The Frustrations of an Online Ride-Hailing Driver: Navigating Power Inequalities Between Platforms and Drivers

In the bustling streets of Beijing, ride-hailing driver Master Ruan candidly expresses his dissatisfaction with the Didi platform. Unlike the previous interviewee who expressed gratitude, Master Ruan is deeply frustrated with the exploitation and tactics used by Didi. “The control of capital is too strong; it makes breathing difficult. You can’t get rich doing this; you can only scrape by and put food on the table,” he says.

A Long-Time Driver for Didi

Master Ruan has been working with Didi since shortly after the company went public in Beijing. He drove for two years in the fast car service before switching to the premium car service. “The first two years were decent, with subsidies, but as the years went by, those incentives disappeared. Now, Didi has tightened its grip on drivers, making it nearly impossible to earn a decent living,” he explains. Initially, Didi advertised flexible working hours, but the reality is far from it. “Drivers are required to work during peak hours, and if you fail to meet these requirements, you may not get any orders. Premium drivers need to log 220 to 240 hours online each month; otherwise, they risk being downgraded.”

He uses a vivid metaphor to describe Didi: “You know about Zhou Bapi, right? Didi today is even worse than Zhou Bapi.”

The Challenge of Balancing Earnings

Master Ruan shares that Didi sometimes assigns orders to drivers only to cancel them later, claiming that the passenger canceled when, in fact, it’s Didi rerouting the order to another driver. “Didi is double-dipping, taking a 29% commission, which is incredibly frustrating. Drivers are the weak link with no voice,” he says.

The conflicts between drivers and passengers also pose significant issues. Didi demands high-quality service from drivers while paying them very little. “You pay a lot, but what we receive is far less. If you want us to provide high-quality service, you can’t expect us to do it without adequate compensation,” he argues. Over time, this has led to drivers serving with frustration, negatively affecting the quality of service.

The Struggles of Daily Life

Master Ruan’s working hours vary; he may start as early as 6 AM or as late as noon and often works until 8 or 9 PM, sometimes even 10 PM. “Can I earn 10,000 yuan a month? Not anymore; these days, a few thousand yuan a month is already good,” he says. With age catching up, he finds it increasingly difficult to work as hard as younger drivers.

“Every year, there are reports of drivers collapsing from exhaustion. Just recently, three drivers in Zhengzhou were in their thirties. Sitting in the car all day with such mental strain takes its toll. Many drivers die unexpectedly, but Didi never reports it,” Master Ruan laments.

The Evolution of Didi

Reflecting on the early days of Didi, he recalls how management used to listen to driver feedback and engage with them daily to address their concerns. “But now, the voices of drivers are ignored. Who listens to us?” His disappointment in Didi’s current state is palpable, feeling that the platform's exploitation has made it suffocating for drivers.

Passenger Demands

Master Ruan shares anecdotes about difficult passengers. Once, he picked up a passenger from Alibaba's headquarters in Wangjing to the Capital Airport. The passenger made him wait over 20 minutes and then insisted he take the emergency lane to save time. Master Ruan refused, leading to a heated argument. “Now, if a passenger complains, it’s always the driver’s fault. Regardless of the situation, we bear the consequences, and Didi will assign us low-quality orders,” he explains.

Future Plans

Master Ruan has decided to exit the Didi industry. “I’ve been planning to leave since last year. This car is my own, and I’ve driven nearly 300,000 kilometers. After years of doing this, I’ve gained nothing but health issues,” he says. Once his son gets married, he intends to return to his hometown.

Honoring Everyday Fighters

Master Ruan’s story reflects the plight of many ride-hailing drivers grappling with the overwhelming pressures of capital and daily life. Despite his deep dissatisfaction with Didi, he continues to fight for survival in this industry.

“Life in the adult world is never easy; we all work for our survival.” Master Ruan’s sincere and direct expression sheds light on the frustrations drivers feel towards the platform. His story reveals the helplessness of ordinary people faced with the might of capital and life's challenges.