Yep, so this is the likely sequence

1. Regulation kicks in
2. Driver shortage while passenger count same
3. Grab survive initial period with demand surcharge even if it’s capped at times two. Portion of passengers stop ordering Grab and try other platforms
4. Grab race against time to get more driver, because raising base fare will not help in long term. More income for existing drivers will not increase the amount of trips they can take in an hour.
5. Either Grab manage to get more drivers, or passengers just stop relying on Grab. Market evens out and become the new norm.

As for the priority ping, well, it’s only fair for those who rent from Grab isn’t it? After all it’s useless to Grab if renters can’t make enough money to pay rent.

So the future of e-hailing is Grab owns all the car, so you don’t have to worry about maintaining it. You just drive and let Grab take care of everything else

I doubt self driving car will be in Malaysia in the next ten years, looking at the state of our roads and frequency of road changes. But yes that’s next in line too.

Yep, I just want to feel smart by speculating on things I know nothing about.

Can you help me transition from feeling smart to actually smart, by educating me on what I’m wrong about?

I have posted there, check out the fat passenger thread

But really, where else to get the best education on being a driver, if not here?

After all, isn’t this thread titled “Grab Driver Discussion”? You all don’t discuss about being a Grab driver here?

So I’ve done 5 rides and total fare collected are 79 with about 10 on TBB. So far my theory holds water - turn on passenger app, look for places that has high demand fare with few driver, and head there. Instant profit.

Well, you quit being a driver in light of what’s going to happen, while I signed up today and started driving because apparently my views are not legit until I become a passenger and a driver.

So, by this thread’s logic, my views are now more legit than yours, because I’m a driver and you are not

Anyway, is there such as thing as honeymoon period? Grab really got algorithm to favour newbie drivers, so they get higher priority than veteran drivers?

I read a lot of very experience drivers speculate on that in this thread, but seems like, no one actually knows. Seems like everyone here are just spouting sulphurous hot air like me.

I’m sorry if I “sound” arrogant. There is nothing to be gained from being arrogant here, unless the mission is to gain the feeling of smartness.

I don’t know how else to type a friendly sounding forum post. Aiya u wan me type like dis meh to sound friendly, I’ll probably never finish typing

As for the speculation of “newbie algorithm”, I’m hardly the first one to question it, no? Whoever brought it up in the first place, did he know for sure? So why in subsequent posts, some drivers take it as gospel?

You are right, Grab will not share this info, no boss running a profitable business based on information asymmetry will tell you how they profit. Like a crooked mechanic, he will not tell you he ask you to change battery because he needs to profit from you. It will always be like “oh it’s dangerous leh might not able to start car”.

So what I’m trying to do is learn as much as I can, tip the favour back to driver, to form a more symmetry information flow. Like, driver app will not tell you an area is full of driver. So let’s turn on passenger app and decide if you want to stay.

As for all my other conjecture, feel free to tell me why I’m wrong. Maybe some newbie will read and learn for real, as opposed to being told “this thread is driver sharing real experience only, not for you to learn”

Attitude?

Again, regular posters here say I’m being obnoxious, I got bad attitude, that somehow you all feel disrespected by my questions.

Yet no one can highlight which part of my post is obnoxious, or why is my “attitude” bad.

Worst, I’m most likely correct about how part timers who won’t invest time and money for regulation are the losers. Probably that’s the part that insulted all of you, because suddenly your periuk nasi got sand and I’m saying how that’s better off for full time drivers

So today morning I signed up and drove, I got 104 in 7 trips with 3 in tips and forgot how many TBB. I’m now a driver like most of you, except I won’t get offended by “difficult questions”.

To all the newbies reading this thread in silent, please don’t be afraid to ask the tough questions. Even if these seasoned drivers are not willing to help you, you will eventually find someone that will.

Again, I’m sorry if I appear to be arrogant. I failed to see what part of my post is so arrogant. Can you be so kind to highlight them for me? It’s a genuine request. Maybe I’m so dumb that I can’t see it. I need you to point it out to me.

This is not my first request too. I repeatedly asked everyone to give me specifics on how am I arrogant.

Also, I’m not the one making personal remarks. I could’ve, but I didn’t. I was just talking about Grab. But I suppose, most people here prefer simpler stuff, like “wah today airport trip untung la” kind of post follow with a dozen “waseh lucky you la” responds. So I’m the asshole when I try to ask “difficult” questions.

I say “most people” because since this afternoon I received PMs from some you, and I appreciate it. I understand you all are friends with these people, so I won’t throw you under the bus. As promised, I will start new threads and with hard concrete info for new drivers, like how to know where best to camp before even driving out for the first time. Thank you again for the location specific guidance.

