For those who don’t know me, I have recently changed jobs. I had been working for a prominent law office in downtown Hattiesburg for the past 11 ½ years.
I didn’t quit, and I was not fired. I was let go or laid off you could say. When I was first told that I needed to look for a new job, I was nervous and scared.
When I started looking for a new job online, I saw a few things about being a Lyft or Uber driver, but didn’t really pay them much attention.
I thought that it could be something to fall back on if the job market didn’t pan out.
A strange phone call
After submitting my information to some job sites online, I got a call from an unfamiliar number.
It was an automated voice talking to me about being a Lyft driver. I sat there and thought “this is so weird.”
I usually hang up on calls when there is an automated voice (I think most people do), but maybe it was just the mood I was in that day.
I decided to entertain the call. I finally got on the phone with an actual person who then helped walk me through the steps of signing up to be a Lyft driver.
The whole time I kept thinking, “is this happening; am I doing this?”
Getting set up
I had always thought my car was too old to drive Uber or Lyft, but that is apparently not the case. I drive a 2004 model vehicle, and that is just on the cusp of their requirement.
I had to submit an image of my driver’s license, my car’s registration, my car insurance, and allow them to run a background check. A few days later I was informed that all my information checked out and I could start giving rides.
Turning the app on
I don’t know why, but it took me a couple of days to finally get the courage to turn my Lyft Driver app on to allow me to pick people up.
One night while sitting at The Thirsty Hippo, I mustered enough bravery to do it. I flipped the switch. So, I waited… and I waited… and then I waited some more.
Then, in an instant, I received notice that someone needed a ride, and I hit the button to accept. I was thinking, “oh my gosh, this is happening, I’m about to give someone a ride.”
I was kind of nervous. But as soon as I started making my way, that person cancelled their ride. I went back to waiting. I didn’t give any rides that night.
First rides
The night of USM homecoming, I finally got to give my first rides. I was downtown and turned on the app and someone needed a ride from one bar to the next.
It was a nice group of friends from New Orleans. As soon as I dropped them off, I started heading around again and got another notification to pick up people leaving the football game.
These folks were also from New Orleans. What a coincidence.
Takeaway
I have since given some more rides to people. I think more people should consider ride sharing. If you want to go out, have fun, and drink, it’s the best option.
For the amount of money one might spend on a drink or two, you can save yourself risking getting a DUI.
After giving a few rides, I can say that there is not a huge market in Hattiesburg like in bigger cities, but I think the concept is catching on.
Hattiesburg doesn’t really have a dependable cab service so Lyft and Uber are great options. It seems like at any given time, there are more drivers than riders in town.
Being a driver is definitely not incredibly lucrative in Hattiesburg, but I would consider it a good side hustle to make a little extra money.
The best times for drivers is when there are events going on like football games, and on weekend nights when people like to go out.
A few weeks ago, I stayed up and gave people rides home from some Halloween parties.
I felt like I was doing a service.
It felt gratifying to give people a safe ride home.
Because Lyft is not as popular, I have also started driving Uber as well.
So, download Lyft and Uber and use them more often. Maybe I can give you a ride somewhere and tell you about my new job.
Jamie Massengale is a native of Meridian, but has lived in the Hub City since 2001. When he’s not driving people around town, he works part-time for The PineBelt NEWS and is a senior at the University of Southern Mississippi.
