The Five Stages Of A Rideshare Driving Career

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The Five Stages Of A Rideshare Driving Career

Join RSG contributor Jay Cradeur as he shares the five stages of rideshare drivers.

As I sit here at the new Paris Baguette coffee shop in Roseville, I am reminiscing on my driving career. Over eight years ago, I began driving, amassing over 30,200 trips.?

Most of my memories are positive, and I certainly feel gratitude for the opportunities that have arisen from my driving career. I did notice there are a few stages of drivers out there on the road.?

I have experienced every one of them at some point in my career. I share this with you with the intention that you can see where you are and choose to move into a more supportive stage.?

Let’s jump in.

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Stage 1: The Excited Enthusiast

The Enthusiast is the newbie.?

They have just started their driving career and love driving and getting paid for it. I experienced this zeal during the first three months of my driving career in early 2016.?

I was excited, researching the best places to drive and experimenting with the best times. The future feels bright. I still remember my first ride.?

I asked my passenger for advice, and she told me to drive nice and slow. Take it easy. “The passenger is not in a hurry, even though you may be.” That was some great advice early in my career!

Positives: There’s a thrill in discovering the nuances of a new job. The flexibility and immediate earnings can be very satisfying, especially when combined with the social interactions and the novelty of exploring different locales.

Negatives: However, this stage can also be overwhelming due to the lack of experience. Navigating through traffic rules, managing time efficiently, and handling varied customer behaviors can pose significant challenges to newcomers.

Stage 2: The Blissful Full-Timer

Eventually, the Excited Enthusiast may pursue a full-time career in rideshare driving.?

This happened to me almost immediately after driving in Sacramento for a few months.?

I experimented with driving in San Francisco for a few weekends. I had created a spreadsheet to show how much I could make if I drove 10 hours a day, six days a week.?

This involved calculating how many rides I could complete and which bonuses I could earn. I saw a path to $2,000 net per week. I was happy. I was excited. I saw a bright future.

Positives: The steady income and the satisfaction of providing a valuable service can make this stage particularly rewarding. Full-time drivers often develop a deeper understanding of customer service and can optimize their schedules for maximum profit.

Negatives: The reliance on a single source of income can be risky, especially as market conditions and platform algorithms change. The repetitive nature of the job might also lead to burnout. You can also get physically exhausted, which may lead to knee and lower back pain.

Stage 3: The Reluctant Grinder

As the economy has taken a turn for the worse, more and more people are driving for Uber and Lyft. Those fat $500 bonuses are no longer available.?

The pay has been decimated by the big tech companies intent on delivering a profit for their shareholders.?

In other words, it’s not 2016 any longer.?

Times are much more challenging. The Reluctant Grinder knows this all too well.?

However, as jobs are not as plentiful either, they must continue to drive to make ends meet. If you have a family to support, you have got to work, albeit reluctantly. You would instead do something else that pays better, but the options are limited for many people. So, you drive.

Positives: This stage builds resilience and adaptability. Drivers learn to navigate economic and market adversities, often developing valuable skills in personal finance and stress management.

Negatives: The grind can be demoralizing, and the lack of enjoyment can affect one’s mental health. Financial instability can also become a significant burden.

Stage 4: The Creative Tool Maker

This is when driving becomes fun again. The Creative Tool Maker uses his driving revenue to support him while he works on his next project or his Plan B.?

When your future is bigger, your present is sweeter. You are on a path. You see something ahead of you that you want, and driving becomes a tool you can use to get you there.

Positives: This stage allows for creative exploration and personal growth. Many drivers use the job's flexibility to pursue other passions or business ideas, which can lead to fulfilling career transitions.

Negatives: The uncertainty of a new venture and the dual demands of driving and pursuing another project can be overwhelming and exhausting. It also takes tremendous courage to start a new project; many find this very uncomfortable.

Stage 5: The Rested Connoisseur

This final stage encompasses the drivers who drive when they want to.?

Driving is not for the money but for the love of the craft. There is a game we all play when we drive. We drive to maximize our per-hour earnings.?

Within that larger game, we play the smaller games of:?

• When is the best time to drive?
• What are the best days to drive?
• Which are the best rides to take, and which should you decline?
• What conversations should I have to make more significant tips?
• Does it make sense to drive at night with drunk passengers??

The Rested Connoisseur loves the big game and all the smaller games.?

Thanks to Uber and Lyft’s gamification of rideshare driving, a lot of dopamine is released based on all the sounds and notifications we can earn on the road. It’s a game, and we came to play and feel the exhilaration when we win!

Positives: There's a profound sense of mastery and autonomy at this stage. Drivers can optimize their schedules to their lifestyle, focusing on enjoyment and personal satisfaction rather than just earnings.

Negatives: This laissez-faire approach might yield inconsistent income, which can be challenging if financial needs increase or the market shifts.

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Key Takeaways

Rideshare driving offers a unique career path with various stages, each presenting challenges and rewards.?

Understanding these stages can help drivers navigate their careers more effectively, making strategic choices about how they want to integrate this flexible work option into their more extensive life plans.?

It has been a significant chapter in my life. While I hardly drive any longer, I look back fondly at all the experiences, the passengers, and fellow drivers worldwide.?

What a ride! Be safe out there.

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