Uber, the largest transport service provider has concluded its 180 days of change programme in a grand style by unveiling a new App for its drivers.
The new Uber App for drivers features real-time earnings tracker, the latest effort by the ride-hailing service to improve an often contentious relationship.
It would be recalled that Uber drivers had laid myriad of complains ranging from tipping and compensation for time spent waiting for passengers. Hence, the reason Uber took a bold step to kick off the programme of change to address the pressing issues.
Launching the new App looks like a perfect response to the disgruntlement of Uber drivers as some had switched to Taxify, Uber’s biggest competitor.
Last year, Uber outlined series of improvements for drivers, including new navigation system and fairer approach to review performance in response to years of complaints by drivers about their pay and treatment.
Uber’s Chief Executive Officer, Dara Khosrowshahi, said in a statement that “while 180 days was about correcting missteps of the past, we also needed to think longer term, and the obvious place to start was the Driver app.”
According to Khosrowshahi, the new app will introduce new status bar to help drivers to decide their next location based on a spike in requests.
He added that “the new app will also introduce notification feature that allows drivers to see messages about upcoming earnings opportunities and feedback from riders, among other things.”
Uber drivers are independent contractors, not employees, and lack paid sick leave and vacation, and must pay for car maintenance and other costs.
