Skip to content
NOWCAST KCCI News at 6am Weekday Morning
Watch on Demand
Advertisement

'It's not worth it for us': Uber, delivery drivers feel the pinch at the pump

'It's not worth it for us': Uber, delivery drivers feel the pinch at the pump
HIGHER PRICES AT THE PUMP. GOODVE ENING. I’M ROB MCCARTNEY. JULIE: I’M JULIE CORNELL. PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN WARNED TODAY AMERICANS WILL SEE THE IACMPTS OF HIS NEW BAN ON IMPORTS OF RUSSIAN OIL. HIS ANNOUNCEMENT COMES AS GAS PRICES HIT A RECORD HIGH. THE NATIONAL AVERAGE IS MORE THAN $4.17 A GLOALN, ACCORDING TO AAA. THAT BREAKS THE PREVIOUS RECORD SET IN 2008. ROB: AAA SAYS THE AVERAGE IN NEBRASKA IS ABOUT $3.80 A GALLON. KE NTVEWSWATCH 7’S JOEY SAFIKCH SPOKE TO DRIVERS IN THE METRO, WHO SAY THIS COULD HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON THEIR INCOME. REPORT: ROB, JUE, LOOK HERE, THE LAST PEOPLE TO FILL UP THEIR TASNK SPENT $70 ON GAS. FILLING UP OUR NEWS UNIT IS NOT GOING TO BE CHEAP, EITH.ER BUT REALLY IT IS THE PEOPLE WHO DRIVE FOR A LIVING WHO ARE LEFT TO WONDER IF THEY SHOULD PUT THEIR CARS ON PARK FOR NOW. IN THIS AIRPORT WAITING LOT, UBER AND LYFT DRIVERS ARE DOING JUST THAT, WTIAING. >> SOMETIMES, WE STAY HERE IN THIS PARKING LOT FOR THREE HOURS TO GET SOME CUSTOMERS, SOME PASSENGERS FROM THE AIRPORT. REPOERRT GASSING UP FOR THOSE PASSENGERS MAKES SOME DRIVERS WONDER IF THEY SHOULD HIT THE BRAKES. ON AVERAGE, GAS IN NEBRASKA RIGHT NOW COSTS $3.80 A GAONLL >> IT’S NOT WORTH IT FOR US. BECAUSE WE PAY FOR THE GAS, FOR THE TIRES, FOR THE MILESFOR EVERYTHING. REPORTER: FOR FADI HADDID, THE PAIN AT THE PUMP IS AS PROUNOUNCED AS IT’S BEEN IN HIS FIVE YEARS DRIVI.NG >> THIS JOB IS NOT WORTH IT ANYMORE, NOW AT THIS TIME. REPORTER: DOORDH DEASLIVERY DRIVER JACK CHANG WISHES COMPANIES WOULD ADJUST FOR THE HIKE IN PRICES. HE SAYS A DOLLAR MORE PER ORDER COULD MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE. >> I GETAS G THREE TIMES A WEEK. SO I DO ABOUT 150 TO 250 MILES A Y.DA REPORTER: TO MAKE THAT POSSIBLE, HE’S SPENDING $50 FOR A FULL TANK. >> IT’S DEFINITELY TAKEN T AOLL ON MY WALLET. REPOER:RT BUT INSTEAD OF FINDING A NEW CAREER, HE’S SWITCHING GENEW CAREER, HE’S SWITCHING ARS, DRIVING SMARTER. >> IF IT WASTES MY TIME AND MY GAS, I WL ILDECLINE .IT REPORTER: HE STEERS CLEAR OF ANY ORPORTER: HE STEERS CLEAR OF ANY DERS WITHOUT A TIP. >> IT REALLY IS A LUXURY SERVICE, YOU KNOW? YOU GET TO STAY HOME AND WE BRING THE FOODO YOU. T REPORTER: ALTHOUGH ETH CUMBERSOME COSTS ARE DRIVI HNG AWAY SLOWLY, HADDID KEEPS SHOWING UP, FOR NOW. >>OWING UP, FOR NOW. I HAVE TO PAY MY BILLS, YOU KNOW? I DO HAVE MANY BILLS TO PAY. REPORTER: BUT IF THE PRICES REIS DOWN THE ROAD -- >> I WILL STAY HOME. IT’S NOT WORTH IT TO ME TO WO.RK REPORTER: DVERIRS KNOW EVERYONE IS PAYING A HIGH PRICE, BUT THEY SAY GENEROUS TIPS ARE WHAT WILL KEEP THEM ON THE ROAD THESE DAYS. JA CK CHANG SAYS HIS NEXT CAR WILL BE ELECTR.IC REPORTING LIVE, JOEY SAFCHIK, KETV NEWSWAT
Advertisement
'It's not worth it for us': Uber, delivery drivers feel the pinch at the pump
In an airport waiting lot, Uber and Lyft drivers are doing just that: waiting."Sometimes we stay here in this parking lot for three hours to get some customers, some passengers from the airport," said driver Fadi Haddid. Gassing up for those passengers makes some drivers wonder if they should hit the brakes. On average, gas in Nebraska for Haddid right now costs $3.80 a gallon. "It's not worth it for us," Haddid said. "Because we pay for the gas, for the tires, for the miles, for everything."For Haddid, the pain at the pump is as pronounced as it's been in his five years driving."This job is not worth it anymore, now at this time," Haddid said.DoorDash delivery driver Jack Chang wishes companies would adjust for the hike in prices. He said a dollar more per order could make all the difference. "I get gas three times a week. So I do about 150-250 miles a day," Chang said.To make that possible, he's spending upwards of $50 for a full tank. "It's definitely taken a toll on my wallet," Chang said.Instead of finding a new career, he's switching gears, driving "smarter.""If it wastes my time and my gas, I will decline it," said Chang, who plans on getting an electric car next.He steers clear of any orders without a tip."It really is a luxury service, you know," Chang said. "You get to stay home and we bring the food to you."Although the cumbersome costs are driving him away, Haddid keeps showing up, for now. "I have to pay my bills, you know," Haddid said. "I do have many bills to pay."But if the prices rise down the road?"I will stay home. It's not worth it to me to work."Watch the video above for the full story.

In an airport waiting lot, Uber and Lyft drivers are doing just that: waiting.

"Sometimes we stay here in this parking lot for three hours to get some customers, some passengers from the airport," said driver Fadi Haddid.

Advertisement

Gassing up for those passengers makes some drivers wonder if they should hit the brakes. On average, gas in Nebraska for Haddid right now costs $3.80 a gallon.

"It's not worth it for us," Haddid said. "Because we pay for the gas, for the tires, for the miles, for everything."

For Haddid, the pain at the pump is as pronounced as it's been in his five years driving.

"This job is not worth it anymore, now at this time," Haddid said.

DoorDash delivery driver Jack Chang wishes companies would adjust for the hike in prices. He said a dollar more per order could make all the difference.

"I get gas three times a week. So I do about 150-250 miles a day," Chang said.

To make that possible, he's spending upwards of $50 for a full tank.

"It's definitely taken a toll on my wallet," Chang said.

Instead of finding a new career, he's switching gears, driving "smarter."

"If it wastes my time and my gas, I will decline it," said Chang, who plans on getting an electric car next.

He steers clear of any orders without a tip.

"It really is a luxury service, you know," Chang said. "You get to stay home and we bring the food to you."

Although the cumbersome costs are driving him away, Haddid keeps showing up, for now.

"I have to pay my bills, you know," Haddid said. "I do have many bills to pay."

But if the prices rise down the road?

"I will stay home. It's not worth it to me to work."

Watch the video above for the full story.