Tampa Ride-Share Drivers Hit Hard by Gas Prices

0:00It's April 16, I'm Corey with the story, and this is Tampa Bay News today, your AI-powered local news. Ride-share drivers in Tampa Bay are hitting the brakes hard because skyrocketing gas prices are wiping out their profits. Blame it on tensions from the Iran conflict, messing with oil supplies through the strait of Hormuz. Folks like Chip Santiago, who's been driving Uber for seven months in his old Chevy Silverado pickup, just parked his truck back in early March. At 15 miles per gallon, his 300 mile shifts burn too much cash to turn a dime. Gas volatility is forcing drivers to rethink everything. Santiago points out you need a fancy SUV for Uber Black, or a Tesla to dodge fuel costs altogether. Long haul from Tampa International Airport to places like Sarasota barely cover the $50 in gas, and there's no sure ride back empty. Drivers are feeling the pinch too, noticing fairs jumping for everyday trips, but drivers say then of that extra cash trickles down to them.

1:00One traveler from New Jersey was stoked, paying way less than the $100 she's shelled out of North for a similar ride to Odessa. Still, others are ditching Uber, asking family for lifts instead to avoid the hassle. With fewer drivers logging on, experts predict even steeper fairs soon as supply drops. The full ripple on the local economy might take weeks or months to shake out. Bottom line, if you're grabbing a ride, show some love and tip. Big drivers need it now more than ever to keep wheels turning.