10 Unwritten Rules Followed by Successful
Tanzania, Dar Es Salaam, 1st July 2024 – While the ride-hailing company continues to lead in market share by 70%, it owes its performance to its ability to strike a balance between safety, affordability, and technological features that meet the mobility needs of different classes of riders. In a live interview with one of the local stations last week, Dimmy Kanyankone, the General Manager of Bolt Tanzania and Kenya shared the top unwritten rules for driver success in Tanzania.
“Our drivers are a critical aspect of the overall economy of cities in Tanzania. For example, we have more motorcycles than cars in the country and most of the bikes are used for economic activities. Even in the recent rainy season, taxis and “boda bodas” experienced peak demands from commuters heading to work and businesses delivering items”, said Dimmy.
According to the company, having a platform that connects drivers to end users, adjusts prices so that drivers are not underpaid, and stimulates huge demand from riders in search for safe and efficient mobility solutions, has attracted many drivers to use the platform as an ideal source of income. During the interview, Dimmy mentioned 5 top rules that successful drivers do not compromise on, and these are;
1. Don’t go online if you’re not ready to take a trip. This will affect your driver scores.
Break times: Turn your availability off during eating times or breaks to avoid having to cancel or getting cancelled on a ride, which lowers your driver ratings.
2. Keep your phone updated
Break times: Turn your availability off during lunch times or breaks to avoid having to cancel or getting cancelled on a ride, which lowers your driver ratings.
3. Know Your Hotspots & Time Zones
Work smart, not just hard: Morning hours can be spent around residential to CBD areas (e.g. Mikocheni to Posta), midday between restaurants and government offices, and evenings between bars, malls, and near bus stops.
4. Five-Star Service = Better Tips + Repeat Customers
Small touches make big money: Keep your car clean and well-ventilated, never complain or argue about the route, and develop a realistic mindset for business (there is no perfect business, and difficulties are approached with patience rather than complaining to riders).
5. Avoid Waiting Too Long Without a Trip
If you’re idle for over 15 minutes in one area, relocate to a nearby hotspot. Sticking in “dead zones” kills your hourly earnings.
Other unwritten rules to consider according to the company are:
6. Use Driver WhatsApp Groups for Intel
Other drivers share real-time updates on high-demand areas, new features in the app, or big events. Stay plugged in—information is power.
7. Avoid Cancellations—Unless Absolutely Necessary
Frequent cancellations kill your acceptance rate, delay future requests, and reduce visibility on the app. Cancel only if the trip is unsafe or extremely inefficient.
8. Be Smart with Short Trips in Traffic Zones
Short trips (below TZS 3,000) in high-traffic areas like Kariakoo or Posta can take a lot of time. If you’re in a Boost zone or expecting a bigger trip next, it’s still worth it — just be strategic.
9. Be Polite, But Assertive About Safety
If a rider insists on unsafe practices or requests risky shortcuts, calmly and respectfully decline. Riders respect drivers who are professional and caring.
10. Aim for Back-to-Back Rides
Always stay active after dropping off, especially in areas near malls, campuses, or business districts. Don’t switch off waiting for a perfect trip—maximize flow.
-ENDS-
SWAHILI
Here is the press release translated into modern, journalism-standard Swahili, keeping the professional tone intact while preserving clarity and relevance for Tanzanian audiences:
Kanuni 10 Zisizoandikwa Zinazofwata naMadereva wa Bolt Waliofanikiwa
Tanzania, Dar es Salaam, 1 Julai 2024 – Kampuni ya usafiri wa mtandaoni, Bolt, inaendelea kuongoza kwa kushikilia asilimia 70 ya soko la huduma za usafiri nchini. Mafanikio haya yanachangiwa kwa kiasi kikubwa na uwezo wake wa kuoanisha usalama, bei nafuu, na teknolojia bunifu inayokidhi mahitaji ya usafiri kwa tabaka mbalimbali za watumiaji.
Katika mahojiano ya moja kwa moja yaliyofanyika wiki iliyopita kupitia kituo kimoja cha redio hapa jijini Dar es Salaam, Dimmy Kanyankole, Meneja Mkuu wa Bolt kwa Tanzania na Kenya, alieleza kanuni 10 ambazo madereva waliofanikiwa huzifuata – licha ya kutokuwa sehemu ya sera rasmi za kampuni.
