Taxi Driver Online

I drive one night a week for a company. I'm self employed and I get a third of the meter. The owner pays all fuel etc.

The other day the owner of another local company contacted me and asked if I would cover some of his hires using his vehicle on a similar deal to what I'm already on.

I told my existing owner about the proposal but he said he would not tolerate me driving for anyone else. He said I either drive for him or drive for the other guy but not both.

I know there is niggle between these two guys from before, so what I want to know is this the normal practise or do some owners allow this.

From my point of view I only get one night, Saturday, from my owner and I wouldn't mind making some extra cash during the week. Doesn't seem very fair to me. What is the reason for not allowing it, apart from the fact the two owners hate each other due to past disputes.

I imagine its common as you could tout work from one company to another On another note are you happy with only one third of the meter 50/50 is normal in Edinburgh for a single Saturday allday but some owners wil charge less than that, £75 - £90 for a single allday shift of upto 18 hours, one third wow

I own but don't rent out but there is a limit, drivers have to make money. i'm shocked greed i tell you greed

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Alway's been about Tightening the Grip!

I suspect the owner doesn't want his customer details to be shared with his competitor.

Now you will clearly not pass anything on, but the chap ain't taking no chances.

I don't however think this is unique amongst businesses as many other firms don't like their staff working for their competition.

You have got to make a decision to stay or to go.

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IDFIMH

Not sure what I'm going to do. Probably stay because the guy is pretty sound and I like him and I think he is fair. But I'm a bit [edited by admin] off right now.

No I wouldn't give either side information about the other. I'm there to drive a taxi not spy. I'm just disappointed that he can't trust me to just go and make some money for myself without jeapordising his business. I've worked pretty hard the past few months bulding a web site for him and trying to get work through the internet. In fact recently I have found him more work than he has found for me. If anything he could learn a few things from the other guy who seems to be much busier hence he is looking for additional drivers. Many of the full time drivers round here are constantly switching companies so there are no secrets in the trade anyway.

As for the commission rate that seems to be the going rate among those that I know. I might be getting conned though. I never do seem to make very much. An 11 hour (6pm - 5am) busy shift last saturday netted me £70 and that was a good week.

This is why I could do with the additional work.

And I just thought the other owner obviously isn't bothered that I will still be working for my current owner. He is not suggesting I jump ship. Well not yet anyway.

Play them at there own game the going rate is 50% and they still pay the fuel etc, see who will offer that
At the moment your being coned

IC, well I saddened to learn that

As a business owner I can see his logic I have had a number of times in the past where full time and part time drivers try to recruit our customers so they can switch and take them with them I would certainly never allow a driver to work for me and another rival firm because the rival firm will pressure them to do just that !

The antics of many cab firm owners make pirates look like saints !!!!

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

aye mateee and you be cap'n blackbeard
they are not your customers,they just happened to phone you

yer self employed mate if one guy cant give you the shifts that you reqire to make a living then who the hell is he to tell you that you cant seek work elswhere.

btw he needs you more than you need him..tell him to ram it cheeky bar steward

Your self-employed you can work for who you like.. Why does the company need to know, who else you work for? You don't need to tell them, none of their business. I take work from four different companies, though I don't work a fixed shift for any of them (and again, being self-employed, you're free to work when you like), they all know I work for other companies as well, furthermore they also know I've got my own work as I've got an operators licence and if I wanted to I could steal their customers.

That's not necessarily the case.

He can only work for people who allow him to drive their vehicles.

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IDFIMH

Isn't it the case that a proprietor is required to retain the (paper) licence of any drivers that they have driving their vehicle(s) by law?

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Former taxi driver

Hackneys yes, PH no.

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IDFIMH

um well I'm hackney and my paper licence and my plastic one is in my wallet.

It is not your drivers licence that the proprietor holds but your hackney licence.

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Grandad,

not up here ff