Only on Uber: more flexibility, choice, and support

At Uber, we’ve spent the last couple of years refocusing our efforts to innovate for drivers. It’s our goal to make Uber the best platform for flexible work in the world.

A big part of 2021 was doing a better job of listening and understanding drivers’ experiences with our products and processes. Many employees—including me—hit the road ourselves to experience the app like you do. We then announced a series of changes, but we knew there was more we could do. 

While consumers tend to interact with their Uber app for a few minutes several times a week, drivers are often interacting with the Driver app for several hours a day. So every bad experience is that much more painful—and every bug we fix, experience we improve, or feature we launch is that much more meaningful.

One thing we’ve heard loud and clear is that making the Driver app the absolute best platform to earn requires three things: more flexibility, more choice, and more support.

Today, we’re announcing key new features that are a direct result of understanding and investing in the driver experience—and they’re only available on Uber. I had the chance to announce these new innovations to more than a hundred drivers in person yesterday in Washington DC, and I’m excited to share them with the world.

THE MOST FLEXIBILITY & CHOICE ON THE ROAD

Showing drivers how much they’ll earn and where they’re going before accepting a trip

With Upfront Fares, we’ve completely reimagined the way drivers accept rides.

Our new trip request screen makes it easier for drivers to decide if a trip is worth their time and effort by providing all the details—including exactly how much they’ll earn and where they’re going—upfront.

We piloted Upfront Fares in a handful of cities earlier this year. Drivers loved being able to make more informed choices for themselves—but the rider experience improved, too, with higher trip completion rates and lower wait times. Based on this, and on positive driver feedback, we are expanding Upfront Fares to most of the US over the coming months. 

Giving drivers more trips to choose from

Historically, drivers have been sent just one trip request at a time. Trip Radar is a new feature that lets drivers see a list of other trips happening nearby. Drivers will still get individual trip requests like before, but with Trip Radar they have the ability to pick another trip that might work better for them. 

Trip Radar will be expanding along with Upfront Fares over the next few months.

SUPPORTING DRIVERS AT EVERY TURN

We’ve spent hundreds of hours listening to what drivers want. In addition to more control over trip requests, it was clear that they also want more support and recognition. We got to work on new ways to reward and thank drivers for their time spent on the road. 

Savings on gas, so drivers take home more of their earnings

We partnered with Mastercard, Branch and Marqeta on a new Uber Pro debit card and checking account that will help drivers save on gas, fees, and more.

When drivers pay for gas with the Uber Pro Card, they’ll get cash back at any station, in any city. The higher their Uber Pro status, the more cash back—that means up to 7% cash back on gas at select stations with Diamond status. Drivers can also add their card to an Upside gas savings account to get up to 25 cents per gallon back. 

Because it’s a debit card, there’s no credit check or annual fees. And drivers’ earnings will be deposited directly into their Uber Pro Card account after every trip—free of charge.

The card will be available to all drivers in the coming months but the waitlist opens today! Sign up here.

Better rewards to recognize drivers’ work

In November, we’ll reintroduce the Uber Pro program to better recognize and reward drivers with Diamond status in a way that’s unprecedented in our industry—with an annual cash reward! 

Depending on drivers’ Uber Pro status, they’ll get new experiential benefits, like Area Preferences that let you choose the areas where you pick up and drop-off riders, in addition to discounts on drinks and snacks from 7-Eleven and an annual Gold Star Membership from Costco for new members.

Of course, we’re keeping some of the most popular rewards like 100% tuition coverage at Arizona State University online, free access to learn a new language with Rosetta Stone, and priority support. 

These new features are part of our ongoing commitment to raising the bar for our industry and provide drivers with the most flexible, lucrative, and rewarding work opportunities, anywhere.