Do Uber drivers prefer short trips or long trips? (to see…)
I live far from the nearest airport. Almost 45 minutes without traffic. Since I hate bothering my friends, I either park at the airport or call an Uber.
One day an Uber driver thanked me for a long ride. I’ve always felt that Uber prefers short trips, but this got me wondering… do Uber drivers prefer short trips or long trips?
Do Uber drivers prefer short trips or long trips?
Preference or avoidance of Uber long-distance trips appears to depend on the Uber driver, the specific service offered, the location, and the likelihood of picking up a passenger on the long-distance trip return journey.
This article explores Uber drivers’ preference for short trips: why it happens, whether it’s allowed to happen, and what to do if you can’t find a driver for a longer-than-usual Uber trip.
Can an Uber driver refuse a long trip?
Uber drivers, as independent contractors, don’t have to accept any trips they don’t want to take. Many Uber drivers will turn down a long trip simply because the cost of fuel and the possibility of a long return trip with no passengers means they make very little money on the trip.
When a potential rider requests a longer-than-usual ride, Uber alerts drivers that the fare will be too long. Drivers can then decline the job without fear of hurting their Driver Rating.
While this can be frustrating for riders looking for long-distance rides, it’s fairer for Uber drivers, who can exercise some control over their schedules this way.
However, while some Uber drivers don’t want these long trips, it’s still possible to find drivers who are ready for the long haul. There are plenty of Uber drivers who are happy to devote their time to long trips: it must be a matter of connecting with them via the app.
Read: How reliable is Uber for scheduling rides?
When can an Uber driver refuse a ride?
Basically, Uber drivers can refuse a ride for any reason (in other words, cancel or decline a ride through the app) because they are independent contractors driving their own vehicles.
Uber drivers can also refuse to accept certain riders, which is absolutely necessary for driver safety. In fact, in some cases, Uber encourages drivers to refuse rides. When it comes to the safety of a driver (or passenger), sometimes the onus is much greater on the driver for denying a request.
This may include riders under the age of 18, or being loud, drunk, aggressive and/or violent.
Uber drivers cannot discriminate against passenger requests based on gender, religion, or race, or whether the passenger has a service animal (i.e., an active animal) working rather than pets.
Uber drivers themselves are required to take breaks after 12 hours of driving (or surfing the web). At this point they will be prompted to log off for at least 6 hours.
How far can an Uber driver take you?
When an Uber driver accepts a request online, the Uber Driver app will let the driver know if the potential ride will take longer than 45 minutes. At this point, some drivers will decline the job and let others take it.
That said, the company has official limits on how far you can travel in an Uber-assigned vehicle, with a single trip limited to eight hours. So technically, you can travel where you want to go using just the Uber service, provided you start a new trip after every eight-hour limit runs out.
The time limit was only recently added to Uber’s platform, which the company claims is a way to ensure drivers are protected and avoid overwork. However, time limits (and their enforcement) vary by country.
Read: Can you pay cash for Uber?
How to Plan a Long Uber Ride
If your Uber ride is longer than usual, you can still book a ride as usual – and be sure to enter accurate destination details. Never enter a location closer than your actual location and hope to convince the driver to “go further away”.
After making your request, all you have to do is wait for the driver to respond. Depending on where you use the service, it may take a while to find a driver for a long ride request.
If you have a driver and your trip ends before you reach your destination (in other words, you hit the time limit), you will have to end the trip. At this point, simply open the app and request a new itinerary.
You can switch drivers or have your previous Uber driver accept your new ride request and continue the trip that way. If it’s a particularly long ride, you may need to do this a few times.
Uber recommends calling your driver ahead of time to make sure they know they’re on a long trip. Uber drivers are private contractors and have the right to refuse any ride.
What do most Uber drivers like?
Most Uber drivers prefer shorter trips, ferrying passengers from one location to another at a time, hoping to earn bonuses along the way. This way drivers can earn money the entire time they drive. Long trips without passengers on the return trip are not always profitable.
However, some drivers prefer to travel longer distances, prefer to pay a higher fare at the end of the journey, and don’t care about “empty miles” on the way home. Just identify your needs and connect with the right driver.
summarize
Uber drivers, as contractors using their own vehicles, are responsible for creating and maintaining their own driving schedules. This means that the choice to accept long-distance driving is entirely up to the individual driver.
Many drivers avoid long trips because the drive home is usually not in a busy city center, depending on the location.
That means Uber drivers are less likely to find passengers on the return trip, so the cost is on the driver.
Passengers who need to travel long distances need to be clear and informed of details in advance – this allows drivers to appropriately decline requests or accept journeys and the distance and time involved.
