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As fuel costs climb, the burden is shifting to passengers, with major rideshare companies hiking fares to offer drivers temporary relief.
Among the companies making these adjustments are Uber and DiDi, responding to concerns over Australia’s fuel supply, which has been impacted by ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.
DoorDash, a prominent food delivery service, is also stepping up to assist its drivers, promising immediate aid to those on the frontline of delivery services.
Starting Monday, drivers who log 100 kilometers or more each week will qualify for financial assistance. This initiative is particularly aimed at helping those in rural and suburban regions where longer distances are often traveled.
“The rise in fuel prices affects all Australians, especially those delivering goods across our communities,” commented Simon Rossi, vice president of DoorDash, in a statement to AAP.
“We want to back Dashers and provide immediate relief at the pump during this fuel crunch.
“It will help them keep delivering and earning, while saving families and individuals time.”
The program will continue until 30 April.
Transport Workers Union national secretary Michael Kaine welcomed the move, saying delivery workers had been hit incredibly hard by rising fuel prices.
Concern about fuel supplies has been mounting after six oil shipments to Australia were cancelled or postponed due to the war.
Iran’s decision to effectively close the Strait of Hormuz — a key global trade route — in response to US and Israeli strikes has sent global oil prices skyrocketing.
Domestic petrol and diesel prices have soared, but the government has repeatedly said shortages in some regional and rural areas were caused by panic-buying rather than supply issues.
Uber surchage will not be temporary
Rideshare app Uber will increase prices from next week, and the surcharge will not be temporary.
An Uber spokesperson told AAP it regularly reviewed fares to ensure it struck the right balance between drivers’ earnings and affordable rides.
“From next week, we will be updating Uber fares which will increase driver earnings by an average of six per cent across Australia,” the spokesperson said.
“These changes build on work already under way and reflect our ongoing commitment to better supporting driver earnings over time.”
Rival DiDi has added a five-cent-per-kilometre surcharge to help cover fuel costs for drivers.
“To help offset these increasing operating costs, DiDi will increase the temporary fuel surcharge applied to every DiDi trip nationwide,” head of external affairs Dan Jordan said.
“This adjustment is designed to provide additional support to drivers while fuel prices remain elevated.”
Jordan told AAP the rideshare provider would continue to review its pricing structure and service fees.
DiDi and Uber have existing partnership programs for their drivers.
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