Taxi Driver Online

Well until all taxi drivers shout loud enough for everybody to hear nothing is ever going to change. If I was a pro-active type of person I'd call for a national strike of drivers on the basis that we have flooded our systems so much so that drivers are risking their lives and the lives of their passengers and see what happens. Before all that thou you need to establish what is a fair wage for a taxi driver

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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 think JD has a point.....its all very well saying we should do less hours and telling all and sundry about our long working week (personally two days is ample ) but where's the formula?

The government relaxed licensing hours.....for the average cab driver this means working longer for the same amount.

The smoking ban has had a definite affect on the night time economy.....people have changed their habits and the pub trade and therefore the cab trade have suffered as an effect.

Pensioners have free bus travel....many of these pensioners used to get cabs.....we cannot compete with zero.

Couple all the above with deregulation....age limits....increased costs of fuel (albeit going down now) and the driver has to work more hours to make the same money.

The fact is....and the GMB are always the first to shout about their political might and MP's in pockets......the government has promoted policies to the detriment of small businesses....the cab trade included.

regards

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 haven't listened to the radio broadcast of Mr Flanagan but to me it makes no difference who delivered the message. I don't know what his comments were or who they supported but one assumes he was talking about the London Private hire trade and less working hours? What he specifically advocates I don't know but perhaps someone can enlighten me?

Regards

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

While I also agree that JD has a point I must say that no-one is coming up with the formula to reducing working hours for drivers ................ something I think we all agree needs to be reduced.

The point I would refer you to is that drivers work the hours they NEED to work and NOT the hours they WANT to work.

There should be some acceptance that deregulation has had a major effect on the increase in drivers hours, because without that there is no-where to start.

Quality restrictions are a good idea, but when Councils start introducing age limits and believe that by doing so they are improving the trade then all that does is increase the overheads on businesses already struggling ..................... or is it the case that the "quality only" brigade are just richer than average and know that they will survive, short term, a reduction in profits.

Re-regulate numbers, then increase quality standards, then set fees proportionate to cost, then reduce costs by offering fuel suppliments and road tax rebates, then reduce fares to the public and support schemes that will reduce dead milage.

That may just be the start, but if people are going to look at ways to reduce working hours I believe this could be the basis for doing so.

The government has made millions available for funding NVQ's, if they want a better HC & PH services then they should also make money or concessions available to those who want to provide that good service.

B. Lucky

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"Here's a simple solution. If you don't want to pay more for a premium service then wait in the queue, problem solved".
Skull on TDO

TF pi$$ed on his chips.

are we talking EMPLOYED or (proper) SELF-employed?

the first are already covered to some extent by a) the WTD and b) by commercial driver hours (even with no tacho)

the second group will soon be covered by the same two rules/regs

I was under the impression the comments of Mr Flanagan concerned the London Private hire trade. I suggest we concentrate our minds on that instead of speculating about compulsary working hours in the provinces.

I'm still waiting for a supporter of mandatory working hours to come up with a solution of why London private hire drivers should be reduced to a set number of working hours and how it will benefit them financially?

Regards

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

Yes I am waiting for someone to come up with a formula for less hours = more money but it is not up to those who dissagree with the ideas of Mr Flanagan to offer a formula it is for him and those who support him to offer a formula.

Before he opened his mouth It might have been a good idea if Mr Flanagan and anyone else who supports his mandatory working hours directive had provided a coherent blueprint of how his ideas would benefit London Private hire drivers financially?

Considering you're in favour of reducing private hire drivers earnings by introducing mandatory working hours perhaps you can give us your formula for maintaining parity in earnings for less hours?

Regards

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

I can't see how it would work because if you reduce driving hours you would have to increase fares to ensure that drivers earned enough and then there is the possibility that the public would find alternative transport thus reducing custom. Having said that there is no way of really knowing until you try it. Something does need to be done to stop drivers working excessive hours as this is dangerous.

I would like to know what is considered a fair wage for a taxi driver?

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

Drivers are already restricted

UK Driver hours apply to ALL commercial driving (of any type of vehicle) not just trucks

the touble is that although you should keep a log if you have no tacho, no-one does

what happens when you nod off after a 13 hour shift and have/cause an accident is that police sift through fuel reciepts, toll tickets, your visa/debit spending, CCTV, mileages, etc,etc and if possible then nick you

even 4x4's towing a trailer for H&R legally need a tacho, why not taxi's?

I have worked in the taxi industry for over 38 years and my father before me made his living the same way, in all that time I have been waiting for someone to conceive a formula that would provide me with a better rate of pay per hour( driving a taxi).
The obvious formula would have to be based on the amount of rent paid( for example) to the radio circuit...... 90 pound Radio settle guarantees £900 in work..... otherwise reduction in Radio settle..... but then.... ???

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

So you wan't a mandatory reduction in working hours to stop "some" drivers working excessive hours? How will the mandatory reduction apply?

Regards

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

if there was a guaranteed £900 worths of work for a radio the circuit owner would be paying a PAYE driver £250 to do it, not taking £90 in exchange for it...

Simply a opening for discussion..... little grey cells suddenly becoming awake..... people could adapt the figures accordingly.....

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

You have to Remember most companies do not wish to employ drivers......... definitely a no-no..... time off work...... sick pay .... industrial tribunals......
I have said this before... and undoubtably will say it again..... the only people allowed to drive licensed vehicles are licensed drivers.... the power is in their hands..... if they stop working the company cannot replace them... in time..... when will the trade have the balls to stand up for itself.....

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

Why distinguish between taxi drivers, why not just ask what is a fair wage for all? Apart from the fact that the majority of taxi drivers aren't on wages to how many hours per week does your fair wage relate? Can we assume 48? What happens to these radio circuits when drivers have milked the most lucrative 8 hours of the day and all gone home?

Regards

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.