Foreword
The future is on-demand
In the space of just a few years, the way we access services like taxis and the way we purchase our groceries and pizzas has changed forever. Now, the ability to buy whatever we need is in the palm of our hands, arriving only a few moments later – and this trend is only going to accelerate over the coming years.
None of this works without the people making all of these journeys happen. Rideshare and Delivery drivers are the backbone of this burgeoning economy – what we call the On-Demand Economy – and they are transforming the world of commerce in the US, creating the most profound economic shift in four decades.
That’s the question we asked ourselves when we decided to publish this report. In a first of its kind, Driving the On-Demand Economy takes a deep dive into on-demand drivers in the US. It offers answers to questions such as: how has America’s economy evolved; who are the people driving it; what opportunities and challenges are they facing; and how can we keep them safely on the road as on-demand apps continue to rocket in popularity?
What we discovered was a truly diverse group of drivers from all walks of life and every demographic imaginable. While taxi and delivery driving has long been considered a male-dominated profession, almost half of the drivers we surveyed are women. Almost half of female drivers are 34 years old and younger, suggesting that younger generations are seizing the opportunities offered by on-demand apps to buck established stereotypes and taboos.
We also found that there may be a growing spirit of entrepreneurialism as drivers use on-demand apps as their main source of income, building their own business. We have dubbed them ‘on-demand entrepreneurs’. While over half of on-demand economy drivers drive under 50 hours per month, a significant majority say they are driving longer hours than a year before – with 44% saying they drove twice the number of hours in 2023.
The great news is that three quarters of on-demand economy drivers are satisfied with their work-life balance, with 38% saying they are very satisfied. But while drivers love the benefits of driving, such as adjustable working hours and boosting the income they receive from other jobs, they face challenges too. We know that on-demand economy drivers come from varied backgrounds and have very different lifestyles from each other, which means they need to be treated as individuals – including having access to insurance products that cater to their specific lifestyles and driving behaviors.
At INSHUR, we work closely with platform partners including Uber and Amazon to ensure hard-working drivers get the best deal possible when it comes to their insurance. Even though we know on-demand drivers well, we are constantly looking to meet their needs in this evolving on-demand economy, with the help of our platform and insurance partners.
I hope you find the insights in this report as invaluable and illuminating as we did. We’d love to hear your thoughts.
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Dan Bratshpis
CEO AND CO-FOUNDER, INSHUR
What is the on-demand economy and how has it evolved in the US?
In the space of just a few years, the way we access services like taxis and the way we purchase our groceries and pizzas has changed forever. Now, the ability to buy whatever we need is in the palm of our hands, arriving only a few moments later – and this trend is only going to accelerate over the coming years.
Need something – a cab, groceries, household cleaning items, a box of sushi – right now? The on-demand economy delivers all those things, and more, direct to your door and in less time than ever before.
Since 2020, buying behaviors have shifted significantly in favor of at-home purchasing options. As such, the global on-demand economy is expected to reach $335 billion by 2025, according to PwC research. North America is leading the way, with data showing that four-fifths of US consumers used on-demand delivery services in 2023, spending over $400 per month on average.
The on-demand economy is expanding rapidly to include all kinds of goods and services, including household repairs and flat-pack furniture building through the likes of TaskRabbit and Thumbtack, dry cleaning from Laundryheap, and Instacart for groceries and other household items. Soon, we’ll be able to order everything we need via an on-demand app.
There is an entire group that is growing this new on-demand economy and they are the lifeblood of this new era of commerce – and today, many of these are Rideshare and Delivery drivers.
Who are the on-demand economy drivers?
On-demand economy drivers are a diverse group, with people of all ages taking part and contributing to the on-demand movement. We discovered that women, younger people and drivers from underrepresented ethnic groups are driving the on-demand economy in the US.
