Uber rolls out several new features and perks for drivers

Shawn Knight

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Uber is rolling out a number of new features and perks designed to make its service as rewarding and stress-free as possible for drivers.

Driver Destinations, a feature that Uber has piloted since late last year, will be rolling out to more than a dozen US cities this week. With it, drivers can input their destination twice a day – say, on their way to and from work. During this time, Uber will only send them trip requests that are on their way to their destination.

Another new feature, Pause Requests, allows drivers to take a break without having to decline trip requests during their current ride. After lunch or a restroom break, for example, simply tap the pause button to make yourself available once again. Uber said it will be piloting the feature later this month in several cities across the US and internationally.

As Uber product managers Maya Choksi and Ryan Fujiu explain in a recent blog post, Uber has been piloting a feature that will pay drivers for wait times that exceed two minutes. In the cities it has been testing in, the company has seen that riders are more likely to be prompt. Look for this perk to expand to additional cities this month.

Earlier this year, Uber began piloting an Instant Pay option that lets drivers get paid as often as they want via a free GoBank Uber debit card. As of writing, this feature is now available in all US markets. Those interested in giving it a try can sign up by tapping the “Earnings” tab in the driver app or clicking the “Instant Pay” tab on Uber’s website.

Another pilot is also being expanded in the coming weeks. Ride Discounts offer Uber drivers 15 percent off an UberX ride for every 10 trips completed in a week or half off an UberBLACK ride for every 20 trips done in a week.

Last but not least, Uber has rebranded its in-person assistance service. Formerly known as Partner Support Centers, the local help facilities will now be called Uber Greenlight locations.

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