Professional Documents
Culture Documents
MOMENTUM
T HE M AG A ZINE FO R UBER PA R T NER S
POWER
STEERING
Savvy partners are
putting Uber on the map
LAUNCH
ISSUE
WELCOME
#UBERPARTNERS
Whats keeping your fellow partners busy on social media?
Sincerely,
RYAN GRAVES
Head of Global Operations / Uber Technologies, Inc.
Noel Olken
@UberNoel
Emmanuel
@myUberDriver
Liz Pugh
@|1zpugh
The dread/hope/nausea I
feel every time I am on my
way to pick up an uber passenger with the same name
as any ex
The bad...
To the sublime...
Noel Olken
@UberNoel
uber tales
@uber_tales
Nick McClanahan
@Rev_McClan
W IN T E R 2 015
HEALTHY TIPS
FOR BETTER TRIPS
Uber spoke with Alexandra Sowa, MD, a doctor in New York City, to get her insights
on potential health issues for Uber partners and ways to keep yourself safe and healthy
SLEEP
It can be tempting
to drive a few extra
hours for more fares,
even if that means
giving up some sleep.
But dontits unsafe
for you and for others
on the road. Sleep
deprivation can impair
judgment and reaction
time. Sowa says, In
order for adults to
have optimal energy
every day, you need
seven to nine hours
of sleep. For drivers
especially, this is not a
luxury, its a necessity. And a coffee
break cant replace
any of those hours
of sleep, Sowa adds.
Caffeine and other
stimulants dont overcome severe sleep
deprivationit just
doesnt work.
MOMENT UM
CARDIOVASCULAR
HEALTH
BACK/SHOULDER
HEALTH
Driving is sedentary,
meaning a seated, inactive job. A completely
sedentary lifestyle can
put you at increased
risk for heart disease
and weight gain. But
you dont have to take
hours out of your day
to exercise to avoid
this. According to
Sowa, as little as 10
minutes [of aerobic
exercise] a day can
help fight off weight
gain and problems
with your heart.
Aerobic exercise is
anything from climbing stairs or jogging
to kickboxing or
swimming.
We know it can be
hard to catch a break
between trips, but
keep in mind that
sitting in the same position without a break
isnt good for you
and can cause back,
shoulder, or neck pain.
The good news? Its
easy to prevent these
problems. Sowa recommends stretching
frequently, even just
getting out of the car
and walking around
briefly, and that drivers avoid sitting on
wallets or other hard
objects. Sowa also
suggests shopping for
back support pillows
and cushions, particularly if your car seat
doesnt provide great
lower back support.
HYDRATION
LIFTING
Drinking water
throughout the day
is always important.
Experts recommend
six to eight glasses
per day. Even if youre
trying to maximize
driving time, dont
skimp on drinking water because you dont
want to take time
to find a bathroom.
Among other risks,
Sowa observes, you
can be prone to kidney stones if youre
dehydrated.
Carrying luggage or
packages for riders is
always a nice gesture
if you are physically
able. Sowa simply
cautions, Dont bend
at the waist, always
lift by bending at the
knees. This can protect your back from
taking the full weight
of what youre lifting.
W IN T E R 2 015
CITY SPOTLIGHT
Texass state capital is one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States.
Now, its also a permanent home for Uberthanks to our policy team and
ordinances passed by the Austin City Council on October 16.
HOOKED ON UBER
AUSTIN-BASED FLORENCIO EXPLAINS WHY HE
WAS AN EARLY ADOPTER
Flo was one of the first partners on the platform when
Uber launched in Austin back in March. In addition to
GAINING MOMENTUM
You work hard, and we know it. Whether youre driving eight
hours per day or eight hours per week, we want to be certain
that your hard work doesnt go unrecognizedor unrewarded.
Thats the thinking behind Momentum Partner Rewards,
Ubers new partner loyalty program. With business and lifestyle
rewards, plus special status for top-performing partners coming
soon, this program has something for everyone. Even if youre
partnering with Uber part-time, you stand to benefit. Here are
some of the highlights:
Personalized Health Insurance Recommendations: We know that
finding affordable, effective health insurance is a top priority for
Without a doubt, Uber owes Austins success so far to the driver partners
and Austinites who signed petitions, attended City Council meetings, and
made sure their voices were heard. Thanks to all of them, Silicon Hills now
joins Silicon Valley (the San Francisco Bay Area), Silicon Alley (New York
City), and Silicon Beach (Los Angeles) as a U.S. city that is innovating not just
in tech but in transportation as well.
