4 AM to 9 AM: Why My Favorite Shift Still Works

Some drivers chase the bar crowd. Others clock in for the weekend surge. I’ve done both. 

But the shift that has always worked best for me is the early one. The 4 AM to 9 AM window. It’s quiet, profitable, and calm. It’s a rhythm I return to again and again, not just because it pays, but because it makes me feel like a professional, a master of my own time. 

I have driven the morning shift in Oakland, San Francisco, San Jose, and Sacramento. It’s all the same. I experience the calm of the morning. The traffic lights reflect on the rainy streets. 

My spirit soars as I see the orange glow as the sun starts to break through the horizon. I appreciate the smell of passengers’ coffee as they enter my little slice of heaven, which I have prepared for them. It’s that time before most people are awake. 

It’s the time you can feel palpably alive and ahead of the game. I love the mornings!

Why The Early Morning Shift Just Works

In ten years and 32,000 rides, I’ve experimented with every kind of schedule. But it’s those early mornings that I always come back to. There’s something about the way the world feels before sunrise that makes me sharper and more at peace. 

The money is good. The passengers are decent. And the sense of flow is unmatched.

My mornings start with a cold shower and a shave. I get a fresh cold brew and pour it into my travel mug. I check the car. I check the gas. I turn on Kind of Blue by Miles Davis. My favorite jazz song is Flamenco Sketches. My second favorite is John Coltrane’s Naima. Kind of Blue, released when I was in my second month of life, is my ritual. The moment the trumpet begins, my body relaxes. I drive through a city that is still mostly asleep. Fog rolls in over San Francisco. The streets are empty. I feel like I’m the only one out here.

The pings come quickly. There are airport rides. Nurses are heading to the hospital. Business travelers in town for a day. People are going places, people with a plan. And because it’s early, they’re respectful. Quiet. They are sometimes talkative, and sometimes not. But they are almost always polite. There’s no chaos. No vomit. No fights. Just clean rides and consistent income.

Five hours later, I’m done. I’ve hit my goal. The rest of the day is mine. That’s the power of the morning shift.

The Demand Is Real

Most people don’t realize how much movement occurs between 4 AM and 9 AM. But it’s one of the busiest travel windows of the day. Early flights stack up starting at 6 AM, and that means there’s a rush between 4 and 5:30 to get to the airport.

 I park near the business hotels and downtown towers. I’ll often get my first ride within a minute of going online. I almost always get one to two airport runs. Those are typically long rides that get the best tips. I love to talk about travel, hear their tales of conquest, and drive them right to the curb and jump out to help with the luggage. Bon Voyage.

It’s not just airports, either. Hospital shifts change early. UPS and FedEx hubs open. Corporate commuters head out to beat the traffic. These aren’t aimless wanderers. These are people who plan. And people who plan tend to tip better. They know their time matters. 

That means they know yours does too.

The Riders Are Respectful

After a decade of driving, I can tell you that rider behavior changes depending on the time of day. 

At midnight, you might get a frat guy who just threw up in the bushes. At 3 PM, a stressed-out parent may be juggling kids and groceries. But at 5 AM? You get the organized ones. The focused ones. These are the people who are going somewhere with a purpose. 

I get people going to work at coffee shops, grocery stores, and bakeries. I take folks to Dialysis clinics or rehabilitation centers. You don’t wake up at 4 am unless you have something important to do.

There’s a certain calm to the early morning rider. They’re often tired. Maybe a little quiet. But they’re polite. They usually have coffee. Or a large bottle of water. They say thank you. They don’t argue about the route. They rarely slam the door. 

And because there’s no chaos, you stay in a better mental space. A respectful rider helps you stay respectful, too.

These small moments add up. A calm shift keeps you from burning out. It helps you reset. It brings in better tips. The early hours might not be as wild, but they’re far more profitable.

You Own the Streets

Driving through a major city during rush hour can feel like a punishment. Horns blaring. Gridlock at every turn. 

But at 4 AM, the town belongs to you. The streets are empty. The traffic lights blink yellow in every direction. You can glide from block to block with ease.

I’ve driven through the heart of downtown San Francisco without seeing another car. Try doing that at 8:30 AM. Try finding a lane to turn into. You can’t. But in the early hours, it feels like someone cleared a path just for you. 

In a smaller town like Sacramento, the streets seem even more deserted. I still marvel at how fast I can get around, and how many more rides I can do in an hour because I don’t have to deal with traffic and other drivers. It’s nirvana.

This freedom makes your rides faster. Faster rides mean more rides. More rides mean more earnings. And because you’re not wasting time in traffic, your fuel efficiency goes up too. That matters when gas prices in California are so high.

It Shapes Your Day

One of the best aspects of the 4 AM to 9 AM shift is how it sets the tone for the rest of your day. You’ve made a hundred fifty, maybe two hundred dollars before most people have even had their first cup of coffee. That gives you choices.

You can stack a second short shift in the afternoon. You can go to the gym. You can take a nap and meet a friend for lunch. You’ve got a full day ahead of you, and money already in your pocket. That gives you power. And peace of mind.

Back when I worked late nights, I’d often feel sluggish until noon. It was hard to get anything done. However, when I work the early shift, I finish before burnout sets in. That rhythm has kept me going all these years.

It’s a Ritual, Not a Hustle

There’s a difference between grinding and flowing. The late shift feels like a grind. You’re dodging drunk passengers, navigating traffic, and constantly checking your phone. The early shift is a flow. It’s about routine. Discipline. Calm.

I treat the 4 AM shift like a ritual. Cold shower. Fresh clothes. Miles Davis. A clean car. There’s almost a meditative quality to it. It feels like I’m preparing for something sacred. And in a way, I am. I’m preparing to meet people, to serve, to work with dignity.

The early morning shift isn’t about chasing every last surge bonus. It’s about building a system that supports your body, your mind, and your bank account. If you do that long enough, you make a career that lasts.

Key Takeaways

Not every driver is built for the morning shift. 

But for those who are, it’s a secret weapon. You skip the chaos, tap into steady demand, and create space in your day that others never get to enjoy. You meet people who are focused. You drive in peace. And you make good money while most of the city is still asleep.

If you’ve never tried the 4 AM to 9 AM window, give it a shot. Make it part of your routine. You might find that it becomes the best five hours of your week. It certainly has been for me. 

Be safe out there

Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe now for free so you never miss an update…

Never miss a Rideshare Guy update…

Twitter/X │ YouTube │ Instagram │Facebook │ LinkedIn │ TikTo