SherpaShare

Connecting Online

Facebook groups with rideshare drivers are growing incredibly fast, both in the number of groups and the size of the existing groups. The most difficult part as a driver in seems to be not being able to weed out what groups are actually most relevant.

There are pros and cons to being part of your local Facebook group. Pros are you can ask a question in an instant and potentially get a good answer, and you’ll find out about events, surges, and tips you otherwise would have never have none about. The cons are many of them are the wild west, and you'll hear it all, both positive and negative.

If you’re looking for another community hub, the SherpaShare Facebook page regularly publishes driving stories, data, and information, and answer commonly asked questions from drivers. Check it out.

Meetups In Your City

When drivers think of community they tend to think of Lyft. Lyft has by far done the most to foster a sense of community and shared driver values. What that has created is regular meetups and driver events in many cities. And now, what was once primarily Lyft-oriented, has expanded to include drivers from across all services (since nearly 3/4 of drivers work for 2 or more services). The companies occasionally send out emails about local driver events, particularly Lyft and Sidecar.

Using SherpaShare

We offer a few great ways to help you connect with other drivers in your city and around the US. In addition to the Facebook group, in our iPhone app you can chat with drivers nearby, learn about what’s happening in real-time, and see where other drivers are - you can even use our app to invite a fellow driver to a coffee break!

We realize that beautiful metrics of your driving performance can only get you so far. There’s nothing quite like having a 10 minute conversation with a veteran multi-service driver and learning some awesome local tips.

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Should I head to the city?

If you’re doing delivery services, you may not have much location choice, as you’ll generally have an assigned area where you wait for requests. But for ridesharing, you’ve got some options to choose from. Here’s one drivers approach:

”I knew I wanted to go downtown (San Francisco) when I was first starting out. I’d use Sidecar’s destination filter to try to get a fare over the Bay Bridge [now Lyft has this too]. I usually don’t get a passenger but it’s always a bonus when I do. Once across the bridge, it’s usually a few seconds until I get a fare. And typically wherever I get a fare out too, I generally head back into the direction of downtown until I get my next fare.” - Driver, San Francisco

Here’s some advice: Try not to spend too much time driving around looking for rides. Keep in mind that you’re burning gas, and your fuel expenses can really start to add up. Using the expense tracking feature on SherpaShare can save you time and money by helping you learn how to work smarter.

What about airport rides?

IMPORTANT: Make sure you check if your city allows rideshare services to work at the airports. If you’re able to pickup at the airport in your city, it can be a great opportunity to find rides with high fares. The downside is that you might have more time in-between rides. Here’s one drivers take:

”I like having longer rides every once in a while, and the best bet for that is going to the airport. Even if I have to wait for a bit, it’s a good boost knowing you’ll likely get a good fare once it does come in. If I find myself waiting too long, I’ll head back into the city.” - Driver, Houston

We recommend that, if it’s legal in your city, you mix it up with airport and city rides. Sometimes you can get lucky and pick up a passenger at the airport, and then drive them home to a busy part of town where you can quickly pick up another ride. As always, remember to be aware of your surroundings. Judge the location of the airport and if possible, to save gas, wait for your next ride. The exception to the rule is that if you are in an area that’s slow or has no passengers, then quickly move to a busier area.

Working events in your city

Making driving decisions based on events is tricky. It can payoff big - with surges and prime time rates - but also has risks. The classic examples are major sporting events, concerts, and conferences. All at once thousands of people are on the street staring at their phones waiting for a driver to pick them up. And you’re deciding: Should I go after that demand?

We’ve heard polar opposite responses from veteran and new drivers alike.

“Position yourself for the event, go after that surge” -versus- “go in the opposite direction of the event and don’t overthink it”.

Here’s our advice: Stay up to date on if there are major events happening nearby, and if you do happen to be nearby, know how to avoid the crowded intersections. If you get a request, suggest to your passenger, if willing, to walk a block or two away from the crowds toward you. It may save you and the passenger significant time, and it also make it easier for them to find you. Also, don’t forget to keep an eye on the surges.

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Full-time driver?

During the week: We’ve seen a few common approaches for weekday driving for full timers: Early shifts (starting at 6am or earlier) or afternoon shifts (starting around 4pm). The early drivers get to benefit from the early morning airport runs. This works especially well in cities where transit isn’t running yet (or transit is non-existent) and people are rushing to catch morning flights.

