We would love to hear your feedback!

Uber drivers are already doing brutal math on every request, so what happens if the platform starts charging us a subscription just to work? We react to reports that Uber is exploring a driver subscription model, compare it to other approaches in rideshare, and talk through the real-world questions: who it helps, who it hurts, and why part-time drivers could get squeezed if the tiers are wrong.

Then we get into the future that keeps showing up in our feeds right now: autonomous vehicles. Tesla’s new robotaxi concept drops the steering wheel and pedals entirely, which sounds sleek until you think about safety standards, insurance costs, and what happens when a vehicle fails with no manual override. We tie that to Waymo’s recent problems, including remote assist mistakes around school buses and a nerve-racking left turn where the car inches into traffic and stops in a dangerous spot. If robotaxis are going to replace rideshare work, they have to earn trust in the messy streets we all drive every day.

We also cover practical gig economy news that hits pay and safety immediately: Uber’s women rider preference expanding nationwide, LAX considering higher rideshare fees that passengers will feel at checkout, and a troubling rise in identity theft claims where stolen identities are allegedly used to create driver accounts and generate surprise 1099s. If you care about rideshare profitability, passenger safety, and where Uber, DoorDash, Waymo, and Zooks are headed next, this one is for you.

Subscribe for weekly gig economy news, share this with a driver friend, and leave a review if the show helps you stay sharp. Would you ever pay a monthly subscription to drive for Uber?

Support the show

Everything Gig Economy Podcast Related: 

Download the audio podcast

Newsletter

Octopus is a mobile entertainment tablet for your riders. Earn 100.00 per month for having the tablet in your car! No cost for the driver!

Want to earn more and stay safe? Download Maxymo  

Love the show? You now have the opportunity to support the show with some great rewards by becoming a Patron. Tier #2 we offer free merch, an Extra in-depth podcast per month, and an NSFW pre-show https://www.patreon.com/thegigeconpodcast

The Gig Economy Podcast Group. Download Telegram 1st, then click on the link to join. 

TikTok

Subscribe on Youtube