Taxi Driver Online

And you think that is lucky? You work the busiest shift of the week (usually) and then a long day on the monday and you have not made a penny for yourself yet. Do you also have to pay for your own fuel? What day of the week do you start earning money for yourself?

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Grandad,

For the hours I work (40, should do more) I aim to have covered all my costs by the end of Wednesdays shift, take thurs off and then whatever I take Fri-Sun is all mine. So I reckon 15-18 hours work before I start earning for myself.

Why should you do more

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

I had taken into consideration the fuel and after the two shifts I have covered the rent for the car and radio for the week, so what is taken less fuel between Tuesday and Friday night is earnings for the week. Yes it would be nice to earn a good wage in 40 hours, but is that possible in this trade, I do not know I have only been at it a month?

Good point, and indeed if the law was applied in that regard then it would turn the UK trade upside down.

On the other hand, I'm not sure if being prevented from working for other circuits would necessarily be the end of the matter. I suspect it could be argued that a self-employed contractor could be prevented from working for more than one business at any one time, depending on the nature of the industry.

The tests for employee/self-employment cover several different factors, and to that extent merely preventing the driver working for another circuit may not be the end of the matter.

Of course, the law and what happens in reality regarding such arrangements are two different things entirely.

I don't think any of the drivers that use my cars work as many as 40 hours in a week. But they do pay very little for the use of the car. they pay by the mile and not on any split bag or radio fees. They earn money from the first job that they do. If they don't work they don't pay. They choose the hours that they want to work and they are encouraged to hand out their own business cards to customers. they can and often do, take work for other taxi firms.

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Grandad,

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

They all work less than 40 hours, is that the norm for other drivers?

I suppose it also depends on what you require each week to live, no doubt most Taxi company's have different ways of charging their drivers, there are no doubt good and bad points about all the different ways, but after reading messages stating that drivers have only earned minimal amounts, it made me think that what I had been earning in my first few weeks was not too bad.

I suspect there are far more drivers working 80 hours than 40.

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IDFIMH

40 hours ? Id say that the vAst majority would consider that part time

owner drivers and drivers who work on split bags work loads more hours. This is because they are either set in their ways (owner drivers) or they are told what hours they will work (split bag drivers) The people who use my cars work smarter, not longer. They do not work the shifts with very little prospect of earning a decent crust. Why work 80 hours for say £300 as your share of the bag when you can work 40 hours for the same money.

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Grandad,

Grandad

I am intrigued my your methods. I work in an LA where hackney numbers are limited and rank work is not great (apparently) other than Fridays and Saturdays. I only work part time Friday and Saturday nights on split bag. I drive hackney on Fridays and PH on Saturdays. On both nights I expect to cover 90/100 miles per shift. Just curious how your formula would work down our way.

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Nobody told me to use my initiative. To err is human to arr is pirate.

Quite simple, if you drive 100 miles it will cost you £40.00 If you drive 200 miles over the 2 shifts it will cost you £80.00. However If you drive more than 200 miles over the 2 shifts the extra miles are charged at 33 pence per mile. There are no other costs for the driver. No Fuel charge, no insurance charge, we don't use radios so there are no radio fees. No, I do not make much profit from this but the drivers are earning a decent wage without killing themselves.

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Grandad,

A few owners here have started to pay drivers by the hour £6hour
During week drivers do 8hours per day mostly 6pm-2am
Weekends 10 hours 6pm-4am
Get 30mins break after 1st 4-5hours
They clear in good week about £700
Driver= £312
Owner pays fuel, insurance all expences.
But day work is verry quiet yesterday went on for 10 hours and didnt even clear total £50

Still below the minimum wage then.

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Grandad,