Did you know that the choice of assignments can directly affect your earnings as an app driver? Every decision to accept or reject an assignment is not only time spent on the road, but also costs related to fuel, vehicle operation and, most importantly, a chance to make a profit.
In the world of apps like Uber or Bolt, the key to success is quick and accurate analysis of the profitability of the ride.
What factors should you consider to maximize your profits? Check out my tips to help you make better decisions on the road! This time, prepare for a long read.
Why is course selection crucial to earnings?
Selecting rides is one of the most important aspects of the work of a driver using transportation apps such as Uber, Bolt or FreeNow.
But you can easily apply the following tips to a greater or lesser extent to work in any application, and even partially in a traditional taxi.
While apps try to automatically match jobs, the final decision to accept or reject them is up to the driver. Choosing your rides wisely can significantly impact your final earnings at the end of the day, week, or month.
Why is it so important? Because each trip is not only about time spent on the road, but also about fuel costs, wear and tear on the car, and most importantly — the possibility of profit.
Courses with longer commutes or without a multiplier may generate additional costs that will not necessarily be compensated by the earnings from the course. It is therefore worth carefully analyzing each offer so as not to work "in the red".
Apps usually give you about 20 seconds to decide whether to accept a rate, which is surprisingly enough time to quickly analyze the profitability of an order. The key is learning which factors are worth considering and which ones can be misleading.
Basic criteria for selecting courses
When choosing routes, the most important criteria are the distance to the passenger and the multiplier. These are two factors that directly affect your earnings.
Distance to passenger
Short travel times to the customer are key. The less time you spend on travel, the faster you can start working on your next order.
Commute time affects not only how many trips you make in a day, but also your fuel consumption and vehicle depreciation.
Therefore, if you have the option to choose between journeys where the passenger is close and those where you have to cover a greater distance, the closer one will usually be more profitable.
Remember that even if the course looks attractive at first glance, if the customer is located far away, you may lose more time commuting than it is worth.
Therefore, it is always worth keeping in mind the real travel time , especially during rush hour when traffic jams or detours may occur.
Multiplier
The multiplier is another important element that affects the profitability of the course. It works in a simple way: the higher the multiplier, the more you will earn on a given course, doing the same work.
Therefore, routes with a high multiplier, even if the passenger is a bit further away, may prove to be more profitable.
It is worth remembering, however, that high multipliers usually appear in situations of greater demand for rides, e.g. during bad weather, mass events or during rush hours.
Always be alert to such opportunities , because well-chosen courses at these moments can significantly increase your earnings.
How to quickly assess the attractiveness of an order?
Taxi apps give you about 20 seconds to accept or decline a ride . In that short time, you need to quickly analyze several key elements to make the best decision.
What should you pay attention to when choosing courses?
When you receive a course offer, you immediately receive information about:
Estimated time of arrival to the passenger – this parameter tells you how long it will take you to get to the pick-up location.
Distance to customer – how many kilometers you have to travel to pick up a passenger.
Pick-up address – this is important information, especially if you know the city’s topography well and know whether the route to the customer will be quick and hassle-free.
Multiplier – whether the route has an additional multiplier that increases the fare.
Payment method – whether the passenger will pay in cash or by card. Cash journeys may involve greater risk, such as the customer not paying for the journey.
How to avoid algorithm traps?
The app's algorithms don't always offer the most profitable rates. Sometimes you can get offers with a long commute or no multiplier, even if you've just seen a rate with a high multiplier. It's worth learning to recognize these traps and make informed decisions.
If you get a ride without a multiplier but with a long commute, think twice before accepting it. Often in such cases it is worth waiting for the next offer rather than wasting time and fuel on a less profitable ride.
In high-demand situations, the algorithm can quickly suggest a more attractive rate if you are patient and reject a few unfavorable orders.
Strategies for operating during high demand (red boxes with multipliers)
When demand for rides increases and your smartphone screen is almost pulsing red — during bad weather, big events, or rush hour, for example — it means that apps start applying multipliers. This is harvest time, when ride rates are higher than standard.
