Taxi Driver Reveals Earnings,Highlights Driver Exodus Amidst Systemic Concerns
Warsaw,Poland – A surge in drivers leaving ride-hailing platforms like Uber and Bolt is leading to longer wait times for passengers,according to a report by WP Finanse and money.pl. The issue stems from a combination of opaque algorithmic practices, concerns over driver vetting, and demands for fairer commission rates.
One driver shared his earnings data, illustrating the financial pressures faced by those working for the apps. The report details growing frustration among drivers regarding bonus structures, with some receiving weekly incentives while others haven’t seen them for months. Drivers are calling for greater transparency in how these “multipliers” and bonuses are determined.
Concerns about the thoroughness of background checks are also mounting. While the requirement for a clean criminal record certificate exists, the process appears flawed. According to Wójcik, a source cited in the report, a document stating “Not listed” from the court is often sufficient for intermediaries.
Recent police inspections corroborate these concerns. In May 2025, a check of 500 taxi drivers in tricity revealed one Georgian citizen illegally residing in Poland, one wanted person, and one driver using a false document. A similar Krakow traffic police action two months later found one driver without a transport license and two others wanted by authorities. Wójcik suggests the true scale of the problem could be even larger, stating, “All it takes is for the Road Transport Inspection to arrive at the railway station in Lublin and suddenly the city turns red on the map. Toll rates go up twice as much because half of the drivers disappear from the roads.”
Drivers are demanding several changes, including: a maximum commission rate of 13 percent, mandatory Polish-language driving tests for drivers, and the creation of an independent body to mediate discussions between platforms and drivers.
WP Finanse and money.pl reached out to Bolt and Uber for comment but had not received a response at the time of publication.
The report was authored by journalist Adam Sieńko.
