3 ms·

> I'm not sure whether they're under obligation to follow GPS instructions. UberX, no, the GPS is a suggested route. UberPool, yes, you have to follow the GPS

by yardie 7y ago

> I'm not sure whether they're under obligation to follow GPS instructions. UberX, no, the GPS is a suggested route. UberPool, yes, you have to follow the GPS as instructed. > The Uber driver uses her own equipment although you could argue that they use Uber's methods. This is where I tend to agree, with caveats. A rideshare driver is a contractor. But when it comes to compensation Uber and Lyft want to act as an employer. Currently, compensation has been trending down to the point it's becoming a unprofitable for the driver. A contractor would be able to negotiate a rate saying, "I'll drive for $0.55/mile." What we currently have is an email to all "contractors" stating the rate starting today is X/mile. That sounds more like an employer notice than a contract negotiation.

seanmcdirmid 7y ago
Do contractors always really get to negotiate? All the contractor jobs I’ve seen have had take it or leave it fixed rates. I think negotiation is only possible at the high end, not for low end devs or cleaners or construction workers.
- kevingadd 7y ago
  Every contract job I've ever done had a negotiable rate. Obviously in some cases they say 'I can't go higher than this', and then you say no. That's part of any negotiation: The implicit assumption that either party will just decide to end negotiations. That is not part of driving for Uber or Lyft because everyone gets offered the same rate, there's no negotiating up/down. It becomes 'take it or leave it', just like being an employee where once you're hired there is no negotiation involved. In a few cases my contract negotiations actually involved choosing between hourly or weekly, with differences in effective pay based on overhead for both me and the employer.
  - seanmcdirmid 7y ago
    I thought that both Uber and Lyft change their rates (surge pricing) when they want to attract more drivers? Then it seems more like a task auction related to supply and demand (drive now for X, drive later for X+).
gok 7y ago
> What we currently have is an email to all "contractors" stating the rate starting today is X/mile. By that logic all taxi drivers are employees of the cities of their medallion, because cities set the taxi driver rates.
- malandrew 7y ago
  Actually it goes beyond just setting the rates. The state sets the rules. The state can "fire" drivers. Managing transportation is core to what government does. According to the ABC criteria, they should qualify as state employees with all the ensuring benefits and it would be hilarious if all taxi drivers in California sued the state to become state employees just like bus drivers and train operators.
- yardie 7y ago
  I don't know about other states but in mine there is no medallion. You can start a T&L company today if you wanted to. You only need to read up on the state and local certifications, rates, livery, and vehicle requirements. Most of the taxi drivers I've used are actually employees of a T&L company.

by yardie 7y ago

seanmcdirmid 7y ago

Do contractors always really get to negotiate? All the contractor jobs I’ve seen have had take it or leave it fixed rates. I think negotiation is only possible at the high end, not for low end devs or cleaners or construction workers.

kevingadd 7y ago
Every contract job I've ever done had a negotiable rate. Obviously in some cases they say 'I can't go higher than this', and then you say no. That's part of any negotiation: The implicit assumption that either party will just decide to end negotiations. That is not part of driving for Uber or Lyft because everyone gets offered the same rate, there's no negotiating up/down. It becomes 'take it or leave it', just like being an employee where once you're hired there is no negotiation involved. In a few cases my contract negotiations actually involved choosing between hourly or weekly, with differences in effective pay based on overhead for both me and the employer.
- seanmcdirmid 7y ago
  I thought that both Uber and Lyft change their rates (surge pricing) when they want to attract more drivers? Then it seems more like a task auction related to supply and demand (drive now for X, drive later for X+).

gok 7y ago

> What we currently have is an email to all "contractors" stating the rate starting today is X/mile. By that logic all taxi drivers are employees of the cities of their medallion, because cities set the taxi driver rates.

malandrew 7y ago
Actually it goes beyond just setting the rates. The state sets the rules. The state can "fire" drivers. Managing transportation is core to what government does. According to the ABC criteria, they should qualify as state employees with all the ensuring benefits and it would be hilarious if all taxi drivers in California sued the state to become state employees just like bus drivers and train operators.
yardie 7y ago
I don't know about other states but in mine there is no medallion. You can start a T&L company today if you wanted to. You only need to read up on the state and local certifications, rates, livery, and vehicle requirements. Most of the taxi drivers I've used are actually employees of a T&L company.