app.[/su_note]

Get out in the rain

Many drivers have a love/hate relationship with the rain. While it can be a pain to drive in a downpour, there is almost always a significant amount of demand during a rainstorm because riders who may have otherwise taken a long walk to their destination will decide to take a ride, while some drivers will decide it’s not worth it to try and drive.

As a driver, you’ll need to take precautions to ensure that you are driving safely and deal with a bit of extra traffic, but you’ll likely be rewarded with a nice surge fair.

Incorporating demand PREDICTION into your strategy

There is no single strategy that works for all drivers because with every driver comes a unique circumstance. While you may not be able to incorporate all of the above tactics in your strategy, you can use them as inspiration.

If you are a suburban driver that goes into the city, do your best to catch a ride from the airport into the city in the morning, or possibly a commuter making their way to their downtown office. Alternatively, if you are a single dad in the city and can't drive during the mornings, find events that in the evenings and get out there on Friday and Saturday nights.

Every city is different and every driver is different, so what's different about your strategy? We want to know!

Sound off in the comments below

I found out the hard way that the time of day that you’re driving for rideshare services like Uber and Lyft can be the difference between making $30 per hour, and heading home having made $40 from a 5-hour shift. I want to make sure that none of my fellow DC rideshare drivers go through the agony (yes agony) of an unprofitable driving session, so I’ve listed out the best times to drive rideshare in DC.

Weekdays (Monday - Wednesday)

The morning rush (6 am - 10 am)

The D.C. metro system is possibly the cleanest mass transit system in America, and those sparkling benches come in handy when the infamous Red Line has been delayed 30 minutes.Again.Because of how unreliable, and expensive, the DC metro is, commuters often turn to rideshare partners to provide transportation to work. There are tons of riders who regularly ride Uber or Lyft to get to work, however, there are many riders that rely on rideshare services when their train has been delayed.Follow twitter accounts like @wmata, @Metrorailinfo, and my personal favorite @unsuckdcmetro for key alerts about metro service. When you see tweets like these:

 Go ahead and gravitate toward those areas.Many commuters from places like Silver Spring, Bethesda, and the Virginia Suburbs are going to be looking for rides into the downtown area. If you live in these areas, it is worth it to stick around and try to find a ride into the city. Otherwise, your best bet is to stay in areas of the city like DuPont Circle, Adams Morgan, and Georgetown to find students and workers getting to work.Monday’s and Tuesday’s are also busy days for business travelers, so use your Gridwise app to identify the best times to hit which airports to maximize your earnings.

The afternoon rush hour (3-6)

The afternoon rush hour is similar to the morning rush hour because the bulk of the rider demand stems from riders who are leaving work. The great thing about this rush hour is that these commuters tend to be more centrally located in areas like McPherson, NoMa, and Downtown, so if you hang near those areas you’re likely to find a rider trying to get home.Always be on the lookout for weather alerts as bad weather almost always causes train delays and many riders will forgo even attempting to ride the Metro in the rain.

[su_note note_color="#fefedf"]Free Bonus: To get instant weather and traffic alerts tailored to D.C. rideshare drivers download the FREE Gridwise app here.[/su_note]

Late night (10 - 3)

The late night hours early in the week rarely end up having much rider demand. That doesn’t mean you should completely give up on this block of time. You’ll just need to be strategic! Check your Gridwise app for events going on around town. The Kennedy Center, Verizon Center, and Lincoln Theater will all regularly have significant sized events that you should keep an eye on.  

Also, be sure to check the airport schedule. Business travelers often come in on Monday nights and will need rides from the airport to their hotels.

Weekends (Thursday - Saturday)

The morning rush (6 am - 10 am)

Expect the morning rush hours to be just as lucrative on Thursday and Friday in DC as they are Monday - Wednesday as these are still peak hours for Lyft and Uber demand. You can also look for business travelers to be heading home from some of the downtown hotels Friday morning, so check the airport departure schedules. 

 Rider demand on Saturday mornings is usually very low unless you’re taking advantage of an event. Otherwise, sleep in and prepare for the late night rush.

The afternoon rush hour (3-6)

Tourists are plentiful on Saturday’s in D.C., especially around the downtown area where many hotels are and near the monuments. These locations can be your bread and butter on most Saturday afternoons, but watch your alerts for any parades that are going on. You don’t want to get stuck trying to cross parade traffic.Also be mindful of Nationals Park near Navy Yard. Saturday games have the potential for 100’s of rides.

