Search Toggle

Q&A: A University student's perspective of being an Uber driver

With Uber doing so well in the transport game these days, I thought it might be good to see what working in ride sharing really is like. To find out I spoke with Sam Carters about his new job as an Uber driver.

Uber driver Sam Carters and his vehicle. Credit: Sam Kromar

Why did you get into driving for Uber?
I wanted to do it for a while because I feel like it’s a really good part time job to have while I’m at university, the main thing is the flexibility in the hours. You can work as little or as much as you like, so you’ve got the flexibility during exams or things like that to work less during those weeks, with a normal job you have to get the time off but with Uber you can just do it as you please.
Do you make much money for the time you put into it?
Yeah I’m finding it’s really good. You definitely have to pick your times though. I tend to drive weekday mornings between about seven am and nine thirty, for that short bracket when people are heading to work. For those times I’ll probably make between about twenty five and thirty dollars an hour, after petrol. Then night times on Thursday, Friday and Saturday obviously, if you want to you can work until 3am.
Do you think the app work’s well as a system?
Yeah, I mean obviously they’re always trying to think of ways to make it better, as a driver I haven’t really had any issues with it. It’s pretty practical.
How about the feedback system?
A rating from one to five stars is a very subjective thing. Uber drivers are expected to have an average above four point five stars and if you start to drop below that your going to get a call from Uber. But the thing is some people will get a perfectly satisfactory ride, with nothing going over the top, then give a three star rating. Some people just consider that scale in a different kind of way.
Key insurers have finished carrying out a review into the premiums of taxi’s and ride sharing vehicles. Have you heard anything from management about that?
Well I got one email which told us about the change in the laws and said that by a certain date, all drivers that register after that date will have to operate by those rules but all current drivers aren’t included. When I became a driver I didn’t have to do anything different about my insurance.
Do you think that’s fair? For you to carry passengers too while taxi drivers have to pay thousands in insurance?
I don’t think it does seem fair, but I ‘m an Uber driver so I guess I benefit (laughs). I actually study Actuarial studies so I know a lot about insurance and insurance premiums. It does seem ridiculous that you can do that, having passengers means you’re on the road a lot more and the chance of having an accident goes up except your premium doesn’t change.
What’s the funniest fare you’ve ever carried?
Probably one of my lecturers from ANU after she’d had a few drinks. She got in the car pretty talkative as a lot of people are late at night after a few drinks, so she started telling me about what she did at ANU and then I recognised her straight away. After she finished I told her I had her as a lecturer a few semesters ago and she was very embarrassed, went a bit quiet after that.
 

Recent Comments

0

Be the first to comment!

Post Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *