An Honest RAW Conversation With An Uber/Lyft Driver

[@Therideshareguy]

Thank you Robert for coming on and sharing your story. Do you have a story you would like to share? Send us an email and you might be on the next episode of Behind The Wheel: Driver Stories 🎯 Track your expenses the right way! Drive smarter, not harder with Solo: therideshareguy.com/go/worksolo 📺 Watch this video NEXT: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n6G6e6moo6pniJY

[@donkeyplatz]

Thanks for having me Sergio!

[@jeffreysmith3796]

The first part of this conversation is extremely important MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A BACKUP DO NOT AND I MEAN DO NOT MAKE UBER YOUR MAIN SOURCE OF INCOME

[@sergioSMTMC1]

💯💯

[@edmor127]

exactly!!!!!!!....I always said this.....uber doesnt pay us to work.....they rent our vehicles....and we pay all the expenses...

[@akcarlosh292]

Fact , not only the car , rental includes driver as well and pass all the operation cost to the drivers

[@sergioSMTMC1]

Nowadays anyway

[@thomasbauer1859]

I drive Uber in Africa and I love your channel… it has help me a lot to navigate through the app and my earnings has improved..

[@EMan-cu5zo]

Is it fair pay over there compared to the cost of living?

[@sergioSMTMC1]

WOW, seriously? 🙏

[@simonmhamdi2955]

Nigeria or south africa ?

[@Hillsidedojo]

The biggest issue now is fake driver accounts. How can you compete with them!

[@EMan-cu5zo]

How are they making money is what I wonder. They have to pay for taking care of the car as well. It would be good if things get enforced harder.

[@Hillsidedojo]

@@EMan-cu5zo The gangs that set up these fake accounts rent them to new immigrants. These guys don't drive, they sit in a circle all day at the airport like the Sopranos.

[@sergioSMTMC1]

Agree 💯

[@orton1900]

Uber and Lyft are dirtier than you think

[@mortezatajally9274]

Robert is a good man and a smart guest.

[@sergioSMTMC1]

Thanks 🙏

[@orton1900]

Why can’t it just be a 50/50 split for pay, instead of them lying about the fees and taking 80 percent of the fare!

[@troyeastman9500]

Cuz everyone will take the dog shit fares so they keep going lower

[@troyeastman9500]

Cuz Uber is greedy

[@brucesmith2282]

Pre Covid 50/50 was much easier

[@Cassie4486]

@@troyeastman9500 The ones taking the low balls are the fake drivers & their accounts.

[@AbbeyTwynn]

Drivers are not BUS drivers. But even bus fares are PER PERSON RIDING. Just because a driver has seating capacity for 6 people due to six seatbelts, does not mean Uber/Lyft can give those seats away for FREE, when the car payment, gas and insurance is more for an XL vehicle than a X vehicle (in most cases). Some people who are XL prefer a vehicle that fits them better, but if Uber can get the driver to select X preference instead of just XL, drivers should have the option to upgrade the ride to XL before trip begins. Lyft had the audacity to tell a driver that the driver could not get an XL rate unless 5 or more people were traveling at one time. Both apps' rates to pay drivers base pickup should be for PER PERSON PICKUP, no matter what the rates are per mile/minute because the rates per mile/min do not cover the basic costs just to operate the vehicle.

[@hbenacho]

Major issue for drivers in Florida is not being covered by Uber in an accident. Bodily injury liability coverage and Uninsured/Underinsured coverage are both optional not required by State. And many drivers here don’t have BI. Make sure to have UM/UIM on your insurance to cover your injuries in that case. Uber goes by minimum state required coverage. I’m still researching this matter. I was hit by a driver with no BI Liability coverage, car was a total loss (I got the collision payment from Uber) and I have injuries. Uber said there is no UM/UIM benefits from them. And I only have $10k UM/UIM on my State Farm personal insurance and have the rideshare endorsement, but they are trying not to pay it. I would recommend getting UM with a min of $50k-$100k if you can or more

