Accepting and Managing Rides - Uber Driver Guide

Drivers during period 1 wait for new requests to come in, we will now look at what drivers do during periods 1 and 2.

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Period 1: Starting Out

Before you even reach your work destination, after you have opened your app and logged on, there is one feature most drivers use, and all drivers should use to start off the day: Destination Filter.

  1. Choose "set a destination" in the menu selection
  2. Input the address you want to reach
  3. The destination point will be defined by an icon in the shape of a pin with a star.

If you want to cancel a destination, press the "X" next to the address you set, this will close the destination driver mode.

Drivers can store one destination as your home address, this is for setting the destination filter on when finishing a days shift but taking rides on the way home, or it can be used to set a specific destination the driver uses all the time.

  1. Press the "set a destination."
  2. Press the box titles "Add Home."
  3. Input the destination address

Setting a Destination

Drivers can only use destination filter twice a day. Once the driver inputs the destination, the app creates a general destination route option. If the driver received a ride during the destination filter route, then one of the destinations is used up. Although, it does not mean the driver cannot continue towards the destination and take more rides along the way.

Boundaries

The destination feature works if you live within a county line. When you operate the feature, you will see a clipboard icon, tap that and you get the options for setting a destination. Once you input the destination, you will see a circle and star icon which indicates that the destination is set in the system. The status bar at the top of the app screen will state "finding matching trips."

Limitations

The destination filter limits the distance to around 75 miles. The main reason is due to the systems internal limitations to calculate long distance options since there might be too many ride options over a longer distance. Having stated this, if you don't get a ride along the way, you can reset the distance to another 75 miles once you reach the first limit, and continue driving without wasting a destination instance. Another reason that we cannot prove is possibly due to competition issues; it doesn't do Uber any good if they allow drivers to go and work in any area they choose, such as leaving the county they are in and moving into another county. While this might be construed as petty, Uber does think of how the driver can maximize their income, since this maximizes Ubers income too.

The Destination Filter Operating System

The destination filter will check your direction and prepare a list of ride options, usually short one that will not take you far from your destination direction route. These ride options will be within a 180-degree border of the route direction. These limitations mean that if you are driving North, you will receive all East to West northerly routes from full east to full west directions. The destination filter algorithm calculates the direction you are taking and all the rides that come up along the route. They do not include the long-distance rides since that would make you veer off the general direction, so the algorithm filters out long rides, making sure you maintain a continuous workflow to your final destination.

Setting the Filter

Our suggestion is to set the filter at the beginning of a shift and the end. If you decide you want to try out a new area, you can set the filter to that new area and enjoy the unexpected rides from trying a new uncharted (by you) destination.

The end of the shift destination filter setting will assure you of getting last minute rides on the way home. Just remember, if you don't want any rides on the way home, turn the app off. Cancelling a ride will affect your rating.

Destination Filter benefits

  • Incidental income from trips gathered along the destination route. These rides increase your income and in fact, solves your initial period one issues. As you start your shift, rather than just sitting and waiting, or driving to a location and waiting, Uber's destination filter offers you probably ride income.
  • Tax-deductible miles, before, when you drove to your location, the miles were not considered to be working miles, now that the destination filter is turned on, the feature is upgrading your destination miles to actual working miles, where you have a ride or not.
  • Surge prices are applicable, since you are only driving to a destination, so if you hit a surge you will benefit from this along with the way.

** Destination Filter Issues**

  • You cannot use a destination filter for an airport job, nor can you use it when you queue at an airport.
  • The destination filter miles are not included in incentives, so if there is a promotion, boost earning or guarantee, these miles are not included.

Setting an Arrival Time

Destination filter now allows drivers to set an arrival time using the "arrival time" feature. This enables a driver to start the destination filter but will not set the feature to work until the time to drive to the destination is estimated as close by the app. The app will then prompt the driver to head to the destination and will start to apply trips along the way.

Since the destination filter is only used twice a day, the arrival time can be set only twice a day. The arrival time feature does not activate until the destination filter starts working.

