Membership

Local Driver Co-op is a cooperative that is owned by its members – the drivers. It is inclusive of all drivers – ride-hailing, taxi, medallion holders, fleet operators, delivery couriers and truck drivers.

Local Driver Co-op is a multi-stakeholder federated cooperative – a different kind of cooperative that allows for multiple stakeholders that can range from individuals, groups, to corporations. It is organized as a global network of local co-ops in each city, owned and operated by the local drivers in each respective city.

What is a Cooperative?

A cooperative is an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically-controlled enterprise.

Cooperatives are based on the values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity, and solidarity. In the tradition of their founders, cooperative members believe in the ethical values of honesty, openness, social responsibility and caring for others.

Cooperative Principles

The cooperative principles are guidelines by which cooperatives put their values into practice.

1. Voluntary and Open Membership

Cooperatives are voluntary organisations, open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political or religious discrimination.

2. Democratic Member Control

Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting their policies and making decisions. Men and women serving as elected representatives are accountable to the membership. In primary cooperatives members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote) and cooperatives at other levels are also organized in a democratic manner.

3. Member Economic Participation

Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their cooperative. At least part of that capital is usually the common property of the cooperative. Members usually receive limited compensation, if any, on capital subscribed as a condition of membership. Members allocate surpluses for any or all of the following purposes: developing their cooperative, possibly by setting up reserves, part of which at least would be indivisible; benefiting members in proportion to their transactions with the cooperative; and supporting other activities approved by the membership.

4. Autonomy and Independence

Cooperatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members. If they enter into agreements with other organizations, including governments, or raise capital from external sources, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control by their members and maintain their cooperative autonomy.

5. Education, Training, and Information

Cooperatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers, and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their co-operatives. They inform the general public – particularly young people and opinion leaders – about the nature and benefits of co-operation.

6. Cooperation among Cooperatives

Cooperatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the cooperative movement by working together through local, national, regional and international structures.

7. Concern for Community

Cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies approved by their members.

Membership in Fare.Coop/Local Driver Co-op

To become a member of the Local Driver Co-op, we collect a one-time contribution of $100 from each driver. However, the first 55,000+ drivers in the USA and 9,000+ drivers in Canada join for FREE!

Membership comes with shares and each driver gets 1 share, while medallion holders get 1 share for every $100,000 they had invested into their medallion (e.g. 5 shares for $500k, etc.). Through the co-op, the value of your investment will increase over time so if at any point you decide to stop driving, retire and leave the co-op, you will receive a full return on your investment (proportional to your driving hours).

Furthermore, we will cap the number of drivers in each city, which means that a new member will be accepted only once an existing co-op member leaves and a spot becomes available.