[@scoopflag]

Excellent conversation guys! Thanks for doing this video

[@sergioSMTMC1]

🙏

[@lelacalhoun8362]

As a retired contractor that has been doing my taxes 1099 for over 40 years. You want that deduction from the government? I'm sorry you do, and that's who you're filing with, and that's who you're paying your taxes to, so that's the numbers you need to use ! Seriously , please read that book or at least watch the movie all of you. It will give you a suspect, a view that you really need out here. Senior citizens are not making enough 2 pay rent in arizona alone, we have over half a million seniors living in their vehicles, not counting the ones living in tents seriously

[@sergioSMTMC1]

Ok, do you want to do an interview? [e-mail]

[@Cassie4486]

There is a reason why people are leaving the US to live overseas. Italy is one, Thailand is another, Costa Rica is another. Pay less in everything while still remaining a US citizen.

[@EMan-cu5zo]

I am in west palm Beach area and the offers are a joke. I usually take 1-4 offers a day because so many offers that come through will make you lose money. I don’t know who is taking them but they aren’t that bright. Currently the stock price is going up so I am making money off of that.

[@michelepezente7188]

Thank you Robert! It’s very nicer hearing yours experience ❤

[@rehanbshah]

We need more of such honest drivers interviewed

[@alexanderromero9701]

Florida state has to be the biggest complicit to the grifting that rideshare apps are doing at the moment.

[@reeney5587]

Great video Sergio! This guy is spot on in our market. I had posted on Florida market many, many times...In our state, it is unacceptable and not sustaining.

[@alanbyrne8578]

I find it hard to make $100 on Lyft on weekdays. On the weekends maybe $200. And that includes the 20-60% bonus along with a challenge if any. The problem is I cherry pick and don’t choose anything under $25 hr. It’s hard to complete a challenge because you can’t get the number of rides to finish. We have too many drivers and it’s is driving the fares down.

[@akcarlosh292]

Exactly, I always say they should have a monto subscription of 7 usd simio to Netflix

[@MichaelWhite-yr2ei]

I never really work lyft I only work Uber. I have a account with Lyft but I seldom use it

[@ShaiIshShalom]

Thank you guys for speaking the truth Robert brought up a lot of correct points.

[@AbbeyTwynn]

Thanks Robert! 🙌

[@sergioSMTMC1]

Thanks 🙏

[@TahoeKing]

Robert is fully correct and I figured it out myself a while ago...so I decided to balance the sheet and stop driving unless it is P2 and P3, meaning the moment the trip ends, I find the nearest gas station or plaza and park till the next trip. I discovered that these twisted companies understand that and direct less rides to me than usual. Now I make less for sure but at least I'm driving less and almost no P1 for me. It is an experiment I started like a month ago (clearly Serg exposing them all the time is getting in my head 😂)

[@sergioSMTMC1]

🙏

[@natashashark85]

I got some really loud opinions as a driver myself in Sarasota. Been driving for 11 years.

[@sergioSMTMC1]

Do you want to do an interview? [e-mail]

[@Famous.badge.14]

Robert has been driving for 9 years, how bad can rideshare be if he keeps driving? He is like the guy who works 25 years at the same company and complains about it every day.

[@pfonolla]

Good interview!!

[@sergioSMTMC1]

🙏🙏

[@troyeastman9500]

I do mostly premier trips from the airport anymore only trips worth doing or premier trips from events

[@rolandquintos6179]

Those who use brand new cars are certainly at a loss because of the higher depreciation. I used a Scion xB 2015 that I bought from auction. I think, I earn a little bit instead of doing nothing and that is my consolation in doing rideshare a side hustle once in a while specially in the Bay Area where gas prices are one of the most expensive in the country.

