Let’s imagine that you’re a rideshare driver in Colorado. It’s a cold, snowy evening, and the roads are icy. This is your livelihood—you have no choice but to drive. A ride request pops up: an airport trip. It is one of the best fares you can get, so you head out. Your car is spotless, with a tree-shaped air freshener wafting a pleasant scent. You greet the passenger, help with their luggage, make sure they are comfortable, and drive with care. You know the rider paid at least $80 for the trip, but when you check your account, you only receive $15. How would you feel?

Now imagine that you prepare for another day of work, only to find your account deactivated. No explanation, no timeline for reactivation. You’re unable to earn, yet the bills keep piling up. What would you do?

For rideshare drivers, these scenarios aren’t imaginary—it’s the everyday reality where drivers face low wages, long hours, and little control. A 2022 study found drivers in the Boulder-Denver Metro area earned an average of $5.49 per hour, far below the minimum wage. Often, less than 50% of the fare goes to drivers.

But what if drivers could take control of the companies they work for? What if drivers could own the platform? That’s exactly what the Drivers Cooperative-Colorado (DCC) attempted to do by developing a platform that provides drivers with a better earning and working environment—a revolutionary worker-owned cooperative with over 620 members and 12,000 riders, plus 3,000 drivers on the ownership track.

DCC offers drivers a seat at the table, a share of the profits, and a voice in their company.

What is DCC?

DCC is one of the largest worker cooperatives in the nation. Its mission is to support drivers with fair wages and provide marginalized communities with affordable transportation. As Colorado’s largest platform worker cooperative, DCC offers pre-scheduled and on-demand rides through its apps: Co-op Colorado for riders and Co-op Driver for drivers.

Under this democratic model, every driver is not just a worker, but an owner, with an equal vote in shaping the coop’s future and the opportunity to serve on the board of directors. This structure flips the rideshare system on its head: drivers retain 80% of the fare, breaking free from exploitation and paving the way to wealth-building. Without millionaire CEOs siphoning profits, every dollar is reinvested in the community, benefiting both drivers and riders.

“This is the future starting now in terms of rideshare and broader community satisfaction,” says Taiyelolu, a driver-member of the coop that has already completed over 200 rides with the coop within a month.

How it all began

In 2022, the idea of DCC took root in the parking lot of Denver International Airport. Spearheaded by Minsun Ji, labor activist and the Executive Director of the Rocky Mountain Employee Ownership Center (the non-profit that is incubating the project), organizing began to challenge exploitation with cooperative values. What began as a small group of dreamers evolved into Colorado’s first driver-owned ridesharing business.

Through countless hours of street-organizing of drivers, training, formation of a steering committee, and the establishment of a Board of Directors, DCC incorporated in May 2023. However, the road to launch was challenging. DCC had to create new legislation in 2023 that would allow a locally owned Transportation Network Company (TNC) to enter the market with a reduced licensing fee. It took DCC more than 5 months to secure insurance, and two years of fundraising to launch the Co-op-Colorado app to cover the steep costs of technology.

But perseverance paid off.

In September 2024, DCC officially launched, earning a proclamation from the City and County of Denver for its positive impact on the local economy and community.

Seventy percent of DCC drivers are immigrants from Africa, the Middle East, Asia, or Latin America, seeking better opportunities through this cooperative model. Members like Ahmed (a Moroccan rideshare expert), Isaac (the General Manager from Africa), Abdullahi (a Somalian dispatcher) and Mohammed and Mohamed (Sudanese Board members), have brought diverse perspectives and leadership.

One of the largest obstacles is funding. As a grassroot organization, DCC seeks to find more funding through grants, special events, individual donations and investment opportunities. DCC has recently launched a donation-based crowdfunding campaign to raise $30,000 to cover the cost of technology as one of the first efforts to raise funding from the public.

What’s next?

DCC’s vision extends far beyond Colorado. Across the U.S., drivers face similar struggles that can’t be ignored. DCC aims to create a Federation of Driver Cooperatives nationwide in partnership with community organizations that work with drivers. This federation will jointly own technology, share financial burdens, and provide resources for collective growth. However, funding and organizing at the local level will be essential to make this vision a reality. The revolutionary story of cooperative rideshare drivers starts right here in Colorado by practicing a commitment to “one driver, one ride, one community at a time”

How you can help

Donate to DCC’s crowdfunding campaign to empower drivers and expand the cooperative. Share the link with three people you know to spread the word!