How to Position while driving for Uber or other Rideshare

[@MRageSYR]

I've been a lyft driver for almost 3 months and the last month i have been trying this method and it does work.

[@schlotdoglaser]

awesome advice. Made it clear as day......I did start using the "positioning" mentality about 1 week into driving Uber. I drive in the Silicon Valley area and there are many drivers....and many passengers as well. I have a fulltime job so I drive early in the morning for a hour or 2...I would say 80% of those rides are to the major airports. After work, I turn on the rider app and see where the cars are and drive away from them if need be. I also am close to the last train in the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) system...so, people coming from San Francisco....that is the last station and need to go further...so I just park in the parking lot and wait. I also, look online to see when the trains are arriving and get there 5 mins. before...when most people start pinging for rides. Keep up the great videos!

[@RobertSmith-me3gs]

I've given thought to my positioning, but never to this level and you may have just saved my bank acct. I ****ing love you, dude!

[@domineer388]

Lyft Driver here and your tips have given me new motivation to continue ridesharing

[@PUGGDAD]

Very interesting because when the algorithm was based strictly on "closest proximity", being in the middle of other drivers was the best thing. Now with it being most efficient route, being in the middle is the worst place you can be as a driver. I'm sold !! Subscribed....

[@jemagu6]

I've been driving for 2 years and this video answered a number of things I've been wondering about! I'm in Honolulu, and in Waikiki, we have A LOT of one way streets. This information really helps! (I hope no other drivers in Hawaii find this video) :)

[@mamadou38]

Jeff Gunther 😂😂😂😂

[@michaelkennedy2256]

Nice - ty! Good strategy! One problem I have is living 20 kms from a city. When I enable the "Destination" filter to go home, Uber Maps routes me to the freeway. So I try to position myself so I will be routed home thru neighborhoods with a better chance of a ride. I think it works. So far so good!

[@jedimastereric7]

Thanks bro I've been doing this a while and it's terrible now so I'm going to try that strategy I can see from that, that the worst place to be is in the middle of other drivers thanks for the tip.

[@uio8658]

This is really good advice. During my first week with Uber, I thought like a taxi and cruised the main roads, getting very few pings. I was putting 250km on my car every day and not earning much. Then I started hanging out in the peripheral neighborhoods and getting pings nonstop. Now I'm putting about 150km on my car per day and earning much more. And yes, I constantly answer pings that say I'm 8 minutes away, but in reality I'm more like 3 minutes away. The way Uber routes you is silly sometimes. You just have to work with it and not against it. Also, for any drivers in Quito, Uber recognizes the arch (Rocafuerte) at Plaza Santo Domingo as a two-way street, when in reality it's a one-way street exiting the plaza. If you're in that vicinity and get a ping that's 3 minutes away, it could very easily be longer.

[@SolidDriver]

Excellent! That's the mentality I'm trying to pass on to people. Dollars per mile is far more important than most other metrics. I'm glad I'm getting through to people :)

[@Whippet56wildYT]

This is the most useful video I have seen about driving in my city. Big Up Solid Driver

[@SolidDriver]

Thanks brother! I don't put out many videos these days but when I do I try to make them matter :)

[@dean757]

That was a very good video. Very smart thinking/strategy...I just started a few days ago...I'll implement some of your strategy!

[@cantecleer]

You have really good information and good presentation. I'm not a rideshare driver (my car is too small for Uber/Lyft), but I do Amazon Flex and various delivery apps too. I can't check to see where other drivers are like you can with the Uber rider app, but I suspect the pings for some of the delivery apps like Postmates or Ubereats are also based on positioning/routing in relation to nearby restaurants. Because of your video, if I have downtime between pings and have the chance to pick a spot to wait, I tend to try to set myself up where the apps might ping me first because of how the routing of nearby streets work in light of their proximity to various restaurants. Just my wordy way of saying thanks for this video. Even though it doesn't totally apply to delivery apps, I still think it is still illuminating and helpful, even for those of us who aren't necessarily doing rideshare.

