Used to have same issues when I was taking cab to the office. Best is to cancel immediately anytime they are not TLC. Usually with 1 or 2 cancellations, you can get a TLC driver. (I remember seeing an option like “Find a different driver” on Lyft).

I have heard most TLC drivers live in NJ and keep roaming around JC so they can go to the city with a fare (we pay the toll).

Uber/Lyft should definitely fix it.