The Uber and Bolt Algorithms: What Really Affects the Number of Rides and Deliveries for Drivers and Couriers

Platforms do not disclose their order-assignment formula. As a result, drivers’ chat rooms are full of rumors. Qiwi Partner will analyze what is known from open sources, then examine what drivers and couriers actually see, and finally determine what remains a myth. We’ll also highlight what you can actually influence.

What Is Known for Certain, and What Is Not

Information about the algorithm varies in reliability. Categorize it into three levels.

Platforms change the rules without warning. So rely on your own statistics, not on other people's advice.

Four criteria the platform uses to select a contractor

The exact weight of each one is unknown. However, both the ride-hailing platforms and the drivers mention these four factors.

1. Distance to the customer

Bolt connects a customer with the nearest available driver. Uber explicitly states that this matching process is designed to reduce the average wait time. Therefore, a shorter travel time to the pickup location is the strongest signal. It’s more profitable to wait near high-demand areas than on the outskirts.

2. Willingness to work

The platform can see whether you're online and available, and whether your location is enabled. A stable internet connection is also important. Connection interruptions mean missed orders.

3. Transportation and Car Class

The vehicle type determines which orders you see. Wolt explicitly lists vehicle type among the selection criteria. For drivers, the Standard, Comfort, and Electric categories have different vehicle requirements. The requirements are outlined in the article about The Best Cars for Taxis.

4. Quality of Work

This includes ratings, cancellations, and complaints. More on this in the next section.

Ratings: Drivers and couriers see a different picture

Rankings are the most talked-about factor. That’s an understatement.

For drivers:

• Bolt has an overall driver rating. According to the company, it takes into account more than just passenger ratings.
• If the level falls below the acceptable threshold, the driver receives a warning. If it continues to drop, the driver may lose access.
• The exact platform thresholds are not published. According to open sources, they are approximately 4.5 for Bolt and 4.6 for Uber.
• The rating is based on the most recent trips evaluated, not on the entire period.
• The platforms do not confirm whether a higher rating leads to more orders. Drivers have noticed this.

For couriers:

• An experienced Uber Eats driver writes: The rating did not affect the assignment of orders. In his opinion, it is needed to block dishonest accounts.
• According to him, courier ratings have been removed from the app starting in 2025. Check your account.

There’s only one conclusion: Don’t fall below the threshold, and pay attention to your ratings. But don’t treat your rating as a «get more orders» button. This article explains how to improve your ratings: beginner mistakes.

Two ways to select a courier

This is an observation made by an experienced Uber Eats driver, not an official rule. But it explains a lot of situations.

• Normal operation. The platform matches a delivery person so that they arrive once the restaurant has finished preparing the order. If there aren't enough delivery people, the search begins earlier. In that case, the order goes to someone farther away.
• Urgent mode. The restaurant clicked «Done,» the preparation time has passed, but there's no delivery person. Or the previous delivery person declined the order. In that case, the order will likely be sent to the nearest available delivery person.

This explains a common complaint. You're standing outside a restaurant, but someone far away receives your order. The reason may be simple: the search may have started earlier.

Where to wait: between establishments, not in front of just one

Practical conclusions can be drawn from these same observations.

• It's better to park where there are several establishments within a certain radius. Not right in front of a single restaurant.
• Convenient restaurants serving fast food that use the «ready» button.
• Shopping malls and food courts generate a lot of orders. But there's a lot of competition there.
• If the volume is low, think about where there are a lot of orders but few couriers.
• Have you ordered from the same place several times in a row? Be sure to save this spot.

The more couriers who know these tricks, the smaller the advantage. So keep track of your own statistics.

Order Length and Type of Transportation

The platforms take transportation into account, but not always perfectly.

• Longer rides are more common when driving a car than when riding a bike.
• Long bike rides are possible when there are no cars or scooters nearby.
• With the growing popularity of electric bikes, longer bike rides have also become more common.
• A beginner riding a regular bike might end up with a very long ride.

You can decline an order like this. Wolt and Uber Eats delivery drivers say that declining an order isn't always a bad thing. The terms and conditions vary by app, so be sure to check yours.

Time and Place: Where and When There Are More Orders

Demand is uneven. It is influenced by the time of day, the day of the week, the weather, and events in the city.

• morning rush hour: approximately from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.;
• evening rush hour: from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.;
• Nighttime hours on Friday and Saturday: from 10:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.

During peak demand hours, ride-hailing platforms raise their fares. Fares are higher on Friday evenings and late at night. But the risk of dealing with difficult passengers also increases at night. This article will help you plan your schedule: Taxi Work Schedule.

Rejections, Cancellations, Slots

Opinions differ on this point. The platform does not publish any clear rules.

• Wolt. The report states that a courier may decline an offer without any negative consequences.
• Uber Eats. The courier writes: The acceptance rate does not affect future orders. It used to be different. After switching to dynamic rates, this changed.
• Taxi drivers. The platforms do not disclose how refusals affect performance metrics. Drivers have noticed that frequent refusals and cancellations hurt their performance.
• Glovo. This is where couriers reserve delivery slots. According to couriers, failing to show up for a slot may limit access to future slots. This has not been officially confirmed.

