Driver field notes / Edition 01
A clearer look at one shift
A payout number is a starting point. It does not tell you what a shift cost to operate.
Use consistent hours
Choose a consistent definition for a shift, including waiting time if that is part of your working day. Divide payout less entered shift costs by those hours to compare your own sessions.
Separate the obvious costs
Record fuel or charging, unreimbursed tolls, parking, cleaning, and supplies as appropriate. Avoid subtracting the same cost twice, such as a toll that the platform has already reimbursed.
Remember what is missing
Maintenance, depreciation, insurance, financing, and taxes can materially affect your result. The free shift check is a quick operating snapshot, not accounting software or take-home pay.
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