[@SpencerWhitley27893]

This guy is one of the smarter ones

[@troyeastman9500]

I think the ones that are happy don’t know there true costs and haven’t wore out a car yet

[@troyeastman9500]

And desperados that don’t care

[@polishpimp4233]

@@troyeastman9500 When your cell phone or power is about to get shut off what do you do when you got a gun to your head? I think instant pay was the beginning of the end of for gig work. It just brought in a bunch of day laborers which is a HUGE part of the problem. It's quite simple a lot of people need to give up the gig dream and either A: get a w2 or B: LEarn a marketable trade.

[@sergioSMTMC1]

💯💯

[@sergioSMTMC1]

​@troyeastman9500 💯💪

[@BullionMMA]

A lot of desperate people that will run their vehciles into the ground and then finance a new vehicle. Except next time when they go to finance it will 20% interest rate hHhhHhhhHahhahahahhahahahhahahahahhHhHh

[@scoopflag]

Robert is spot on, Uber driver pay is pretty bad out there

[@donkeyplatz]

2021 in NorCal is the only year I made money. You got it figured and I think that’s great. 😃

[@mrcarmensmith]

Being a registered driver on the platform does not mean that's how many active drivers on the platform. I wonder what the driver turn over rate is.

[@sergioSMTMC1]

75%

[@japaneselover377]

I found out the hard way. Only source of income . Car needed maintenance everything went downhill. 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@sergioSMTMC1]

Well I'm glad you're still smiling

[@japaneselover377]

Like I said it's just better to smile than to get angry. So much has happened disrespectful people, they also trash my car. Etc..

[@soundjudgement3586]

And no matter how much you earn you will be in the negative with the cost of car repairs, car payments, car insurance, etc. etc. You can't win driving your own vehicle. The only plus side is it gives you an income until you can do better.

[@marcialmontecinos1057]

Sergio thank you so much for this Rideshare update with Robert well appreciated Robert made a lot of great points on the Rideshare business he's so true when he says don't keep this as your only income make sure you have another source of income coming in and I believe that very much I've always said it in the comments down below telling people to get a regular job. ❤ Sanbernardino ❤

[@sergioSMTMC1]

🙏🙏

[@MichaelWhite-yr2ei]

I make five $6,000 a month I get another 2,000 a month in benefits from retirement. My goal is to outrun my expenses by thousands and at this point I am. My complaints are just hassles of the day. Other than that I don't have any complaints. I would say ride shares changed my life. I do think people in different areas have different situations like this guy says he's 60 mi from the closest airport that's an issue I'm less than half of that. I pick my rides my only concern is wear and tear on my vehicle which I have to be honest I made a bad choice on from the standpoint of how much I paid for it but it is a vehicle that delivers tips leather seats sunroof from front to back comfortable a comfort ride. Like everyone I'm one accident or something away from Oblivion I guess but when I started I used a rental car I could survive doing that. Today I'm going to see an accountant to work out some things and I really know where I'm at.

[@ChadBrown-mp3lc]

I call support and tell then that I am writing uber a check for every ride.

[@leonleslie9150]

Thanks!

[@sergioSMTMC1]

🙏🙏

[@milesbymsb2515]

the fact that Uber/Lyft don't compensate for maintenance of your vehicle, breakdown of your vehicle or the depreciation at a much faster rate if one doesn't drive for uber. Not to mention what it does to your body. They take your car and run it to the ground.

[@745liman]

If we went on strike just one day everyone they would see that we are serious

[@sergioSMTMC1]

Have any of those worked yet?

[@normastits4179]

@745liman- Why stop there? Let's all stop getting gas on Monday, then gas prices would drop. If not the we can stop Tuesday as well. While we are at it let's stop buying iPhones on Monday the perhaps the price will drop from $1,200 (cost of phone is around $200). Please be serious.