These situations give you the opportunity to significantly increase your earnings, but only if you make informed decisions about choosing courses.
How do multiplier fields work?
The red area in the app is a zone where demand is high and there are fewer drivers. This means there are more chances for trips with higher multipliers. In theory, this sounds ideal, but in practice, not every trip in the red area will be profitable.
The app may also suggest long-distance journeys which, despite the multiplier, may be less advantageous due to the long waiting time of the passenger or the distance you have to travel to pick them up.
How to Make the Most of Your Multipliers
Patience pays off : When you’re in a high-demand zone, don’t just take the first rate that comes your way. Even if you turn down a few orders, it’s worth waiting for one with the highest multiplier and a shorter commute.
Avoid long commutes without a multiplier : During times of high demand, the app may send faraway rates even if they have a low or no multiplier. It’s worth rejecting such rates and waiting for a better opportunity.
Watch the multiplier field: If the field starts to fade, it is worth considering whether to continue waiting for a rate with a high multiplier or to accept an order that may have previously seemed less attractive. When the field disappears completely, you may have to wait longer for new rates, and the stakes will return to normal levels.
When choosing courses in a high-demand zone, quick decision-making is key. A course with a high multiplier can disappear if you hesitate too long. On the other hand, it’s also not worth making hasty decisions – some courses may be less profitable if they involve a long commute or travel outside the red zone.
Nighttime Order Selection – Greater Risk, Greater Reward?
Driving at night, especially on weekends, often involves longer journeys, and passengers can request longer journeys, often with numerous stops to drop off other passengers along the way.
At first glance, this may seem appealing – a long trip means more money on the meter. However, you have to consider that such trips can take up much more time than you expect.
Each stop is a waste of time that could have been spent on other assignments. Additionally, if the route goes far outside the city, returning empty may not compensate for the loss of time spent on a longer route with passengers.
As a result, such a course, although it seems profitable at first glance, often turns out to be a waste of your time.
Often, it will be a better choice to make several short runs, especially if at least one of them can be caught with a multiplier.
Shorter night-time routes can earn you more overall , and they can also get you back on the road more quickly in city areas where it's easier to catch your next ride.
How to deal with cancelled journeys by a passenger?
No matter how well you plan your trips, some of them will be canceled by the passenger. While it can be frustrating, it’s worth understanding why this happens and how you can minimize the losses associated with canceled orders.
Most common reasons for passenger cancellation:
Long drive times : If it takes more than 10 minutes to reach a passenger, the risk of the customer canceling the ride increases. Passengers often change their minds if they have to wait too long for a car, especially if they see a long wait time on the map.
Passenger not ready : Sometimes you arrive too early. This may be because the previous driver rejected the ride and the algorithm chose you when you were close. A passenger who expected a longer wait may not be ready yet, which often ends in the ride being canceled.
Too high a price : Passengers sometimes book trips with a high multiplier, only to realize after a while that the rate is too high, especially during times of high demand. In such cases, they may try to find an alternative or simply cancel the order.
Technical Issues : Sometimes the app loses the GPS signal, which causes the rider to not see your location on the map. If it looks like you're standing still for a long time, it may result in a cancellation.
Wrong car : If a passenger needs a larger car, for example for a larger group or with luggage, and your car does not meet these requirements, the trip may be canceled. Sometimes the algorithm does not pair passengers with the right vehicles.
How to avoid problems with canceled trips?
Fast rate acceptance : Rates with a high multiplier are worth accepting quickly, because passengers in such situations often look for alternatives. The faster you accept a rate, the less risk there is that the passenger will cancel it before you can get there.
Hold off on accepting orders after a cancellation : If a passenger cancels your order and then you receive another one shortly after, which is also quickly canceled, there is a good chance it is the same customer. The algorithm automatically reassigns you, without taking into account previous cancellations. In such a situation, it is worth holding off on accepting any more orders for a few moments. This gives both you and the passenger time to resolve the issue, avoiding unnecessary frustration.
