Anyone here an Uber driver?

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1907 posts

Uber Geek

#1298307 5-May-2015 12:45

I don't get all that passenger/service license crap.

I'm an experienced fully licensed driver that takes passengers with me on the same roads I drive on my own, every single day. But if they give me a $20.00 note or a bitcoin at the end, all of a sudden my license isn't good enough anymore.

The current taxi service has been left unmolested (and as a result, unchanged and expensive) for years. It's about time competition jumped in and started shaking the place up a bit.

EDIT: I tried to sign up, but at the very beginning it states I must have a vehicle that seats 4 comfortably. Unfortunately, I can only fit 1 other person uncomfortably! Haha.

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adida101

127 posts

Master Geek

#1298461 5-May-2015 15:28

Agreed. After finding out about all the licensing requirements that would take 8-9 weeks to complete and cost over $1000 I'm thinking it's not really going to be worth it for me, who would only be working very occasionally on a casual basis. It's not really a true ride sharing service here if it requires all these hoops for jumping through, the only people who would go through the effort are the unemployed or current/previous taxi drivers. I don't think these requirements are present in other countries either, it seems to just be a New Zealand thing..

wellygary

8212 posts

Uber Geek

#1298475 5-May-2015 15:47

adida101: I don't think these requirements are present in other countries either, it seems to just be a New Zealand thing..

Thats because in most countries it is Taxi industry that is regulated, (There are resitrictions on who can provide a taxi service,and other taxi services are prevented from starting up) Uber can avoid this by claiming not to be a "Taxi service"

whereas in NZ we "deregulated" the taxi Industry , ( i.e anyone can go an be a taxi if they meet the standards) but shifted the regulation to "passenger service", thus Uber and Lyft get caught here as they are carrying passengers,

DaveB

1139 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1298484 5-May-2015 16:05

The problem with the Uber service here and in many other countries, is that the owner operators fail to meet legislative requirements, such as minimum insurances, GST requirements, ACC compliance etc etc.

Hire a cowboy ........... get a cowboy. But don't expect a cowboy to be there when things turn to custard!

Yabanize

2350 posts

Uber Geek

#1298525 5-May-2015 17:13

DaveB: The problem with the Uber service here and in many other countries, is that the owner operators fail to meet legislative requirements, such as minimum insurances, GST requirements, ACC compliance etc etc.

Hire a cowboy ........... get a cowboy. But don't expect a cowboy to be there when things turn to custard!

I think you have never experienced Uber.. You should try it. Its better than you think

kiwiharry

1014 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Subscriber

#1298526 5-May-2015 17:13

wellygary: I think you will find that many uber drivers in NZ are actually existing taxi drivers.

Earlier this year I was drinking with a mate at a pub in Wellington where we observed a taxi driver remove his top sign and all the magnetic decals from the doors. About 1 hour later he was back in front of the pub reapplying the decals and refitting the top sign. I said to my mate that I suspected he may be an Uber driver.

If you can't laugh at yourself then you probably shouldn't laugh at others.

adida101

127 posts

Master Geek

#1298573 5-May-2015 19:07

wellygary:
adida101: I don't think these requirements are present in other countries either, it seems to just be a New Zealand thing..

Thats because in most countries it is Taxi industry that is regulated, (There are resitrictions on who can provide a taxi service,and other taxi services are prevented from starting up) Uber can avoid this by claiming not to be a "Taxi service"

whereas in NZ we "deregulated" the taxi Industry , ( i.e anyone can go an be a taxi if they meet the standards) but shifted the regulation to "passenger service", thus Uber and Lyft get caught here as they are carrying passengers,

Doesn't make any sense.

Technically if I am driving my friend to the gym I am 'carrying passengers'. Does that mean that if I offer to give a stranger a ride to work and charge him for it I need a passenger service license? Or if I car pool to work with colleagues and split the fuel cost? That's essentially what Uber SHOULD be, or at least aims to be, just a platform for two parties who can mutually benefit each other to connect and interact: true ride sharing. Not a taxi service.

cisconz

cisconz
1337 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1298579 5-May-2015 19:20

adida101: Doesn't make any sense.

Technically if I am driving my friend to the gym I am 'carrying passengers'. Does that mean that if I offer to give a stranger a ride to work and charge him for it I need a passenger service license?

If you make a profit, then yes, you need a TSL and Passenger Endorsement.

adida101: Or if I car pool to work with colleagues and split the fuel cost?

No as you are just covering costs.

Hmmmm

nickb800

2715 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1298605 5-May-2015 19:51

I think the taxi industry should face some deregulation to enable companies like Uber, BUT the process of drivers gaining a 'P' endorsement includes the all important background check by Police - something I think we still need in the era of Uber.

Getting rid of area knowledge certificates seems like a good idea too, given every driver has a GPS mounted anyway.

alasta

6671 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Subscriber

#1298660 5-May-2015 21:35

adida101: Technically if I am driving my friend to the gym I am 'carrying passengers'. Does that mean that if I offer to give a stranger a ride to work and charge him for it I need a passenger service license? Or if I car pool to work with colleagues and split the fuel cost?

