A Day In The Life Of An Uber Driver – All You Need To Know And Tips Included!
Move over, taxis! Uber is one the newest and best way to get around Singapore. There is no denying that Uber advertisements are literally everywhere – on Instagram, Facebook, and even the little advert banners on the websites we visit.
Uber “supposedly” offers lucrative incentives for their drivers – such as X3 rates when driving during peak hours or additional SGD500 when you refer a friend to drive.
Sounds like a fast road to easy money! But what are the realities behind the wheel of an Uber driver?
Here is my personal account of being an Uber driver for a day:
An Early Start To The Day
My day started in the wee hours of the morning, with the sky slightly filled with faint blue hues.
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Credit: Wired[/caption]
I had to be at a multi-storey carpark in Serangoon to pick the Uber car,a Toyota Prius C, that was assigned to me.
With just a single tap of my EZ-link card on the card-reader next to the IU, the car was unlocked. Fascinating!
Fumbling Over The Uber App
Getting clients, GPS directions to locations, tracking incoming bookings and earnings etc., were all done via the Uber App – which I struggled to figure out while driving.
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Credit: nerdwallet.com[/caption]
I was so fixated on exploring the Uber App and ensuring that I get my first passenger when I heard a loud horn. Apparently, I had not noticed that a huge lorry was going straight.
With my heart beating wildly in my chest, it finally dawned on me why Singapore imposes such heavy fines for using mobile phones while driving. Thankfully, I had the Uber App all figured out by then.
Tip! If you are a first time Uber driver, do play around with the Uber app to familiarise yourself with it first. Figure out how to accept bookings BEFORE hitting the roads. The Uber driver interface is different from the usual Uber passenger interface that we are familiar with.
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Credit: techcrunch.com[/caption]
Tip! Do use the mobile phone holder that comes with a suction cup. This will ensure that your phone is in an ideal position at a corner. It will not block your view of the road and it allows you to reach over easily to accept incoming bookings on your phone!
Picking Up My First Customer
My first booking came with a loud and repetitive “ping” sound just 10 minutes after I had hit the road.
A young couple from Serangoon needed a lift to Bras Basah to attend a friend’s church wedding.
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Credit: Tech In Asia[/caption]
I tried to be the friendly Uber driver – making small talk and asking where they were heading to.
I was just secretly hoping that they would give me a five star rating as that would boost my credentials as a well-rated Uber driver.
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Credit: Credit: Credit: Verine Ling[/caption]
As this was during one of Uber’s regular promotions to entice people to try being an Uber driver, referral incentives and guaranteed top-up on hourly rates were dangled as carrots.
Watch Out! Certain promotional campaigns require an Uber driver to meet a minimum of 80% acceptance rate for bookings before qualifying for the incentives.
However, this might not always be explicitly stated on the website. Do make it a point to check with the Uber operators if there is such criteria before driving!
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Credit: Verine Ling[/caption]
Is It Really Easy Money?
I was perhaps a lazy Uber driver.
Despite the constant pinging of the Uber app throughout my entire shift, I only accepted a booking when I felt “ready” to hit the road again after a quick rest.
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Credit: Credit: )
Also, read We Hopped On The Makan Bus And Didn’t Wanna Get Off – Here’s Why!