When we think of a taxi or delivery driver, many of us still think of a man. However, according to our findings, almost half (49%) of on-demand drivers are female, suggesting that on-demand apps are opening up driving opportunities for women in a traditionally male-dominated industry.
49% OF ON-DEMAND DRIVERS ARE FEMALE
We found that while both genders drive for both Delivery and Rideshare apps, 92% of women drive for Delivery apps vs 86% of men, while men are more likely to drive for Rideshare apps than women (62% vs 52%). It’s possible that women feel safer in Delivery roles, or find them more accessible. Asian drivers have a more pronounced gender split, with more male (60%) than female (40%) drivers – as well as Hispanic and Latino drivers at 52% vs 48% – which could be representative of both their cultures and household roles. When it comes to location, male drivers dominate the cities of Chicago (58%), LA (58%), and NYC (53%) and female drivers dominate Houston (57%), both Dallas and Jacksonville (55%) and Memphis (52%).
OVERALL DEMOGRAPHICS: BY APP TYPE
Given the significant proportion of female drivers, is the growing demand for fast deliveries creating new and flexible financial pathways for women in the on-demand economy, where driving can easily fit around paid or unpaid responsibilities? We found that 67% of women drive part-time, with many anecdotally citing domestic duties, extra income or secondary jobs in retail, healthcare or education as the reason to drive on-demand.
YOUNG WOMEN ARE ENTERING THE ON-DEMAND ECONOMY AT AN UNPRECEDENTED RATE AND CHANGING THE FACE OF DRIVING – ESPECIALLY IN DELIVERY
Interestingly, we also found that Millennial and older Gen Z drivers are leading the pack, with the largest age group being 35-44 year olds (37% of total), and 25-34 year olds the second largest group (30%). When it comes to Gen Z drivers, women dominate the market at 65%, though the numbers swing back in favor of men in older age groups, bar 45-54 year olds where 52% are women.
While 65% of drivers aged 18-24 are female, women also make up 40% of the Asian on-demand economy driver population, the highest amongst women. And while only 9% of all drivers aged 18-24 are White, nearly one in three (30%) are Asian, again the highest in this age group.
In general, younger people are more likely to drive for Delivery apps: 93% of 18-24 year old drivers and 92% of 25-34 year old drivers drive for Delivery apps, vs 89% on average across all age groups. In Texas, 94% of drivers drive for Delivery apps vs only 50% for Rideshare.
77% OF ON-DEMAND ECONOMY DRIVERS HAVE OTHER INCOME STREAMS
Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that more than 400,000 Americans work two full-time jobs just to make ends meet. According to our findings, over two-thirds of on-demand economy drivers do have other income streams, and those from minority backgrounds (81%) are more likely than White drivers (73%) to be employed in addition to driving. We also found that Asian drivers (87%) are most likely also to be employed, followed by 82% of Hispanic and Latino and 79% of Black and African-American drivers.
Q: WHICH ON-DEMAND ECONOMY APPS DO YOU DRIVE FOR?
*Percentages may not add up to 100 due to multiple responses per respondent.
The part-time driving opportunity
“COVID HIT AND PUT A LOT OF US UNEMPLOYED SO I SIGNED UP TO SEE WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE… BEEN [DRIVING] 3 YEARS NOW”
On-demand economy drivers are taking advantage of part-time hours to fit around their lifestyles. By far the largest proportion of drivers (66%) say they chose to drive for on-demand apps because of the flexible working hours on offer.
Of the group surveyed, 73% of women drive fewer than 100 hours per month – equivalent to 12.5 days a month, or 3 days a week – falling to 66% of men, which could mean they are driving around other responsibilities. However, on average, a quarter of drivers drive 26-50 hours per month, suggesting that the majority drive part-time or as a supplement to other incomes.
Indeed, three quarters (77%) of on-demand drivers are also employed, most commonly in retail (16%), technology (13%), and construction and healthcare (9%) – rising to 81% of drivers from underrepresented backgrounds, including 87% of Asian, 82% of Hispanic or Latino and 79% of Black or African-American drivers.
