# Uber is about the best 2nd job I can imagine **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 29, 2016, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-is-about-the-best-2nd-job-i-can-imagine/758699 "2016-06-29T13:44:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2016, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-is-about-the-best-2nd-job-i-can-imagine/758699/21 "2016-06-29T16:15:03Z")
> [@Dragwyr](#): > > What is an average client pick up drop off like? How far do you drive and what kind of money do you make per job? I’ve made rides from as short as 4 blocks to about 75 miles. The money depends upon the distance, the time, and if there is a surge rate in effect. Saturday had the highest surge rate I’ve ever seen – 5.9. A ride that would normally cost $5 cost $30. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-is-about-the-best-2nd-job-i-can-imagine/758699/22 "2016-06-30T18:34:08Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Uber requires a 4 door vehicle less than 10 years old. You’d have to contact them about if a pickup is acceptable. When my son and I were in Nashville, TN, we used Uber and were picked up by a 4-door truck. We were a bit surprised, and it took us a minute or two to realize the truck was an Uber vehicle, but once we figured it out it was all good. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-is-about-the-best-2nd-job-i-can-imagine/758699/23 "2016-06-30T18:53:18Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > I have a pickup truck. But its an extended cab so I can take passengers. > > Do you think there is a need for a driver who could also carry lots of luggage or lets say someone buys something at a garage sale and needs it hauled home? There are online services for this: GoShare, BuddyTruk, Pikkup. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-is-about-the-best-2nd-job-i-can-imagine/758699/24 "2016-06-30T19:32:55Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > The Uber money is not great, but for a part-time job it’s pretty damn good. I’m on track to gross about $35K a year. I know it’s possible to earn a thousand dollars a week, because I pushed my limits one week and did it as an experiment (It took 51 hours of driving, that in addition to my 40 hour day job, so not really sustainable for me). If nothing else, Uber will earn me enough to buy a new car every 2-3 years. But perhaps without the wear and tear on your car from driving for Uber, you wouldn’t need a new car that often. What percentage of the miles on your car are from Uber? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-is-about-the-best-2nd-job-i-can-imagine/758699/25 "2016-06-30T19:40:15Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > But perhaps without the wear and tear on your car from driving for Uber, you wouldn’t need a new car that often. What percentage of the miles on your car are from Uber? I decided I liked … updating … my car before starting Uber. I traded in a 2013 for my 2016 before even thinking about Uber. But Ubering is certainly going to add way more miles than I would otherwise drive. Nearly 75% of my miles are Uber miles. I’m just over 15,000 in 6 months. On the other hand, since I’m Ubering, I’m driving a lot fewer miles recreationally. All in all, I expect this gig to double my annual driving. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-is-about-the-best-2nd-job-i-can-imagine/758699/26 "2016-06-30T19:41:50Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I hope not too. But I’m on track to drive maybe 40K miles for Uber, and that’s already more than $20K in deductible by the IRS’s allowable mileage rate. And all the Uber fees are deductible, which is another 20-25% of the gross. This is my big question with being an Uber driver - once you boil down all of the gross, deductions, expenses (hard and soft), and get to a real effective hourly rate, does it pay? I say this looking back at the experience of my mother, who was the queen of Avon Ladies. Once you did all of the math, she was basically making less than minimum wage per hour. Yes, she was independent, which is worth much, but she could have made more money working at McDonald’s. (Oh, and I catch an Uber in Madison at least once a week, maybe I’ll run into you some day…) ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-is-about-the-best-2nd-job-i-can-imagine/758699/27 "2016-06-30T20:23:12Z")
> [@Icarus](#): > > This is my big question with being an Uber driver - once you boil down all of the gross, deductions, expenses (hard and soft), and get to a real effective hourly rate, does it pay? > > I say this looking back at the experience of my mother, who was the queen of Avon Ladies. Once you did all of the math, she was basically making less than minimum wage per hour. Yes, she was independent, which is worth much, but she could have made more money working at McDonald’s. > > (Oh, and I catch an Uber in Madison at least once a week, maybe I’ll run into you some day…) Maybe you already have run into me. 🙂 I dunno – how do you calculate whether it’s worth it, especially when it’s a second job and all your basics are covered by the first one? You can look at the details I’ve already posted and get a rough idea. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-is-about-the-best-2nd-job-i-can-imagine/758699/28 "2016-06-30T22:14:56Z")
