Ask any experienced taxi or Uber driver what separates a good week from a bad one, and the answer is usually the same: timing. It’s not just about putting the hours in — it’s about putting the right hours in. And for a lot of drivers, figuring that out is still more guesswork than it should be.
That’s the problem Driver Matty’s free Shift Planner is built to solve.
What Is the Shift Planner?
The Taxi Shift Planner at DriverMatty.com is a free, straightforward tool that takes your earnings target and available days, then builds a smart weekly schedule around the best-performing windows for your city. No spreadsheets, no complicated maths — just your goal, your availability, and a plan that makes sense.
You start by setting your weekly earnings target, your maximum hours, your city, and your average hourly rate. Then you select which days you’re available that week — any combination from Monday through to Sunday. Hit the button and the tool generates a full shift timetable showing when to work, alongside a weekly overview covering projected earnings, total hours, and how close you are to hitting your goal. It even highlights the peak earning windows specific to your city, so you know exactly which windows are worth prioritising.
Why Shift Planning Actually Matters
The difference between driving during peak demand and driving during quiet periods can be significant. Weekday morning rush hours — roughly 7am to 9am — and the evening rush from 4pm to 7pm are consistently the strongest windows for commuter demand across most UK cities. Friday and Saturday nights from around 8pm through to the early hours are the biggest earners of the week for most drivers, with surge pricing regularly pushing fares considerably higher than daytime rates.
Meanwhile, the midday lull between 10am and 3pm is widely regarded as the quietest stretch of the working day. Drivers who fill those hours without a clear plan often end up clocking time without earning much — wearing the car out in the process. Knowing which hours to target and which to skip is one of the most effective levers a driver has on their weekly take-home, and it costs nothing to get right.
In cities like London, Manchester, and Birmingham, understanding local demand patterns makes an even bigger difference. London offers some of the highest fares in the country but also the biggest costs — Congestion Charge, ULEZ, and stiff competition in central zones mean that a poorly timed shift can easily eat through any potential upside. In Manchester and Birmingham, demand is strong around commuter peaks and major events, but the quieter patches between are best avoided unless you have a specific reason to be out.
Who Is It For?
The tool is useful for new drivers who are still finding their feet and aren’t sure how to structure a week, but it’s just as valuable for experienced drivers who want a cleaner way to plan around their personal availability. Life doesn’t always fit neatly around the best surge windows — the planner helps you find the best fit between what works for you and what works for your earnings.
Part-time drivers and those using Uber or taxi work as a side income alongside another job will particularly benefit. When you have limited hours to deploy, getting those hours right becomes even more important. There’s no point spending a Sunday afternoon grinding through low-demand fares when you could have shifted those hours to Friday evening and doubled the return.
Completely Free, No Sign-Up Needed
Like Driver Matty’s other tools — including the Uber Earnings Calculator and the Licence Reminder — the Shift Planner is completely free to use and requires no account or login. You put your numbers in, you get your plan out. Simple.
For any driver trying to be smarter about how they spend their time on the road, it’s well worth a few minutes of your time.
You can use it free at DriverMatty.com.
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Sources
- Driver Matty — Taxi Shift Planner Free Tool
- Zego — Uber Peak Hours and Part-Time Driving Guide
- Fleeto — Uber Peak Hours in London 2026
- SimplyQuote — How Much Do Uber Drivers Make In The UK?
- Zego — UK Taxi Drivers: 5 Ways to Boost Your Income
- Ridex Taxis — How Much Do Taxi Drivers Make in UK: 2026 Salary Guide
