Double Your Rideshare Income: Proven Tactics For Veteran Drivers from a Veteran Driver

This job can feed your family or wear you down. The difference is in how you work. I have driven over 32,000 rides. I have seen what works and what wastes time. Rideshare driving is a trade. Treat it like one. Learn it. Sharpen it. You will never complain about the money.

You can be an average driver and make $15 per hour. Or you can work, study, apply yourself, and increase your hourly earnings to $25 or even $30 an hour. The difference between making $15 per hour versus $30 per hour over a year, working 50 weeks, is $37,500!

Background

Most drivers start strong, then burn out or get into a rut where the job feels like a grind.  They have lost the excitement and joy that comes with pursuing excellence in their work. They do not adapt. They miss key habits that separate hustlers from hobbyists. These strategies come from thousands of hours on the road, trial and error, and pure observation. I am offering these tools to help you rise faster and stay longer.

1. Run Both Uber and Lyft

Never rely on one app. I have watched too many drivers sit idle when the other app could have had them moving. When I started, I saw drivers at the airport waiting an hour for a ping. Meanwhile, my second app lit up, and I was gone. The more platforms you use, the more chances you have to earn. Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote, “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” In this job, forging your path means staying in motion while others sit.

2. Drive Peak Hours and Observe Surge

The money hides in plain sight. It lives in peak hours. Early morning airport runs. Morning commutes. Evening rush. Late nights when the bars close. Learn your city. Study the rhythm. Games, concerts, casinos, and holidays all offer the chance at a great payday. These are your harvest days. Socrates said, “He is richest who is content with the least, for content is the wealth of nature.” But nature also rewards those who understand its timing. Catch the surge when it comes.

3. Take Care of Your Vehicle

Your car is your workshop, your uniform, and your partner. Keep it clean and running well. A filthy ride and bald tires will cost you more than money. They cost you trust. They cost you the perception that you are a driver who knows what he is doing. A dirty and unsafe car costs you your passengers’ faith and confidence. Therefore, carry chargers. Offer mints. Oil changes on schedule. Tires rotated. Wipers fresh. Passengers feel the difference. As Buddha taught, “To enjoy good health, to bring true happiness… one must discipline one’s mind.” The same is true for your vehicle. Discipline in care brings peace of mind and bigger tips. You must remember that you are driving a 2-ton chunk of metal, and other people surround you, many less trained and easily distracted by their phones, who can easily end your life. Keep your vehicle in top condition so you can maneuver to avoid accidents.

I still remember like it was yesterday. My tires were due to get replaced. But I put it off. I had just crossed the Golden Gate Bridge and was going downhill on the freeway in Marin. It was raining. The car in front of me slowed down very rapidly. Once I noticed, I hit my brakes. But my tires were not gripping the road—my mistake. I slid a long way. I almost hit the car in front of me. My heart was beating out of my chest. It was a powerful example of why I NEVER drive with tires that don’t have a good, deep tread.

4. Always Be Learning

This is not just a driving job. It is sales. It is psychology. It is reading people and cities. Read books. Listen to smart podcasts. Practice small talk. Track updates to the apps. Talk with other drivers who are better than you. Learn every week. Henry David Thoreau said, “A man is rich in proportion to the number of things he can afford to let alone.” Let go of complacency. Get richer in knowledge and skill. The easiest way to stay on top of things is to listen to the Show Me The Money Club YouTube show. Sergio and Chris present the latest developments in the industry. Keep up to date. It will make you a more profitable driver.

5. Share and Earn With Referrals

People will ask you how to get started. Be ready. I made thousands just from referrals. Prepare a simple business card with your code. A message prepared to send. These bonuses come and go, but when they are high, they are worth chasing. Helping others will help you. Albert Einstein said, “The value of a man resides in what he gives and not in what he is capable of receiving.” Give your help. Share your experience. Earn as you do.

6. Set Daily and Weekly Goals

Aimless driving wastes gas and spirit. Set goals. Daily, weekly. Know your minimum. Know your stretch goal. Many drivers use Gridwise to track their progress. When I hit my number, I go home. If I am short, I stay out. Simple. Steady. As William Faulkner wrote, “You cannot swim for new horizons until you dare to lose sight of the shore.” Leave comfort behind. Chase your number. 

7. Work Smarter, Not Longer, Unless You Have To

Some days are magic. Rides line up. Tips roll in. Other days test you. You must learn to spot momentum. Ride the wave when it is good. But do not fear the grind. You may need to adjust your hours to meet your goal. That is the job. Walt Disney once said, “The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” No complaints. Just drive. If you are committed to achieving your goal, you can then relax in the knowledge that you will reach your goal regardless of road conditions, passenger temperament, and weather.

8. Respect the Mission: Achieve Your Goals

There will be slow weeks. Times when nothing clicks. Still, you must keep your aim. Hit small targets. Stack little wins. Stay focused on the larger mission. Henry David Thoreau reminded us, “Our life is frittered away by detail. Simplify, simplify.” Strip down your distractions. Keep your eyes on the prize.

Key Takeaways

I invite you to shift your perspective. This is not gig work. This is a craft. If you treat it like a hustle, it will treat you like one. Master the tools. Respect the grind. The rewards will follow. You are not just a driver. You are a professional on wheels. Your passengers expect a quality ride and an earnest conversation. Earn like it. Be safe out there.

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