The afternoon drivers are usually hoping to catch the afternoon rush hour crowd (commuting from work) and the late night scene (getting passengers to an from restaurants, concerts, events, and other evening plans).

Weekends: If you can work weekends, do it. These are generally the most lucrative times to work, and even the middle of the day many drivers benefit from surge pricing or prime time fares. So even if driving the late night bar crowd isn’t your scene, don’t forget that the weekend mornings and afternoons can also be a great time to work.

Or part-time?

Of course, there’s nothing fundamentally different here than above. However, we’ve seen a few common patterns for those that typically work 20 hours or less per week:

During The Week: This crowd generally drives at night after they get home from their other job. Many drivers decide to pick up a few passengers during rush hour and dinner time, which is a great way to earn some extra cash while keeping your weekends free.

Weekends: Alternatively, choosing to work a few longer shifts on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday can be a good way to bring in extra money.

Maximize your efficiency by working on weekends - that’s when most drivers usually earn their highest $/per hour ratio.

Non-traditional driving times?

The trick to make money during the slow hours: Outside of these more traditional peak times, you can actually do quite well to maximize non-peak times, and we’re seeing it done more and more. The secrets to this are working for 2 or more services and balancing complementary services, such as driving and delivery.

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Driver Tip #1: Plan your work schedule

One of the biggest perks of ride-sharing is that you can create your own schedule. While this may sound like ultimate freedom, the truth is that you can significantly multiply your income just by driving the right days and times.

For example, during a slow time of day, you might be lucky to average $10 and hour - but if you work a busy time of day with surge pricing, you might earn $40 an hour. By driving smarter you can work less hours, while making more money.

Services like Lyft, for example, will show you a schedule with estimated earnings per hour. While this is a good place to start, it’s not guaranteed. That’s why we recommend using the SherpaShare dashboard to find the best times to drive.

See where on your dashboard you can see your daily stats

We use real driver data and insights to show you what days drivers are making the most money. This allows you to quickly and easily choose which days to drive. Here’s another tip: If you drive full time, try to take your days off during the slowest days of the week.

And don’t forget, there are usually a ton of rides early in the morning and late at night. So if you’re a early bird or a night owl, don’t miss out on these lucrative hours. A quick word of advice: mornings are usually busy with commuters, while the nights are filled with people getting a ride home from the bars. Depending on your personality, you’ll probably love one and hate the other.

The other benefit of setting a schedule? You can make sure you hit your target income. By setting aside a set number of hours per week to drive, you are much more likely to hit your income goals. Your SherpaShare Dashboard can also help you see where you’re at financially for the week, and how much further you need to go.

Driver Tip #2: Avoid Rush Hour Gridlock

Here’s a quick cautionary tale:

”My first passenger pickup happened to be on Market Street in San Francisco during rush hour. Imagine balancing rush hour traffic, greeting your first passengers, starting the ride, not really knowing where they were going, and trying to fumble with using navigation? Now it’s old hat, but those first rides definitely we’re a bit stressful.” - Driver, San Francisco

Remember, miles pay more than minutes. If you’re stuck in rush hour for 30 minutes, and you only drive 2 miles, you’re going to earn a painfully low fare. (Unless there’s a major surge price in effect!) On the other hand, if you’re zipping down the highway, a 15 minute ride may earn you a big fare.

Many drivers find rush hour to be a stressful time to drive. It’s important to be patient and not get stressed. If you’re new to ride-sharing, you’ll want to take things easy at first. Here’s a tip: Mention to your passengers it’s your first day. They’ve probably heard it before, and they’ll usually be more friendly and patient (it also helps to have some basic city knowledge).

Until you’re comfortable with the ins-and-outs of being a driver (using the app, navigating, dealing with passengers) take it easy, and avoid the extra stress of rush hour.

Driver Tip #3: Be Careful Where You Park

”My first delivery pickup was in Palo Alto and I was picking up food from a few restaurants during the lunch time rush and delivering to a few nearby offices. The pace and expectation was quite different than having a passenger, but it took some getting used to on how to review and ensure accuracy of the order - the most important thing.” - Driver, Silicon Valley

Whether you’re waiting for a passenger or pulling over somewhere to pick up a delivery, you might find that you’re parked somewhere that’s far from an official parking spot. The good news? As long as you’re pulled over in a safe place and you’re not there for too long, the odds are you’ll be ok. But remember, the last thing you want to get is a ticket.

