‘Follow these rules and it's hard to fail’: An Uber driver explains how he keeps a near-perfect rating

In his bi-weekly newsletter, Rideshare Drivers React, Harry Campbell highlighted a feature that was shared by both Lyft and Uber’s most recent earnings reports. 

Campbell, the owner of the popular industry blog, The Rideshare Guy, wrote: “There’s been ample coverage this week of Lyft (and Uber’s) earnings call, but one thing that stood out to me is that Lyft finally admitted to raising prices on riders without paying the difference to drivers.”

For some drivers that detail could spell trouble. After all, if customers decide to use rideshare apps less, because of increased prices, that could hurt drivers most, especially without an increase in compensation. 

Take the price increases, throw in a battle in California over whether drivers should be considered employees, then add the driver-led protests seen around the country earlier in the year and it’s clear some drivers share plenty of grievances. 

The key word, however, is "some." 

“My paychecks are consistent and I work 7-8 hours a day,” David Thew wrote in response to Campbell. “No real complaints”

Thew is a 61-year-old Uber driver based in Las Vegas. Since he began driving for Uber in January 2018, the former truck driver has completed nearly 6,800 rides, achieving a near-perfect rating along the way (4.97 out of 5 stars). Thew is also a “Diamond” driver, the highest rated designation in Uber Pro, the rideshare company’s driver rewards system. 

When asked what factors are key to his driving success, he shares a few basic principles: 

1.) Don't talk politics or religion. 

2.) Be polite. Joke around if you have the knack, but keep it civil. 

3.) Offer bottled water and Android and iPhone chargers.

4.) Keep your car clean and smelling great.

“Follow these rules and it's hard to fail,” Thew says. 

Thew also shared how he takes most advantage of driving Uber and why being a contractor — as opposed to an employee — suits him well. 

What driving earns

Thew says he earns between $3,500 and $4,500 each month working seven to eight hours per day, mainly during the day time. “Too many sloppy drunks during the night in Las Vegas,” Thew says. “I can deal with ‘happy drunks’ during the day.”  

When asked about how happy he is with his pay, he only has mild criticisms of Uber’s bonus payments. As a Diamond driver, he receives the biggest bonus payments Uber offers. Other perks include discounts on car repairs, a separate customer support team and online college courses.  

Maintaining a near perfect rating

Thew’s advice for other drivers when it comes to customer ratings includes philosophical rules, like that point about avoiding religion and politics. 

“It is better not to discuss things that they might not share or believe in, as you do,” Thew says. “As a driver, you will pick up all walks of life of people. It’s not my place to openly judge anyone. If you wish to retain a high rating, do your job; drive.”

And then there are very detailed pointers, like the type of scent he uses for his car: “I use Vanillaroma trees and I have matching towels down on my seats, which I routinely spray with Febreze.”  

But when asked about one particularly underrated point of advice he has for drivers, he talks about how to avoid unfair reviews. 

“Make sure that if you happen to have a passenger that is rude or disrespectful, give them a rating that is deserved. I guarantee, they WILL give YOU a bad rating,” Thew says.

“This helps to cover yourself so that Uber can review it and if they feel you were unjustly rated poorly, they will remove it.” 

The drivers who don’t want to be employees

As California’s state legislature considers passing a law that would make rideshare drivers employees, it’s worth noting the reasons why some drivers appreciate being contractors and not having to work a steady job.

“Haven't tried to think about it,” Thew says, when asked what he’d be doing without Uber. “I would be hard pressed to keep a 9-to-5 job, working for a boss, worrying about my back acting up and costing me my job.”

Thew jokes about having the ability to take a break from driving to rest that back any time he wants — “at least I know my boss won't fire me” — and that rest is necessary because of a work injury he suffered while unloading a truck one day, which resulted in two spinal surgeries within five months of each other.

So, it’s no surprise what side of the national conversation he falls on when it comes to how drivers should be classified. 

“I like things as they are,” he says. “Yes, we have rules to follow, but they are common sense rules. I do not want to be under a boss again. I choose my own hours. I rest my back as needed. I stress a lot less. I am disciplined in my work habits, my work ethics. What works for me may not be ideal for another, but they chose to be self employed. If it's not working for them, then go back to the working class sector again.”

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