Turning off Arrival time is to turn off the destination filter. Press the "X" next to the address you set; this will close the destination driver mode.

Destination Discrimination

Some drivers are averse to picking up rides in a specific area or destination. Discriminating against a specific area is illegal and prohibited by most State and City regulations. If the driver has a valid reason, perhaps was attacked in the past in that area, then he must state this to Uber before working. Otherwise, if a driver is noted by Uber for filtering out destinations or not accepting riders in certain destinations, the driver will be considered for permanent deactivation.

Choosing Trip Types

The Uber app offers a trip type choice feature that allows drivers with multiple Uber classifications to choose between each trip type they are registered to take. A driver is not limited to the number of times a trip can be changed; this is left to the driver's discretion.

For instance, UberX, Uber Pool, Uber Black, Uber SUV, Uber Eats and more. The higher up your driver rank, such as Uber Black, allows you to have more driving options. If you are a UberX driver, you can add Uber Pool, and Uber Eats, but you will not have Uber Select, SUV or Black.

To set the trip options:

  1. Pick the menu icon
  2. Press the white gear icon at the top right corner of the screen
  3. Choose the type of trips you want
  4. Choose which trips you don't want to take
  5. To reset all and get al trip types, press the reset option

Once you have set the filter, you will only receive requests based on the choices you chose. Drivers will receive fewer requests when filtering out options.

If you do not see a trip type that you think should apply to you, contact Uber and request they add you to that type.

Issues with Trip Selection

Sometimes drivers will not see the white gear icon. This issue is an app problem. You can fix it through three ways, from least to most drastic:

  1. Force stop the app. It will allow the app to install the latest updates. Forced stopping is closing the app without logging out. Wait at least 15 minutes for the app to update.
  2. Close the mobile device completely, and restart it. Allow the app to update for about 15 minutes after the forced restart.
  3. Delete and reinstall the app. This also updates the latest app version

Car Comfort

It is always important to make sure that the ride is as comfortable as possible, here are a few tips to maintain a great ride experience for your passengers:

  • Upholstered seats, make sure they are attractive, comfortable and clean. When you have time between trips, vacuum or brush them before every trip.
  • In-car entertainment, make sure you have a constant selection of films or music and make sure you maintain them up-to-date.
  • Working air-con or heating: The worst feeling is a hot car in summer and a cold one in winter, unless your passenger is ill, then open a window for G-d's sake!
  • Blankets or Pillows should be an option available for long trips or kids.
  • Child seat/Booster is not a must but would be helpful in some instances.
  • Towels, always useful for drying wet things, like clothes, spillages, hands.
  • Reading matter, sure there is in-car entertainment, but sometimes people just like to read or look at the pictures.

Uber POOL explained

Uber Pool is Ubers ride-share sharing program, it allows for multiple passengers picks ups all aimed at one direction. The service is cheaper for passengers, but the drivers are paid the same income as a regular ride, and with an additional compensatory fee. The reasons for the bad name Pool rides have are detailed here:

  1. Passenger Ignorance

Most new pool passengers don't realize that a pool ride means that the driver is going to zig-zag around like a school bus, picking up passengers along the way, but not exactly along the shortest route to the final destination. The new fares get frustrated with this and vent it out on the driver and make the whole ride uncomfortable. It also leads to bad ratings.

  1. Same Income More Work

Since it is effectively only one ride, as all the fares are joined together to pay on the final amount. Sure, you do get a bigger income, but per fare, you are getting less, and you are driving around for a long time having to deal with irate passengers and traffic. The other factor is the parking for each pickup, finding a place to park or stand for every passenger is not as easy as it sounds, especially when police are prowling around and also weaving in and out of traffic can be problematic. The driver has to concentrate more, look out more and be aware of everything while dealing with a growing load of passengers.

  1. Negative Ratings

The customer enjoys paying less, but unless you are the last passenger picked up, you end up driving around for a long time waiting to get to your destination. This always leads to bad ratings.