Late night (10 - 3)

For the weekend driver, late night rides are where you will make the bulk of your money. D.C. is full of young transplants and students that flock to places like Adams Morgan, DuPont Circle, and H Street to hit the bar and club scenes.Students coming from Georgetown and Foggy Bottom will make up a large bulk of your rides, so when school is in session hang near those neighborhoods early in the night around 9:00 o’clock and catch a ride into the more popular bar neighborhoods.From there, you’ll likely be able to give bar goers rides as they cross town going from bar to bar or party to party.The Verizon center while often have Saturday night events as well, however, keep an eye on your Gridwise app to monitor traffic. You don’t want to get stuck in gridlock traffic picking up a ride at the Verizon center when there are plenty of rides in other parts of town.

Sunday

The morning rush (6 am - 10 am)

While Saturday night is usually a frenzy of activity, Sunday morning is going to be downright boring for Uber drivers on most days. You may find a few folks heading back from clubs, parties, or bars but for the most part, you’ll see a heavy drop in rider demand.Take this time to sleep in!

The afternoon rush hour (1-6)

There is a mini afternoon rush hour caused by one of D.C.’s most popular pastimes.Brunch!Local’s will frequent the common bar areas to find the best bottomless mimosa deals, which means they’ll be looking for safe rides to and from restaurants. You won’t see the same amount of activity as a Saturday night unless there is a big event going on, but if you stick to popular areas like DuPont Circle you won’t have a problem finding a rider.

Late night (10 - 3)

Sunday nights in D.C. are relatively slow. You’ll find that business travelers often come into or leave out of the city on Sunday evenings, so check your flight schedules using the Gridwise app. Gravitating toward the downtown area where popular business hotels are located will commonly yield you a ride to one of D.C.’s airports. With any luck, you’ll arrive at a peak airport time and can catch a ride back into the city. Also, check for events going on at the Kennedy Center and local theaters. Always plan before you drive! There are a few times where you can count on a ton of rider demand as long as you drive in popular areas. During slower hours it’s important to be strategic and have a plan before you get out on the road. Use apps like Gridwise to help you understand what’s going on in your city and develop a solid driving plan in just a few minutes. Now, what’s your favorite time to drive in D.C.? Share in the comments below!

At Gridwise, our mission is to increase performance, efficiency, and earnings for all ride-hailing drivers by empowering the drivers of today and the future. To accomplish this mission, the Gridwise app provides a service-agnostic solution for drivers of any rideshare service.

Additionally, we want to equip drivers with knowledge so that they can make informed decisions-- which leads to greater earnings. Therefore, this article will provide you with the qualifications needed to drive for various TNC’s so that you can make the best decision when it comes to choosing a rideshare service to drive for. Specifically, we will be discussing the top 6 rideshare services that the majority of drivers are using: Uber, Lyft, Via, Gett, Curb, and zTrip.

Uber

As the most popular and widespread rideshare service, Uber has set forth an extensive list of requirements if you wish to start driving for them. However, the qualifications needed to drive for Uber may not be difficult for most people to attain.

First, let’s start with the driver requirements. To drive for Uber you must be at least 21 years of age and have 3 years of driving experience in the US, or you can be 23 years of age or older with 1 or more years of US driving experience. An Uber driver must have an in-state driver’s license, in-state personal auto insurance with your name listed on the insurance card.

Another qualification needed to drive for Uber is to pass a name-based background check, which requires a clean driving record and a Social Security number in order to process it. The background check is processed by a company called Checkr and looks over your driving record over the past 7 years for:

• No DUI or drug related offenses
• No history of reckless driving
• No fatal accidents
• No criminal record

Moving on to the vehicle requirements, in order to drive for Uber your car must be registered in-state, however, it does not need to be in your name. Whether your car is owned or leased, it must meet the following UberX vehicle requirements:

• 4-door sedan with a total of five seatbelts
• Year 2001 or newer in most cities
• In-state license plates
• No marked, taxi, or salvaged vehicles
• Pass the Uber vehicle inspection
• Up to date registration

Lyft

The qualifications needed to drive for Lyft are fairly similar to Uber. Drivers must be 21 years of age at the time of application with a valid in-state driver’s license and at least one year of driving experience.

