Why driver is saying ‘Ola’ to new ride-sharing service

THE introduction of Ola into Toowoomba’s ride-sharing market is good news for driver Glenn Dayacus, who uses it as a second job to support his family.

Glenn Dayacus will drive for Ola in Toowoomba. Picture: Nev Madsen.

THE introduction of Ola into Toowoomba's ride-sharing market is good news for driver Glenn Dayacus, who uses it as a second job to support his family.

The Toowoomba resident and disability support worker is one of more than 100 drivers who have already signed up for the service, which launched to the public this week.

Mr Dayacus said he was introduced to the service when he coincidentally gave a ride to an employee of the company.

"The state manager of Ola, I got him as a passenger with Uber, because they were doing marketing here in Toowoomba before they launched. I had a good chat with him," he said.

"He was just asking about Toowoomba, how the people were.

"When we were about to finish the trip, he said he was impressed with how I treated customers and that's when he introduced Ola."

Mr Dayacus said he was impressed by Ola's introductory offers to drivers, which included claiming 100 per cent of fares for four weeks if someone signed up before New Year's Eve.

But he added that he was required to undergo more vigorous training before he could be accepted as a driver.

"Ola also ensures safety and professional service - you can't sign up without undergoing disability awareness training, undergoing sexual harassment training and discrimination," Mr Dayacus.

"You cannot get a driver's authority licence from Ola without doing all these things."

The company is offering special rates for customers between now and the end of the year, in a bid to cut into the Toowoomba market dominated by Uber.

For more information on becoming a driver, head to the website.

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