If a passenger has canceled a ride, it’s a good idea to go offline for a few seconds to avoid being re-paired with the same customer who may be ordering more rides. It’s a simple tactic that can help minimize frustration for you and your customer.
Contact the passenger : In a situation where you have arrived very quickly and there is a chance that the passenger is not ready, it is worth sending a quick message or calling to make sure the customer knows you are waiting.
Manage your acceptance rate : Cancelling rides for reasons beyond your control (e.g. by a passenger) will not negatively impact your rating or acceptance rate. However, it is worth remembering that unjustified rejections of rides can lower your rate, which may affect the number of rides you are offered in the future.
Automatic acceptance of courses – is it worth it?
Some apps offer an option to automatically accept rates. This is a feature that is supposed to speed up the ordering process by automatically accepting all rates within your range. While it may seem convenient, it can actually do more harm than good.
Why is it worth avoiding automatic acceptance? First of all, the algorithm does not always choose the most profitable courses.
Automatically accepted rates may include orders with long travel or no multiplier, which may not be beneficial in a given situation, especially during times of high demand . You should decide which orders to accept, not the algorithm.
This is also a big obstacle when you work on several applications at the same time.
If you must enable automatic acceptance, remember that you usually have the option to cancel one order per day without consequences . It is worth using this if you come across a really unfavorable rate. However, I personally advise against anything that has automatic in the name.
When is it worth rejecting an assignment yourself?
While at first glance it may seem like every order is a chance to make money, there are times when rejecting a rate will be more profitable in the long run. Knowing when to say “no” can help you avoid rates that turn out to be losing money from a profit perspective.
Long commute without multiplier
One common scenario when it makes sense to cancel a ride is when the passenger is far away and the ride has no multiplier.
Even if you think that “it’s better than nothing”, the long commute times and extra fuel consumption may not actually bring you the expected profit.
The time you spend traveling to the client could be spent on a course with a shorter commute and a potentially higher rate.
Low multiplier cash rates
Cash courses, while sometimes seeming like a quick way to get some cash, carry risks. The customer may have trouble paying, which in the worst case means no money for the ride.
And if you still have a long commute to complete, then you already know what to do with this order. That is why cash rates without a multiplier are risky. It is better to cancel them, especially in situations when a better alternative appears - e.g. a rate with a payment card and a higher multiplier.
Inconvenient pick-up locations
Declining rides from places that may be problematic in terms of parking or difficulty in getting to is another good habit. Waiting for a passenger on a busy street or in a place where it’s hard to stop can extend the ride time, which will affect your earnings.
In addition, it can lead to additional stress if the passenger has trouble reaching the pick-up location, increasing the risk of the ride being canceled.
Remember, stopping at a bus stop is a fine of PLN 100 and 1 penalty point, stopping on the road in a way that obstructs traffic is a fine from PLN 50 to PLN 500. I'm not even talking about the dangerous places in which passengers sometimes want to get on.
You are the driver and you are responsible for even the most stupid behavior of your passenger.
Algorithm and repeat courses
As I mentioned earlier, if the algorithm assigns you the same order several times from a passenger who has previously canceled it, it is worth refraining from accepting further trips.
Such situations often lead to frustration, and the time wasted on pointless cancellations could be better spent finding more profitable courses.
How to manage your acceptance rate?
Acceptance rate is a key element in taxi apps that affects the quantity and quality of rides offered. Drivers who have a high acceptance rate can count on more frequent and more attractive orders.
However, its decrease may limit access to better rates and in extreme cases even result in blocking the account. Therefore, it is important to manage it consciously.
Using the Bolt app as an example, this is a system that shows the percentage of accepted rates from the last 100 orders. If your rate drops below 55%, your account may be blocked. The first block lasts 1 day, the second 7 days, and the third is up to a year of account blocking.
However, not every rejected trip negatively affects your acceptance rate. The rate only drops if you reject a card-paid trip that is within your set range (e.g. up to 2 km). Rejecting trips with a longer commute (over 3 km) or cash trips will not affect your score.
