Uber Canada Drivers Will Now See Estimated Fare Before Accepting a Trip

An Uber driver's vehicle is seen after the company launched service in Vancouver, Jan. 24, 2020. The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck

Uber Canada is making some changes to its app to allow drivers to see pick-up and drop-off locations and estimated fares before accepting a trip. The change increases transparency for drivers, but riders seeking shorter trips may find it harder to get a lift.

The change is part of a labour agreement announced by Uber on Jan. 26. As part of the agreement, Uber will also start identifying customers who have falsely reported incidents or have rated drivers poorly over issues that are not under their control, such as mechanical problems.

“Allegations made by these consumers will not be considered in drivers’ ratings or account deactivation decisions. This is now live across the country,” the release said.

Drivers in the pilot program will also be able to record videos of trips with their smartphone’s camera rather than dash cams.

Uber also said it is assisting drivers by sending customers pre-trip reminders through the app to buckle their seatbelts.

The changes come after a two-year reflection on the partnership between Uber and UFCW Canada, which has the authority to represent drivers in disputes with the company.

Since that agreement, UFCW Canada has filed complaints for 1,908 workers who have had their accounts deactivated, the release said. Uber said that 457 cases had a “positive outcome,” with 310 drivers being able to return to work and 147 being able to resolve their account-related issues.

The changes follow new legislation introduced by the B.C. government in November 2023 for gig workers, which includes Uber drivers.

“We clearly heard that app-based gig workers value the flexibility of this work but some also have significant concerns,” Janet Routledge, Parliamentary Secretary for Labour said in a government press release.

The changes proposed include setting a minimum earnings standard of 120 percent of the provincial minimum wage for “engaged time,” which refers to the time after a worker takes on an assignment and ends when the job is complete.

The government’s decision followed discussions with workers and platform providers in feedback that was made public in April 2023.

Uber contributed $8.8 billion to the Canadian economy in 2022, an economic assessment by the company said. The company employs about 140,000 drivers.

“This includes both the impact of the earnings of drivers, delivery people and merchants on the Uber platform, and the wider indirect and induced multiplier effect created throughout the company’s wider supply chain,” the report said.