JANUARY 2026 NEWSLETTER: UPDATES FROM THE INDEPENDENT DRIVERS GUILD
Fight Driverless Vehicles and Protect Our Jobs Across the Nation
Thank you to all the IDG members who helped us reach our goal of 10,000 signatures against driverless vehicles in New York. Now, we’re on a mission for 20,000!
Add your name to demand an immediate halt to Waymo’s self-driving car testing in NYC, Jersey City, and beyond, and stop all autonomous vehicle testing across the country. We must move quickly to protect driver jobs and our communities.
Sign your state’s petition here:
IDG Wins Driver Access to Breaks and Bathrooms in New York
We won! The Independent Drivers Guild successfully championed Intro 1000, a New York City Council bill that now guarantees basic bathroom access and legally protected break time for for-hire vehicle drivers. After years of drivers being forced to ration water and endure long hours without restroom access, this win addressed a critical health and safety issue in a job that keeps workers behind the wheel all day.
With the passage of Intro 1000, drivers will no longer be forced to choose between our dignity and our livelihoods. The law will give drivers access to thousands of commercial stops across the city starting by this summer. This victory would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of IDG members who showed up to rallies, organized, and fought to protect our dignity on the job. Thank you for your efforts!
IDG Drivers: New Health Program Built for Drivers!
*NEW* – The Worker Healthy Living Program (WHLP) is a health and wellness program designed just for drivers like you. We focus on chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity-related health concerns, as well as sleep and stress issues that disproportionately impact rideshare drivers. Our team-based approach backed by our practical AI-enabled program puts you in the driver’s seat.
With WHLP, you get a powerhouse care team behind you providing:
- One-on-one physician support
- Customized nutrition guidance from a dietitian
- A dedicated health coach & fitness classes
The Worker Healthy Living program is flexible and adapts to your needs. You can join whichever sessions work best for you and focus on the ones that are most useful.Your visits with the doctor, health coach, and registered dietitian are provided at no cost to you. ENROLL NOW.
Free Flu Shots for IDG Members. Protect Your Health Today!
Free flu shots are here! Getting a flu shot is one of the most effective ways to prevent the flu and avoid serious complications if you do get sick. Don’t leave your health to chance. Qualifying IDG Members in all states have been emailed a free flu shot voucher, good at any Walgreens or Duane Reade location through April 15th, 2026.
Free flu shot vouchers are provided by the Independent Drivers Guild. Become a member today and get your free flu shot!
IDG New Jersey Members Looking for Some Security?
Life and AD&D Insurance Now Available for New Jersey Drivers
IDG NJ members, you now have access to $5,000 in Life Insurance and up to $25,000 in Accidental Death & Dismemberment coverage through MetLife—effective May 1, 2025, with no waiting period. Coverage applies worldwide and includes natural causes, accidents, and more. Need to file a claim or want to confirm you are a member? Call 1-800-333-5440.
New York Drivers: The Benefits You Rely On – Now With a New Look & App! All Your Benefits in One Easy Place — Download the Drivers Benefits App Today
Accessing your benefits has never been easier. The new Drivers Benefits App gives enrolled drivers instant access to everything they need—from details about your dental, vision, and other benefits, to claim forms and important updates. You’ll receive real-time notifications about changes or additions to the Drivers Benefits Program, so you’re always in the know. The app is available in English, Spanish, Russian, Arabic, French, and Chinese.
The app is designed for eligible drivers enrolled in The Black Car Fund’s Drivers Benefits Program. Not enrolled yet? Sign up today to unlock your benefits. Have questions or need help? Call 1-833-814-8590.
The Independent Drivers Guild Honors Martin Luther King
On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Independent Drivers Guild honors Dr. King’s legacy by recommitting ourselves to the fight for racial justice and dignity for working people. Dr. King understood that civil rights and workers’ rights are inseparable, and his call for economic justice still rings true for the app-based drivers who keep our cities moving, many of whom are immigrants and people of color. From winning fair pay and protections on the job to standing up for basic dignity like restroom access and protected breaks, IDG’s work reflects the same belief that every worker deserves respect, safety, and a real voice. As we reflect on Dr. King’s legacy, we are reminded that the struggle for justice is ongoing, and that together, we can continue bending the arc toward fairness.
Get support
IDG office hours may be impacted by the upcoming holidays.
New York Office Hours & Weekly Outreach
IDG’s NYC office is bigger and better than ever! Visit us:
New York Independent Drivers Guild
41-09 36th St #3
Queens, NY 11101
Monday – Friday, 10AM – 4PM
New Jersey Office Hours
New Jersey Independent Drivers Guild
110 Fieldcrest Avenue, 3rd Floor
Edison, New Jersey 08837
Monday – Friday : 10AM to 6PM
Outreach at Newark Airport
Tuesday: 10AM to 4PM
Wednesday: 10AM to 4PM
Connecticut Office Hours
Connecticut Independent Drivers Guild
157 Church St
New Haven, CT 06510
Wednesdays from 10AM to 6PM
Illinois Office Hours
IL Drivers! Have you visited our office yet? Come in and get support!
Illinois Independent Drivers Guild
114 W Higgins Rd
Park Ridge, IL 60068
Monday 10AM – 7PM
Tuesday – Thursday 10AM – 4PM
Friday 10AM – 2PM
Saturday & Sunday: Closed
Not in CT, IL, NJ, FL, or NY? Contact us here to speak with organizers about next steps. Reach out today – let’s organize in your state!
You can now read previous editions of the IDG Member Newsletter here!
*Terms and conditions apply – Click here: ny.driversbenefits.org for more details on eligibility rules and benefits requirements.
**While supplies last.
1You must meet Eligibility Requirements to be enrolled in Drivers Benefits. For 2025, an eligible driver is either: (i) a driver who is registered with the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (NYC TLC) as a driver for a Black Car service and in the prior calendar year has provided service to passengers at least 10 hours per week during the most recent available calendar quarter, with such hours measured from the time a passenger enters a vehicle until such passenger exits the same vehicle, or (ii) a driver is not registered with the NYC TLC and who qualifies as a Transportation Network Company (TNC) or is affiliated with a dispatch base that is a member of The Black Car Fund and in the prior calendar year has received a gross income of at least $4,000 during the most recent available calendar quarter from the provision of service to passengers in the State of New York. Gross revenue is determined based on income that will be reported on a driver’s Form 1099. These eligibility standards may be changed by The Black Car Fund upon at least