Similar to Uber, driver applicants must have a clean driving record and complete a background check. However, Lyft is not as strict as Uber when they say “clean” driving record. Here is what you can/can’t have on your driving record in order to qualify for Lyft:

• No more than 3 moving violations in the last 3 years (seatbelts, traffic lights, fender benders).
• No major violations in the last three years (Driving on a suspended license, driving recklessly).
• No DUI’s or drug related violations in the last 7 years.
• No extreme infractions within the last 7 years (hit and run, felonies involving a vehicle).

Lyft uses a different company than Uber to process applicants’ background checks called SterlingBackcheck. The check is pretty thorough and ensures the applicants have not been convicted of any of the following within the past 7 years: felonies, violent crimes, sexual offenses, theft, property damage, and drug related offenses. Additionally, Lyft also does not allow anyone who is registered on the National Sex Offender Registry and DOJ 50-State Sex Offender Registry at the time that their background check is conducted, regardless of how long ago the individual was put on that registry.

As for the vehicle qualifications needed to drive for Lyft, they are surprisingly more stringent than Uber.

• Model: 2005 or newer (in most markets)
• Four doors: all four need to be able to open and close from the interior and the exterior, and passengers need to be able to unlock and lock their own doors
• All lights (i.e. turn signals, high beams, etc.) must work
• A/C and heat must work
• All car windows must roll up and down fully
• No cracks in windshield, windows, or mirrors with the exception of minor damage as long as it does not obstruct driver’s field of vision
• Working horn
• Tire tread depth must pass the penny test
• 5 functioning seat-belts

In addition to the standard driver and vehicle requirements, both Uber and Lyft have pretty strict requirements on their drivers’ ratings, according to The Rideshare Guy. In order to remain active on either platform, drivers must keep their rating above 4.6 (on a scale of 1 to 5). The difference between the two companies is how they calculate the ratings. With Lyft, only your last 100 rides count towards your rating and older ratings are dismissed. On the other hand, Uber takes into account your last 500 rides, which can make it difficult to redeem yourself if you get a low rating.

Via

The Via rideshare service is actually about passengers sharing rides. Currently, Via is only in New York, Chicago, and Washington DC. Via requires their drivers’ vehicles to be 2010 model year or newer, have leather or fabric seats, and to be approved for the Via System.

There is also a list of approved vehicles on the Via website. However, keep in mind that it is not a comprehensive list. If you own a vehicle which is not on this list, and you’re still interested in driving for Via, you can contact Via Customer Service to determine if your car is eligible.

Other qualifications needed to drive for Via are split between vehicles with livery plates and vehicles with private plates. For vehicles with livery plates, Via requires DMV registration, PPVL (front and back), and vehicle insurance. For vehicles with private plates, Via requires DMV registration, a valid insurance card, completion of a vehicle inspection form, and photos of the vehicle (rear exterior and interior).

Gett

With the promise of up to 25% higher pay than Uber, Gett can be an appealing rideshare option for drivers in NYC. Gett is a global network that serves over 100 cities across four countries, however, New York City is the only location for this service in the US.

When it comes to qualifications needed to drive for Gett, along with standard driver requirements, you must have a higher level of driving expertise to be considered as a Gett driver. However, with a higher level of expertise comes a higher paycheck: sedans get $0.70/min net plus tip where SUV’s get about $0.85/min, plus there are generous referral bonuses. Overall, the money drivers can make with Gett can be significantly higher than with driving for Uber or Lyft.

According to Gett, vehicles must be at least 2011 or newer and it must be black, dark blue, grey, silver or white. It should also be registered with the NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission.

Curb

The Curb app is available in 65 US cities and focuses on their speed of service by claiming that a ride can be requested in seconds and a driver will arrive in minutes. Besides using quick, convenient service to their advantage the company also homes in on safety by only working with professional taxi drivers. Every time you ride with Curb you’ll ride with a fully licensed, insured driver without any exceptions.

Curb is the solution for the ever-growing popularity of rideshare services that have seemingly taken over the traditional taxi. The company employs over 100,000 drivers.

So what are the qualifications needed to drive for Curb? As stated above, Curb only hires professional drivers with a valid license to drive a for-hire vehicle (taxi, sedan, or other). Besides that, the requirements are pretty standard: the driver must have a valid government ID and receive approval from the Curb Team.

zTrip

The zTrip app allows drivers to choose between a black car or taxi, customize their pickup options, and pay up-front. zTrip is available in over 30 cities and services over 70 airports. Drivers are given two options for vehicles: they can choose the Yellow Z service, which allows them to use their own car, or they can lease a zTrip car to prevent wear and tear on their personal vehicles.

