http://metronews.ca/news/ottawa/138...ws/ottawa/1380742/this-ottawa-man-is-canadas-best-uber-driver-whats-his-secret/
This Ottawa man is Canada's best Uber driver - what's his secret?
Courtesy of UberGlen, an Uber driver in Ottawa, is the first Canadian Uber driver to receive the company's prestigious "Sixth Star" award.
What's the trick to becoming the greatest Uber driver in all the land?
According to Canada's best Uber driver, who lives in Ottawa, the secret is simple: never drive angry.
Glen is the only Canadian Uber driver to receive one of the company's prestigious Sixth Star awards for "drivers who go above and beyond." Only a few dozen drivers in Uber's 300 cities worldwide have received the award.
Uber, Lyft push back against proposed NYC regulations
After giving 1,200 rides since joining Uber when the ride-sharing app launched in Ottawa in October, Glen has a near-perfect 4.98-star rating from customers.
When Uber called him to inform him about the award, he was "shocked."
"This is just fun for me. This is not a job," he said. "I don't do it for the money, I do it because I love driving and because I'm a sociable person."
Glen, 38, declined to give his last name because he has a "sensitive" government job and said he wants to keep a low profile. He said he thought the high rating was normal because he had nothing to compare it to, but said Uber officials recently told him they looked through his customer feedback and read 300 positive comments before stopping.
So how does he do it?
"I only Uber when I'm upbeat, positive, feeling good, when the car's clean, I want to go be sociable and get to know my own city a little bit more," he said. "The key is that if this ever feels like a job, I'm done. I'm out."
He's got a serious job Monday to Friday, and this is a complete departure from that.
"Driving has always come very naturally to me. It's a passion," he said. He was raised in rural Saskatchewan, where "your driver's licence is your ticket to freedom.
"This allows me to enjoy it even more, be social, meet new people, tour my own city and have some fun," he said.
Of course, dealing with the odd unpleasant driver is an inevitable part of driving people around. But Glen said if that gets to you, "shut the app off and go home. Do something else."
That's an advantage of driving for Uber: there are no set shifts. Glen works evenings and weekends and estimates he drives for 10 hours per week, at most.
Glen got more than bragging rights with his Sixth Star award: he also received a $1,000 American Express gift card, some Uber swag and a Sixth Star-embossed medal.
He figures he'll keep the medal in the car, but "won't be throwing it in people's faces.
"That would be un-Canadian."
Five tips for becoming Canada's best Uber driver
How has Ottawa Uber driver Glen achieved a near-perfect customer rating after nearly 1,200 rides? Here are five ways.
1. A clean car
Glen, a self-described "car nut," keeps his keeps his Chevrolet Volt in perfect condition. It's washed daily, waxed every two weeks, the interior glass is cleaned every two days, vacuumed once a week, the leather interior is cleaned and balmed, tires are dressed and rims are polished. "When people get in, people feel a pride in the ride," he said. "You pull up in this shiny, completely immaculate car and it sets the tone."
2. Smooth driving
He said the best rides are smooth and cautious, like you're driving in a limo. That means avoiding potholes and taking speed bumps slowly. Glen said a fellow chauffer in California put it best: "Pretend your rider has a book on their head or a hot cup of coffee that can't be spilled, and driving accordingly."
3. Amenities
Glen keeps his car stocked with cold water, Perrier, mints, gum and cellphone chargers. The car has free Wi-Fi, too. He starts every ride with a detailed greeting advising customers of their surroundings and welcoming them to Uber.
4. Music
After his polished opening speech, Glen puts "chill house music" on. He said it helps create powerful first impression.
5. Clean personal appearance
Glen stays clean-shaven and always wears a shirt with a collar, blue jeans, driving shoes and, in the winter, driving gloves. If there's a special event in the city, he'll wear a tie.
This Ottawa man is Canada's best Uber driver - what's his secret?
Courtesy of UberGlen, an Uber driver in Ottawa, is the first Canadian Uber driver to receive the company's prestigious "Sixth Star" award.
What's the trick to becoming the greatest Uber driver in all the land?
According to Canada's best Uber driver, who lives in Ottawa, the secret is simple: never drive angry.
Glen is the only Canadian Uber driver to receive one of the company's prestigious Sixth Star awards for "drivers who go above and beyond." Only a few dozen drivers in Uber's 300 cities worldwide have received the award.
Uber, Lyft push back against proposed NYC regulations
After giving 1,200 rides since joining Uber when the ride-sharing app launched in Ottawa in October, Glen has a near-perfect 4.98-star rating from customers.
When Uber called him to inform him about the award, he was "shocked."
"This is just fun for me. This is not a job," he said. "I don't do it for the money, I do it because I love driving and because I'm a sociable person."
Glen, 38, declined to give his last name because he has a "sensitive" government job and said he wants to keep a low profile. He said he thought the high rating was normal because he had nothing to compare it to, but said Uber officials recently told him they looked through his customer feedback and read 300 positive comments before stopping.
So how does he do it?
"I only Uber when I'm upbeat, positive, feeling good, when the car's clean, I want to go be sociable and get to know my own city a little bit more," he said. "The key is that if this ever feels like a job, I'm done. I'm out."
He's got a serious job Monday to Friday, and this is a complete departure from that.
"Driving has always come very naturally to me. It's a passion," he said. He was raised in rural Saskatchewan, where "your driver's licence is your ticket to freedom.
"This allows me to enjoy it even more, be social, meet new people, tour my own city and have some fun," he said.
Of course, dealing with the odd unpleasant driver is an inevitable part of driving people around. But Glen said if that gets to you, "shut the app off and go home. Do something else."
That's an advantage of driving for Uber: there are no set shifts. Glen works evenings and weekends and estimates he drives for 10 hours per week, at most.
Glen got more than bragging rights with his Sixth Star award: he also received a $1,000 American Express gift card, some Uber swag and a Sixth Star-embossed medal.
He figures he'll keep the medal in the car, but "won't be throwing it in people's faces.
"That would be un-Canadian."
Five tips for becoming Canada's best Uber driver
How has Ottawa Uber driver Glen achieved a near-perfect customer rating after nearly 1,200 rides? Here are five ways.
1. A clean car
Glen, a self-described "car nut," keeps his keeps his Chevrolet Volt in perfect condition. It's washed daily, waxed every two weeks, the interior glass is cleaned every two days, vacuumed once a week, the leather interior is cleaned and balmed, tires are dressed and rims are polished. "When people get in, people feel a pride in the ride," he said. "You pull up in this shiny, completely immaculate car and it sets the tone."
2. Smooth driving
He said the best rides are smooth and cautious, like you're driving in a limo. That means avoiding potholes and taking speed bumps slowly. Glen said a fellow chauffer in California put it best: "Pretend your rider has a book on their head or a hot cup of coffee that can't be spilled, and driving accordingly."
3. Amenities
Glen keeps his car stocked with cold water, Perrier, mints, gum and cellphone chargers. The car has free Wi-Fi, too. He starts every ride with a detailed greeting advising customers of their surroundings and welcoming them to Uber.
4. Music
After his polished opening speech, Glen puts "chill house music" on. He said it helps create powerful first impression.
5. Clean personal appearance
Glen stays clean-shaven and always wears a shirt with a collar, blue jeans, driving shoes and, in the winter, driving gloves. If there's a special event in the city, he'll wear a tie.