Young drivers, in particular, are making the most of the part-time driving opportunities offered by on-demand apps. Almost a third of 18-24s drive less than a day a week, and almost a fifth (19%) between 26-50 hours a month, the equivalent of a day or day and a half a week.
Q: HOW MANY HOURS PER MONTH DO YOU DRIVE FOR ON-DEMAND APPS?
HOURS DRIVEN X GENDER
HOURS DRIVEN X AGE
THERE ARE TWO CAMPS OF OLDER DRIVERS: THOSE STILL DRIVING FULL-TIME, AND THOSE WORKING RELATIVELY FEW HOURS TO SUPPORT THEIR RETIREMENT
While drivers over the age of 55 are the most likely to drive over 251 hours per month (10% compared to only 3% of 35-44 year olds), they are also the most likely (64%) to drive fewer than 50 hours per month. Many say they drive to supplement income in retirement or to gain extra income, but are maybe also doing this to combat loneliness, with a quarter saying they drive in order to meet people.
DRIVERS WE SURVEYED DRIVE FOR MORE THAN ONE APP; OF THE MOST POPULAR ON-DEMAND APPS, DRIVERS ARE MOST LIKELY TO DRIVE FOR DOORDASH (63%), UBER EATS (47%) AND UBER (45%)
Floridians are most likely to drive fewer than 100 hours per month, with only 19% of drivers in the state driving more than that. In Jacksonville, three quarters (75%) of drivers drive fewer than 100 hours per month. At the other end of the scale, Los Angelinos are more likely to drive over 100 hours (32%) than other cities, and California drives the longest hours of all the states, with a third of drivers driving more than 100 hours a month.
Those in Delivery tend to drive fewer hours than those in Rideshare: over half (52%) of Delivery drivers drive fewer than 50 hours per month, vs 47% of Rideshare drivers. It’s possible that drivers looking for more flexible driving options are more likely to turn to Delivery apps, whereas those with Rideshare vehicles (which typically have higher upkeep costs) need to drive enough hours to make their investment worthwhile.
The rise of the on-demand entrepreneur
“I’M MY OWN BOSS”
The ability to make money on their own terms and in their chosen hours means there is a spirit of entrepreneurialism amongst on-demand economy drivers. But as on-demand driving gains exponential growth, so does the opportunity to nurture drivers to become de-facto business owners in what can be an extremely rewarding industry.
A significant majority of drivers (73%) say they are driving longer hours than a year before – with 44% saying they drove twice the number of hours in 2023. Men are significantly more likely to drive more than 100 hours per month than women (34% vs 27%) – suggesting that driving is, more often, their main source of income. In addition, men’s hours have increased more than women’s (77% vs 68%) – perhaps not surprising, as based on the responses, women are more likely to drive around domestic duties and/or to supplement their income.
We also discovered an age range that is moving towards full self employment. 25-34 year olds are the most likely age group to say their hours have increased (79%), followed by 76% of 18-24 year olds and 74% of 35-44 year olds, whereas 16% of 45-54s say their hours have decreased. Only 10% of drivers say their hours have decreased in the past year.
89% OF MYTAXI DRIVERS SAID HOURS ARE INCREASING
And while drivers across all apps mostly said their hours have been increasing, MyTaxi drivers lead the pack at 89% – almost two thirds (64%) say their hours have doubled in just a year. Of the drivers in our study who said their hours had doubled, the most popular apps are MyTaxi (64%), EasyTaxi (57%) and GoPuff (55%).
Location has an impact here. Drivers in Dallas (85%) and New York (81%) are most likely to have seen their hours increase in the past year, with over half of drivers in New York saying their hours have doubled – but Memphis is the least buoyant, with 21% of drivers there saying their hours have decreased in the past year.