The zTrip driver application will ask you the following questions:

• Are you over 23 years old?
• Are you a citizen or permanent resident authorized to work in the US?
• What is your name, address, and phone number?
• Which city would you like to drive in?
• Have you been convicted of a felony?

After reading the requirements for these 6 rideshare services, which one do you think sounds the most appealing as a driver? Leave us your thoughts in the comment section below!

Ride-hailing has traditionally been a tipping industry. When you took a ride in a taxi you were expected to tip your driver. Then, Uber stepped into the game and put an end to this expectation. From the very beginning, Uber promoted itself for offering a cashless experience to riders. All payments could be completed through the app, yet the app failed to include a way for riders to tip their driver. The company claimed that tips were already calculated and added to the driver’s fare (although most drivers would argue that this was not the case).

At first, this helped Uber gain traction over cabs. Riders liked that cash tipping was not part of the equation. Even though riders were pleased, quite the opposite was true for Uber drivers. Especially when rivals such as Lyft released an in-app tipping feature, which started to win over frustrated Uber drivers. In order to stay on top of the game, Uber announced that they would finally be adding a tipping feature to their app.

According to The Verge, the Uber tipping feature will debut in three cities (Seattle, Minneapolis, and Houston) and will be extended to the rest of Uber's American service areas by the end of July. The Uber tipping feature gives passengers the opportunity to tip their driver after a ride with either a pre-determined amount of $1, $3, or $5, or they can choose to enter a custom amount.

Since Uber has trained customers for almost a decade that tipping is optional and maybe not even necessary, what can you do to start bringing in those tips and increasing your earnings? The new Uber tipping feature opens up the door for all rideshare drivers to start thinking about ways to increase tip earnings. To get you started, we have gathered some of the secrets we’ve learned from drivers and experts on how you can start increasing your tip earnings regardless of which TNC you drive for.

1. Change your mindset

By clicking on this post, we know that you’re interested in how to increase your tip earnings so that you can maximize your income as a rideshare driver. A simple way to accomplish this is by changing your mindset, meaning instead of thinking about driving as a job start thinking about it as a business.

HyreCar suggests that the question to ask yourself should not be “How do I make more money,” it should be “How do I run a better business?” By changing your mindset, you’ll start considering and planning for how you can make money come in longer, more often, and in bigger numbers. The ideas below will go further into detail on how you can start running a better business and how you can set yourself apart from your competitors.

2. Anticipate your passenger’s needs

Whether your passengers are tipping through an app or handing you cash, you may notice that you’re often only receiving a few bucks, if that. According to Psychology Today, customers only tip the minimum because they feel obligated by social norms. However, customers will tip more if they like the people who serve them.

It goes without saying that your passengers will be more inclined to like you (and tip you) if you always remain friendly and courteous. Smile, introduce yourself by name, and exchange the typical pleasantries when your passenger enters the car. However, be sure to look for cues that might suggest he or she may need some quiet time during the ride. On the other hand, if your conversation begins to flow easily, stay engaged in conversation with your passenger. Understanding the level of interaction that your passenger needs is important so that you don’t offend or bother them, which could deter them from leaving a tip.

Another way you can anticipate your passenger’s needs is by creating a comfortable environment. In fact, Psychology Today says that “the key to receiving higher tips is to create an environment that predisposes customers to be more generous.” A comfortable environment starts with keeping your vehicle clean and organized. Offer water bottles and snacks. Plus, you can almost guarantee that an airport passenger who has just spent the whole day travelling is going to love you if they find an extra phone charger in your car. It’s the small details that encourage your customers’ delight and increase your tip earnings.

3. Add a sign

Even with the new Uber tipping feature and other in-app tipping features, adding a sign asking for tips can help to increase your tip earnings. The Rideshare Guy explained that many drivers are a little bit shy about using a tip sign because they fear that it will affect their ratings. However, many experienced drivers that have added tip signs say that it has not negatively impacted their rating. Of course, you should always make sure your sign politely solicits tips. Remind customers that tips are not required, but they are always appreciated.

Keep in mind, though, that if you’re going to ask for tips, you should provide a level of service or amenities that other drivers aren’t. As mentioned above, this improves your likeability and will help you stand out from the pack.

