Stay informed with the LNN Daily Newsletter

What you need to know to become an Uber driver

Aug 20, 2017 | 9:40 AM

LETHBRIDGE – It wasn’t too long ago (July 17, 2017) that Lethbridge City Council amended some of its bylaws, clearing the way for popular ride-sharing company Uber to set up shop in the city.
 
For the last few weeks, Uber has been recruiting drivers on its website, to likely begin sometime in early September.
 
But if there are prospective drivers out there, City of Lethbridge Senior Bylaw Officer Dave Henley says they won’t get their approvals overnight.
 
There are a number of things to know and to get, before anyone begins driving others around.
 
“You have to have a Class 1,2, or 4… so the same as a taxi operator license. You have to have a police information check with the vulnerable sectors for Uber, you have to have insurance to cover the vehicle and passengers. And there’s a special insurance that the province has created it’s called Transportation Network Automobile Insurance, and then they have to have a commercial vehicle registration, with the right kind of Class 1 plate on it.”
 
All of that is done through the registry agent for their insurance. But Henley emphasizes that all of the requirements can’t be met in just a couple of days.
 
“If someone is looking to become a Transportation Network Driver, like our taxi licenses, you have to work for a licensed company [like Uber], and that company that they work for has to be licensed through the province. So no driver can just get out and say ‘I’m my own Uber’ and start providing services at all.”
 
He says everything takes time and if someone is thinking about becoming a driver, they should start the process now. 
 
Currently, Uber operates in 40 Canadian cities, including Calgary and Edmonton, and has about 38,000 active drivers.
 
Anyone who wants more information from Uber, can also go to their website for more information on vehicle requirements, including how new the cars must be, door requirements, and passing a safety inspection. 
 
http://www.uber.com/en-CA/drive/lethbridge/vehicle-requirements/