TripNavigator: Hire Driver

Abstract

TripNavigator: Hire Driver is a secure, user-centric driver hiring platform that enables car owners to directly hire verified drivers without third-party intermediaries. Developed using Android (Java/XML) with Firebase Authentication, Firebase Realtime Database, and Firebase Cloud Storage, the system provides real-time availability, request handling, and transparent trip coordination. The application supports multiple driver categories including professional drivers and licensed part-time drivers (such as students), expanding earning opportunities while addressing the shortage of reliable drivers for short and long trips. The platform allows users to browse drivers using limited public information such as ratings and reviews, ensuring privacy by revealing sensitive details (license and verification documents) only after a driver accepts a request. After acceptance, both parties can communicate through an in-app chat module and confirm trip requirements. Google Maps API integration enables pickup/drop location selection, route visualization, and live location tracking for safety and convenience. Driver KYC documents and trip-related proofs are securely uploaded and managed using Firebase Cloud Storage. The system is designed with role-based flows (Customer/Driver/Admin) to ensure tailored interfaces and controlled access. Overall, TripNavigator improves trust, reduces dependency on brokers, and provides a scalable, real-time hiring model for driver services.

Introduction

Many car owners in Indian cities and semi-urban areas require trusted drivers for their own vehicles for situations such as airport transfers, long trips, emergencies, and daily commuting. However, the current driver-hiring market is largely unorganized, broker-driven, and offline, leading to safety concerns, inconsistent pricing, lack of verification, and poor reliability. At the same time, many licensed drivers and part-time workers seek fair earning opportunities but lack a trusted digital platform that connects them directly with customers.

To address this gap, TripNavigator: Hire Driver is proposed as a secure, privacy-first, and broker-free mobile platform that directly connects car owners with verified drivers. Unlike taxi or ride-hailing services, TripNavigator focuses on hiring drivers for the user’s own car. The platform emphasizes transparency, verified identities, controlled information sharing, and real-time trip tracking. Public driver details such as ratings, experience, locality, and languages are visible during browsing, while sensitive information (licenses and ID proofs) is revealed only after a driver accepts a request.

Technically, the system is built using Android (Java/XML) and integrates Firebase Authentication for role-based access, Firebase Realtime Database for real-time trip workflows and communication, Firebase Cloud Storage for secure document handling, and the Google Maps API for location selection, routing, and live tracking. The methodology includes requirement analysis, role separation (Customer, Driver, Admin), secure KYC-based driver verification, privacy-aware driver discovery, real-time trip request management, in-app chat, live tracking, and post-trip rating and review mechanisms.

Testing and analysis show that the system functions reliably with real-time updates, secure data handling, and consistent trip lifecycle management. The platform successfully reduces dependence on brokers, improves trust through verification and ratings, and enhances safety through controlled data sharing and live tracking. Overall, TripNavigator provides a scalable and practical digital solution for driver hiring, with strong potential for future enhancements such as payment integration, AI-based driver recommendations, and advanced safety features.

Conclusion

The TripNavigator: Hire Driver successfully provides a secure and practical solution for direct driver hiring without brokers by connecting car owners and verified drivers on a real-time platform. Using Android (Java/XML) with Firebase Authentication, Firebase Realtime Database, Firebase Cloud Storage, and Google Maps API, the system enables role-based login, privacy-preserving driver browsing, trip request handling, real-time trip status updates, and ratings/reviews. The implemented workflow improves reliability, reduces manual coordination, and increases trust by ensuring that sensitive driver details are revealed only after request acceptance, making the platform safer and more transparent for both users and drivers.

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Copyright

Copyright © 2026 Ms. Sai Patil, Ms. Poorvi Rai, Ms. Bhoomi Rai, Ms. Shravani Barge, Mrs. Vidya Pingale. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.