4. Don’t act entitled

Even though the new Uber tipping feature gives riders the opportunity to tip their driver, it doesn’t mean that tips are required. If your passenger starts talking to you about tips, The Rideshare Guy reminds drivers that it’s important not to seemed entitled to receiving a tip. Once again, if your goal is to increase your tip earnings, you have to offer value to your passengers. Going above and beyond your passenger’s expectation of just getting from point A to point B will increase your likelihood of receiving a nice tip.

In conclusion

With the announcement of the Uber tipping feature on everyone’s mind, it’s more important than ever for drivers to implement new ways to start bringing in tips. As always, our goal at Gridwise is to help increase your performance on the road by providing recommendations like these as well as all of the resources and features in our app. Download the app now to see everything it can offer you as a rideshare driver!

If you are considering a career as a rideshare driver in Washington DC, knowing how much the various TNCs pay drivers in DC can be helpful. Of course, your actual salary depends largely on how many hours you put in behind the wheel. But if you would like to estimate your salary based on the number of hours you can commit to driving, this article will give you an overview of how much TNCs pay drivers in DC.

Uber

Fortunately, Uber posts on their website driver salary projections for various cities, including Washington DC, and updates the numbers frequently.

As an Uber driver, when someone takes a ride with you they are charged a fare plus a “Rider Fee”. The fare for UberX in Washington DC is currently $0.17 per minute plus $1.02 per mile. On top of that, there is a $1.15 base fare plus a $1.55 booking fee. Thus, according to Uber the average Washington trip pay out for an UberX driver is $13.73. Since Uber drivers on average make about 2 rides per hour, the hourly earnings for an UberX driver equates to approximately $27.46.

Assuming an average Uber driver commits to work about 30 hours per week, the overall per-week earnings would be $824 — making annual salary for Washington UberX drivers equal to $42,838.

However, this estimation does not include if you drive during a time when “surge pricing” is available. Surge pricing means Uber increases the fare prices during certain times of higher demand, making these hours more attractive for drivers. If you drive during surge pricing, then the entire fare is multiplied by that number.

Uber often advertises that they only charge a 25% commission of the fares. According to The Rideshare Guy, however, these figures ignore the “Booking Fee” that the company adds on top of each ride, which goes solely to the TNC. The booking fee amount varies from city to city. The resulting effects of this fee and the 25% commission mean that when passengers step outside of their Uber and only see a $5 charge, the driver will receive around half of that.

Lyft

Similar to Uber, there are advertisements about Lyft taking only 25% commission, but once again this company does not include the “Trust and Service Fee” which they take for each trip.

According to Lyft, driver pay includes time spent waiting, starting one minute after you’ve confirmed your arrival. The ride fare includes base fare, cost per mile, and cost per minute. In Washington DC, the base fare is $1.15, the cost per mile is $1.02, and the cost per minute is $0.17.

Alvia.com shares methodology for calculating the earnings of a Lyft driver in Washington DC based on the following:

An average trip for a Lyft driver pays out approximately $11.26 in the Washington D.C. area, and Lyft drivers are able to complete about two full trips per hour (i.e., a total of $22.52). Since an average Lyft driver works about 30 hours per week, the total per-week earnings are $675.60 per week — making a year’s salary for a driver $35,131.20.

Additionally, at times of high demand your fare may be subject to a ‘Prime Time’ multiplier to keep vehicles available. The multiplier, if any, will be communicated to you at the time of your ride request.

Via

Even though Via is the new rideshare app on the block, it turns out this TNC pays drivers considerably more than both Uber and Lyft. As mentioned above, both Uber and Lyft take a 25% commission from their drivers. Whereas Via takes only a 10% commission from drivers in DC.

The Rideshare Guy reports that Via will pay per trip in a similar manner to other rideshare companies, with rate cards similar to Uber or Lyft. Via has also recently announced Rocket Rates, which are equivalent to surge pricing with Uber and prime-time pricing with Lyft. The Via website explains that during high demand hours, fares will be multiplied by the “Rocket Rate” that will be announced to drivers through text message. Multipliers have been in the range of 1.3 to 2.5 times the fare, which can make trips more profitable. However, one Via driver shares that the rocket rates only operate during Flex mode hours, which fall between midnight and 6am.

