Managing a Primary Job While Driving for Uber or Lyft Part-Time

Whether your are a baby-boomer entering a second career like myself or a millenial it is quite feasible to hold down a primary position while driving part-time. Regardless of age and personal circumstances many drivers have expertise and interest in everything from real estate to eCommerce to playing the stock market. Many of these positions afford you flexibility of hours and schedule. An when combined with the flexibility of ride share driving it can make for a career (and income) that is both rewarding and allows you to generate a full-time or near full-time income. Let's poll other Uber and Lyft drivers to see what their primary jobs are as they drive part-time. I am sure we will uncover a wide range of professions and expertise. Share your comments with Uber and Lfyt Driver Best Practices

The World Rides with Uber and Lyft - 70 Countries and Counting

This post is not about driver earnings rather driver trivia. While Uber and Lyft do not incent or reward drivers for the number of countries their riders come from perhaps this bit of trivia may be of interest. The are 193 official "member states" of the United Nations. How many nation states are represented by your riders since you began ride sharing? Well, after 15 months of part-time driving in the San Francisco Bay Area including Silicon Valley I now have had riders from seventy (70) countries. Recent additions to my rider roster include Macedonia, Tanzania, the Bahama's, Bulgaria and earlier this past week Bostwana. Let's here which exotic countries of the world other drivers have had riders. Share comments with Uber and Lyft Driver Best Practices. 

Uber and Lyft "Destination Filters" Do They Truly Add to Driver's Earnings?

Both Uber and Lyft driver app offer a "Destination Filter" feature. Uber allows drivers 2 'destination' trips per day, Lyft offers 3 trips per day. The question is simply: Do these features really allow drivers to pick-up riders as they return to their 'home base' which otherwise they would drive back "empty" An informal poll of drivers offers mixed feedback. Sometimes the rider requests from the filters are not necessarily on your route to home base. Yes, there may be exceptions. I used the Lyft destination filter on a 30 mile drive back to my home base near Palo Alto, CA USA recently at peak rush hour and the filter provided no (that's "zero") rider requests over a fairly densely populated area. The jury is still out on the value these filters provide driver. Nonetheless, kudos to Uber and Lyft for their efforts to help drivers. Share your comments at Uber and Lyft Driver Best Practices. 

Driving Strategies for Big Events in Your Area and Reap the Financial Rewards

Whether your drive in the US, Canada, Europe, Australia or beyond most medium-to-large metropolitan areas host large events which represent excellent income opportunities. Business conferences, tradeshows, college and professional sports events, political rallies, etc. are ripe with potential driver earnings. Employ different methods before and after these events. Prior to the events drive near major hotel strips or nearby residential neighborhoods to locate riders traveling "to" the event. Expect multiple riders per trip. After the event drive as close to the facility or stadium hosting the event to get trip requests for riders traveling back home (to a hotel, residential area, airport, etc.) following the event. Both the "before" and "After" event time frames typically have high Uber "surge" and Lyft "prime time" rates.  Driver time management is critical. For drop-offs try to avoid long traffic lines and locate an area which is convenient for the riders yet does not get you tied-up in heavy traffic. Likewise, for post-event pick-ups call your rider(s) in advance to: 1) Tell them your expected arrival time, 2) Confirm a precise pick-up location, and 3) Inform them of the make, model and color of your vehicle and tell them you will put on your emergency flashing lights when you arrive. Drivers, share your suggests with Uber and Lyft Driver Best Practices: http://uberdriverbestpractices.blogspot.com/

To Drive Full or Part Time? That is the Question

Ride sharing drivers come from all walks of life and different circumstances. Thus choosing to drive full or part time depends on any of several key factors. Answer the key questions below:

1.  Am I  currently employed full or part time? And am I comfortable with my current job?
2. Do I need a full-time income to support myself (and family) or do I simply need some extra income to pay bills or funny money for sports, Christmas-birthday gifts, etc?
3. What is my tolerance level for driving full or part time?
4. Am I willing to make a firm commitment to driving a set number of hours or targeting a set earnings target per week?

Most drivers tend to work part-time for Uber or Lyft while either maintaining a regular job or simply wanting to keep active during retirement. However, there is a cadre of full-time drivers who get up very early in the morning or stay awake into the evening to reap the Uber 'surge' or Lyft 'prime time' rewards. In general, Uber offers better upside earnings potential for full-time drivers, while Lyft provides higher earning per trip for part-time drivers. Share your thoughts with the Uber and Lyft Driver Best Practices: http://uberdriverbestpractices.blogspot.com/

Driver Alert: Prepare for the Busiest Travel Day of the Year (Part III)

For US-based drivers the day before Thanksgiving (November 23) presents one of the best income producing driving days of the year. It is common knowledge that Thanksgiving Eve day is perhaps the heaviest travel day of the year so set your strategy, gas-up your vehicle and hit the road. While Driver Referrals and Weekly Ride Count can definitely product huge upside earnings tomorrow can likely allow you to generate one of your biggest driving income days in 2016. Target all the likely suspects - mid-to-upper income residential areas ripe with riders/families heading to nearby airports, train or bus stations or strategically positioning yourself in the "waiting" areas at major airports after you have dropped-off your rider(s) you can reap big benefits not only from trip earning but also tips. So share your suggestions here at the Uber and Lyft Best Practices today. 

US Driver Alert: Gear Up Your Thanksgiving Week Driving Plans (Part II)

For US-based drivers this Saturday and Sunday (November 19-20) is the formal kick-off to the Thanksgiving holiday travel extravaganza ... air, rail and bus. Most riders will depart in the pre-noon morning hours and typically arrive at their destinations by late afternoon-early evening. So plan to get an early start by concentrating around densely populated residential areas with the expectation of multiple trips to airports, train and bus stations. During the afternoon and early evening time frame be positioned to pick-up riders from these same locations headed to the homes of their families or loved ones. Like other major holidays people tend to travels as families or in groups rather than individually during non-holiday periods. Also, anticipate alot of luggage so be sure to remove any unnecessary item s from your vehicle to optimize space and reap the rewards. Drivers, share your recommendations with Uber and Lyft Driver Best Practices .