Former Lyft Drivers Now Doing Menial Tasks for Their Waymo Overlords

As self-driving cars take over the roads, former Uber and Lyft drivers are finding themselves in a new line of work for their robotaxi rivals. According to a recent Business Insider report, these autonomous vehicles may not be completely independent, requiring daily cleaning and maintenance. Waymo, the top robotaxi company, has depots scattered throughout the nation where this type of work takes place and many of its employees have previously worked as rideshare drivers.

Interviews with Waymo employees at their Nashville depot, operated by Lyft, revealed that some find satisfaction in their new roles. Chauncy Thompson, a fleet operations associate, preferred his current job over being a Lyft driver due to its consistent hours. His responsibilities include inspecting, charging, cleaning, and checking tire pressure on the vehicles.

Jonathan Baines, a former Lyft driver for over a decade, appreciated the cutting-edge nature of the work and the potential for future opportunities in the autonomous vehicle industry.

Despite the allure of these jobs, the reality may be less favorable. Waymo's new Nashville depot, the largest yet, will only employ around 70 full-time workers, which is a small number considering that a single robotaxi can perform the work of multiple human drivers. Alexander Alonso, chief knowledge officer at the Society for Human Resource Management, emphasized that the transition from driving to servicing robotaxis represents a "redesign of work" rather than simply job losses.

Alonso noted that 35 percent of the skills in current job postings are different from those in job postings from 18 months ago, indicating a shift in the required skill set.

Waymo has not disclosed the number of employees dedicated to servicing their fleet of over 3,500 robotaxis.