At all other hours, Via has an undisclosed, guaranteed hourly rate for drivers that fluctuates throughout the day. For example, during peak hours (i.e., from 7-9am and 5-8pm) Via offers $30/hour while online. This means that drivers can be paid regardless of how many passengers they pick up. The rate also varies based on the type of car you drive. It has been reported that luxury SUV driver earnings start at $1,800 per week and those who drive a sedan can make $1,200 per week.

One key difference, though, is that Via will automatically apply a pay boost to rides that are “matched” with other riders. This incentivizes drivers to get matching rides in order to increase their earnings. The premium ranges between 5% and 20% depending on what city you drive in or how many matches you get.

Curb

Curb only employs professional drivers for their service, which can be hailed through the Curb app. The Ride Guru explains that since Curb drivers are traditional taxi drivers their payout is based on the standard average taxi cab driver payout. However, the Curb app does take $2 from each payout for using the app.

To estimate how much this TNC pays drivers in DC we can look at salary reports for the average DC taxi driver. According to Salary.com, the annual base salary for taxi drivers in DC is $36,547. Therefore, it can be projected that Curb pays drivers in DC approximately the same minus the $2 Curb fee. Unlike other rideshare services, though, cabs have traditionally been a tipping industry, so receiving a tip is more common through this service than all of the others.

As a rideshare driver, what do you think about how TNCs pay drivers in DC? Leave us your thoughts in a comment below!

According to The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, a survey of rideshare drivers in 20 cities across the United States found that drivers in Pittsburgh are roughly in the middle of the pack when it comes to how much they earn per trip. So what can you do to start being a more profitable rideshare driver? Whether you’re a casual rideshare driver or consider it your full-time career, below we have 4 ways that drivers in Pittsburgh can increase their earnings.

1. Know the Pittsburgh hotspots

If you want to increase your earnings (which we all do) you’ll have to know the times and locations for the Pittsburgh hotspots. So what exactly is a “hotspot”? Hotspots are geographic areas which experience extremely high passenger demand at certain times of the week. Below are some of the top Pittsburgh hotspots that rideshare drivers should become familiar with.

Southside

Take one look at East Carson Street on a Friday or Saturday night and you’ll understand why Southside is definitely a Pittsburgh hotspot. With 3 major colleges all within close proximity to the Southside along with the slew of bars and restaurants on East Carson Street, this location is definitely one to become familiar with as a rideshare driver, especially on weekend nights.

Shadyside

The primary riders in this centrally located neighborhood are the college students and young professionals that inhabit the area. In contrast to Southside, however, there’s a greater likelihood of getting ride requests during the week from commuters.

North Shore

Located in downtown Pittsburgh along the Allegheny and Ohio Rivers, the North Shore is most famous for its iconic sports venues: Heinz Field and PNC Park. This hotspot is a must for rideshare drivers who want to take advantage of potential surge pricing after Steelers games at Heinz Field and Pirates games at PNC Park.

2. Drive for more than one TNC

If you’re currently driving for one TNC and enjoy the income, you may want to consider how driving for a second company can increase your earnings. Driving for two different services at the same time opens you up to getting more requests and diversifies your income stream. Ultimately, this will lead to more money in your pocket. TNCs in the Pittsburgh area include Uber, Lyft, zTrip, and Cabby Go.

Another way that working for more than one TNC can help drivers in Pittsburgh increase their earnings is through the sign-up bonuses that different companies offer. According to Rideshare Connection, the current sign-up bonuses for drivers in Pittsburgh are $300 for Uber and $100 for Lyft. While Lyft publishes sign-up bonuses on their website, Uber does not. Blogs and websites like Rideshare Connection use feedback from readers and partners to create their list of offers, but you can always contact the TNC directly to verify the current bonus offer for the Pittsburgh area.

3. Always plan ahead

When it comes to rideshare driving amongst all of the one-way streets and hundreds of bridges that make up the City of Pittsburgh, planning ahead is necessary to use your time most efficiently and increase your earning potential.

Even though rush hour downtown and late weekend nights in the South Side may seem like the best places to be in order to take advantage of the surge, driving during these busy times without a plan will get you nowhere fast. In fact, experienced rideshare drivers often recommend to avoid chasing the surge. While it may seem tempting, many veterans say it rarely pays off. Aimlessly chasing the surge is not only a waste of time, but also a waste of gas along with the addition of wear and tear to your vehicle.