Uber worked around the clock to pass regulations so that Austinites could
have the same driving opportunity as other cities. Check out the results for
the month of October:
Personal Rewards for You and Your Family: Were working with
top wireless carriers AT&T and Verizon to deliver deep discounts
on your cell phone/wireless services. Discounts are from 1518
percent and also extend to your immediate family.
your family.*
Reduced Vehicle Expenses: Whether you need new tires, a routine oil change, or a fresh coat of paint, partners now have a
personal pit crew at over 10,000 locations nationwide, thanks to
*Stride Health is currently available to partners in California, Illinois, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, and Texas. It will expand to all states
where Uber is available throughout 2015.
MOMENT UM
L E F T: M C L E N D O N P H O T O G R A P H Y
comparisons to help you choose the best health care for you and
the platform. Uber is on my terms, and my time is valuable. I have small kids, and dont want to miss time with
themand I dont.
A typical day for Flo: He wakes up and drives from
5:30 a.m. to 7 a.m.he gets in all of those airport runs
then has breakfast with his daughters, takes them to
school, and heads to his job as a high school teacher
and wrestling coach. After his girls are in bed for the
night, hell drive for a few more hours from about
8:30 p.m. to around 11 p.m. On weekends, he likes to
drive after 10 p.m., when demand spikes. Im hooked
on Uber, says Flo. I recommend it to all of my fellow
teachers and friends as a solid way to earn money.
Austin is now one of the top 20 cities worldwide for gross bookings.
During the two weeks of Austin City Limits (ACL), Uber partners provided
more than 100,000 trips! Now the Live Music Capital of the World can rock
on. Whether you are driving during ACL or South by Southwest (SXSW)or
any other time of yearrest assured were behind you. We all want to see
driver partners flourish, and this is just the beginning.
W IN T E R 2 015
PARTNER Q&A
MOMENTUM: What were you doing before you started partnering with Uber, and what initially led you to Uber?
Sofiane was one of Ubers first driver partners in San Francisco, our first city.
MOMENTUM magazine caught up with him to hear about his platform experiences and
why driving with Uber never gets oldnot even after 20,000 trips.
AMY HARRITY
MOMENT UM
be happy about the servicethe way they want it, when they
want it. In general, I enjoy seeing this business get to the level
that its at now. There has been a lot of hard work put into it
there is no doubt about that.
W IN T E R 2 015
SIXTH STAR
WINNERS
( BETTER
I was having an awful day and pinged Uber after my car got a flat
tire and I [needed] a ride home. After Muhammed picked me up, he
overheard me on the phone, upset because of how far I was from
home and late to work. He offered to help me get [my] car towed
rather than drive me all the way home. He took me back to my
car and helped me get it towed. He even helped me find a place in
the area to get a new tire so I could drive back home. Muhammed
stayed with me and helped me the whole way through. I offered
him extra money and he wouldnt take ithe just genuinely wanted
me to be okay. I could honestly cry right now writing this email
thinking about how kind and helpful he was.
We know every partner works hard to give clients the five-star experience. Sometimes, partners have an opportunity to do more than thatand occasionally they
become heroes. We hear amazing stories from riders every day, so we launched
( GIANT
the Sixth Star program to honor partners who truly go beyond. Here, grateful riders
LE AP OF FAITH AT L A X
share the stories that won these incredible partners their Sixth Star.
EACH AWARDEE WINS A $1,000 AMERICAN EXPRESS GIFT CARD AND A SWAG BAG OF CUSTOM SIXTH STAR GOODIES.
with me on the flight and had to stop to ship items on the way.
found out as I shipped the stuff that it weighed 300 pounds, which
meant Mikhayel had taken 300 pounds, plus two suitcases, plus
A SHOPPING BUDDY
giant leap of faith and begged Mikhayel to mail me two of the bags
the next day and gave him money to do so. I had no idea if there
CARL STEVENS
a driver!
MOMENT UM
10
C H R I S H A MILT O N
Edith
age came.
woke up there was a text message from him with a picture of the
A S A F E WAY H O M E
it. I found out that there was 10 minutes until they closed my flight;
( FINDING
dating at LAX.
( FROM
Billy
W IN T E R 2 015
11
PIT STOPS
When youre on the road and you gotta go, you gotta go. Here is some tried-and-true
advice on the best places to find free and clean bathrooms, recommended by your fellow
Uber driver partners.
PUBLIC LIBRARIES/PARKS
In San Francisco, CA, partner Denny recommends the Cliff
House at Lands End.
