Taxi Driver Online

Seeing as there doesn't appear to be an introduction section where the residents can kick ones cyber arse, pull the p!ss out of one as a newcomer and genreally lay down the pecking order laws such as seems to be par for the course in the modern forum world, just because they can, I'm posting here.

Being Australian, can't play cricket (but you already knew that), can't play football (but you already knew that), speak at about a million syllables per minute (but you already knew that) and manage a taxi company should make me "fair game"?

What are the hot industry topics in the UK? Here it's Indians vs Aussies, Managers vs Drivers, Regulators vs Companies and Runners vs Courts....

Limits on taxi numbers-v-the free market.

Cross border working-v-working in the area you are licensed for.

Proposals to make all taxi take wheelchair-v-mixed fleet of taxis.

Lack of enforcement-v-proper enforcement.

Crazy council decisions-v-the one or two sensible councils.

And what you said.

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IDFIMH

Are the managers the owners or are the owners somebody else altogether?



That's ok because neither can we by all accounts



Ahh you mean like the scousers do

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

In some cases yes but there are commercial restrictions or perhaps more to the point, accepted protocols. A number of "plates" (licences) are issued to any given service area and in this state, must be affiliated with a booking company. A booking company must have 30% of the licences or more in the area affiliated in order to hold a service contract with the government regulator.

As manager of a small booking company which is in fact owned by a larger booking company, I can (and have in the past) owned a "plate" for investment purposes only (leased out for monthly payment + any capital gain). It is rather frowned upon for the manager to have an operating cab on his own plate (pecuniary interest and all that BS). Apparently I have the technical means to divert jobs to my own cab.....................could'a fooled me, in 5 years I haven't found a way I can do that and keep it out of sight but there you go.

All of our operators are independant of the company and simply affiliated. They can move to the opposition in a heartbeat if we don't "deliver". That's a very long winded way of saying, yes and no.

Apparently, many of your issues are the same or similar. Regulator ineptitude is an issue, the move to more wheelchair accessible vehicles brings it’s challenges as the regulators don’t seem to “get” that horses can’t be replaced by the same number of camels and achieve the same timelines.

Retirement savings for drivers is an issue I believe our industry needs to address in order to legitimise itself as a serious career move for the non owner in the longer term, although we do have a few “career” drivers (drivers here take a % of gross income). This is a tough one because nobody really wants to address and everyone believes everyone else should pay. I’m beginning to think it is one the drivers need to lead by starting their own funds and then use it as a bargaining tool when negotiating a % rate with an owner. Many owners would lynch me for saying this but in all honesty, I think all of us need to face the reality and mature the approach.

Driver safety is a pet hobby horse of mine as is risk management in general and something I like to pay more than “lip service” to. There are no “silver bullets” but driver education and awareness seem to be the front line defence. Cameras, screens, alarms and all the others are second lines although valuable.

Crap, that's a rant............................

Welcome Plate Baron! May I divert your attention to the Scottish section were You can kick ar*e all you want infact they will welcome you with open arms
It's got that bad they have to have a friendly Scotish section, which means the other one is very unfriendly, but they cannot call it that!

http://taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=14457&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=120

Just a small teaser for you to wet your lips on. Try not to get too excited.

Yes, I noticed that section.

Perhaps you missed...........

At the moment Australia v New Zealand rugby But! I expect that "You knew that" and probably (understandably) do not want to talk about it.

Welcome mate, and have a gudday

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if you cannot be yourself, then who can you be.

Oh and people using big avatars.

That's really the pits.

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IDFIMH

I think this is an issue the whole business sector needs to address.

Most cabbie will spend what they earn, when they earn it.

Many struggle to pay their tax bill let alone save for their future.

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IDFIMH

Urgh, I've never been a great lover of the split bag system. Imo it's far better to pay the rent for the system you work and then keep whatever you earn although I can see the benefits of the split bag system because if the operator doesn't get you work he doesn't get paid either

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

Sorry ex-plate Baron,
If you check-out the Friendly Scottish section It's like a bar room scuffle, but the other is like total anarchy.

Is this the I have to largest avatar thread?

CC

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

I'll leave the Scotts to pray on their knees for the moment and the Irish to Prey on their neighbors…………or was that the other way around.

As for the “split bag” vs “set pay” (sub lease if you like), that’s another hottie here at the minute. It isn’t up to the “operator” of the plate to dig up the work for the cabbie, that’s the domain of booking company if they are doing their job and due to the competitive nature of the platform to maintain “plate” affiliation levels, do that we must.

Therefore it isn’t the quantum level of work being the issue but “nettible” (if I may manufacture a word) remuneration to the driver. Enter the Indian argument. Mr Sir Uppal Newlanded Singh approaches the operator and says, (turban nodding) I will pay $1500 for your cab for 7 days and nights. By comparison, Joe Beer Swilling Never Worked More Than 8 Hours Straight Aussie” says “eff you”, I pay that and I’m lucky to make $500 per week for myself, take your cab and “jam it where the sun don’t shine”.

In the hereafter of that, where we now are, all the “uglies” start to surface, racism, bigotry (on both sides), polarisation of driver groups, allegations of poor training (which from what I can gather are no where near the UK standards but we are improving slowly), linguistic issues and so forth.

Obviously I sit at arms length on this one and can see several sides. The booking company must meet regulated response times so it is about cabs on the road, Indians make that happen. Operators need to make money so cabs on the road (drivers in seats) is essential and they will go with who shows them the best return. Newcomers, Indian or Australian or any other have every and equal right/s to “have a go” and get a start in whatever their chosen life path. The older Aussie guys can see downward pressure on their “net earn” and don’t like it, understandable. Traditionally, the Alsorand Aussie passenger exepcts to see a 40-70 Y/O, slightly overweight, slightly balding, probably slightly grumbly Aussie steering wheel attendant.

A conundrum no doubt…………………………………and when any of it goes wrong, no prizes for guessing whos desk it lands on.

Why?

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IDFIMH

Conditions of the "Service area Contract". 85% of standard Pax's must be picked up within 7 minutes of booking or................financial penalties. The booking company holds the service contract and very few are cooperative structures now so the onus (financial) is not on the cab operator.