Uber Slaps Customers With Extra Fuel Fee As Gasoline Prices Surge

Citing record-high prices for gasoline, Uber is charging customers a new fuel fee to help offset costs for ride-hail and delivery drivers, the Associated Press (AP) reported.

Photo Insert: The temporary surcharge of either 45 cents or 55 cents for each Uber trip and either 35 cents or 45 cents for each Uber Eats order will go directly to the driver and will take effect on March 16.

The temporary surcharge will be either 45 cents or 55 cents for each Uber trip and either 35 cents or 45 cents for each Uber Eats order, depending on location, the company announced Friday.

It will take effect on Wednesday, Mar. 16. All the money will go directly to drivers, San Francisco-based Uber said.

The surcharge will be in effect for at least 60 days, after which Uber said it will assess the situation. The surcharges are based on the average trip distance and the increase in gas prices in each state, Uber said.

As Russia’s war in Ukraine has intensified, US gas prices have reached record levels. The average price of gasoline in the U.S. hit a record $4.17 a gallon this week as President Joe Biden banned imports of Russian oil, gas, and coal in retaliation for the invasion of Ukraine.

The volume of US gasoline in storage fell last week as demand starts to increase with summer approaching. The increase in gas demand and the lower trend in inventories also are contributing to rising prices at the pump.

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