[@gerlindedouglas8283]

Agreed ,that rideshare is the best tax deduction on the planet

[@ryanmolaison-st2kh]

Why is the fare going down

[@jeffreysmith3796]

Fairs go down when there are a lot of drivers and very few riders

[@jeffreysmith3796]

I only drive during peak times and will absolutely REFUSE TO TAKE ANY FARES FOR FIFTY CENTS A MILE

[@juniorundersea]

​@@jeffreysmith3796dont know what state you are but in florida you reject ( decline ) rides and they punish you ,you wont get more trips under 25% acceptance rate .that is the reazon i stoped working uber a week ago ..they sarted sending me only 3 $ rides or less than 1 a mile and they low my status to standard ..i was online hours and hours without receiving trips .and they will send you only trip radars for 2.something or a dolar more ,xl ,,6 people in my car stressing all suspension elements for 4 . 24 $ .?? really ? ,enough for me .

[@BullionMMA]

This guy is late to the party

[@BullionMMA]

You might as well put a stupid sign on your forehead if you taje trips for 60 cents a mile

[@stevenwells4102]

Best thing to do to actually make income is get a w2 job all ride apps are operated by mafia

[@BullionMMA]

Indian mafias to be correct, they believe in 15 different gods. You think they care about you and me?

[@francisgrant5534]

Interesting insights but I have a question why would you come back empty from the Jacksonville airport? Florida is one state so they have different rules for different cities I’m from Connecticut and nothing understand when I go into Jeff or Lori I have to come back empty but that’s going from one state to the other so I was a little confusedjust puzzled

[@donkeyplatz]

Hi, this is Robert who did the interview. The reason you have to come back empty is because Saint Augustine is 60 miles from the Jacksonville airport and while people do travel from Jacksonville airport to Saint Augustine it’s very rare to get a ride back down here. I would say 90% of the time I don’t get a ride back to Saint Augustine… I might get a ride partway back but often times during the day there’s just very little activity at Jacksonville airport.

[@rolandquintos6179]

Maybe Lyft/Uber should split 40/60 in favor of the drivers and not the other way around that they are doing right now.

[@milesbymsb2515]

This whole situation has been going on for quite a while now; and the numbers show me what's going on. It's impossible for a driver driving on Uber X to make any kind of profit. For all newcomers: believe what you hear about Uber running your car down to the ground. Believe what Robert said.

[@watchgagootz]

What does insurance cost for all this robo taxi?

[@tonysayegh9136]

I was driving for Uber when suddenly my account was deactivated. I did nothing wrong. When I reached out to them they said something about a duplicate account. What can I do to reinstate my account?

[@BullionMMA]

What you can do is…nothing uber wins checkmate you lose

[@soundjudgement3586]

Leave

[@BullionMMA]

@@tonysayegh9136 you can get a real job 😂

[@juniorundersea]

because nobody is focusing in the real problem,if they classified drivers as independent contractors ,why is nobody talking ( constantly ) about the breach of contract and misclassification ? . .they punish drivers who dont accept ilogical unprofitable requests ,and now with the new one adcantage and standard mode ,,the proof is there ,is simple ,they cant control you as an independent contractor by law ,by law ..and they doing everyday ,and no ,,you did not sign anything that allow them to commit breach of contract and misclassify you ..its unlawful

[@sergioSMTMC1]

Don't you think they would have been sued about that by now?

[@juniorundersea]

@@sergioSMTMC1 they have been ,just few drivers sue them by misclassification ,the problem is that nobody has the balls to do it because the attorneys and process . but understand that drivers clasiffied as independent contractors can and should sue for breach of contract ,misclassification and damages .

[@troyeastman9500]

You are just atm your car

[@BullionMMA]

Yeah that atm is about to decline for millions of people, they are going to starve just watch what is going to come is going to be so ugly

[@KensyAdams-im7mk]

Every request just spins out then I get a message saying ride is no longer available

[@Lena-h122]

Hi Sergio, I was wondering if you could help me. I never received the one-time payment. I am now a platinum driver. Can you please help?