A FIFTH OF MALE DRIVERS SAY THEY DRIVE OVER 151 HOURS – THE EQUIVALENT TO FULL-TIME
We also found that Black or African-American and Asian drivers are more likely than other ethnic groups to drive for longer, with more than a fifth driving over 150 hours per month (vs 18% on average) indicating full-time driving. A higher percentage (8%) of Asian drivers are also driving past 55 years old than all other ethnic groups. In addition, a greater number of drivers from underrepresented groups (77%) than White (69%) say their driving hours have increased, and they are also 10 percentage points more likely to have doubled their hours in the last year (49% vs 39%). For over half of Black or African- American drivers (52%), their hours doubled in just one year.
Q: COMPARED TO THE NUMBER OF HOURS PER MONTH YOU SPENT DRIVING FOR ON-DEMAND APPS LAST YEAR, HAVE THE HOURS YOU SPEND DRIVING PER MONTH THIS YEAR INCREASED OR DECREASED?
HOURS INCREASED/DECREASED: OVERALL
HOURS INCREASED/DECREASED X GENDER X AGE
Why on-demand driving?
“I’M ABLE TO WORK THE DAYS AND TIMES THAT I CHOOSE”
We found that Americans choose to drive for ondemand apps for many different reasons, facing varying opportunities and challenges along the way depending on their homelife, background, location, age and other factors.
After the ability to work flexibly, on-demand economy drivers say they choose to drive for job enjoyment/satisfaction (37%) and better pay than other available jobs (31%).
Men are ten percentage points more likely than women (36% v 26%) to say that they started driving for on-demand apps because the pay is better than other roles available to them. Dallas-based drivers (45%) are also the most likely, of all the cities, to say this is why they started driving, while also being the most likely city residents to say that driving offers them opportunities when they lack the skills for other roles.
DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS SEEM TO HAVE VARIED PRIORITIES WHEN IT COMES TO WHY THEY CHOOSE TO DRIVE FOR ONDEMAND APPS
35-44 year olds are most likely to say that flexible working hours are important to them (72% vs 52% of 18-24s), possibly due to the fact that many people in this age group will be looking for roles that fit around their lifestyles, such as parenting or other employment.
Q: WHY DID YOU BECOME AN ON-DEMAND DRIVER?
WHY BECAME AN ON-DEMAND DRIVER X AGE X GENDER
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18-24 year olds are the most likely age group to say they drive because they lack skills for other roles (18% vs 11% on average) – yet 84% have another job (against an average of 77%), which is possibly why having the flexibility to choose the hours and days they want to drive is seen as such a benefit of on-demand driving for younger people. While Asian drivers (18% vs 11% on average) are the most likely ethnic group to say they drive for the same reason, they are also most inclined to agree that the pay offered for driving is better than other options available to them.
IN SOME REGIONS OF THE US, ON-DEMAND APPS ARE EVEN HELPING TO PLUG POTENTIAL UNEMPLOYMENT GAPS
15% of on-demand economy drivers say they became drivers after being laid off – in Memphis, 23% of drivers agree. Over a quarter (27%) of EasyTaxi drivers started driving after they were laid off.
It’s a different story for New Yorkers, where almost a third (30%) of drivers say they drive to meet new people – in spite of having the rudest or badly-behaved customers. Hispanic and Latino and 18-24 year old drivers value meeting people as a real benefit of driving for on-demand apps, at 24% (vs 21% on average).
THREE QUARTERS OF ON-DEMAND ECONOMY DRIVERS SAY THEY ARE SATISFIED WITH THEIR WORK-LIFE BALANCE
Encouragingly, three quarters (74%) of ondemand economy drivers say they are satisfied with their work-life balance, with 38% saying they are very satisfied – showing that drivers, by and large, feel they are achieving a flexible approach with on-demand apps. 25-34 year old drivers are the most satisfied with their work-life balance, with nearly half (45%) saying they are very satisfied. Only 4% of drivers say they are very dissatisfied with their work-life balance.
