Have you ever felt that the job doesn't suit and you wanted to quit after working for few days? That is how I felt after the first week. It is a great job for those who loves driving. I have friends who can drive for 10 to 12 hours and still not tired.
Since I had decided to stop driving full-time, I wanted to make a driving guide for all new Uber drivers using my one month experience. LOL.
Uber Driving Guide
Basically, just minus off $100 per day for rental and petrol to get your earnings. There are two peak periods to push your earnings as a driver.
8am to 2pm. You can start at 9am if you do not like the traffic jams and 5pm to 12pm.
If you can work within this 2 peak periods, you are looking at around $250 - $300 per day or more on a lucky day.
Take note
*Events happening at Stadium or Expo (concerts, IT Fairs etc.)
*Lower vomit rate for night driving - Tanjong Pagar areas
*Remember which route to exit if you are travelling along KPE, there will not be any signal inside.
*There may be times where GPS hangs around CBD areas due to tall buildings.
| Time | Average earnings per hour | Remarks |
| Weekday | ||
| 0400 - 0600 | $20 | Airport |
| 0600 - 1100 | $20 - $30 | Stay around neighbourhood |
| 1100 - 1400 | $15 | Clock for incentive trips at CBD |
| 1400 - 1700 | $10 - $15 | Not much booking |
| 1700 - 2300 | $20 - $25 | Town area |
| 2300 - 0300 | $20 - $25 | Town area |
| 0300 - 0400 | Usually no booking | |
| Saturday | ||
| 0900 - 1700 | $20 - $25 | Stay around neighbourhood |
| 1700 - 1900 | $20 - $25 | Not much booking |
| 2100 - 0300 | $25 - $30 | Town area |
| Sunday | ||
| 0900 - 2300 | $20 |
Navigation Apps
Google Maps - Most flexible as you can see all your routes along the trip and choose the fastest or the shortest route to the destination. Dropping passenger at the correct side of the road. Waze have this issue of dropping off the passenger at the opposite side of the road. However, starting of the navigation may posed some issue as I had to repeatedly press the "Start" before navigation starts.
Waze - Recommended for night driving (we drive faster during the night) as it shows the speed traps location. Fast access to start navigation but every turns are very delayed so for routes that have to turn left and then turn right immediately will give you heart attacks.
Uber Nav - Fastest access to directions as you will not have to open another map apps to navigate. Does not show you the which exit number to take at the expressway which I do not like. Easiest for Uberpool trips. Take note that riders are supposed to go to the pickup or drop off location at the side of the roads to facilitate easier continuation of trips shown at the Uber app. But this is not the case thus you will sometimes not find the rider along the side of the road but instead at their block.
How to get 5* trips easily?
- Greet all your riders - Hello, Bye bye. It is that easy. I don't initiate conversation to my riders as talking when driving can be quite distracting.
- Do not miss your turn - If riders knew their routes, too bad for you. Apologise after the trip may get you better ratings 3* - 4*
- Accommodate your riders request - Remember that you are now in a customer service line. Just follow their request on routes they chose. Uber will make all the fare adjustment accordingly.
- Just accept the damn $0.10 cash fare - I read that drivers that say no to the fares due to pride or ego and even show their blackface to the riders. WTH!!! This is your money. Take it as they may have discount code. Uber will top up fares to minimum of $5.
- Ask for help if you need it and always confirm their drop off location - there will be riders that put their drop off location at A and want to stop at B.
I hope that my guide can help all new drivers on the road. Lastly, drive safe.