[@SolidDriver]

Thank you for the kind words stranger! I'm not getting any real financial gain from putting these videos together, but feedback like this is motivation too keep releasing more :)

[@LemuelMarshall]

I've studied this video 15 times. You are the man bro.. increased my production 100% Ft Myers/ Naples area awesome video keep up the great work...

[@llee881]

thank you for your help I think that's a big part of why I wasn't getting rides and all around me others were. new driver from orlando fl

[@Candelo1950]

Good stuff for a newbie(4 weeks).... can you another video part 2? And see If I can understand it more clearly.... ty

[@tesfaseyoum6196]

The only thing I can is Thank you.I tried it in my area and it work

[@MichelleMelenaStarTorres]

Great info and Tips, now I'm out the door to Drive and go whoop those other drivers butts at this game , ha !

[@IceViper777]

great advice thank you! I was surprised when I recognized the areas on the maps haha. I live in Largo.

[@goodbooggaming6126]

This is excellent info. Thanks for sharing it. I feel I am a better informed driver now and will definitely be using this strategy!!

[@DragondEeznutsinurMouth]

P

[@javon8082]

Very educational video. Thk u bro. As another fellow driver I appreciate it!

[@proudcanadian9816]

Hi @soliddriver, First off, Are you on IG ? if so, what's your tag man : ) This video you did 3 years ago only goes to PROVE THIS WORRRRRRRKS !!!! Thank you for finally proving this man. And thank you for confirming it, and thank you for making it in one word. . . . . S I M P L E !!!!!! Well done, well organized, great use of graphics, and great use of your voice. Clear, concise, and to the point. I could go on and on with praise but, well, you get where I'm comin from. I've actually been doing this. . . to some degree of understanding with exception as to where you should position with regard to Uber/Lyft gps routing. NOW I know where to be. Thanks man, really appreciate it and I hope you look at comments from older videos because I WANT you to know people still look at your videos. Like I said, this video is EPICALLY GOLD !!!

[@ayuda31]

Pinellas County! Hope to meet you out here some day. The gentlemans club reference had me laughing out loud!

[@Isaacbounds5]

I really appreciate this video! i really understand a new way to postion myself which makes sense considering ive gotten atleast 4 more pings a day so thanks a million!

[@REGISTONdan]

I think in NYC Uber’s algorithm works differently it’s dependents from raiting if rider request from the hotel and front of the hotel 5 cars uber will get call to driver who few blocks away I saw in my experience

[@airgunningyup]

I don't position , I keep moving .. granted the car is good on gas, I just don't like sitting

[@tinastheoutsider]

Im a Uber driver in the metro Detroit Mi area only for 7 mts so far, and I have my areas I like and see where the other drivers are and move or stay according to them as well. I have some video footage of it up on my channel too..some funny stuff n real happenings as well. I just found ur channel so I'll chk out more of ur videos..Tina

[@zorro951000]

Thanks for the video, and yes it happens a lot, for example, it happened to me twice, with the pass. IN MY CAR, they want to go to another place, already in my car, but I get the ping after 3 times they make the request???

[@allsevenspirits]

that was very thorough

[@bluzedogg]

excellent info. first time i've seen you. i've taken notes. thnx.

[@StageMan57]

Your video was great. Well explained and very informative. Thank You

[@RandyYutube]

Great info! You just earned a subscriber!

[@jayachelliah4067]

Thank you for your insight and suggestions

[@marvinlewis1879]

Thank you! Make sense. Good to know.

[@kurtaxt1456]

Thanks, great explanation on positioning!

[@briancassidy1542]

Friend, what is the source of your information regarding the routing of drivers to the requested pick up location?

[@therrienmichael08]

This answers my question. I was curious if it's as the crow flies. I didn't know you can do destination only two times a day. I was thinking other drivers may ne trying to get me away from the 24 hour diner as I could get cancelled a couple minutes after leaving.

[@SolidDriver]

I believe they have since increased the number of Destination Filters you can use per day since this video was released. Markets may very but the app should tell you how many you have.