The practical conclusions are simple:

• Only accept orders that you are certain you can complete;
• Don't cancel without a reason;
• If you need to cancel, select the correct reason;
• On Glovo, don't book a slot that you won't be able to fill;
• Check the Help section in your app.

Safety is more important than performance metrics. If you see a threat, walk away without hesitation.

Multiple apps at once

Each platform has its own pool of drivers. A driver using two apps doesn’t receive orders twice as fast, but spends less time idle. While one app may be slow, there might be demand on the other.

Here’s a rule: Don’t accept rides from two apps at the same time. Once you’ve finished a ride, turn both apps back on. For an overview of the platforms, see the article on taxi apps.

Couriers: A Different Approach

For delivery, the algorithm works differently. It takes into account not only the distance but also the readiness of the meal.

• Uber Eats. Uber describes this approach simply in its public materials. The driver is supposed to arrive at the restaurant when the meal is ready. The system constantly updates the estimated preparation time. The platform also likely directs drivers to areas where there is a shortage of them.
• Glovo. We recently discontinued the slot system. It now works just like other apps. Please check the app for details.
• Wolt. The courier selects convenient delivery zones. There is a separate section below about the Wolt algorithm.

Delivery platforms are currently changing their terms and conditions. So be sure to check the latest rules before you start. A comparison of apps can be found in the article about The Best Apps for Couriers. The platforms are disassembled separately: Glovo, Wolt і Uber Eats.

What Wolt Said About Its Algorithm

Wolt publishes reports on how its algorithms work. According to a report released in 2025, the situation is as follows.

• The algorithm selects the person who will complete the order most effectively—not the one who will earn the most.
• It takes into account location, accessibility, mode of transportation, and special requirements.
• If the courier does not respond in time, the offer goes to the next person.
• A dedicated algorithm adjusts deliveries based on traffic, weather, and events.
• The company states that it does not analyze sensitive data: gender, age, or ethnicity.

The report also describes tools for couriers:

• allowance for a long wait at the facility;
• revenue and working time analytics;
• instant payments;
• maps of high-demand areas.

This is the company's statement. There is no independent verification here. Terms and conditions are subject to change, so please check the current version in your app.

Competition: Why It's Sometimes Quiet

There's another factor that's beyond your control. It's the number of colleagues.

• The more couriers there are in the area, the longer the wait.
• During peak hours, the platform may take its time with the search.
• For this reason, place is more important than just time.

So don't look for a formula. Look for areas where there are a lot of orders but few coworkers. Check them in the log.

Myths to Debunk

Orders Suddenly Dropped: An Eight-Step Check

Even experienced drivers can lose control. Check the possible causes one by one.

1. Update the app. Check your location and internet connection.
2. Check your account status: valid documents, license, ID. See the list in the article about Documents under review.
3. Check out the ratings and messages from the platform.
4. Check the car: the requirements regarding its age and condition may have changed.
5. Take the season into account. Holidays, vacations, and the weather all reduce demand.
6. Assess the competition. During peak hours, there are more colleagues in the area.
7. Can't find the reason? Contact the platform's support team. Sometimes there's no reason. It's just a quiet week.

Things That Are Beyond Your Control

Some things are beyond your control. These include the weather, events in the city, the number of colleagues, and the platform’s rates and rules. Don’t waste your energy on things you can’t change. Focus on what you can control: your hours, service areas, quality, and availability.

More orders — lower rent

The number of trips also affects costs—but not in all programs. Only in the BETER program does the rental price for a new Toyota Corolla depend on the number of trips per week. For 126 trips, the rental costs 500 zł. For 100 trips, it costs 700 zł. In other Car rental for taxis fixed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are there so few rides on Bolt or Uber?
There are several possible reasons: location, time of day, weather, car class, geolocation signal, and number of colleagues. Check them one by one. The platform does not specify the exact reason.

Does the rating affect the number of orders?
Drivers have noticed this connection. The platforms do not officially confirm it. An Uber Eats delivery driver writes that he did not notice any connection. But if his rating falls below the threshold, he risks having his account restricted.

Does the acceptance rate affect orders?
Wolt says that declining an order has no negative consequences. An Uber Eats driver believes that the acceptance rate doesn't matter. The terms vary, so check your app.

Why is the order being assigned to a courier who is farther away than I am?
One possible explanation is a scheduled search. The platform began searching for a driver earlier and selected someone else. This is based on couriers' observations, not an official rule.

Is it possible to trick the algorithm?
No. Claims about restart cycles or excessive failures are unsubstantiated. What matters are distance, reliability, and quality.

Is it better to work in multiple apps?
Yes, downtime is usually shorter. Do not accept orders from two apps at the same time.

Does the allocation depend on the billing partner?
No. The algorithm belongs to the platform. The partner provides assistance with the car, paperwork, and support. Regarding the choice of partner— checklist.

Where to Start

Qiwi Partner will help with leasing, paperwork, and connecting to platforms. Become a driver and keep track of your stats starting from the first week.