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Resources for journalists, bloggers, and media professionals covering the gig economy and workforce development.

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Press Kit

Download Press Kit

Press kit includes:

  • The Rideshare Academy logo (multiple formats)
  • Founder headshot (high resolution)
  • Program overview one-pager
  • Fact sheet and key statistics
  • Boilerplate description

The Story

The Rideshare Academy represents a first-of-its-kind partnership between a community college and a rideshare industry veteran to address the critical training gap in the gig economy.

Founded by Jim Lantos, an 11-year rideshare driver with over 10,000 completed rides, the program brings institutional credibility and academic standards to an industry where most drivers receive no formal training in business operations, tax planning, or strategic optimization.

In partnership with Southern Maine Community College, The Rideshare Academy launched America's first college-backed rideshare driver Program in Spring 2026.

Media Inquiries

For press inquiries, interview requests, or additional information:

βœ‰οΈ [email protected]

We welcome opportunities to discuss:

  • The gig economy training gap
  • Workforce development and continuing education
  • The future of rideshare as a profession
Media Image
Why The Rideshare Academy Is Needed
1.
For first-time job hunters, a college degree isn't unlocking the opportunities it once did, data shows
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2.
25% of long-term unemployed Americans have been seeking work for 6+ months
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3.
Unemployment could hit 25% among recent grads and trigger β€˜unprecedented’ social disruption thanks to AI, U.S. senator warns
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4.
Gig Economy Attracting Workers As Layoffs Rise, Report Says
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5.
Why Do 70% of Drivers Quit Driving for Uber & Lyft in Less Than 8 Months? (RideGuru-July 2019)
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6.
Only 4% of Uber Drivers Remain on the Platform a Year Later (CNBC-April 2017)
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7.
The Gender Earnings Gap in the Gig Economy: Evidence from Over a Million Rideshare Drivers (Stanford University - May 2020)
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8.
Rideshare Drivers Turn Over Almost Completely Every Two Years (McKinsey -July 2017)
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9.
An Analysis of the Individual Economics of Ride-Hailing Drivers (University of Colorado Denver-October 2019)
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10.
The Economics of Ride-Hailing: Driver Revenue, Expenses and Taxes Stanford (Zoepf et al., 2018)
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11.
Uber, Lyft Drivers Earning A Median Profit Of $3.37 Per Hour, Study Says (NPR March 2018)
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12.
7 Reasons Why Uber and Lyft Drivers Are Quitting Rideshare (The Rideshare Guy - July 2020)
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13.
Our Pay Has Not Kept Pace': Rideshare Driver Discontent Grows (Insurify - May 2024)
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14.
JPMorgan Chase Institute: Online Platform Economy Study (JPMorgan Chase Institute - November 2016)
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15.
Why the 'Gig' Economy May Not Be the Future of Work (PBS NewsHour - September 2018)
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16.
What Drives the Drivers Away? Factors Influencing Turnover Intention (Transportation Research- June 2024)
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17.
How Income Satisfaction Impacts Driver Engagement Dynamics (Transportation Research - November 2023)
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18.
Uber Statistics 2025: Drivers, Riders, Revenue & More (The Rideshare Guy - March 2023)
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19.
GLG Insights: Uber and Lyft Driver Incentives and Retention (GLG - October 2025)
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