(Sponsored content) – Many drivers choose to drive for ride-hailing companies because of the flexibility that the gig provides; Julius Moldvan, though, took on driving for Uber to gain extra cash flow each month.
The Central Jersey resident isn't the only one choosing to drive part-time, as many individuals across the nation have chosen the San Francisco-based company as their second source of income.
"I wanted to see if I was going to be good at customer service, if that makes sense," Moldvan told New York Business Daily. "If I could handle you know, a car service or driving people around, you know."
He has a full-time job, but wanted the opportunity to get more pocket money.
"Uber was just going to be like a part-time gig anyway, just to make extra money and pay off things I needed to pay off," Moldvan said. Instead, it turned in to a full-time job.
According to the Uber website, becoming a ride-hailing driver allows you to set your own hours, get paid quickly, and get quick support. Whether driving just a few hours every once in a while or full-time, the Uber app allows you to drive at any time that is convenient for you without having to schedule work hours in advance.
The leading ride-hailing company even allows those without
The first Uber user requested a ride using the app on July 5, 2010, in San Francisco. The next year, the service went global with rides being offered in Paris.
In July 2012, Uber began offering ice cream delivery in seven U.S. cities, a precursor to its Uber Eats service, which first became available in 2015 in Chicago, Los Angeles and New York.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says there's no official definition of the the "gig economy," but describes a "gig" as "a single project or task for which a worker is hired, often through a digital marketplace, to work on demand." The BLS classifies gig workers as those doing contingent work or employed under "alternative employment arrangements."
A recent report by The Hamilton Project stated that as the post-Great Recession market continues to recover, on-demand gig work benefits workers and the economy by supporting job growth and personal income. The authors of the report pointed out that the gig economy offers flexibility, minimal training costs and low barriers to enter the workforce, allowing workers to supplement their incomes as needed or to create an income for themselves. Likewise, the report stated that customers benefit from services offered by gig workers and the low costs associated with them, according to the Hamilton Project.
To sign-up online for an account and to be a driver, visit Uber.com and