In mid-December of 2023, I had a great day, covering five states and getting my second biggest tip ever.
I had my usual five rides for the day. I usually start at 3:00 or 4:00am and work until 4:00 or 5:00pm.
State #1: New Jersey
My first ride was a standard 4:00am pick up from northern New Jersey to Newark Airport. Nothing special, really… and yet, I received a $20 tip. Nice!
State #2: Pennsylvania
My second ride was a pick-up at Newark Airport bringing two passengers to New Hope, Pa. Again, nice passengers for an inside pick-up by baggage claim, and an uneventful trip that took me a little more than an hour.
As a side note, I’m surprised how many of our passengers live in New Hope, Pa.
State #3: Delaware
After I dropped off my passengers in New Hope, I headed to my next pick up, which was in Maryland. I arrived an hour and a half early, but I wanted to make sure I knew exactly where the pick-up location was.
Since I had time, I decided to drive the five miles to Middletown, Del. to fill up with gas at Wawa and get an oil change at Valvoline.
I like Delaware because there is no state sales tax, so the price you see is the price you pay… no surprises!
State #4: Maryland
I arrived at my pick-up location on time. I arrive 15-20 minutes early for every pick-up. I always say, if you are not 15 minutes early, you are late.
I like arriving 20 minutes early so I can prepare the personalized text message I send my passengers informing them who I am, and that I’m on location at the scheduled time and address. My passengers like it, too.
I picked up my passenger – a real character – who came out to greet me when I arrived at her home.
State #5: New York
We arrived in Greenwich Village two and a half hours later, pulling up to a beautiful brownstone on West 9th Street.
When we pulled up to the brownstone, the woman’s son came out to greet us. I helped the woman out of my SUV. She asked if I would drive her in the future. Naturally, I gave her my business card and thanked her for wanting to request me in the future.
I was very pleasantly surprised when the son approached me with a fistful of $50 bills. He gave me a $200 tip for this ride… my second largest tip ever!
By the way, my largest tip was $400 from a woman I picked up from Vienna, Va. to Manhattan. This was just after the pandemic.
The moral of this Street Story is: No matter how many states you cover on your daily rides with your passengers, make every ride your best. You’re only as good as your last ride!