[@schlotdoglaser]

in my area (bay area) it is 2/day. It use to be 6 but I think people were gaming the system. I just wish they would increase the distance. I live 150 miles from where I work (I stay in town during the week). I put in my home address and it says "too far". So, now I put in 60 miles.....when I get there....I change the location again.

[@superjtrdr]

I have been milking this route thing for a while but here is an interesting question. Does Ubers navigation use the same routes as google maps. I assume no because I have used both and have found google maps to be more accurate. What I do is test the routes. I find a parking lot then google all the potential destinations. What I find is that certain u turns and even exits from parking lots are ignored. That adds time to routes

[@SolidDriver]

Indeed, Uber often routes differently than Google. I've actually had Uber's navigation attempt to send me down a 1-way street. So there is certainly some guesswork in regards to how Uber (or any other nav) thinks you should go.

[@TheRideshareHub]

Awesome tips :)

[@rroge5]

is it better to stay online until you get into position or go offline and move to the ideal spot? is it better to spend time worrying about this stuff or just get out there

[@SolidDriver]

I log off/on while traveling based on the type of area I'm in. Generally, if I'm on a bridge, a freeway or in a commercial zone, I log off (I don't want to pick up shoppers or employees). Likewise, if it's an area where I've had bad experiences in the past, I'll log off. Otherwise I stay logged in and cherry pick any pings based on where they are and how far away.

[@ross1ful]

Thank you great information, keep up the great work! Subscribed

[@christineboone2850]

Valuable information!

[@GeorgeSeeAll]

Great info. Thank you.

[@llee881]

Hi I have a question but first I want to say thank you very very much for helping me. I am a new driver. You've mentioned in a few of your videos about picking up staff at gentlemen clubs at night and I went to call a few of the ones in my city in Florida and they said to me that I would have to pay $10 to park and $5 an hour afterward.... I am a woman driver and I know I'm not going to be making the money to recoup what they are asking for me to pay. am I approaching this wrong? should I be looking to park down the street or is it better to be in a different parking lot? could you please advise, thank you, Laura

[@SolidDriver]

That sounds bizarre that they would expect you to pay them for the privilege of picking up anyone. I've never made any kind of deal or commitment to any club. Just position yourself down the street or in a way to get their pings. If you do this regularly you can get a feel for their schedules and they'll be happy to see a familiar face. Most club employees get tipped out and paid in cash each night so they're not going to leave for about 15 to 30 minutes after close. Some places require their dancers to be escorted out by a bouncer. They'll appreciate it if you give them time to do this. Also get a feel for which clubs respect you back, tip, and have long trips. A popular club will have employees coming from long distances. Little hole in the wall places will hire whoever's local. Once you have this down, pass on pings from clubs that you know aren't worth your time. Unless it's super late on a slow night.

[@Rational_Driver]

I kinda feel like if your constantly moving your making it harder to get rides because the app needs to constantly be recalibrating from your current posution

[@itree4]

Nice vid! Thank you.

[@robertjennings5558]

This is GREAT info. Thx for sharing.

[@cheryldickson2678]

Thanks much! Great info! :)

[@jamesdougherty2271]

Very informative.

[@IceViper777]

Do you get a lot of trips out of that shore acres area when you sit there?

[@SolidDriver]

It can get busy on Friday and Saturday nights for people going downtown. Usually groups of 20-somethings. I've caught a few airport runs from there in the early mornings too. Most drivers won't venture back there because it's a maze so if there's demand it's easy pickings!

[@danmcg6684]

thank you

[@thesteadfastangler6724]

Good content, thanks for sharing.

[@jimjones1294]

I never knew it as a fact but had a strong feeling that uber pings cars due to positioning, which I've always done. Yes! It's true! Thanks for the input!

[@landrover4444]

Keep it up! Good stuff!