How to increase your acceptance rate?
Sometimes you may want to increase your acceptance rate to avoid the risk of your account being banned. Here are some proven ways to do so:
Don’t fall for the “self-order” scam : There are guides online that suggest the perfect way to quickly boost your acceptance rate is to order yourself from a passenger app.
This is a trap, though – the app’s creators have well anticipated this type of action, and the consequences can be serious, including a permanent ban. Instead, you can try a different, more thoughtful approach. Ask a family member or friend to order a course for you.
Remember a few rules:
Avoid the same Wi-Fi network : Do not use the same internet connection as your driver account.
Stay as far away from the person ordering as possible : This reduces the risk of the app detecting a connection between your account and the order.
Don't overuse this method : Even if you succeed a few times, using it regularly can be detected by algorithms and result in your account being blocked.
This method can help in exceptional situations, but remember that overusing it can lead to serious consequences, including permanent loss of access to the application.
Hold off on selecting courses : When you see your acceptance rate dropping, it's worth stopping being too selective for a while.
On days with less demand, when rates without a multiplier are more frequent, you can focus more on accepting all orders to increase the result. When the indicator is at a safe level, go back to selecting orders according to your preferences.
Is acceptance rate more important than earnings?
Acceptance rate is important, but it should not overshadow your main goal – maximizing earnings.
If you have the opportunity to make a more profitable course with a high multiplier, which may require rejecting less favorable orders, it is worth betting on profit.
You can increase the indicator later in the day, when the situation on the map becomes less dynamic and rates without a multiplier become more common.
Of course Uber or Bolt will tell you something different. But remember that apps have different priorities than you. What's good for the app or the passenger isn't always good for you.
The impact of external factors on earnings - weather, traffic jams and events
Managing your time and course selection is one thing, but external factors like weather, traffic, and local events have a big impact on how effectively you can work. Consciously monitoring these variables can help you better select courses and increase your earnings.
Weather Breakdown – a Chance for Higher Earnings
Bad weather, such as heavy rain or snow, increases demand for taxis. In such situations, passengers are more likely to give up walking or using public transport, and the number of orders in the app increases significantly. As a result, multipliers appear, which creates ideal conditions for increasing earnings.
However, don't just take the first rate that comes your way as soon as it starts raining. It's worth waiting a while until demand increases enough that multipliers start to appear.
Instead of heading out on the road right away, go offline for a few minutes and watch the map turn red. In these conditions, every ride should be well-rewarded, but it’s up to you to decide when it’s best to start riding.
Traffic jams and roadworks
Knowing the city's topography and keeping up to date on traffic jams and construction can have a huge impact on your efficiency. Even the best navigation system can't always predict changes in traffic, so it's a good idea to keep track of local events and detours.
Using apps like Yanosik that report accidents, traffic jams, and road patrols can save you time and money.
Remember, the longer you sit in traffic, the fewer trips you can make during the day. Therefore, accepting orders during rush hour, especially in heavily congested parts of the city, may not be the best decision if smoothness of the ride is important to you.
Local events – parties, concerts, matches
Mass events such as concerts, matches or festivals can be a great opportunity to catch odds with a high multiplier. However, it is worth remembering that these will not always be the most profitable odds.
Having a lot of passengers in one place means you could get stuck in traffic, which will extend your journey time, and even worse, trying to find a passenger in the crowd can be frustrating and extremely time-consuming.
Before you decide to take a course from such a place, think twice whether it will actually be worth your time.
It is often more profitable to catch a few smaller rides with a multiplier in less crowded parts of the city than to spend several minutes getting there, finding a passenger and leaving the area of a mass event.
Does a longer course always mean good earnings?
At first glance, long courses may seem the most profitable – a longer distance means a higher amount on the meter. However, a longer course does not always mean a better income. It is important to remember a few key factors that can affect the profitability of such an order.