I understand no one volunteers to teach. After all, why teach your competitor how to steal your business? Yep, I know the fear, I know why people hoard information. But that’s just information asymmetry that’s causing the fear.

It’s okay guys, and I’m sorry for being the arsehole coming into this thread, making you all feel insulted. Hate me all you want, but I won’t be stingy about what I learned, if I’m learning anything new.

http://www.duke.com.my/page/143/Toll-Fare/

From DUKE webpage

Call Grab CS to get back your 50 cents pls

It’s a valid feeling. Thank you for being a kind passenger. Maybe he just forgot you are grabpay user so can charge exact amount.

Most drivers will round down (if toll is 2.30, just charge 2.00 and telan the 30 cents if both driver and passenger claim no coin). If round up (if toll is 2.50 then want to charge 3.00) driver usually tell passenger the intention to do so, to avoid argument after the trip.

Never gone through it myself, but apparently you can go to their office to request close account and transfer remaining credit to your bank.

Up to you to decide if the amount left in credit is worth the trip

Edited: correct answer provided by yhtan in post below

This post has been edited by Intimidated: Mar 22 2019, 11:22 PM

Full timers regret because market diluted by part timers in the past year, so can’t earn the same amount they used to.

Just read back from v3 to v4 of this thread. Many of you here complained about the endless lembu lining at Grab to sign up every day.

Then I see in the past couple pages, many of you quit either because can’t cherry pick jobs anymore, or just don’t have the money or will to go through regulation.

So that’s great news for full time drivers now isn’t it?

Now is the best time for you earn some money, before raya, before regulation.

Since more drivers drop out now due to can’t cherry pick jobs or just preparing for life after regulation, anyone who stick around are bound to get more trips.

As for if you are happy with the randomness of “bilis” or “jerung”, that’s your personal preference.

Can your next job salary cover payment for new car?

Can you get your next job before July?

If you don’t get a job before July, and don’t want to spend money on e-hailing insurance and PSV, do you have enough savings to pay for car loan and other commitments for at least until September? Assuming you will definitely get a job by then.

If answer to above questions are yes, then go ahead get the car and do Grab 6 days a week for 8 hours a day until you get a job. Minus petrol minus commission, it’s still money for food.

Or don’t buy a new car. No regulation now, any old car that’s not in rejected list can still do Grab. Just shop for a second hand car you can afford.

For regulation, still pending Grab. Maybe insiders will have info so hopefully they will share. Officially, this is Grab’s latest info on regulation:

https://www.grab.com/my/blog/driver/pursuin...lations-part-3/

For e-hailing insurance add on, you can ask Allianz / MSIG now for price quote. Maybe more companies will offer it later, these two are the only two I know so far.

Between now until July 12, yes, why not? But you might not earn much driving just one or two days a week.

Based on anecdotes from other forumers here, to gross RM20 per hour is pretty good. Say you plan to put in 10 hours. That’s RM200 gross for 10 hours of work.

Say you plan to gross RM200 on Saturday. Say you auto accept all trips. Commmission will be RM40, which is 20%. Say you maintained efficiency of RM1 gross per KM, that’s 200 KM driven. Not sure what’s the fuel economy of the car you are buying, but say you spend RM40 on petrol. That leaves you RM120 take home.

If you can do that for four days in a month, that’s more or less RM480, which is the figure you are looking to make to cover the monthly payment.

However, are you setting aside money from your job salary to pay for car maintenance? Sure, there are free interval services for new car, but it doesn’t cover all parts replacement and eventually you will need to pay for it.

Say you have to change shock absorber after 3 months because you drive hard in the 4 days to gross RM200 per day. Say that’s not covered under any warranty. A pair of it will probably set you back RM300-400, depends on make and model.

You might actually end up losing money. So perhaps what’s better will be looking for a part time job that doesn’t require you to use your own car/equipments.

This post has been edited by Intimidated: Mar 24 2019, 09:12 PM

That depends on how many drivers are nearby where you stay at that time, and how many drivers are willing to accept your trip.

Most drivers like to take airport trip. Most of the time, no problem getting a ride to airport.

As for availability, just turn on the app and check how many cars are nearby.

After fill up form online and finish the training module, you will need to have your documents verified, follow the instructions in first item under FAQ here to find the locations in KK

https://www.grab.com/my/blog/basic-requirem...car-driver-faq/

Didn’t hear anything about it so far, didn’t have to take selfie when I took a ride, probably related to this news:

https://themalaysianreserve.com/2019/02/07/...ion-technology/

Hi Daddy2be, FYI