[@stephenlandrum]

GREAT VIDEO

[@zackattack80]

Yeah my friend used to do the two phone technique

[@jade1655]

Good strategy but how do u know how uber is going to route you or another driver? Can we check without being logged in? Our can you only estimate it being logged in to the app?

[@SolidDriver]

The only sure fire way is to actually get a pickup/drop-off along a path and remember how it routed you for future reference. If you work the same areas over and over you'll start to see patterns.

[@gLitCheRR44]

don't forget, uber also matches by rating....

[@AdamBree]

Solid tips

[@4AcesTV]

Thanks for the info.

[@jonathonchristfollower8863]

How long have U been Driving 4?

[@Smooth00E]

Wow! 🤔🤔🤔🤔. Ok going to try tomorrow

[@sandorrozsa2311]

you can be parking 3 feet from the passenger requesting and he still can get a car from 5 minutes away ... it happened to me (not always but can happen)

[@SolidDriver]

Indeed. The aim of this video is to help drivers prevent that from happening.

[@bobchristopher6928]

All this is conjecture on the part of the poster. The Über algorithm is much much more complicated than who’s CLOSEST. There are several other factors that come into play. Such as, but not limited to, the driver’s rating as compared to the rider’s rating, how long the other driver(s) have been online that day/night, how long its been since the other driver got a ride. I don’t want to say that positioning is not part of your strategy but it’s a lot more complicated. Let’s say that you roll into downtown and you get parked a block from a popular hotel or restaurant. You notice two other uber drivers parked behind you after you get parked. Then a request comes in and you are a half a block closer to the valet area of the hotel. I guarantee you will NOT get that ping over someone who has been waiting 25 minutes for a ping. I’ve had people actually sitting in my SUV and request a Black SUV, but Fred gets the ping even though Fred is 4 minutes away. I tell them to cancel and request again. And again Fred gets the ping. So we cancel and try it one more time. This time I get the ping, but because Fred had been waiting longer the algorithm kept wanting to give the ride to Fred even though I was clearly the CLOSEST driver AND Fred’s driver rating was much less than mine. Also, contrary to some, it doesn’t make a rat’s ass which way your car is “pointing”. Some people just try to overthink this game. Just find out where the hotspots are and hang out. You’ll get a ping.

[@EddieLeal]

Malachi? Thought it is the actor Courtney Gains there for a second. lol!

[@713j3]

great vídeo man

[@thisishouston1]

It’s all about how well you know your driving area and where the people might be... In Silicon Valley, the great “buffalo herd” migration starts from downtown San Jose or East SJ up the 101 to the peninsula to where Google/Apple/Facebook and the other Tech CO’s are... follow the herd...pick off a couple buffalo along the way... try not to get dragged up to SF, eastBay, Livermore; short rides good! Long rides bad under the current rates. Uber $.84/mi $.36/min; Lyft $.67/mi $.288/min Happy Hunting! #TechieDriver

[@ShelterDogs]

Four years ago it was .84 cents per mile? That's what is now, and everyone is losing money. How can that be?

[@apove1814]

How do you see the other drivers? Is that on another app?

[@Ramin_baharabi]

It's the rider app!

[@donstrandinc]

thank you!

[@rhondabrown5699]

How do riders request a driver?

[@harveyd7231]

Thanks!

[@williambelott1897]

what if I was parked in, the gentlemens clubs parking lot. who gets the call?

[@SolidDriver]

Whichever driver has the shortest route from where the system thinks the cars are on the road to where it thinks the pax is on the road.

[@SolidDriver]

Android users may download the old version of the Rider app used in this video at, SolidDriver.com

[@jimmyfavereau]

you suck! I love St Pete! : D give my regards to Johns Pass and a big thanks for the info Amigo : ) this is Gold.. God Bless Bro!

[@RyanTaylor228]

I love Johns Pass!

[@vicentejadlong2920]

good!! good

[@JuergenDj]

★★★★★ thanks

[@ShelterDogs]

Is this still relevant in 2024?

map looks like Galveston

[@tedbaxter5234]

Thank you!

[@mamadou38]

Thanks for the info