¶ Dispatch Ride Flow:

¶ Dispatch and Trip States

After the trip is created, Uber will begin searching for a driver based on the scheduling option:

• Immediate / On-Demand: Dispatch happens immediately.
• Scheduled: Dispatch is timed to match driver arrival with the scheduled pickup time.
• Flexible: Dispatch occurs when the rider responds to the SMS.

The trip follows these states in a happy path:

• Processing: Matching to the most efficient available driver.
• Accepted: A driver is assigned and is on the way to the pickup location.
• Arriving: The driver has arrived or is within 0.2 miles of the pickup point.
• In Progress: The trip is underway, from pickup to dropoff.
• Completed: The trip has been completed by the driver.

¶ Handling Driver Cancellations

If the driver cancels after accepting the trip, Uber will attempt to redispatch the trip to another driver:

• Driver Re dispatch: Uber will attempt to assign a new driver.
• No Drivers Available: If no driver is found, the trip will enter a terminal state called no_drivers_available, meaning the trip ends and no further action will occur.
• Driver Cancel: If the driver waits at the pickup point and cancels after a set time, the trip ends in a driver_canceled state. The cancellation wait time varies by product.

¶ Terminal States

A trip can end in one of two terminal states, besides the usual completed state:

• No Drivers Available: No drivers were found to fulfill the request.
• Driver Canceled: The driver canceled the trip after waiting at the pickup point.

In rare cases, a trip can be canceled by the rider (coordinator) or completed by the driver while the trip is in progress, typically in emergencies.

¶ Driver Canceled (driver_canceled status in the API)

UberX Cancellation Policy:

• If the driver waits for at least 5 minutes at the pickup location and then cancels, a no-show cancellation fee is charged.

  • If the driver cancels before 5 minutes, there is no fee, and Uber will attempt to redispatch another driver.

  Cancellation Fee: The fee will be the higher of:

  • The minimum cancellation fee for the city, OR
  • The time/distance-based rates from matching to pickup.

  Note: If a cancellation fee is charged, no other fees (like wait time or long pickup) will apply.

¶ Rider Canceled (rider_canceled status in the API)

UberX Coordinator Policy:

• If the rider cancels the ride 2 minutes after the driver is matched, a cancellation fee is charged.

  Cancellation Fee: The fee is the higher of:

  • The minimum cancellation fee for the city, OR
  • The time/distance-based rates from matching to pickup.

  Note: If a cancellation fee is charged, no additional fees (wait time, long pickup) will be applied.