How much does the degree of surge affect your decision to drive? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-is-about-the-best-2nd-job-i-can-imagine/758699/29 "2016-06-30T22:20:54Z")
> [@Shalmanese](#): > > How much does the degree of surge affect your decision to drive? Not much at all. Generally if there’s a big surge passengers will wait until it goes away. I think it’s mostly counterproductive. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-is-about-the-best-2nd-job-i-can-imagine/758699/30 "2016-06-30T23:03:43Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Just to say – I imagine there aren’t many Uber drivers who want to be called to move furniture, even light stuff like deck chairs. I wouldn’t do it, and I have no idea whether my insurance would cover it either. It might be covered by your insurance. There are people that will drive to IKEA for you and pick up your order and I assume they’re insured. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2016, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-is-about-the-best-2nd-job-i-can-imagine/758699/31 "2016-07-23T03:42:23Z")
I just bought a new car. I don’t need money because of the car, since I bought it with some money I inherited, but I am looking to add about $400 to the household income, and I need something with extremely flexible hours. My concern is that my car is a subcompact-- very small. It’s a Chevy Spark. When the passenger seat is pushed up all the way, the single passenger behind it actually has quite a lot of leg room, and it has a surprising amount of headroom; also, I have very short legs, so I drive with the driver’s seat up pretty far. Someone behind me who was 5’10 or shorter would probably be OK. But it does not have a lot of luggage room. Suitcases could go in the front seat, if I had a couple going to or coming from the airport, with carry-ons plus luggage to check, but I could not manage three people with luggage. Two very tall people might possibly be uncomfortable, I can’t really say. The car is a four-door, and it is a 2016, so in that, it conforms. It also gets really good gas mileage, if the driver’s mileage is figured into the fee at all. Also, the back seats can be laid down, so if I had one person who wanted to pick up something bulky, I could probably fit it in the cargo space, and have the passenger in the front. Another thing I can offer is that I am not allergic to animals, and am happy to have pets in the car. Is there a minimum size my car does not meet? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2016, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-is-about-the-best-2nd-job-i-can-imagine/758699/32 "2016-07-23T04:19:57Z")
You have to be able to carry 4 passengers, so you need 3 seatbelts in the back. If you have that, your good to go. ---
**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2016, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-is-about-the-best-2nd-job-i-can-imagine/758699/33 "2016-07-23T05:37:40Z")
It’s great you enjoy your job but I hope you have a long term plan. Uber has made no secret that eventually it wants autonomous vehicles, which would put you out of a job. Doesn’t it bother you working for a company that has publicly declared it’s working to eliminate your job entirely? My guesstimate is that you’ve got 10 years left as an Uber driver at absolute max, probably less than that. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2016, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-is-about-the-best-2nd-job-i-can-imagine/758699/34 "2016-07-23T06:05:59Z")
For anyone wanting to get as much as they can from their taxi driving career, I really enjoyed - [Dharma Road: A Short Cab Ride to Self Discovery](http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8516746-dharma-road). > [@](#): > > Brain Haycock was a cabdriver–who happened to be a Buddhist. During the course of his career as a cabdriver, he learned that each fare provided an opportunity to learn the life lessons of the Buddha. So, hop in and buckle up; we’ll be making several stops on this trip. And no other book about zen will teach you as much about driving a cab. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2016, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-is-about-the-best-2nd-job-i-can-imagine/758699/35 "2016-07-23T11:13:29Z")
