A motorcycle ride-hailing driver in Udon Thani faced backlash after a video showed him berating a passenger for their weight. The video, which rapidly spread on social media, depicts the driver telling the passenger that overweight individuals should not use his service, sparking a heated exchange.

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The controversy began when a Facebook user posted the clip with the caption, “There are still people like this.” The rider can be heard insisting that overweight passengers are generally not accepted and that cancelling such rides is common practice. The passenger retorted that the policy should be clearly posted and criticized the driver for being judgmental.

The passenger, who booked the ride via an app, explained that the driver initially rode very slowly, which prompted a request to speed up due to concerns about catching a connecting bus. The driver reportedly replied that the weight made balancing difficult, leading the passenger to start filming the interaction.

The incident has ignited significant discussion online. Many users condemned the driver for improper conduct, emphasizing the importance of respectful customer service. Others pointed out that the situation could have been managed more professionally by both parties.

The debate highlights broader issues of discrimination and service standards in the transportation industry. Experts suggest that clear guidelines and training for ride-hailing drivers could help prevent similar incidents.

Moving forward, it remains to be seen if the ride-hailing company will address the incident or implement measures to ensure better service etiquette and communication between drivers and passengers, reported Khaosod.

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  Adapted by ASEAN Now · Khaosod · 16 Mar 2026

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5 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

The driver reportedly replied that the weight made balancing difficult,

Balancing?

What does that mean?

Sounds like the driver is miserable and was looking for an excuse to pick a fight.

The passenger should have taken a tuk tuk or samlor.

12 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

Balancing?

What does that mean?

Sounds like the driver is miserable and was looking for an excuse to pick a fight.

Balancing means heavy weights can easily cause the bike to fall over .

A heavy weight can cause the bike to crash .

Have you ever seen sumo wrestler riding bike ?

2 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

Balancing means heavy weights can easily cause the bike to fall over .

A heavy weight can cause the bike to crash .

Have you ever seen sumo wrestler riding bike ?

I missed the fact that it was a motorcycle taxi.

Yeah, tough call .... maybe people over a certain weight should stick to car taxis.

Not sure how Sumo Wrestlers get around.

But it HAS been done before.

6 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

I missed the fact that it was a motorcycle taxi.

Did you just read the headline and decide to comment without reading the article content ?

But my question is how much did the passenger weigh?

Seems like a crucial point before making any judgment here.

5 hours ago, bannork said:

The passenger should have taken a tuk tuk or samlor.

Or truck by the sound of it!

It's not the weight of the pillion passenger that is the problem. It's the weight differential between the driver and the pillion, and the weight distribution load on the front and rear, especially the rear. Get a skinny pillion that likes to sit as far back as possible on the seat and they become the same as an overweight pillion - i.e a huge MF sail and disproportionate counterweight.

It doesn't matter if the driver is overweight as his/her weight isn't way behind the frame pivot point or swingarm. But a 60kg jockey and a 100kg passenger is a difficult bike to ride. Especially your typical Japanese scooter where the chassis/frame is about as bendy and flexible as a rubber band. Even calling it a "frame" is being generous - those things bend and flex sideways horribly even without an overweight passenger.

Hats off to the taxi-driver for pointing out the safety issue, and no points to the overweight passenger who believes his/her dignity can deny physics.

Here is the video. It's a Honda wave, and though you can't see the passenger, his shadow, visible towards the end, suggests he is pretty hefty. The Grab driver (who isn't exactly anorexic either) is not disrespectful, he simply states the obvious (also notable is that it would put severe strain on the mechanical parts of his bike, namely the rear wheel). He was in his right, and not being unreasonable, of course overweight people can't get on the back of a Wave.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/2183127322427968

1 hour ago, Gsxrnz said:

Hats off to the taxi-driver for pointing out the safety issue, and no points to the overweight passenger who believes his/her dignity can deny physics.

Yeah, and he seems to be the type who would sue the driver if he caused the bike to overturn and fell.

7 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The rider can be heard insisting that overweight passengers are generally not accepted and that cancelling such rides is common practice. The passenger retorted that the policy should be clearly posted

The passenger makes a valid point. Don't want to carry heavyweights? Make it clear on the app.

In my first few years in Thailand my gf and I could share a win ride (about 110kg total between us). These days I would expect 2 wins, and an extra one for the shopping bags.

8 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The rider can be heard insisting that overweight passengers are generally not accepted

Double or triple the fare.

Fat/obese people should pay extra.

8 hours ago, chickenslegs said:

The passenger makes a valid point. Don't want to carry heavyweights? Make it clear on the app.

In my first few years in Thailand my gf and I could share a win ride (about 110kg total between us). These days I would expect 2 wins, and an extra one for the shopping bags.

How much does your GF weigh, anyway?

32 kg?

I have given 15 stone/200 lb plus friends lifts and it is very hard to ride nicely if the pillion wants to remain upright in corners rather than leaning with the driver. When stopped it is a struggle to keep the bike from leaning over with such a high center of gravity.

Can understand both points of view.

1 hour ago, GammaGlobulin said:

How much does your GF weigh, anyway?

32 kg?

About 40kg in those days. We are married now, and it's 30 years and 40kg+ later (between us).