Uber drivers take home $50M in tips since June
Kyle Robinson makes more money as an Uber driver than he's made in any other job.
And now he's making even more.
Robinson, 30, of Beaver Falls, said he makes a couple hundred dollars more a month now that Uber allows riders to tip him through the ride-share service's app.
“I've seen some $20 tips, some $10 tips, sometimes it's $5 or a couple dollars, but it all adds up over time. It makes a difference,” Robinson said. “You can take a short trip, but someone wants to be generous, so a $7 trip turns into a $10 trip with a tip.”
Uber announced that its drivers have earned nearly $50 million in tips since it began allowing tipping through its app two months ago.
TechCrunch put that $50 million into context by noting that Lyft, which has allowed tipping for years, just hit $250 million in tips in July.
Uber first allowed tipping in June in Seattle, Houston and Minneapolis. It rolled out tipping in other cities after that. Tipping came to Pittsburgh in mid-July.
Uber announced more changes this week as part of its 180 Days of Change initiative to improve working conditions. The latest changes aim to give drivers more flexibility.
Robinson thinks the changes are great but said Uber could do more. He is excited to see what other changes are in the works as the company continues its initiative.
Robinson has been driving for Uber for nearly a year. He drives a 2015 Chrysler 300c and spends much of his time making runs to and from Pittsburgh International Airport. Before Uber, Robinson worked in customer service. He's worked in a call center and as a manager at a McDonald's restaurant for more than five years. Uber is his best job yet, he said.
In a modest week, Robinson said, he makes $800 to $900. Recently, he's been working 12-plus hour days to make more money. Robinson said he had his all-time highest earnings week last week when he made $1,500.
Robinson said he's also excited about a change that lets him drive for multiple Uber services at once. Robinson drives for Uber's premium, upscale ride-share service; the lower-cost UberX service; and UberEats, the company's food delivery service. Before, it was a hassle to switch between services, Robinson said.
“Now I have some flexibly to earn how I want to earn and drive how I want to drive,” Robinson said.
Aaron Aupperlee is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at aaupperlee@tribweb.com, 412-336-8448 or via Twitter @tinynotebook.