> [@coremelt](#): > > Uber wants autonomous vehicles… Everybody wants autonomous vehicles. They also want a pot full of gold and a super-model girlfriend. > [@](#): > > My guesstimate is that you’ve got 10 years left as an Uber driver at absolute max, probably less than that You say 10 years, but my guestimate is closer to 50 years… Has any autonomous car yet driven anywhere on a rainy day? Or on 2 inches of snow? Or in fog?. [yeah,it’s off topic, and we’ve had lots of threads on this, so I’ll go home now… Apologies] ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2016, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-is-about-the-best-2nd-job-i-can-imagine/758699/36 "2016-07-24T01:21:26Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I know there are a lot of Uber drivers who hate Uber. I’d guess that by and large they are people trying to make a living off of it, and I get how hard or even impossible that might be. I couldn’t live on it, but I have full-time day job that gives me health insurance, paid leave, and covers the mortgage and all the other necessities. So the Uber money is gravy to me. Are there any other reasons that drivers would hate Uber besides the difficulty of making a full-time living? Or is that it? The part-time cash sounds good enough that I would imagine trying it full-time, someone could make a pretty good go of it, but it sounds like that’s not so. ---
**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2016, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-is-about-the-best-2nd-job-i-can-imagine/758699/37 "2016-07-24T06:08:16Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > You say 10 years, but my guestimate is closer to 50 years… > Has any autonomous car yet driven anywhere on a rainy day? Or on 2 inches of snow? Or in fog?. Rain: > **[Google expands self-driving car trial to rain and hills of Washington state](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/feb/03/google-self-driving-car-trial-washington-state-rain)** > > Google is taking advantage of Washington’s lack of autonomous car regulation to make its cameras and sensors better in rain and on hilly terrain Snow: > **[The Clever Way Ford's Self-Driving Cars Navigate in Snow](https://www.wired.com/2016/01/the-clever-way-fords-self-driving-cars-navigate-in-snow/)** > > There are a few tricky problems to solve before we can all let go of the wheel. One of those is how autonomous cars respond to bad weather. Fog: Lidar can see through fog much better than humans can > **[Better Eyesight Than Humans - The Advent of Low-Cost LiDAR #CES2015 - The...](https://viodi.com/2015/02/17/better-eyesight-than-humans-the-advent-of-low-cost-lidar/)** > > The Viodi View reports on rural broadband and its associated ecosystem, autonomous vehicles, both that drive and fly, and the impact on land-use and the built-environment. Sure we can quibble about the exact timing but that doesn’t change my point. Any Uber driver needs to be aware that there is a limited time that this will be a viable job so I was asking what Boyo Jim’s thoughts are on that and what his future plans are? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2016, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-is-about-the-best-2nd-job-i-can-imagine/758699/38 "2016-07-24T06:48:13Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > It might be covered by your insurance. There are people that will drive to IKEA for you and pick up your order and I assume they’re insured. You shouldn’t assume. While there are responsible people treating it as an actual business like the OP there are also plenty of folks trying to do these things on the cheap with inadequate or lacking insurance. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2016, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-is-about-the-best-2nd-job-i-can-imagine/758699/39 "2016-07-24T08:20:07Z")
There are insured, competent drivers of clean, late model cars. And they make a living doing so. They’re called “Taxi” drivers. Uber is screwing both passenger (Peak Rates, anyone?) and driver - no insurance, no tax withholding, no Social Security payments. How do you suppose they will treat everyone once they destroy the last of the taxis? ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2016, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-is-about-the-best-2nd-job-i-can-imagine/758699/40 "2016-07-24T09:29:43Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > How do you suppose they will treat everyone once they destroy the last of the taxis? After Uber becomes the standard, others will copy it. After all, Uber is just a website…It isn’t an airline. And , like when booking airlines, most people won’t even deal with Uber directly. They’ll go to sites like Priceline or Travelocity and search for the best deal on a driver tonight. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-is-about-the-best-2nd-job-i-can-imagine/758699.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-is-about-the-best-2nd-job-i-can-imagine/758699.md?page=3)