CLEVELAND — Uber and Lyft are changing the way many Ohioans think about transportation, but as the impact of high gas prices continues to be felt across the country, many rideshare drivers are being forced to decide if their job is sustainable in the economy.

What You Need To Know

  • Uber recently announced it is adding a surcharge to rides

  • Enoch Hamilton said he wants the rideshare company to offer more incentives for drivers besides surcharges

  • He said he is paying nearly double in fuel costs

A northeast Ohio driver said he is thinking through that decision.

Enoch Hamilton said the number of trips he completes as an Uber driver now depends on the distance.

“If it’s a shorter distance, I could probably do 15 or 20 rides a day. [A] longer distance? Maybe half that,” Hamilton said.

The cheese-packing factory worker from Canton said he started driving for Uber as an extra source of income approximately six months ago.

“Since my daughter’s going to get married, just a little bit extra money,” Hamilton said.

Hamilton said he’s taking his side gig seriously as he comes close to hitting a special driver rating achievement.

“I have almost 150 five-star trips,” Hamilton said.

However, Hamilton added he doesn’t know how much longer he can continue to drive if the gas prices keep on rising.

“Probably another year or two, depending on the gas prices,” Hamilton said. “If they continue to rise, it would probably be shorter, because it obviously costs more money to fill up and [the job would] stop being as profitable.”

To help drivers out with this issue, Uber recently announced it was adding a temporary fuel surcharge to rides. But, it might not be enough to offset costs.

Hamilton said he’s appreciative that the company is doing something, but thinks it won’t make much of a difference because he spends nearly double the money filling up his tank now. 

“Right now, it’s about $40 to $50,” Hamilton said.

At the gas station, he said that he’s had to get creative to cut costs.  

“Definitely watching the news more [and] watching through the GasBuddy apps to try find the cheapest gas station around,” Hamilton said.

Along with a higher surcharge, Hamilton said he’d like to see Uber do more to help drivers.

“Maybe like a free car wash, or you know, cleaning of interiors, or something that we could definitely use because the car does get dirty,” Hamilton added.

He said those would help him help others get to their destinations safely.