Drivers are fed up with Uber and Bolt apps: 'I work for them, but they don't work for me'

The promise was simple: be your own boss, work flexibly and earn well. But for more and more drivers, driving for Uber and Bolt feels more like working for a demanding boss who you never meet, and who takes a large part of your turnover.

The commission: the biggest pain point

Uber and Bolt charge drivers an average commission of 25 to 30 percent on every trip. That may sound acceptable, but if you take into account that you also pay for fuel, insurance, car depreciation and other costs yourself, there is little left. Especially in times of high fuel prices, drivers feel that they work harder for less money.

"I sometimes work twelve hours a day and have less net profit than an employee with a permanent contract," says a driver from Amsterdam who prefers to remain anonymous. "The app determines everything: the price, the route, the customer. I have nothing to say."

Algorithmic control

One of the biggest frustrations among drivers is the opaque operation of the algorithms. The app decides who gets which ride, what price is charged and whether a driver is sanctioned. Anyone who refuses a ride, for example because the route is unprofitable, risks receiving fewer orders. Anyone who receives a low rating from a customer can even be removed from the platform, without any real possibility of defense.

"You are dependent on the whims of customers," says a driver from Rotterdam. "One unjustified one-star review and your rating drops. There is no human manager who listens."

No transparency about rates

Drivers often do not know in advance how much they will earn for a ride. Dynamic pricing, also known as surge pricing, can mean that the customer pays three times as much as normal, but this does not always translate proportionately to the driver. Where the money goes remains unclear.

No social security

Uber and Bolt drivers are officially self-employed in the Netherlands. This means: no paid leave, no pension accrual through an employer, no unemployment benefits if things go wrong. The lawsuits brought by unions to recognize drivers as employees have been going on for years, with varying degrees of success.

The alternative: working directly

More and more drivers are choosing to take matters into their own hands. Through platforms such asMatchMyDriver professional drivers can present themselves to customers and make direct contact, without an app intervening and taking a quarter of the turnover.

The difference is fundamental: on MatchMyDriver you set your own rate, choose your customers and build your own reputation. No algorithm looking over your shoulder. No arbitrary sanctions. Just an honest platform where supply and demand meet.

For drivers who want to regain control over their own work, this is exactly what they are looking for. The Uber and Bolt era has taught many drivers what they don't want. Now they also know what they do want: honesty, transparency and appreciation for their profession.