I am a DC uberX driver since 2013 and have SEEN IT ALL...so please, AMA
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Anonymous
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Apparently, some folks are curious about what it's like to be an uber driver. I am a founding driver on both Lyft and uberX and have been active since August 2013. I have a lifetime rating of 4.91 on uberX and 4.9 on Lyft and have given thousands of rides on each platform (with a few hundred on Sidecar too before they folded). UberX tells me that I am in the top 1% of highest-rated drivers in DC. I am male, on the younger end of middle-aged, white, and know DC, Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax County, Silver Spring, and Bethesda like the back of my hand. I drive a very plain Ford sedan, love to drive in general and I am an EXCELLENT driver...hate to be a bragger, but that one is straight truth. I also have a typical DC-type 9-5 salaried day job. I have always been a hustler, and trust me, driving uber is the ULTIMATE HUSTLE.
So, since I have seen it all, please AMA... |
Anonymous
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how much do you earn driving, for how many hours?
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Anonymous
| Do you have kids? When do you drive the most? When do you make the most money? Have you ever been hit on by a drink passenger? If so, ever do anything? Do people you work with know you drive? Ever pick up someone you know? |
Anonymous
| What's your craziest passenger story? |
Anonymous
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Any funny stories of clients? |
Anonymous
| Has anyone puked in your car? |
Anonymous
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On a Saturday night from 8pm-3am, I can consistently net $25/hr after uber's cut. If I really hustle and double-dip (run UberX & Lyft at the same time), I can push that to $30-$35. My car has been paid-off for years and cheap to drive, so my car expenses are minimal. On a Sunday, I go with the flow and net $20/hour while not pushing it too hard.
With that being said, Joe Schmo can't come off his couch and do the same $25/hour in the same timeframe. It took years to hone the craft, and there is some skill that plays into the job with working the app and just being in the right place at the right time. |
Anonymous
| What's some good advice/driving tips for an easily overwhelmed driver? |
Anonymous
No kids and single...a girlfriend/wife would not put up with this kind of lifestyle. Friday & Saturday 7pm until around 4am are the true money hours, and I typically drive Saturday & Sunday. I'm ugly, so no and n/a...I typically say only five words on the usual ride: "Hello" and "Have a good day!" at the end. I'm not much of a talker and would much rather zone out while cruising around town. Yes, people I work with know, and I've practically started a personal car service amongst coworkers after word spread. I've picked up a handful of people that I know.
Have patience, be focused, and be kind. If you continually struggle with driving uber, go get a real job because you're not cut out for it. This about as low as it gets on the required job skills totem pole.
I have none, other than people getting insanely drunk, people awkwardly making out, drug-deal pickups and dropoffs all over town, "working ladies", dudes using uberPOOL to hit on captive women...but this is pretty typical for any driver. If a ride gets really crazy, I kick them out on the side of the road, no joke. My car, my rules. I'm not dealing with drunken b.s. while I have all of our lives in my hands.
Yes, multiple times. I hope for it, especially at the end of the night when I'm already done anyways. A puker in your car is a very profitable occurrence...an easy $100-$250 depending on the severity. I do carry barf bags and they've came in handy multiple times, but there are others who just cannot hold their liquor. |
Anonymous
I shoot for 20 hours a week or $500, whichever comes first. 9 times out of 10, I hit the $500 first. |
Anonymous
| How far can you punt a football? |
Anonymous
Over them there mountains... |
Anonymous
| Tell us about the hookers. |
Anonymous
| I have used Uber many times to take women I meet on Tinder dates back to my place. I'm usually anticipating an awkward ride and it is almost always a fun conversation that lightens the mood. Good thing I've never had a non-talkative drive like you. |
Anonymous
Working girls try to be coy, but we both know what's up. Some are pleasantly nice, a lot are foreign (Russian/Eastern European), and some are straight up crack-hos. A few are super smart...they make their John pay for the ride. Occasionally, one will ask me if I'll wait and keep the meter running while they go "in & out", and if it's not busy at the moment (or on a surge) I'll oblige. Average wait time is right at 30 mins, if you're wondering. Usually the drop-off is at a really fancy hotel downtown or in Tysons. Standard dress for a lady of the night on her way to a client? Black high heels, black pantyhose, and a trenchcoat...no clue if there's anything on underneath or not. |