Here are some tips: Don’t stop somewhere that can block traffic and stay away from crosswalks and intersections. If you’re parked illegally and your passenger is taking a long time to arrive, send them a friendly text to remind them that you’ve arrive - and if necessary, find a more appropriate spot to wait for them.

Waiting for your next ride? Try pulling over in a big open parking lot (like those outside of grocery stores). These areas are usually centrally located so you can pick up another ride fast, plus parking there is free - this can save you from driving around in circles and wasting gas.

Driver Tip #4: Keep Your Phone Charged.

New drivers are often amazed at how quickly their phones die on the road. Between the apps and navigation running non stop, you battery will drain quickly. Remember: If your phone dies - you can’t get any rides. It seems simple, but it’s happened to the best of us, and it’s a nuisance:

”I had a phone charger but for some reason it wasn’t working in the car outlet, so I had to get creative. I took out my computer and put it under the driver seat, and charged directly from the computer. However, I had to keep tapping it on so the charge would stay active. I was taking a passenger home from the airport so needed the GPS. It was pretty bootleg, and in retrospect, not very safe. - Driver, Los Angeles

Get a car charger and drive with your phone plugged in. Driving is also a lot easier when you have a good car phone mount. should we recommend specific car mount?

Here are some additional time saving tips: Take some snacks and water with you on the road so you don’t have to pull over for a long lunch. Also make sure you have enough gas in your tank for your shift before you start driving, this way you won’t run out of gas with a passenger or need to stop mid shift.

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Uber, Lyft, Sidecar - and beyond

Did you know that in addition to the most popular rideshare services, there are now dozens of other on-demand marketplaces now available to independent contractors?

Diversifying your work options

Almost 50% of the cities with on demand services in the US have 2 or more app-based driving options. So, if you’re on one of those cities and you haven’t expanded to a 2nd or 3rd service, you may be missing out on some great opportunities.

In the life of the on-demand driver, all is wonderful when you’re getting consistent ride requests. It’s when things slow down when drivers start to question their strategy. The most common antidote to slow times we’ve heard is “run multiple apps”.

See the map of work options in 145 US cities

”When I start driving I’ll turn on Uber, Lyft, and Sidecar. Whoever I get the first request from, I’ll accept and turn off the other two. I often find that I may have close to back-to-back rides so I won’t need to turn back on the others. Until it starts to slow down (5-10 minute gaps). Then I turn them back on and just like that I tripled my change of getting a request. - Driver, Boston

Here’s our advice: Run as many apps as is safe to do so. Or at least, be prepared to open and run others in the background. The highest number of apps we’ve seen in one car? We’ve met a couple drivers with 6 devices running in their car at once, 4 car phone mounts, a built-in display, and an iPad!

The convenience of multiple services

In fact, many drivers have found that working for multiple services can be surprisingly convenient. Here’s an example:

”I’ll get up early and drive for Uber and Lyft during the morning commute. Around 11am, I often find there’s a bit of a lull. Rather than going home or taking an extended break until it picks up again, I’ll switch to Postmates or DoorDash. They usually starting picking up as early as 11:30am, and this gives me at least a few busy hours. And a break from passengers.” -Driver, Washington, DC.

The lesson is to familiarize yourself with the services offered in your area (hint: an easy way is to ask other drivers). If you’re sitting around idle only working for one platform - chances are there’s untapped demand that you can take advantage of.

Creating work security

You would never put all your money in one investment, so why would you do the same when it comes to your contractor work? Four years ago, app-based ridesharing did not exist. The industry is growing and maturing every week, and new on-demand companies are appearing every week. The downside is that high growth and change also means uncertainty.

Don’t leave your driving income to chance. If you hit the low rating cutoff you could be kicked off the driving app. It’s a good idea to have a few options in your back pocket. Plus, competition is the best thing for this industry. As it grows, having multiple driving options ensures that the companies treat drivers the best they can. You’re in demand.

