Ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft want to ensure drivers will work for them and not their competitors. One way to do that? Have the best perks.
This week Uber is releasing a new “Fuel Finder” feature on its app that can give drivers directions to the nearest gas stations and help them hunt for the best prices on a tank of gas. Uber says the feature will be live everywhere in the United States by the end of the week.
It’s just the latest move in the perks war pitting Uber against its chief domestic rival, Lyft. Lyft has far fewer drivers than Uber, but the company is gaining ground quickly in cities like New York. Both companies maintain their drivers are independent contractors—not employees who would be eligible for company benefits. But each brand is still doing more and more to woo prospective drivers with extra deals on the side.
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Last month, Uber announced the company will also start letting its employees cash out their earnings whenever they want via an Instant Pay option debuting for its San Francisco drivers. That move came after Lyft started offering a similar service for its drivers back in December.
Uber agreed to pay $100 Million over a contract dispute. Watch:
Uber has also started offering its drivers benefits like a gas discount card, cell phone and car repair discounts, car rental deals, and a health insurance finder. Lyft offers its drivers similar perks, but it also touts options for more novel deals, like gym memberships and coffees at Starbucks.
So what kind of presents might Uber offer its drivers next as the ride-sharing perks wars heat up?
Perhaps a convenient feature to help Uber drivers find the nearest driver-friendly bathrooms, as Business Insider suggests. If Uber can beat out the competition by offering up an easy way to find the bathroom, that might be a way to snag a few more drivers on the go.