Uber expands availability of Upfront Fares fares in the US. This way, drivers will have more information before taking their trips.
Uber has launched several features to improve the experience and transparency for drivers. A few months ago, the giant launched the “Upfront Fares”test in several cities. The feature is expanding today, with the entire United States to be affected in the coming months. Drivers will then be able to see how much they will earn and where they will go on the race screen before taking or not taking part in that race.
Uber expands availability of Upfront Fares fares in the US
According to a help page that explains how the “advance rate”works, Uber calculates the amount by taking into account several factors, “including the base rate, the estimated length and duration of the trip, the distance to the customer, and the peak rate.”Uber will also show drivers the nearest streets to pick up a customer and where to drop them off to make the decision easier. In addition, soon Uber will expand the availability of “Trip Radar”, which shows a list of possible upcoming trips, as well as “Provisional Fares”. They will still see individual travel requests, but they can now accept another one that suits them better.
Drivers will have more information before taking their trips
Uber is positioning these new features as driver assistance, but as Axios points out, the impact on customers remains unclear. This can lead to increased discrimination if drivers use these tools to avoid certain areas. However, these features can also reduce cancellations as drivers can make more informed decisions about whether or not to take a ride.
The company has also launched a new Uber Pro debit card that offers drivers a cashback system for buying fuel at select participating stations. Last March, Uber introduced a fuel surcharge on rides and deliveries to help drivers cope with rising fuel prices.