Challenging customers
As we’ve seen, on-demand economy drivers have many reasons to be satisfied. In fact, 11% say they have no problems whatsoever while driving for on-demand apps, rising to 14% of Black drivers and 16% of over 55s.
So it’s disappointing to learn that drivers’ most commonly-identified challenge is rude or badly behaved customers: while 40% say this is an issue for them, that number rises to 43% in New York, followed closely by Dallas and Houston (both at 42%) and LA at 41%. The Sunshine State lives up to its name here, with Floridian drivers least likely of the states to say rude customers are an issue (28%), and also the most likely to say they have no issues as on-demand app drivers (20% vs 11% on average).
DRIVERS FROM UNDERREPRESENTED BACKGROUNDS ARE MORE LIKELY THAN THE AVERAGE TO RUN INTO RUDE CUSTOMERS
We found that drivers from underrepresented backgrounds are slightly more likely than the average to run into rude customers, with 45% of Asians and 41% of Black or African-Americans saying this is an issue for them. In addition, 31% of all male Rideshare drivers say they have faced racial discrimination while driving for on-demand apps, and a fifth of Delivery drivers have encountered gender discrimination – with Postmates (30%) and Gopuff (29%) drivers most likely to have experienced this.
Q: WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS ABOUT DRIVING FOR ON-DEMAND APPS?
BIGGEST PROBLEMS: GENDER SPLIT
BIGGEST PROBLEMS X RIDESHARE/DELIVERY
But while drivers in large global melting pots such as Los Angeles (38%) and New York City (37%) are most likely to have experienced racist discrimination, this is not necessarily an issue that prevents people feeling satisfied with ondemand driving. In fact, almost three quarters of Californians and 79% of New Yorkers are pretty satisfied with driving for on-demand apps – while drivers in Memphis are least likely to have experienced or seen any discrimination while driving for on-demand apps (63%).
Reassuringly, over 40% of drivers across the US seem to have had no discrimination experiences. Overall, two thirds – most of which drive part-time – seem very happy with their on-demand app choices.
79% OF NEW YORK DRIVERS ARE SATISFIED DRIVING FOR ON-DEMAND APPS
Money matters
“I NEED EXTRA CASH”
Perhaps unsurprisingly, money presents one of the biggest challenges for on-demand economy drivers in the US. We found that on-demand economy drivers are juggling multiple burdens on their finances, with only 5% of women and 9% of men saying they have no burdens on their finances. Almost half of women say that home bills (47%) and rent/mortgage (44%) are their biggest financial burdens, compared to 38% and 37% of men, respectively – while both genders agree on the burden of vehicle maintenance (29%) and groceries (35%).
60% OF DRIVERS OVER 55 SAY THAT HOME BILLS ARE A BURDEN ON THEIR FINANCE /MONEY MATTERS
Over 55-year-olds are most likely to say that home bills (60%) and rent/mortgage (50%) are burdens on their finances, with only 6% of drivers in this age group saying there are no burdens on their finances. This contrasts with 18-24 year olds, 13% of whom say there are no burdens on their finances – probably because more of them live with parents or are in shared accommodation. However, drivers aged 18-24 are most likely (16% vs 12% average) to cite childcare as a burden on their finances, suggesting young parents are turning to driving to provide for their families.
Q: WHAT, IF ANY, ARE THE BIGGEST BURDENS ON YOUR FINANCES?
FINANCIAL BURDENS X GENDER
30% OF DELIVERY DRIVERS’ BIGGEST CHALLENGE IS POOR PAY
Delivery driver poor pay could be reflective of differences in tipping culture between Rideshare and Delivery. A quarter of Rideshare drivers say they spend too many hours driving each week (27%), and 27% also say they struggle with difficult journeys.
