Uber’s UK General Manager addresses driver concerns over earnings transparency and ‘Trip Radar’
Uber UK’s General Manager, Andrew Brem, has spoken out about the challenges faced by the platform in improving transparency and communication with its drivers. Central to these efforts is clarifying changes to Uber’s earnings structure and addressing widespread concerns about its Trip Radar feature.
Brem explained that one of the biggest hurdles this year has been dispelling confusion among drivers following the UK’s regulatory shift to a merchant model. This adjustment saw Uber move from a fixed service fee to a variable percentage taken from each trip. According to Brem, this new approach has sometimes resulted in Uber retaining a higher portion of certain fares, while on other occasions, the amount is lower.
Uber claims this variability is designed to boost the overall number of trips available to drivers, but some have questioned the impact on their earnings. In response, the company has introduced clearer Weekly Statements, allowing drivers to see exactly what Uber retains from fares paid by passengers. This information is now accessible both via email and within the Driver app.
Brem said: “It is correct that on some trips the amount kept by Uber can be higher than it was in the past, but equally on other trips it can be much lower, and this actually leads to more trips in total.
“We want to be totally transparent with drivers about what Uber takes from passenger fares on the trips they provide over the course of a week - and also be clear that comparing what a passenger says they have paid for a trip with what the driver sees as earnings for that specific trip is not a reliable way to measure the amount that Uber keeps over time.
“This year we have improved the information that drivers have about their earnings each week and they can now see exactly what Uber has kept from the fares paid by passengers on the trips they have completed that week.
“Drivers can see this in their Weekly Statements which are sent to them by email, plus they can now see this information in the Driver app."
Separately, Uber has sought to address misunderstandings about its Trip Radar feature, which offers drivers additional trip options outside of the traditional request queue. Brem dismissed allegations that the system fosters competition between drivers or depresses earnings, labelling media reports of a “fastest finger first” model as entirely false.
Instead, Uber says Trip Radar is designed to increase flexibility for drivers while ensuring passengers are served more efficiently. However, Brem admitted that Uber’s initial explanation of the feature was too technical, potentially fuelling the confusion.
Brem said: “Another example [of misconceptions within the trade] is the recent debates amongst drivers about Trip Radar, which is all about providing additional flexibility to drivers and fulfilling more trips for passengers.
“We’ve seen media reports with totally false claims, such as it being about ‘fastest finger first’ or drivers bidding against each other to drive down earnings. This is absolutely not what Trip Radar is about but I acknowledge that we probably helped create some confusion and scored an own goal by using techy terms when speaking to drivers.
“This is certainly a lesson for me and the team and we’ve already made improvements to Trip Radar to ensure it provides the best possible earning experience for drivers.”