A better course of action is to plan your days ahead of time so you can be in the hotspot areas just before the surge begins. Driving efficiently during these peak times is a great way for drivers in Pittsburgh to increase their earnings because they are able to take advantage of surge pricing.

4. Use the Gridwise app to drive more efficiently

Gridwise is a service-agnostic platform created to increase rideshare drivers’ performance, thus resulting in increased earnings. No matter which rideshare service you drive for, the Gridwise app provides you with features that enable you to drive more efficiently.

For example, the Gridwise mobile app offers a Airport Demand Data feature that can be used to gauge driver demand at the Pittsburgh International Airport.

Additionally, the Gridwise app provides a 7-day outlook on events and end time updates from the major events. You’ll be updated if the Steelers head into overtime and you’ll know exactly when the Katy Perry concert ends at PPG Arena. This way you won’t have to waste time waiting outside these venues, estimating when events will end.

Don’t just take our word for it, though - download the Gridwise app now to see all the features and resources you’ll have available right at your fingertips!

In September of 2016, the City of Pittsburgh became the host for Uber’s latest endeavor: self-driving cars. At this time, Bill Peduto, the Mayor of Pittsburgh, demonstrated enthusiasm for the experiment by saying, “You can either put up red tape or roll out the red carpet. If you want to be a 21st-century laboratory for technology, you put out the carpet.” (New York Times) It was seen as an opportunity to transform their urban transportation system as well as boost the city’s reputation as a tech economy.

Just nine months later, however, Mayor Peduto along with the residents of Pittsburgh have quite a different outlook on Uber’s presence in their city. Are the self-driving cars in Pittsburgh not performing adequately? What is the future of autonomous vehicles in Pittsburgh? Read on to find out the answers to these questions and more that surround the presence of self-driving cars in Pittsburgh.

Uber’s self-driving cars in Pittsburgh

The tension between Uber and the city of Pittsburgh is based on a clash of private-versus-public interests, rather than problems with self-driving cars themselves. In fact, during the time Uber’s self-driving cars navigated the narrow roads, steep hills, and hundreds of bridges of Pittsburgh there were no major accidents.

Of note, while these cars do drive autonomously, they still require two Uber drivers to be present in the vehicle. One is prepared to grab the wheel and apply a foot to the brake pedal if necessary. The person in the passenger seat monitors a computer screen that shows the view from the car’s rooftop LIDAR, a laser-bouncing radar. (NPR)

It turns out that having the Uber drivers present in the self-driving cars was a necessity. Earlier in 2017, Recode reported that Uber’s self-driving cars only drove an average of close to 0.8 miles before the safety driver had to take over for one reason or another.

While Uber’s self-driving cars are not fully autonomous yet, they are using information learned from these trials through the streets of Pittsburgh to make improvements. However, Mayor Peduto has said that he does not think that Uber is sharing what it’s learning, which is just one factor contributing to the controversy between Uber and the City of Pittsburgh.

In addition to the insufficient data from Uber, The New York Times reports that the company has not lived up to its end of the bargain with Pittsburgh based on the following perceived infringements:

• Uber began charging for driverless rides that were initially pitched as free
• The company withdrew support from Pittsburgh’s application for a $50 million federal grant to revamp transportation
• Uber has not created the jobs it proposed in a struggling Pittsburgh neighborhood that houses its autonomous car testing track

Linda Bailey, the executive director of the National Association of City Transportation Officials, states that Uber “is a business, and they want to make money. With Pittsburgh, we learned we need to present the city’s needs upfront.” (New York Times)

What is the future of autonomous vehicles?

Of course, while Uber is one of the top rideshare services that drivers are using, it isn’t the only company pursuing the development of self-driving cars. Apple, Google, Lyft, Tesla, Ford, GM, Toyota, and Chevrolet are some of the big names pursuing this new technology, along with many other companies across the globe.

While major strides have been made in the development of self-driving cars, the predictions for vehicles that are fully autonomous is pretty far off. For example, Tesla estimates that its autonomous vehicles will reach the market around 2023, and Uber doesn’t expect its self-driving cars until at least 2030.

In regards to the future of self-driving cars in Pittsburgh, Mayor Peduto states that he is now talking to Ford about signing commitments on data sharing and workforce development. (The NY Times) Ford is investing $1 billion in a Pittsburgh-based driverless technology company, Argo AI.

