Ride-Share Drivers in Tampa Bay Stop Working as Fuel Costs Cut Into Pay

Uber and Lyft drivers across Tampa Bay have quit taking fares. Gas prices jumped after the Iran conflict started, and many can't afford to drive anymore. Parking the car beats losing money on every trip.

Chip Santiago drove for Uber seven months in his 2014 Chevrolet Silverado pickup. He quit taking riders in early March when the war began. His truck gulps gas — just 15 miles per gallon — and he covers 300 miles each shift.

"Well, because of the gas prices, I haven't driven at all. I decided just to park my car because I'm not going to make any money," said Santiago, according to WTSP.

Riders are paying more, Santiago says, but drivers aren't seeing that extra cash. Passengers mention they're shelling out bigger amounts for trips they used to take all the time.

"I've talked to several of my riders and they tell me that they're getting charged more money, they notice that they're getting charged more money for rides that they normally go to on a daily basis. Yet, I'm not seeing that money go back to me," he said.

Santiago says profit now requires either driving Uber Black with a pricey SUV or switching to a Tesla. Tampa International Airport — one spot where he used to pick up riders — shows just how bad things have gotten on both ends.

Airport runs to Sarasota illustrate the squeeze. The fare hits $50, but gas costs the same amount. After driving back with maybe no passenger, there's nothing left.

"The only problem is that you can get rides from the airport to Sarasota and it only pays you nickels because by the time it gets you $50, it's $50 in fuel. Then, I've got to get back and there is no guarantee of getting a ride from Sarasota to come back," Santiago said.

Kate, a traveler from New Jersey who shared just her first name, spent less on her 30-minute ride to Odessa than she thought she would. Her Philadelphia ride had run $100, so Tampa Bay prices seemed reasonable.

Fewer drivers on the road could mean fares climb even higher soon, analysts warn. Figuring out what this price chaos means for the economy might take weeks or even months. Uber ignored requests asking how trip revenue gets divided between the company and drivers.