Four Years of Uber Driver Data and Stories
February 21 this year marked my fourth anniversary as an Uber driver. Funny thing, Uber sent me a "Happy 6th Anniversary" message—I'm not sure where they're pulling their data from, but that's a story for another day. Rewind to February 17, 2020, I found myself in Las Vegas, venting to my Uber driver, Bronislav from Croatia, about money woes. He suggested I try Uber driving. Taking his advice to heart, I signed up for my flight back, and by February 21, I was ready to hit the road.
My first ride was memorable, to say the least. I cruised at 60mph in the left lane when Uber pinged me with a trip. Confused and excited, I missed the exit. Still, my passenger, one of four college girls, three of whom didn't speak English, was surprisingly understanding—and they even tipped! That night was misleadingly generous with tips, setting a tone that didn't strictly stick around. I only get tipped on about 40% of my trips. But that's how my adventure began, at 7:44 PM on February 21, 2020.
Here are some quick-fire stats from my journey:
My shortest trip was a mere block—a .1-mile jaunt with a generous tip thanks to a surge, netting me about $20.
My most extended haul took me from Syracuse to Philadelphia, a trip that turned a passenger, Nathan, into a friend.
I've picked up folks from all over, including someone from the sparsely populated Mongolia and another from the remote Indian Ocean island of Mayotte.
Of course, not all rides are smooth sailing. The occasional passenger vomit, door slams, or just plain rudeness happens, but it's rare. Summarizing some numbers:
I've made $99,536.01 in four years Uber driving.
I've given 8,819 trips, mostly UberX, with around 120 Lyft and 200 Uber Eats trips sprinkled in
Fuel (gas and electricity) cost me $10,000.19.
I estimate $8,819.87 in depreciation, $5,824.09 in taxes, and $3,520.30 in estimated maintenance.
This all adds up to a total expense of $28,164.46.
This leaves me with a profit of $71,371.55.
I've logged 100,455 miles.
I've been online for 2,960 hours.
I've averaged $33.58 per app-on hour.
My net profit per hour is $24.70.
Precisely 39% of my passengers have tipped, with the most significant tip being a $100 bill from a father-son duo during a COVID Christmas road trip.
Here's an interesting tidbit: while I've earned $99k, passengers have paid $155k for my rides. This discrepancy just underscores the cost of doing business in the gig economy. But honestly, I wouldn't change a thing. Uber gives me the flexibility and freedom to live on my terms. Sure, it's not a path to riches. Still, it's a viable way to make a living despite the physical and safety challenges and the odd hours you need to work to profit.
This journey has reinforced my desire to create "Tip You in the App," a space for us, the drivers, to connect, share, and support each other in this solitary gig. The big companies and passengers might not always have our backs, but we've got each other's in this community. Here's to sharing stories, offering a shoulder to lean on, and celebrating our collective drive.
Stay safe and keep thriving,
— Levi
