Lyft Testing Earnings Algorithm to Let Drivers See Destination, Pay Details Before Accepting Request

Lyft drivers will have access to details such as drop-off locations, estimated distance and time, as well as fare details before accepting a ride.

By Reuters | Updated: 11 October 2022 22:08 IST

Lyft Testing Earnings Algorithm to Let Drivers See Destination, Pay Details Before Accepting Request

Uber's upfront pay system has drawn criticism from drivers

Highlights

Lyft drivers will be able to see drop-off locations, estimated distance
The test follows a similar move by bigger rival Uber Technologies
Drivers for ride-hailing firms have been struggling with higher fuel

Ride-hailing firm Lyft said on Tuesday it was testing an earnings algorithm that will allow drivers in 18 US cities to see destination and pay details before accepting a request.

The test follows a similar move by bigger rival Uber Technologies and underlines how the companies are going the extra mile to fix driver shortages to take advantage of a demand surge brought on by a return to office and travel since the pandemic.

Lyft drivers will have access to details such as drop-off locations, estimated distance and time, as well as fare details before accepting a ride. The company plans to expand this service to more cities through 2022.

It is also investing to test filters that will allow drivers to set a preferred driving radius and give them the option to choose their rider.

Drivers for ride-hailing firms have been struggling with higher fuel and maintenance costs and have long demanded the access to such details.

"We'll also design Upfront Pay over time to include bonuses and incentives," Lyft President John Zimmer said.

Meanwhile, Uber's upfront pay system has drawn criticism from drivers.

California-based driver Jude Wolfe says Uber is taking a bigger percentage of drivers' earnings, prompting more to quit and forcing others to travel long distances for pick ups when gas prices are already high.

"A lot of this problem can be alleviated, if we did not have the demand on us to accept the last five out of 10 rides in order to keep our upfront details," she said in a campaign demanding fair share from Uber.

Looking to launch upfront pay "without limitations", Lyft said a survey of over 1,000 drivers showed more than 70 percent preferred the upfront pay model to the previous pay models.

The Chromecast with Google TV that runs on Android TV is here. When will Google learn how to name products? We discuss this on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

Affiliate links may be automatically generated - see our ethics statement for details.

Comments

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.