Raj Rajkumar, a Carnegie Mellon electrical and computer engineering professor, says that a world where such cars are the norm is a long way off. "It turns out that driving is a very complex activity. In fact, it may be the most complex activity that most adults on the planet engage in," Rajkumar explains. (NPR) Plus, when you add in local driving quirks, such as The Pittsburgh Left, driving can become even more complicated. Overall, the technology and engineering that go into developing these vehicles is impressive, but seeing autonomous vehicles take over the road is not in the foreseeable future.

Have you seen Uber’s self-driving cars in Pittsburgh? What are your thoughts on the future of autonomous vehicles in the rideshare industry? Leave us a comment below!

Did you know that Washington DC was named the best city in the country for rideshare drivers? An article from The Washington Post describes a study which examined factors like the number of rich young people in a city and the population’s reliance on public transit to determine the places most ripe for rideshare drivers, with Washington DC coming out on top.

Albeit, these results were from 2015, but with the hundreds of thousands of drivers and millions of users across the US, it is safe to say that this new industry is still exploding. So as a DC rideshare driver, how can you stay ahead of the competition and increase your earnings?

1. Drive for more than one TNC

The primary TNCs that currently have a presence in the District include Uber, Lyft, Via, and Curb. If you already drive for one of these companies and enjoy the income, you may want to consider signing up for another company as well. Driving for two different services at the same time opens you up to getting more requests and diversifies your income stream. Ultimately, this will lead to more money in your pocket.

If the increased earning potential from driving for more than one rideshare service sounds enticing, you may want to also keep in mind the sign-up bonuses that different companies offer. According to Rideshare Connection, the current sign-up bonuses for drivers in Washington DC are $300 for Uber and $200 for Lyft. While Lyft publishes sign-up bonuses on their website, Uber does not. Blogs and websites like Rideshare Connection use feedback from readers and partners to create their list of offers, but you can always contact the TNC directly to verify the current bonus offer for the DC area.

2. Know the DC hotspots

If you want to increase your earnings (which we all do) you’ll have to know the times and locations for the DC hotspots. So what exactly is a “hotspot”? Hotspots are geographic areas which experience extremely high passenger demand at certain times of the week.

In Washington DC, the local hotspots currently include the following areas:

• Georgetown - The primary riders in this historic neighborhood are the young professionals that inhabit the area as well as tourists who are interested in getting a ride to destinations such as Tudor Palace and the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal.
• Arlington - The metro access and lower prices for rent draw a younger crowd to this area, so you can expect your typical drive to head to and from U Street as well as commuter trips.
• Bethesda and Silver Spring - These two suburban cities that surround the capital are popular for those that want the city life but not the city hassles. You can expect passengers to be either commuters or those who want to be a part of DC nightlife.
• Southern Maryland & Northern Virginia Suburbs - Most commonly passengers from these two areas will need a ride to or from the airport. However, more and more commuters are originating from these areas due to the population increase in the DC metro area.

3. Always plan ahead

When it comes to rideshare driving, making a plan before you start driving is necessary to use your time most efficiently and increase your earning potential.

Even though rush hour in downtown and weekend late nights on 14th St. may seem like the best places to be in order to take advantage of the surge, driving during these busy times without a plan will get you nowhere fast.

In fact, experienced rideshare drivers recommend to newbies to never chase the surge. While it may be tempting, many veterans say it rarely pays off. Aimlessly chasing the surge is not only a waste of time, but also a waste of gas along with the addition of wear and tear to your vehicle.

A better course of action is to plan your days ahead of time so you can be in the hotspot areas just before the surge begins. Driving during these peak times increases your earnings per trip compared to what you would receive without the surges.

4. Use the Gridwise app to drive more efficiently

Gridwise is a service-agnostic platform created to increase rideshare drivers’ performance, thus resulting in increased earnings. No matter which rideshare service you drive for, the Gridwise app provides you with features that enable you to drive more efficiently.

For example, the Gridwise mobile app offers an Airport Demand Data feature that can be used to gauge driver demand at the three major airports in the DC area. Additionally, the Gridwise app provides a 7-day outlook on events. The end time updates from the major events, like when the Redskins go into overtime with the Bengals or when Kanye West is going to end at the Verizon Center, will help you be in the right place at the right time.

Don’t just take our word for it, though - download the Gridwise app now to see all the features and resources you’ll have available right at your fingertips!