Quote:
Originally Posted by wong21fr
It's like an Uber driver, which is paid shit as well.
RTD does offer it's union employees (drivers and mechanics) full health benefits, defined benefit pension, vacation, performance bonuses, etc. Sure, a 43% base pay increase would get more butts in the door, but that would also require a 43% across the board pay increase to get the union to sign off on it.
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Nicely stated.
RTD can be a decent career with all those benefits - which cost RTD a lot of money. While I can appreciate their current "bills," sadly too many have no clue what retirement entails and health insurance is only important when you need it.
Uber is like the opposite end of the spectrum. What many miss is that what you make is all yours. There's no withholding or other pesky taxes to worry about as the current 58 cents per mile expense that IRS allows should for 90% of drivers eliminate taxable income.
Know of a guy 'JD,' longtime car salesman with wife, 2 kids, who caught the virus of living off his credit cards, racking up a lot of debt. Started driving Uber several years ago (when you could make money more easily) driving a Ford Fiesta. Graduated to a good used Dodge Caravan which allowed him to use the XL platform for 6 or more riders. His income jumped to $65,000 which was a 224% increase. Next step he picked up a commercial license and insurance and last year his income was $85,000. He's now driving a nice lightly used "black car" qualified Lincoln Navigator as he transitions to private client business. He is the exception, not the rule however. Many of the Pros will use Uber's platform to fill in income on days when they don't have private clients or slow times when hanging out at a nice hotel isn't the best plan.
Ride-share is great if it's a side-hustle. Take a teacher who can make $1,000 a month net of gas costs. That can make two car payments with extra or one car payment and add to your two kids college fund. The fact that ride-share income is all discretionary $'s appeals to many who have the discipline to work the extra job & hours.
UofA Grad transitioning to life's challenges is a single dad and for now is relying on Lyft's rental car "Express" program for income and his only car transportation which is allowed. Lyft will pay like a Third or Half of each weekly rental depending on volume. He needs the flexibility to drop off and pick up his young child from school. He expects to find a good job in time.
People who have bailed on the corporate world love ride-share. One guy with car fetish wondered if ride-share could cover his hobby costs. Drove a couple of weeks using his Tesla; decided it was fun, productive; found a good used Prius for $10,000 and is covering his big insurance and registration costs for his many cars.
Chatted with a couple of eastern-Europeans who emigrated primarily for the benefit of their children to grow up in America. One uses ride-share to pay living costs on top of his wife's low-paying job; the other uses ride-share to help pay for his 1st HS graduate going off to college. Immigrants often make good ride-share drivers; they have the discipline necessary to make it work.
Phoenix is back to attracting loads of graduates (both H.S. and college) from all over the mid-west who arrive w/o jobs. Many use ride-share to pay rent etc until they find the job that they want.
As a full-time gig, ride-share is for the few; maybe 15% of average Joe's can make it work. Most struggle with the daily grind and need to find a job where they can be an employee.