“Madereva wetu ni nguzo muhimu katika uchumi wa miji nchini Tanzania. Kwa mfano, tuna pikipiki nyingi kuliko magari, na nyingi hutumika kwa shughuli za kiuchumi. Hata wakati wa msimu wa mvua uliopita, mahitaji ya usafiri kupitia boda boda na teksi yaliongezeka hasa kwa abiria wanaokwenda kazini au wafanyabiashara wanaotoa huduma za usafirishaji wa bidhaa,” alisema Dimmy.
Kwa mujibu wa Bolt, mafanikio ya mfumo wao yanatokana na uwezo wa jukwaa lao kuunganisha madereva na abiria, kupangilia bei kwa usawa ili madereva wasinyonywe, na kuvutia abiria wengi wanaotafuta suluhisho la usafiri wa uhakika na salama. Hali hii imewafanya madereva wengi kuliona jukwaa hili kama chanzo madhubuti cha kipato.
Katika mahojiano hayo, Dimmy alibainisha kanuni 5 kuu ambazo madereva wanaofanikiwa huwa hawazipuuzi:
1. Usiwashe App Kama Hauko Tayari Kuchukua Abiria
Usipokuwa tayari kufanya safari, usijaribu kuwa hewani – hatua hiyo huathiri alama zako kama dereva. Wakati wa kula au mapumziko, zima huduma ya upatikanaji ili kuepuka kughairi safari au kukataliwa, hali inayoshusha kiwango chako cha utendaji.
2. Simu Yako Iwe Imesasishwa Kila Wakati
Hakikisheni app ya Bolt inafanya kazi vizuri kwa kuwa na simu iliyosasishwa – teknolojia ya kisasa inahitaji vifaa vya kisasa.
3. Tambua Maeneo ya Joto na Vipindi Vyake
Fanya kazi kwa akili, si kwa nguvu tu. Asubuhi elekea maeneo ya makazi kwenda katikati ya jiji (kama vile Mikocheni hadi Posta), mchana zunguka maeneo ya ofisi za serikali na migahawa, jioni kuwepo karibu na baa, mall na vituo vya mabasi.
4. Huduma ya Nyota Tano = Bakshishi Nzuri + Wateja Kurudi Tena
Tofauti huletwa na huduma ndogo ndogo: gari safi, hewa nzuri, usigombane au kulalamika kuhusu njia ya safari, na kuwa na mtazamo chanya wa kibiashara – changamoto ni sehemu ya kazi.
5. Usikae Sana Bila Safari
Kama upo eneo moja kwa zaidi ya dakika 15 bila kupata safari, hama haraka na elekea eneo lenye abiria. Kusalia maeneo ya “kufa” kunapunguza kipato chako kwa saa.
Kanuni zingine zinazoshauriwa na kampuni ni;
6. Fuatilia Taarifa za Bolt kwenye Makundi ya WhatsApp ya Madereva
Hapa ndipo taarifa mpya zinazopatikana: maeneo yenye abiria wengi, masasisho ya app, na taarifa kuhusu matukio makubwa. Habari ni nguvu.
7. Epuka Kughairi Safari – Isipokuwa Ikiwa ni Muhimu Sana
Kughairi mara kwa mara kunaharibu kiwango chako cha kupokea safari, hupunguza nafasi za kupata safari mpya, na kuathiri uonekano wako kwenye app.
8. Epuka Safari Fupi Kwenye Eneo la Msongamano
Safari chini ya TZS 3,000 maeneo kama Kariakoo au Posta ni hasara. Kubali tu kama uko kwenye “Boost” au kuna uwezekano wa safari kubwa baadaye.
9. Kuwa Mstaarabu Lakini Thabiti Kuhusu Usalama
Ukikumbana na abiria anayevunja kanuni (kama kupakia abiria wengi kuliko kawaida au njia hatarishi), shikilia sera kwa utulivu. Wateja wanaheshimu madereva wanaojali usalama.
10. Lenga Safari Zinazofuatana Bila Kupumzika
Baada ya kumaliza safari, usizime app mara moja. Kubaki hewani maeneo ya mall, vyuo, au maeneo ya biashara huongeza nafasi ya kupata safari nyingine mara moja.