  1. Traffic congestions

Since Uber Pool is priced at public transport levels, it creates more congestion on the public lane's as more and more pool cars converge with their loads. More cars and added to the same level of public transport lead to more congestion.

  1. Passenger Cohesion

The big "what if." What if everyone is happy and sing "kumbaya," sure, never happens. Since these are a group of different people, converging together in a confined space, it can lead to some heated discussions. Especially when discussing political issues, although you do get some interesting heated arguments on any number of subjects such as religion, technology, sex, sport, it just takes one jerk to be stubborn and loud, and the whole situation will spin out of hand. Guess what, you get blamed, and your ratings take a hit.

  1. Danger levels

Safe driving is a must, but when your concentration is split between a herd of angry passengers and an ever-increasing traffic jungle, add to that your apps and entertainment system, you need to know where your eyes and hands will be at every given moment. Now, consider you need to change lanes in all of this. Pool riding is not for a beginner, it even taxes the most experienced driver, unless you were a bus or van driver in your past life.

  1. Driver Stress

As you can see, or maybe you already felt in real life, pool driving is not for the faint of heart. The stress levels are high, and you have to consider that every pool ride is going to be the same. One scenario which may have been in is the late pickup cancellation when you arrive at a pickup, and there is no place to park. You are double parked, causing traffic problems, the cops are not there, but angry drivers are, honking and cursing at you. You call the passenger; maybe he is #4, and tell him that he must cancel if he doesn't get in within 5 seconds, the fare refuses to cancel and won't be ready for another 3 minutes. The other passengers are now irate too; they hate to wait as much as you do. So, you cancel the ride and drive off which is added to your cancellation rate as well as leaves that untaken fare a "bitter enemy," that only remembers you as the driver that abandoned them at rush hour.

  1. The UberPool algorithm

The reason many pools are bad is partially due to the algorithm that pairs ride. While the program tries to juggle all the pool factors into a satisfactory pairing, some can be problematic, since the balancing and weighting are happening on a constant update. Also, the algorithm cannot take into account the wide variety of social, cultural and physical differences between customers. So, getting a cologne bathed actor with a cigarette infused executive and a morning drinking retailer can produce some interesting smell combinations that make driving in the rain a serious issue.

Getting a Request

We have now covered most of the pre-request details, now let's look at getting a request.

  1. Go Online
  2. The pulsing blue line shows you are now actively receiving requests.
  3. Every time a request comes in, your phone or mobile device will flash and beep. You have 15 seconds to accept it by tapping anywhere on the screen.

Sometimes driver's will get a request while on a ride; these new trip requests are calculated and offered only when a driver is near the end of the ride they are on. Once you accept the new trip, the app will return to the current mode, and when you complete the trip, your app will direct you to the next one. This happens sometimes, and it takes away period one issues between trips.

Under Age Riders

Some teenagers have their parents account information and will try to request a ride. On other occasions account holders (parents) will try to order a ride for a teenager. Underage passengers are not allowed to travel unaccompanied and adult. The adult doesn't have to be the account owner but must be over the legal age limit in the State.

Some drivers will be tempted to take underage rides because they don't want to damage their ratings or have too many cancellations. However, try not to be tempted by the arguments presented, if you are involved in an accident, you will be de-activated, and if the passenger decides to let Uber know for whatever reason, you will again be de-activated.

Long Trips

Drivers are allowing to choose which trips they want to take if the trip does not conform to or meet driver's specific requirements at the time of the request. A driver can cancel the trip and defer the trip to another driver.

Long trips that may go on for longer than 4 hours will stop. So, all you need to do is request a new trip from the passenger when this happens. Also, note that all tolls and fees accrued during the trip are payable by the passenger including the tolls and fees accrued on the return journey.

Cancelling Trips

Since customers depend on a reliable service, it is important for drivers to cancel any trips they cannot take. This is simply done by:

  1. Go to the menu icon and choose "current trip."
  2. Press "cancel."
  3. Input the reason why this is very important to assure that too many cancellations are not used as leverage to deactivate you.

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