In San Diego, CA, partner Ernesto recommends the bathrooms near the Bayfront area (bonus: easy parking!).
Lane Keep Assist, which helps keep the Prius in its lane.
The Toyota Camry has also proven to be a successful
vehicle for uberX partners. Davis notes that the Camry
Hybrid is particularly popular among passengers, thanks
to its comfortable interior and smooth, quiet ride. The
Camry 2015 has a sports mesh front grille, LED head-
HOTELS
In Boston, MA, partner Anthony recommends either the Seaport Boston Hotel or the Holiday Inn in Brookline, MA, where
the lower mezzanine is accessible to the public.
12
MOMENT UM
T O Y O TA U S A N E W S R O O M
COFFEE SHOPS
In Boston, MA, partner Richard says, Dunkin Donuts is a
savior. He recommends the locations at Brighton Avenue,
Cleveland Circle, or the South End.
Alternate coffee shop option: the Starbucks on Atlantic Avenue in the North End.
If all else fails, try your smartphone: Apps like Sit or Squat, Where to Wee, Toilet Finder, and Bathroom Scout are almost like an
Uber for bathrooms, providing crowd-sourced information to help direct you to the nearest available, clean, public restroom.
W IN T E R 2 015
13
EVENTS
Winter can be tough to get through, but lower temperatures and shorter days also mean
more riders and more trips. Here are some events to look forward to on the cold or snowy
days on the road ahead. And of course, we have plenty of special promotions and partner
appreciation events in the works that we cant wait to surprise you with. #UberOn
FEBRUARY 2015
FEBRUARY 16
MARCH 2015
FEBRUARY 1
FEBRUARY 17
MARCH 26
FEBRUARY 7
Winter Blast begins. (Detroit, MI)
FEBRUARY 18
Sacramento International Film Festival
FEBRUARY 8
Francisco, CA)
MARCH 20
First Day of the Cherry Blossom Festival
APRIL 15
(Washington, DC)
MARCH 22
Sheep!)
MARCH 2629
Wrestlemania 2015 (San Jose, CA)
MARCH 6
MARCH 31
FEBRUARY 22
FEBRUARY 12
New York Fashion Week begins. (NYC)
FEBRUARY 1315
APRIL 23
NY Tech Day 2015 (NYC)
CLEVELAND
partnerscleveland@uber.com
APRIL 23
COLUMBUS
partnerscolumbus@uber.com
DAYTON
partnersdayton@uber.com
APRIL 2330
MARCH 8
SAN FRANCISCO
partnersSF@uber.com
Visit our Partner Support Center
at 301 Vermont Street, Mondays
through Fridays, 9 a.m.6 p.m., and
Saturdays, 10 a.m.2 p.m.
AKRON
partnersakron@uber.com
CINCINNATI
partnerscincinnati@uber.com
APRIL 2015
NYC
partnersNY@uber.com
Stop by for Office Hours, Mondays
through Fridays, 10 a.m.5 p.m. at
27-55 Jackson Avenue in Long Island
City, NY 11101.
OHIO
APRIL 22
Earth Day
MARCH 6
MARCH 27
FEBRUARY 2022
APRIL 1526
Tribeca Film Festival (NYC)
MARCH 5
FEBRUARY 19
APRIL 12
FEBRUARY 915
MARCH 17
(Sacramento, CA)
Grammys (Los Angeles, CA)
BOSTON
partnersboston@uber.com
Note: Uber Boston is moving to
Haymarket! Look for us at our new
location. Stay tuned for more details.
MARCH 1
Questions? Suggestions?
Heres how to reach out to
your local Support Teams
via email or in person.
TOLEDO
partnerstoledo@uber.com
FEBRUARY 22
APRIL 34
Sunday morning.
County, CA)
FEBRUARY 24MARCH 8
MARCH 12
APRIL 312
OKC
partnersokc@uber.com
FEBRUARY 26
MARCH 15
APRIL 5
TULSA
partnerstulsa@uber.com
(Sacramento, CA)
Easter
FEBRUARY 16
FEBRUARY 26
MARCH 17
APRIL 6
FEBRUARY 14
OKL AHOMA
FEBRUARY 1524
HABLA ESPAOL?
KENTUCK Y
FEBRUARY 28
APRIL 7
LEXINGTON
partners.lexington@uber.com
LOUISVILLE
partners.louisville@uber.com
http://t.uber.com/es.
14
MOMENT UM
W IN T E R 2 015
15
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Par tners: Keep handy and display in your windshield if you need a vehicle ID.