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Update | Mar 18, 2025
Time to read: min
Being a driver in Colombia: a dignified and misunderstood profession
Table of contents
- The social perception of drivers
- Myth 1: "Driving is only for those without other options."
- Myth 2: "It doesn't require skill or responsibility."
- Myth 3: "The income is low and not sustainable."
- A look at the real experiences of people completing trips
- Why this activity deserves more recognition
- Final thoughts
Driving for a living, whether through ride-hailing apps like Yango or public transportation services, serves an essential urban mobility role. This profession helps connect people to places, which indirectly stimulates economic activity. So, it's time to take a closer look at what being a driver in Colombia means, and why it deserves more respect than it often gets.
The social perception of drivers
The low perception of drivers has created dangerous myths about driving as a source of income or a profession. If not enough people provide this service, getting around can become harder for specific segments of people.
Myth 1: "Driving is only for those without other options."
Contributing to increasing mobility activities isn’t just for one group of people. Anyone who wants to earn a living by providing this service can benefit from the improved passenger accessibility through ride-hailing apps like Yango today.
Myth 2: "It doesn't require skill or responsibility."
- Excellent navigation. Passengers expect riders to be more engaged in mobility activities and not get lost, as they may do. Because of the real-time GPS tracking of Yango Pro, half of the work is already done for you. But if your passenger is a tourist, you're also somehow supposed to be an expert tour guide.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills. People expect drivers to be respectful and professional in their communication. As a rider, you should also be able to read the room and gauge how much you should interact with the passenger.
- Skilled driving. Passengers expect a smooth ride throughout from a rider who can make smart decisions under pressure. That’s why at Yango, partner drivers in Colombia should be at least 21 years old with at least three years of driving experience.
A driver is also responsible for the welfare of the passengers. Apart from promoting safety, a rider is also expected to keep themselves comfortable throughout the trip.
Independent Driver | Office Worker | |
|---|---|---|
Flexibility | You’re not forced to commit to specific hours or days. If you’re handling many side hustles, it will be easier to weave them into your self-declared working schedule. | There has been a greater degree of flexibility since the pandemic, as hybrid and work-from-home arrangements have become more prevalent. However, there’s still a set schedule that you have to work. |
Time | There’s no time wasted in commuting because as soon as you’re in your car, you’re already working. You’re also free to fulfill bookings whenever you want. | The work schedule is the same week in and week out. It also consumes the entire day, so you mostly only have weekends for leisure. |
Independence | You have the freedom to work whenever you want at any place in Colombia where Yango Pro is supported. If you want to earn more, you can work extra hours to get more passengers easily. | Since there is a set schedule, you need to do your work during those times. |
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Myth 3: "The income is low and not sustainable."
- High demand in urban areas. Since there are a lot of booking requests sent through the app, drivers are constantly busy. Less idle time between rides means more money at the end of the day.
- Dynamic pricing. During peak hours when there's a further surge in demand, the rates increase – for drivers, this means higher payment for completing a ride.
- Flexible hours. You can get bookings through the app for as long as you want to. So, unlike with traditional jobs with a fixed income per month, you always have the opportunity to earn more.
With the Yango Pro app specifically, you’re not just fulfilling a driver’s urban mobility role. You can improve your payout through bonuses when you hit completed ride milestones. Passengers may also tip for excellent service, which would further increase your average payment per ride.
A look at the real experiences of people completing trips
“I started driving professionally because I wanted to add to the salary of my main job then. But I did some math and realized that I’m earning more per hour through bookings.”Victor Reyes
"My goal is for my car to pay itself off. Accepting ride requests a couple of hours after work has allowed me to stay current on my balance."Hernan Cortes
“This used to be an all-male profession. It felt safer with the app, so I gave it a try. It works perfectly for me because I can easily work it around my kids’ school schedule.”Lina Ruiz
"Driving may sometimes be challenging, but it's still rewarding. It has let me meet different kinds of people, which is an adventure in itself."Mauricio Parra
"I've been a driver long before apps came into the picture. But because of Yango, I spend more time earning money instead of trying to get passengers."Efrain Franco
Providing this service in Colombia has been a rewarding experience for them in many aspects. They can fulfill their financial needs and balance them with their other priorities. Like everyone else, they just want to earn an honest living.
Why this activity deserves more recognition
- People with specialized needs may not be able to use public transportation. Multi-modal transportation may be challenging for people with disabilities, travelling with their kids, or at an advanced age. But thanks to drivers, they can still go where they need to without unnecessary hurdles.
- Not everyone stays in urban areas. It may be easy to bike or take the BRT if you’re in huge cities, but the same options may not exist for rural counterparts. A driver helps bring convenience to everyone in the country.
- Public transportation doesn’t run 24/7. If you have to travel late at night or early in the morning, it may be hard to do so without a car. Independent drivers help support mobility activity beyond the availability of buses and other options.
A rider provides accessibility and convenience, so economic activities don’t stop at a particular time. Every trip helps fuel small-scale economic growth.
Final reflection
However, as important as they may be for connecting cities and communities, respect for independent drivers shouldn't rest on society's perceived utility of them. Every profession has value. Instead of categorizing which jobs are more worthy than others, let us recognize the dignity in all honest work and the value we all bring to society.
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earning now