The difference is that someone who knows you personally can make a risk assessment of whether they want to get in your car, whereas a complete stranger can't.

I have at least one friend who I won't get into a car with for safety reasons, so I wouldn't get into a taxi or Uber vehicle without there being some regulatory safeguards in place.

Geese

1028 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1298699 5-May-2015 22:23

nickb800: Getting rid of area knowledge certificates seems like a good idea too, given every driver has a GPS mounted anyway.

I had my "P" for 5 years, never used it once. Was offered temp work as taxi driver if I got my area knowledge cert. I took one look at the mountain of paperwork, the questions asked, and what was expected to be known and parroted back in the test, and flagged the whole idea.

Yabanize

2350 posts

Uber Geek

#1298701 5-May-2015 22:30

alasta:
adida101: Technically if I am driving my friend to the gym I am 'carrying passengers'. Does that mean that if I offer to give a stranger a ride to work and charge him for it I need a passenger service license? Or if I car pool to work with colleagues and split the fuel cost?

The difference is that someone who knows you personally can make a risk assessment of whether they want to get in your car, whereas a complete stranger can't.

I have at least one friend who I won't get into a car with for safety reasons, so I wouldn't get into a taxi or Uber vehicle without there being some regulatory safeguards in place.

You can see the drivers name, photo, Car rego and feedback from other passengers before you book, you can also send a live tracking link to your friend or family so they know where you are

adida101

127 posts

Master Geek

#1298703 5-May-2015 22:37

alasta:
adida101: Technically if I am driving my friend to the gym I am 'carrying passengers'. Does that mean that if I offer to give a stranger a ride to work and charge him for it I need a passenger service license? Or if I car pool to work with colleagues and split the fuel cost?

The difference is that someone who knows you personally can make a risk assessment of whether they want to get in your car, whereas a complete stranger can't.

I have at least one friend who I won't get into a car with for safety reasons, so I wouldn't get into a taxi or Uber vehicle without there being some regulatory safeguards in place.

Having a mandatory background check is fine. Needing to spend thousands and go through courses to share your car is excessive, IMO.

scuwp

3874 posts

Uber Geek

#1298785 6-May-2015 07:55

adida101:
alasta:
adida101: Technically if I am driving my friend to the gym I am 'carrying passengers'. Does that mean that if I offer to give a stranger a ride to work and charge him for it I need a passenger service license? Or if I car pool to work with colleagues and split the fuel cost?

The difference is that someone who knows you personally can make a risk assessment of whether they want to get in your car, whereas a complete stranger can't.

I have at least one friend who I won't get into a car with for safety reasons, so I wouldn't get into a taxi or Uber vehicle without there being some regulatory safeguards in place.

Having a mandatory background check is fine. Needing to spend thousands and go through courses to share your car is excessive, IMO.

"Thousands" is a touch dramatic I think. Starting from scratch I see around $1200. Considering whats required for other forms of businesses starting up I think that's pretty light.

The passenger endorsement means you should be an experienced driver, have met the unit standards indicating you understand the legal provisions of operating either as a business owner or employee driver (receive a reward for services rendered), are medically fit to drive, know the work time and logbook requirements, have cleared police vetting, and if necessary have demonstrated practical driving skill if no test has been undertaken in a while.

The passenger service licence registers the commercial entity, and all those involved in running the company must be deemed 'fit and proper' to run a business. The boss must also pass another test to prove they know about transport law for running a business.

I have no issue with any of these sorts of requirements if running a legitimate business earning money for being a 'professional" driver or business owner. I agree the area knowledge should be dropped in this GPS era, but that will need a law change.

I expect the law will change to bring it up to date (i.e. Uber), but I would hate to see the basic knowledge and test requirements go in favor of a free-for-all. If you are running a payed service, the passengers have a right to some basic protections, just like any other professional service (i.e. electricians, builders, engineers etc)

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

DaveB

1139 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1311070 25-May-2015 09:32

Yabanize:
DaveB: The problem with the Uber service here and in many other countries, is that the owner operators fail to meet legislative requirements, such as minimum insurances, GST requirements, ACC compliance etc etc.

Hire a cowboy ........... get a cowboy. But don't expect a cowboy to be there when things turn to custard!

I think you have never experienced Uber.. You should try it. Its better than you think

I guess I am old school and do not yet have the sort of faith in IT security to open up all sorts of accounts where your financial details can potentially become common knowledge and abused.

This article here

FBI launch probe after British and US Uber users say phantom cab rides appear on their accounts

FBI launches probe into claims users are being charged for 'phantom' rides
British customers have reported their accounts being used in U.S. cities
Other users in the U.S. claim they have been charged for trips in London
It has been reported Uber accounts are being sold for $1 on the 'dark web'
Uber asks relevant authorities to investigate claims, and denies it has fallen victim to security breach

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3095116/FBI-launch-probe-British-Uber-users-say-phantom-cab-riders-appear-accounts.html#ixzz3b5rxxmGc

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