Time wasted on stops
Often on long journeys, especially at night and on weekends, passengers may ask to stop to drop off fellow passengers along the way. At first glance, this may seem harmless, but every stop is time that you lose.
Although you will earn money on the meter for the idle time, you could actually be making other, shorter, more fluid runs in the same time.
Returning empty-handed, or wasted time
One of the biggest challenges of long trips is the risk of returning empty, especially if the trip takes you to the outskirts of town or beyond. Even if the trip seems well-paid, returning without a passenger means extra time and fuel costs that can wipe out the profits of the trip.
I strongly advise against taking trips from the city center to single-family housing estates outside the city , or to distant villages. Unless you pay with a payment card, and they also reward you with a multiplier.
In any other case it is a shot in the foot.
Instead of deciding on one long run with stops, it is sometimes better to make several shorter orders. Of course, it all depends on the situation, but several smaller runs give you more flexibility and a chance to catch at least one with a higher multiplier.
Additionally, trips in the city centre or high demand areas can bring much higher profits in a shorter time, and returning empty will not be a problem.
When does a long course make sense?
A long haul can be beneficial if you know it goes to an area where demand for rides is high, or if you're confident you'll find a job on the way back.
It is also a good idea to monitor the situation on the map - if the field with the multiplier covers the region you are traveling to, the course may turn out to be more profitable than it seemed at first.
Where to expect further orders?
Effective route planning and choosing where to wait for rides has a huge impact on your earnings. Instead of aimlessly wandering around the city, it's worth having a well-thought-out strategy - it not only saves time, but also fuel, which directly translates into a better financial balance.
One of the key elements of effective work as a driver is where you wait for your next assignment. Not every location in the city is equally profitable, so it's worth choosing your parking spots strategically.
Avoid waiting on the outskirts of town : Wasting time on the outskirts of town can lead to you spending a lot of time getting back to the city center, where demand for rides is higher.
Waiting for orders in such locations risks a longer wait, and when a ride finally appears, it may be less profitable. Or worse, even further from the center. If nothing comes up for a short while, it is better to evacuate to an area where you expect softer demand.
Find less congested areas : Before you decide to wait for a ride, check where other drivers are. You can do this using the passenger app.
Choose locations where there is less competition but that are still close to places with high demand for rides, such as shopping centers, train stations, or popular tourist attractions.
Be mobile, but smart : Driving around aimlessly can waste fuel. Instead, move strategically—choose places with high passenger flow, but avoid wasting fuel by circling the city.
A wise taxi driver stands where he knows something will soon break down and runs away from places where, according to experience, he knows he will only waste time.
Avoid traffic jams : Choose parking spots during rush hour that will allow you to avoid traffic jams. Even if the job seems profitable, getting stuck in traffic can ruin your earnings. It's worth installing apps that help you avoid congested areas.
How to use the home course search option?
One of the useful features in apps is the ability to search for rides to a specific location — for example, on your way home. This is a great tool that can help you end your workday at the optimal time without losing out on the chance to earn extra money.
To use this option, simply select the direction you want to go in the app – for example, your home address.
The algorithm will try to match jobs that end near that location. That way, you don't have to finish work "empty" and waste fuel returning without a passenger.
When is it worth taking home courses?
You finish work and go home : This is the best time to use this feature. It allows you to end your day more cost-effectively – by taking a route that leads to your home, rather than returning without an assignment.
Less-traffic areas : If you see that there is less demand for rides in the area where you finish your ride, setting a return direction can help you avoid wasting time and earning opportunities. You can start moving towards areas where there is higher demand for rides, while still getting closer to your goal of finishing your job.
How to effectively use the return home option?
Limit use in small towns : The direction search feature works best in larger cities where demand for rides is high. In smaller towns, using this option may limit the number of available orders, so it is worth using it with caution.
Set your heading well in advance : Don't wait until the last minute. The feature works best if you activate it a little bit in advance, before you actually start thinking about returning. This gives you a better chance of catching a heading that perfectly matches your goal.
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