The Executive Suite: Uber Drivers Can Now Fine Passengers for Being Two Minutes Late

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Uber Drivers Can Now Fine Passengers for Being Two Minutes Late

Uber is planning to launch a system that will allow its drivers to fine riders who are more than two minutes late.

The fine system, which is currently being tested in New York, New Jersey, Phoenix and Dallas, allows for a $5 or a $10 addition to customers’ tabs if they keep their drivers waiting for more than two minutes.

Uber is planning on expanding the new system to 12 more U.S. cities this month.
Uber is putting in place a number of other features as well to mollify its drivers who have been talking about taking legal action over status and benefits.

“We also have heard from drivers like you that there are plenty of things we can do to make driving more empowering and worth your while,” Uber said in a blog post.

“We are rolling out a number of features and rewards in more cities to help you get the most out of your time on the road.”

One of those features is Driver Destinations, a system that enables drivers to input their destination so Uber can send convenient trip requests. For instance, if a driver is heading home at the end of the day, Uber will only send trip requests that are on that person’s way.

Uber has been testing Driver Destinations in a “handful of cities in the U.S. and around the world.” This week it is expanding the program to more than a dozen U.S. cities, with more cities to launch globally in the near future.

Uber is also launching an Instant Pay option so drivers can get paid whenever they wish. All they need is a GoBank Uber Debit Card, which they can apply for by clicking on the ‘Earnings’ tab in the driver app or clicking the ‘Instant Pay’ tab at partners.uber.com.
Another addition is Pause Requests, a tool that allows drivers to take a break from requests or even end their day.

“This tool is designed for drivers who want to log off the app after dropping off their passenger, instead of having to decline trip requests while their last rider is in the car,” the company said. “Simply press the button again when you’re ready to get back on the road. We’ll be piloting this feature later this month in several U.S. and international cities.”

Uber employees will also be offered discounts if they use Uber as a passenger. The company has launched a pilot program offering 15 percent off an uberX ride for every 10 trips a driver completes in a week, or 50 percent off an UberBLACK ride for every 20 trips done in a week. If the pilot program is successful in the U.S. cities it is being tested in, the company said it will make the program permanent.