Passengers boarding Uber ride-share cars at Los Angeles International Airport.
Photo:
DAVID SWANSON/REUTERS
Uber
UBER 4.90%
Technologies Inc. is introducing a host of new features aimed at appealing to drivers as it grapples with a yearlong labor shortage that has kept ride prices high.
Drivers have pushed for greater control and flexibility as they work for Uber.
Starting next month, Uber said that drivers in the U.S. will be able to see expected earnings before accepting a trip. The company began testing the feature in some cities earlier this year. In addition to higher pay, drivers have often asked to see earnings upfront so they can decide if a ride is worth the payout.
Another feature also launching in August will allow drivers to choose from a list of potential trips as opposed to sticking with the ride Uber matches them to, giving them greater flexibility.
“A big part of 2021 was doing a better job of listening and understanding drivers’ experiences with our products and processes,” Uber Chief Executive
Dara Khosrowshahi
said in a Friday blog post outlining the new measures. “We’ve spent hundreds of hours listening to what drivers want,” he wrote.
The pandemic crushed demand for Uber and rival
Lyft Inc.’s
rides. But riders are now returning to the apps at a pace outpacing the supply of drivers. Many ride-share drivers turned to delivering groceries and food during the health crisis and some haven’t returned. High gas prices and rising crime against gig workers exacerbated the companies’ pain.
The continuing labor shortage has pushed ride prices to new highs and fares have remained elevated.
Uber and Lyft have sought to sweeten the deal for drivers over the past year. Both companies poured millions of dollars into driver bonuses last year. They began emailing past and current drivers with more insights into earnings opportunities.
Uber separately announced some career-building programs and partnered with a university in Arizona to fund education for top drivers.
On Friday, Uber announced a new debit card through which drivers can receive cash back at select gas stations. Food-delivery company
DoorDash Inc.
has a similar card for drivers.
Uber also said it would rework its rewards program for drivers. For instance, drivers with a certain number of points will be able to choose the neighborhoods they want to work in.
Write to Preetika Rana at [email protected]
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Appeared in the July 30, 2022, print edition as ‘Uber Introduces Features To Attract More Drivers.’
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