Conversely, another quarter (25%) of drivers say there aren’t enough hours for them driving for the on-demand apps, rising to 27% of women and 33% of over 55s. Hours have increased for most drivers in the past year, but women and older people especially still want to make more trips than they currently do, and over half of women (53%) also say apps should offer better pay for the driving they do. Asian drivers are the most likely ethnic group to say they’d also like to receive better pay (60%).
Fascinatingly, of all the states we surveyed, drivers in New York are most likely to cite health insurance as a major financial burden, with NYC at 27%, against an average of 17%.
On-demand insurance and technology
10% OF FEMALE DRIVERS SAY THAT OVER HALF OF THEIR EARNINGS FROM DRIVING GO TOWARDS VEHICLE INSURANCE
To drive for on-demand economy apps, you may also need additional insurance – which varies between Rideshare and Delivery as well as by state regulations, meaning that traditional insurance policies can struggle to satisfy the needs of individual drivers.
Over a quarter (28%) of drivers older than 25 say they pay around 10-19% of their earnings, and 22% pay 20-29% of their earnings towards vehicle insurance. However, 27% of drivers say that vehicle insurance is one of the biggest burdens on their finances, with a quarter (25%) of Rideshare drivers claiming that insurance is too expensive, compared with a fifth (20%) of Delivery drivers. This rises to 27% of Asian and 26% of Hispanic and Latino drivers.
What’s more, 10% of female drivers say that over half of their earnings from driving go towards vehicle insurance – rising to 18% of 18-24 year olds, who typically pay higher premiums and drive fewer hours. Men (27%) are more likely than women (25%) to say that vehicle insurance is a financial burden, despite women drivers paying 5% more of their driving earnings in insurance than men.
While 11% of White drivers complain that the process of applying for insurance is inaccessible or complex, this number rises for underrepresented groups, especially Black or African-American drivers (15%).
25-34 YEAR OLDS ARE MOST LIKELY TO FIND APPLYING FOR INSURANCE CHALLENGING
18-24 year olds (18%) are least likely to consider vehicle maintenance and insurance a financial burden, whereas almost a third (32%) of the over 55s say vehicle insurance and a third of 35-44 year olds cite vehicle maintenance as burdens. It’s probably why almost a third of those residing in Florida, 10% of whom are aged over 55, worry about vehicle insurance whereas drivers in New York state and NYC are least likely to agree.
EasyTaxi (38%), MyTaxi (37%) and GoPuff (35%) drivers are most likely to say that insurance being too expensive is one of the big problems with driving for on-demand apps.
IS THERE A ROLE FOR APPS TO PLAY IN RESOLVING THE INSURANCE ISSUE? THEIR DRIVERS THINK SO
Just over a quarter of drivers (26%) say that on-demand platforms should make efforts to offer better pricing for insurance to their drivers, and 25% say they should also offer advice and/or assistance when buying insurance. While women (27%) are more likely than men (23%) to say they need help buying insurance, men are six percentage points more likely than women to say better pricing is a priority for them (29% vs 23%). Hispanic and Latino drivers are the ethnic group most likely to say they need assistance during the process of buying insurance (27%), with Asian drivers least likely to agree (18%).
In addition, just over a fifth (22%) of men and 18% of women say they would like on-demand economy apps to help them with financial aid and consultation, in line with 23% of Rideshare apps users – who are mostly men (56%). Nearly a quarter (14%) of men and one in ten women want access to training. While 37% of those who drive in NYC and 25% in Dallas would like financial aid and consultation, compared with 16% of Californians, the most likely age group to want training are 16% of 18-24 year olds. In the cities where driving hours have increased the most in a year, NYC (37%) and Dallas (25%), drivers are also most likely to look to platforms to provide financial aid and consultation as well as training.
On-demand driving is more than just an additional income stream, it’s an opportunity to run a business, such as becoming an Amazon DSP. Drivers can learn a whole set of skills connected to running their on-demand driving business such as: gain knowledge about insurance, financial products and wealth management, learn about business taxes, and dive into the logistics of running a fleet of on-demand vehicles and managing drivers.