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The taxi and limousine industry has been an overwhelmingly male-dominated workforce. With new transportation models Lyft, Uber, and Sidecar becoming more mainstream, there has been a lot of anecdotal evidence that women have felt more safe and welcome behind the wheel. We ran the numbers and we were surprised:

Based on our study of several thousand drivers, currently 1/5th of Lyft, Uber, and Sidecar drivers are women, and the number points to increasing even further.

Compare that to 2%. That was the percent of females driving taxis in the US according to a 2006 study by Sandra Lowitt. And in New York City around the same time? Only 170 of 46,000 taxi drivers were women, about 1%.

Here’s how the distribution looks by rideshare company:

Uber: 8% female

Lyft: 19% female

Sidecar: 15% female

Of course there are female only fleets out there now, but these are still relatively small by comparison to the big three rideshare competitors.

It’s incredible to see these percentages, calculated based on existing Sherpa users actively using Lyft, Uber, and/or Sidecar. Sherpa allows drivers to integrate their earnings, expenses, and trip information on one dashboard to help drivers maximize their income.

Today, we're thrilled to officially launch our partnership with Sidecar!

If you're a Sidecar driver, you'll now have the power to directly integrate with Sherpa analytics. We've worked with the Sidecar team closely to make this as easy as possible. No forwarding of email statements or attachments. With Sidecar, it takes only one step to getting insight into your driving income and expenses.

If you're an existing Sherpa user:

Simply click 'Activate Sidecar' on your Sherpa Dashboard

If you're new to Sherpa:

Sign up for your free Sherpa account

Click 'Activate Sidecar' and prepare for amazing analytics

If you haven't tried Sidecar:

Now's the time to get on board!

Go ahead and get started with Sidecar

Ranking the most active cities on Sherpa every week

Today, we're thrilled to announce beta integration with Sidecar! For those of you driving for Sidecar who've been waiting for this, here it is. To enroll in the beta access simply login to your Sherpa Dashboard and click the Activate Sidecar button. You'll need to enter your Sidecar phone number and that's it!

Sidecar is currently in the following 8 cities around the US: San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Seattle, Boston, Washington DC, Charlotte, and Chicago.

Existing Sidecar driver? Activate your Sidecar account with Sherpa.

Want the find out first about Sherpas' newest features, get original rideshare info from experts around the US, or see the latest driver data infographic? 

Now you can! Last week we launched our Share Channel and had thousands of visitors tune in. We posted our first ever driver video, an announcement about our Monday webcasts, news on our Uber daily update feature, the first ever driver 'how-to' infographic, and more. 

Be sure to tune in for daily updates and let us know what you'd like to see! Happy driving!

Love, Team Sherpa

Lyft and Uber news from the last few days you should know about:

In New York City, Lyft continues to discuss with NYC and the Taxi and Limousine Commission on how to comply with licensing and safety requirements. Fast Company reports:

“We agreed in New York State Supreme Court to put off the launch of Lyft's peer-to-peer model in New York City and we will not proceed with this model unless it complies with New York City Taxi and Limousine regulations,” a Lyft spokeswoman said in a statement July 11. Lyft’s coverage in New York is currently restricted to Buffalo and Rochester--last Friday’s launch would have brought service to Brooklyn and Queens, as well.

In Pittsburgh, Lyft and Uber seek emergency orders to operate in the city. Lyft has filed a petition over the weekend to operate while they seek full compliance. From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: 

"Lyft has demonstrated that the public has an immediate need for its transportation network service to improve transportation alternatives," the company's petition stated.

In Portland, Oregon, Lyft and Uber continue to look for ways to enter the city. Uber delivered ice cream in Portland on Friday as part of their national campaign, and Lyft staffers are reported to have recently met with the city. From the Willamette Week:

"Uber...today re-ignited its drive to get its service legalized in Portland. The company's PR blitz includes hiring a truck to deliver ice cream to City Hall—and comes seven months after the city's taxi board rejected Uber's demands to change Portland's rules for town cars."

In Washington, DC, drivers and riders from Lyft and Uber continue to lobby for regulatory support in DC and Virginia. An op-ed in the Washington Post by Evan Feinburg lays out why DC and Virginia should stop fighting Uber, Lyft, and Sidecar:

"Yet regulators and the taxi industry are only standing in the way of economic progress. Ride-sharing applications such as UberX, Lyft and Sidecar are changing and improving the way we travel. Even though Uber is only a few years old, it has made huge inroads in and around the District, one of its fastest-growing markets. The company is a case study in how an innovative product can transform an industry by giving consumers choices. Unless regulators and entrenched interests stop it, that is. Beyond the recent events in Richmond, the D.C. Taxicab Commission has been trying to keep Uber stuck at a red light."

