Uber starts showing more US drivers how much they'll earn on potential trips
Uber has launched a few features designed to improve the experience and increase transparency for drivers. A few months ago, the ride-sharing giant started piloting a feature called "Upfront Fares" in a handful of cities. Now it's expanding its availability and rolling it out to most of the United States over the next few months. When accessing the features, drivers will see how much they will earn and where they are going for a trip on the request screen before accepting the booking.
According to the help page explaining how initial fares work, Uber calculates the displayed amount using several factors, "including base fares, estimated ride duration and duration, ride distance charging and surge pricing". Uber will also show drivers the cross streets closest to pickup and drop-off points to help them make a decision. Additionally, Uber will also expand the availability of "Trip Radar," a feature that shows drivers a list of possible nearby rides, along with initial fares. They will still receive individual travel requests, but they can now choose another booking that might suit them better.
Uber is positioning these new features as a way to support its drivers, but as Axios notes, the impact they may have on customers remains unclear. They could end up being misused and leading to increased discrimination of users and journeys if drivers view them as tools to avoid specific neighborhoods. That said, the features could also prevent canceled rides, as they allow drivers to make a conscious decision when accepting rides.
The company has also launched a new Uber Pro debit card that will allow drivers to earn money in exchange for gas at select stations. In March, Uber also added a fuel surcharge to rides and deliveries to help drivers cope with soaring gas prices.
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Uber has launched a few features designed to improve the experience and increase transparency for drivers. A few months ago, the ride-sharing giant started piloting a feature called "Upfront Fares" in a handful of cities. Now it's expanding its availability and rolling it out to most of the United States over the next few months. When accessing the features, drivers will see how much they will earn and where they are going for a trip on the request screen before accepting the booking.
According to the help page explaining how initial fares work, Uber calculates the displayed amount using several factors, "including base fares, estimated ride duration and duration, ride distance charging and surge pricing". Uber will also show drivers the cross streets closest to pickup and drop-off points to help them make a decision. Additionally, Uber will also expand the availability of "Trip Radar," a feature that shows drivers a list of possible nearby rides, along with initial fares. They will still receive individual travel requests, but they can now choose another booking that might suit them better.
Uber is positioning these new features as a way to support its drivers, but as Axios notes, the impact they may have on customers remains unclear. They could end up being misused and leading to increased discrimination of users and journeys if drivers view them as tools to avoid specific neighborhoods. That said, the features could also prevent canceled rides, as they allow drivers to make a conscious decision when accepting rides.
The company has also launched a new Uber Pro debit card that will allow drivers to earn money in exchange for gas at select stations. In March, Uber also added a fuel surcharge to rides and deliveries to help drivers cope with soaring gas prices.
All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
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