IN ORDER FOR THE ON-DEMAND ECONOMY TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE, INSURERS AND ON-DEMAND PLATFORMS SHOULD CONSIDER DRIVERS’ FEEDBACK CAREFULLY AND CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER TO BUILD BETTER COMMERCIAL AUTO INSURANCE PRODUCTS FOR DRIVERS
Insurance models need to become more flexible so that drivers can access the right level of coverage when required, at a price they can afford – and this might mean embedding insurance products directly into apps where drivers can easily access them, to keep them on the road and earning.
Driving the on-demand economy into the future
25% OF DRIVERS WOULD LIKE MORE HELP FROM APPS WHEN IT COMES TO BUYING INSURANCE – RISING TO 29% OF OVER 55 YEAR OLDS
The on-demand economy is booming, but the products offered by traditional insurance companies are not fit for purpose. Our research found that 25% of Americans driving for on-demand Rideshare and Delivery apps would like more help from platforms when it comes to buying insurance – rising to 29% of over 55s.
Increasingly, cash-strapped on-demand taxi and delivery drivers are calling for insurance that caters to their specific needs, enabling them to buy flexible, comprehensive coverage for when they’re driving – and switch it off when they’re not.
The insurtech industry has not adequately met these insurance needs or the requirements of platform partners, despite its ability to leverage technology more effectively than traditional players. The future is on demand: what’s needed is cutting edge technology combined with insurance expertise to meet regulation, as well as keep processes efficient and premiums affordable for drivers.
INSHUR is multi-award winning and the fastest-growing global provider of commercial insurance for the on-demand economy, making coverage fair and accessible for drivers and supporting the world’s biggest platform and insurance partners.
Thanks to its unrivaled underwriting capabilities and exceptional claims handling, INSHUR offers a personalized suite of products that protects the wellbeing of on demand Rideshare and Delivery drivers, providing flexible coverage and protection which adapts to the job – helping them stay on the road and keep earning.
As an Uber preferred driver insurance provider in certain European and North American markets, INSHUR is constantly adding to its growing list of platform partners who recognize and value INSHUR for its seamless integration abilities and smooth customer onboarding and relationship management. It has trusted insurance partners across the US who value its innovative solutions designed specifically for the on-demand economy.
Action points
We need to recognize that women, young people and underrepresented groups are transforming the American on-demand economy, and enable them to succeed – given they are making Americans’ lives easier, faster and more convenient
In order for the on-demand economy to continue growing and be successful, we should enable drivers to get training in financial and business management, especially for those who are driving full time, helping them to maximize the benefits of on-demand entrepreneurialism
Many drivers’ hours have doubled, and this trend is expected to continue, so accessibility to the right insurance products needs to be smooth. The apps and insurance companies that will win over on-demand drivers are those who service them fairly, accurately and quickly
The on-demand driver economy needs to be supported by flexible insurance products that meet state and federal regulations. Platform partners and insurance providers should continue to work together to deliver these easily and accurately, using advanced technologies and data to help drivers take the worry out of insurance to focus on driving and delivering excellence
We need to be kinder to drivers and appreciate their stresses and worries, over prioritizing our own convenience. A thank you and a smile, as well as acknowledging their dedication to offer you a great service, goes a long way
METHODOLOGY
Working alongside global research partner, Censuswide, INSHUR surveyed 1,000 professional drivers based in the US who drive for “on demand” platforms, aged 18+, between 07.12.2023 – 19.12.2023. Censuswide abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society and follows the MRS code of conduct and ESOMAR principles. Censuswide is also a member of the British Polling Council. Per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in this report we define full-time work as 150 hours per month and over, and part-time as under 100 hours per month. ‘Increased’ denotes a combined result of ‘My hours have significantly increased – I’m driving at least twice the number of hours compared to last year’ and ‘My hours have increased somewhat compared to last year’.
