'Silent riders' thrive, show resilience in digital era

Excellence in silence

Yang Haobing, 30, is another "silent rider" at the station. He ranks among the top performers in both order volume and income, completing around 1,300 to 1,500 deliveries each month and earning more than 10,000 yuan.

Since becoming a full-time delivery rider for Meituan in October 2024, Yang has made it clear that he does not want to be treated differently because of his hearing impairment. He holds himself to higher standards than those of other riders, which in turn motivates those around him.

Yang attributes his success to diligently memorizing routes and frequently exchanging tips with fellow riders. "I like this job, not only because of the income, but also because it allows me to get to know the city while riding," he said.

When he first arrived in Shanghai in 2019, Yang worked as a chef. Compared with kitchen work, he said, delivery work offers more practical, worldly experience. Now, he and his girlfriend are working hard in Shanghai and plan to get married once they have saved enough money.

According to Yang, many people with hearing impairments are doing delivery work through referrals, since on-demand delivery offers higher incomes, and people with hearing impairments can do just as well as others.

Gu Xinru, a sign language instructor at the Meituan delivery station, described these riders as energetic and resilient, noting their strong work ethic and ability to overcome challenges.

Zhao, the ride-hailing driver, has also received many positive reviews from passengers. Some praised his steady driving and efficient, well-chosen routes. Even in heavy traffic, reviewers noted that he adjusted course quickly. Many passengers also offered tips as a gesture of appreciation, according to Zhao.

Now, Zhao's monthly income can reach over 15,000 yuan.

Still, communication remains Zhao's biggest concern. Although he uses text-to-speech tools to make phone calls, he noted that "typing simply isn't as fast as speaking, and when responses are delayed, passengers can become anxious. Some even hang up as soon as they hear the AI-generated voice." He added that regional dialects can further complicate speech-to-text conversion.

Zhao said he hoped the app would introduce more accessibility features.

While hearing-impaired drivers and delivery riders work hard to overcome communication barriers, companies such as DiDi and Meituan have also introduced accessibility features on their apps, drawing on feedback from users.