According to a JPMorgan Chase Institute study from 2018, monthly earnings for Uber and Lyft drivers dropped by 53 percent between 2013 and 2017, from $ 1,469 to $ 783. Another survey by MIT showed that a significant number of drivers earn less than the minimum hourly wage of their state. Ride-sharing companies challenged the studies, but the evidence suggests that it is difficult for drivers in the gig economy.
The ridesharing services compete in most larger US cities, so it is very much a buyers market. And drivers will do better if they have a head start – and if riders have a good experience. So if you drive for Uber or Lyft, it might be time to stack the deck with convenient – and not too expensive – accessories to dress up your rhythm.
Here is a guide to a number of innovative products, available online, for strengthening and improving your ride-sharing activities with 5-star assessments.
Start it
There are some items – a set of essential items – that you want to have at hand to make life easier for you and your passengers. You want a telephone attachment for your phone, a charging cable for you and a universal charger for your passengers. Other useful items are a tissue box, emesis (barf) bags and both fabrics or paper towels. For the unexpected, you want gloves, a rain poncho and a set of ties. If you have to wonder why you need this, you probably should not drive for Uber or Lyft.
Sometimes you can find pre-assembled kits online, so you do not have to buy everything separately. The eight-in-one Rideshare set (if in stock) includes a universal phone holder for hands-free operation, a car charger, a four-port USB charging point and charging cables for iPhones and Androids, a male to male aid cord, a tissue box holder that attaches to the headrest or visor of the car, emesis bags and two microfiber towels. A cheaper version is the Rideshare Essentials Kit ($ 25), which lacks the loading stuff but adds the element of emergency repairs with gloves, masks and a tire kit, plus mileage and expense logs.
Good memories
Both Lyft and Uber allow it to tilt, and many drivers offer their passengers sweets in the backseat and mobile charging to put them in a generous mood. But why do not they combine all three? There is a combi-tip box on Amazon, but sometimes you find similar items for less money on eBay or elsewhere. If you are handy, you can even make your own. This tip box is illuminated to get the attention of the passengers. The candy box is made of transparent plastic, so that you are ready with a new filling. There are double loading ports for grateful passengers.
Hint hint
If your passengers do not get the message about assessing and tipping their driver, one of these 6X4-inch hanging labels reminds them and describes the available services – charging and selecting music. The other (the bad agent) tells them that they can not smoke, eat, drink or drink alcohol. In the event that your passengers take offense, the signs are tear-resistant.
Get away clean
Passengers also appreciate a clean car and when they come across one, they want to drive in again. That is why a good manual vacuum is essential to be able to use the 12 volts of the car. For $ 50, this wireless Black and Decker unit is certainly not the cheapest available, but it has a lithium-ion battery, smart charging technology that reduces energy consumption, strong suction, a bagless and washable bin and a limited two-year warranty. On the other hand, there are many cheaper solid vacuum cleaners, such as those from Xool, equipped with a HEPA filter.
Nice sitting
If your passengers drive on leather seats, AMMO makes a Mousse interior amplifier. If you think ahead, you may want to keep the complete kit for the company's interior at hand. Turtle Wax Upholstery Cleaner goes after lint, cat and dog hair and dirt. Speaking about this, a sturdy lint roller is good to have on hand. Scotch-Brite makes quality components for car interiors.
No hands
Mobile holders come down to personal preference (and the phone you own, although many are universal), but there is undoubtedly a good one that is indispensable – GPS is the best friend of the driver of the ride sharing. eBay has a large selection (priced between $ 5 and $ 20). Most use suction cups to attach to the windshield, and magnets to hold the phone, but there are also units that are mounted in the slot of the CD player (assuming it is not used for music) or the air vents. . The most important thing is that the holder is flexible enough so that you can see the phone without taking your eyes off the road.
A permanent record
A good dashcam is your protection against both bad passenger behavior and the blame for an accident that could be someone else's fault. This Magellan RoadMate dash cam also offers GPS with North American maps and 8 GB of internal memory (expandable via microSD up to 64 GB). A windbreak attachment and a power adapter are included.
Other things to keep at hand:
- Heavy starting cables
A working jack
A portable jump starter
Umbrella (s)
Business cards
Karaoke option (optional)
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