[@randyk051]

For Christ sake if you don’t think it’s a good line of work than go do something else !! Let those of us who are not miserable people go out and make money and enjoy our day! Serg I appreciate what you do for the industry but some of this line of thinking isn’t correct. There are many variables yes BUT you say treat as your own business than you talk about hourly rate. Nobody who owns their own business worries about how much they make per hour they worry about if they are profitable! Does a guy with a pizza parlor worry about how much he makes per hour ???

[@sergioSMTMC1]

Do you want to do an interview? [e-mail]

[@sergioSMTMC1]

Let's do an interview with you, you can voice your opinion, [e-mail]

[@donkeyplatz]

I never said a word about hourly rate. I just made the observation that based upon statistics and actuality of what we get paid you really don’t make anything. However, I’m glad that you’re happy with your ride share experience. Go make that money!

[@MichaelWhite-yr2ei]

I have two airports within 25 miles.

[@gerlindedouglas8283]

No 1099 for less than 20k for lyft or uber

[@Key_low_TV]

So basically its good for part time

[@sergioSMTMC1]

💯 at Best

[@damienwade7848]

Race to the bottom.

[@milesbymsb2515]

the 7.5 million drivers they have on their platform isn't going to be forever!

[@troyeastman9500]

Too many desperados

[@HrFZ1]

Yeaaah Pretty much all big companies r squeezing till the last drop nowadays Uber is just one of them Here in this industry we can see actually perfect example of middle class disappearing if consider all that money rerouted from going to cab drivers (who used to earn way better than Uber drivers) to...I guess much wealthier ppl Hope I'm wrong but...things dont look promising

[@gregmadison556]

How can you be driving 9 years and think it cost 72 cents per mile to do rideshare.

[@donkeyplatz]

That’s because the government says it is the cost of ownership and operation of a motor vehicle. $.72 a mile, go look it up. Now that number was as of the end of 2022, and of course we’ve had 20% inflation for a couple of years now so I’m guessing that number is more like $.85 a mile now. But hey, you’re free to think it cost whatever you think it costs. All I know is if you weren’t getting the amount it cost to operate a vehicle on every ride then when it comes time to replace your tires, you’re not going to have the money and that’s a huge issue.

[@SteveMillerBlog]

The .72 has to be calculated on some average cost of vehicle, which I think is around $30k. If you're ubering in a $30k or more vehicle, you're subsidizing Uber and the riders. Don't do it. Find a sub $10k car that gets good mpg and has a solid history of reliability.

[@gerlindedouglas8283]

Make less than 20k per year though.

[@stevenwells4102]

I hate people that brag about their background get to the point bla bla bla

[@MichaelWhite-yr2ei]

This guy is in a bad area

[@SpencerWhitley27893]

Undocumented immigrants driving on the platforms for sure, I mean tons of them

[@KevinScherrer]

As a driver I am incentivized to try and talk all of the other drivers into quitting. If you guys all quit then there will be more for me. That is Uber and Lyft's business model. This market is primed for a good ride share app to swoop in and steal some disgruntled drivers, but I am not sure how that mythical company will avoid these same issues.

[@sergioSMTMC1]

WOW, genius

[@KevinScherrer]

@@sergioSMTMC1 LOL. Not sure if that is sarcasm or not. 🙂

[@sergioSMTMC1]

@@KevinScherrer no I meant it, do you want to do an interview, [e-mail]

[@normastits4179]

@@KevinScherrer Can you explain how Uber and Lyft keep breaking records for driver count when there are so many rideshare companies "swooping" in and doing it better? I am always interested in learning.... Here is some advice... instead of trying to talk other driver into quitting, why not talk to passengers and convert them into private clients??? You would increase your revenue and profits and save the passenger money and remove the middle man. Sorry I disagree but these disgruntled drivers are disgruntled with life! They put themselves in this position not Uber or Lyft.

[@MichaelWhite-yr2ei]

I want more money but I take what I can. Mostly two hundred a day 7 hours sometimes more to earn 300 plus. 300 days a year.