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How does Uber allow drivers to pickup and drop-off on U.S. military bases?
Hello! Thank you for your question about the use of Uber to pick up and drop off passengers on military bases. The most useful sources I found to answer your question were Uber’s website and Congress.Gov. The short version is Uber does allow drivers to pick up and drop off passengers on US military bases, however, they do not have specific qualifications or requirements for drivers entering military bases beyond what is already required by the bases for civilian access. I did not find any information indicating the UberMilitary program is being used to supply drivers who can have access to, and drive on, military bases. Below you will find a deep dive into my findings.
I conducting advanced Internet searches using a variety of key words and query types. I sifted through information from trusted news sources, industry reports, company websites and US government websites. I confined the results to the last year.
After extensive searching, I have determined that Uber is not taking any specific steps right now regarding driver qualifications (e.g. extra background checks) for drivers to pick up and drop off inside of military bases. Military bases have their own criteria for base access for civilians which may include a military background check. It appears that any future changes in Uber’s policy is being driven by their lobbying efforts in Washington, DC. In addition, I did not find any information indicating the UberMilitary program is being used to supply drivers who can have access to, and drive on, military bases. Below is more detail on the information I found.
INFORMATION FROM UBER AND US MILITARY BASES
The driver requirements page on Uber’s website does not mention any additional qualifications or requirements for drivers that may need access to military bases. Currently, drivers will have their driving record and criminal history reviewed.
After conducting an in-site keyword search on Uber, I found information for drivers about accessing military bases in Little Rock, Arkansas, San Antonio, Texas and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. For access to the Air Force base in Little Rock, Uber says “There are special rules in place at Little Rock Air Force Base (and other military installations).” Drivers can get a 1-year base pass by completing a form and having the base conduct their own “criminal background check”. In November 2016, Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama extended the scope of the merchant passes they issue to include on-demand driving services.
The information on San Antonio and Oklahoma City base access given on the Uber site is similar to Little Rock. Here is a quote from the page on San Antonio: “Due to security measures put in place by the bases, we realize that pickups and drop offs at these locations can be challenging. If you receive a request from one of these locations, we recommend calling your rider and letting them know that you may have difficulty entering the base property due to security measures. The rider may have a recommendation on how to reach the pickup location. In the case that you are still not able to enter the property, please call the rider and ask them to cancel. We have messages visible to our riders on these bases that pickups and drop offs may be challenging.”
I checked the base access information for Fort Riley Kansas and Fort Meade in Maryland and did not find anything pertaining to special requirements for Uber or other on-demand driving services. There is a lot of detail, however, on just the basic requirements for getting into the base.
STATE REGULATION
Some regulations regarding Uber driver requirements in general have started coming from states. On February 10, 2017, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signed the first state law creating regulations for ride-hailing companies and drivers. The new law requires each ride to have at least $1.5 million in insurance coverage. All drivers are subject to a background check which is already required by Uber, however, the attorney general must approve the method of background checking the company will use. If it is rejected, the state police would have to conduct the background checks, and this level of screening requires fingerprinting.
UBER LOBBYING AND FEDERAL REGULATIONS
The drive for future regulation and compliance of ride-hailing drivers entering military bases for pickups and drop-offs is coming from Uber lobbying efforts in Washington DC. In 2016, Uber spent $1.36 million on federal lobbying efforts which were headed up by for Republican campaign member Niki Christoff. Under Christoff’s watch, in May 2016, US Senator Joni Ernst (R) of Iowa submitted provisions to the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (US defense bill) to “modernize DoD [Department of Defense] policies to provide transportation and ride sharing companies like Uber access to military installations.” Below are the details on the provisions. The defense bill is scheduled for committee review on April 27, 2017.
Division A – Department of Defense Authorizations
Title III – Operations and Maintenance
Subtitle E – Other Matters
“The Senate bill contained a provision (sec. 339) that would require the Secretary of Defense to establish policies, terms, and conditions under which online transportation networks and their drivers shall be permitted access to military installations to serve base personnel. The House amendment contained no similar provision. The House recedes with an amendment that would require the Secretary of Defense, within one year of enactment, to establish policies under which covered drivers may be authorized to access military installations.”
CONCLUSION
To wrap it up, Uber does allow drivers to pick up and drop off passengers on US military bases, however, they do not have specific qualifications or requirements for drivers entering military bases beyond what is already required by the bases for civilian access. I did not find any information indicating the UberMilitary program is being used to supply drivers who can have access to, and drive on, military bases.
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