More news from around the US coming soon.

Today we're highlighting 3 passionate drivers in Virginia Beach! Adrian A., an active driver and Sherpa Ambassador, caught up with a few of her favorite drivers and shared their stories with us. Thank you Adrian!

Chilita, who goes by Shy, works in the airline industry and Lyfts late nights after her airport shift ends. She pulls out the early morning hours and doesn't let night time concerns get to her and always feels safe. She's got some great stories after these long nights.

Terry is a veteran driver and proud of his super awesome Chevy Volt (above). He spends less on gas than any of us! (And he's gotten me into Game of Thrones... now I'm obsessed.)

Shannon is also a veteran driver and one of my favorite all-time drivers in Virginia Beach. She's raised all her kids and now they're off in college. She Lyfts to help pay their tuition. She's super creative an always coming up with cool ways to entertain her passengers. (Side note: Shannon was also Sherpa's 500th driver!)

Thanks to Adrian, Chilita, Terry, and Shannon! Looking forward to hearing more driving stories from you soon.

We recently talked with Grace in Charlotte, a Lyft founding driver, Uber driver, and rideshare booster. She shared her thoughts on choosing a platform, using Sherpa to get better data, and more. Grace is also a Sherpa Ambassador in Charlotte!

How did you first get into ridesharing in Charlotte?

I travel a lot for my day job so I often had to use taxis and I just hated carrying tons of cash because I never knew their rates or whether they took cards.  I saw an ad on Facebook to become a driver for Lyft and I did some research and it sounded like something that would be great to be involved with.  I was in the very first batch of interviewees in Charlotte and I am one of the 35 founding Charlotte drivers.

So, who did you start driving for first, Lyft or Uber, and what have you experiences been like? 

Lyft first in September, then I added Uber in November when they did their first big push to recruit Lyft drivers.  I love Lyft, it will always be my first love, but Uber has much greater earning potential so that is where my efforts are spent these days.

What's a common problem you see drivers facing there?

With Lyft it seems there are definitely too many drivers (or not enough passengers).  People who need Lyft as their sole source of income cannot depend on it.  With Uber it is more an issue that Uber doesn't seem to make it easy for drivers to talk, yet when we do we can use the platform much more effectively.  Too many drivers aren't making over $20/hr as promised and with the expenses involved that isn't good.

What first prompted you to try out Sherpa & what's the most valuable data you're seeing?

I saw someone post about it in the South Lyft lounge.  I like numbers and data.  At first I thought Lyft was paranoid by not publishing their rates and not giving us "heat maps", but after they published rates and Uber quickly matched or cut I understood their position.  Lyft doesn't want to provide us more data about where their requests are because they know Uber will pay Lyft drivers for it and target those areas with marketing. 

Since Lyft won't give us data I hope Sherpa will eventually be able to give better information about the best hours to work in each part of town, but that would require tracking on the phone/GPS end or more detailed summaries from Lyft.

You're starting a forum for drivers there. Tell us about it! 

There is so much carryover for drivers from 1 platform to another so instead of many Facebook groups I figured I would start a forum instead.  That way people who want to be more anonymous don't need to share their Facebook profile with the whole group.  Quite a few Uber drivers aren't on Facebook and since the Facebook groups are secret it requires friending someone in the group to join. 

I started http://www.charlotterideshare.com as a way for Charlotte drivers to share info specific to programs as well as about ridesharing in general.  I have the different forum topics set and now I just need to get people to migrate over there instead.  It's all behind a login so the info isn't visible to anyone in the general public (or any of the platforms)

Lastly, what do you love about driving?

I have been a work from home employee for 8 years.  I traveled for 7 of them weekly, but I decided to take myself off the road this year.  I thought I might get bored being home all the time, but ridesharing has introduced me to a whole new group of people.  I am quite pleased with the people I've met who drive with me and we all bring our own strengths to the group.  We are able to help each other beyond driving including one of the drivers who started a fitness group.  It has been a positive experience for me and I truly want these new 'rideshare' models to succeed in all 50 states.