Taxi Driver Online

Hi,
I'm shortly about to start a private hire car with an (as yet) undecided company here in Glasgow. I am presently awaiting my badge and plate and have a car lined-up. My questions to the forum are:
How easy or otherwise will I find a second driver to use the car (wholly legally) while I continue to work in my full time job?.
I'm planning to work about 30 hours a week- most probably mainly evenings.
Also, I understand that he would pay me x amount per week for the use of the car. However, will he be paying for his insurance/radio or will I?
Would the cab company itself be able to provide a driver/drivers for my car while it is not being used by me?
I know that these questions might be more easily asked of the cab companies themselves but I'd prefer to hear a broader range of answers from forum members first.
Thank you most kindly for all replies I may receive.
Browning,
Glasgow.

You will have no problem if you charge a cheap rent for your driver.

You will have to pay for the radio rental, and the insurance.

As for the circuit being able to find your a driver, I suspect they would rather any spare drivers drove an office car.

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IDFIMH

alternatively, if you hang around a while, Yorkie will adopt you and you can work for him

Captain cab

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

I will keep my own council on this one!
I am not going to say a lamb to slaughter.

this chap is going to be very experienced 12 months from now.

It varies from location to location and from office to office. In some places most cars are owner-driver only, whereas in others two to three drivers per car is the norm.

I see that the official numbers show almost three drivers per PH car in Glasgow, so clearly the latter scenario is the norm, with many of those probably part-time, like yourself (although I thought 30 hours per week was nearly full-time, at least in the real world!).

As for recruiting drivers, again this varies. In smaller offices there may be a pool of drivers who are shared out between the cars, with the office cars probably taking preference, and the other owners fighting like cat and dog over who's turn it is for the drivers.

In the bigger offices the owners may have more of an attachment to individual drivers, perhaps there's a waiting list for new drivers administered by the office.

Or there may be a mixture of the two - the office probably wouldn't have any objection if you recruited your own driver, say a friend or relative.



Almost certainly you will pay the insurance and radio dues, and the driver will give you a rental in return for use of the car, or perhaps a percentage of the take.

See above in relation to your second question.



There are so many different scenarios that without actually working in Glasgow no one can answer your questions definitively, so you would really have to ask the offices directly.

But there are one or two posters on here who know the Glasgow PH trade intimately, so wait a day or two and they may provide further information on here.

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

nice to see the accountancy profesion in on the act!

Where do you see that, Mr Licensing Chairman

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

hello mate, who are you thinking of driving for my friend, the company you go to will very obviously impact on what you end up making financially. I wish i could do 30 hours and earn a good wage but sadly at least in glasgow its not like that at all. You need to bang hours in to make a decent living. Im now also coming to the conclusion that smaller is better as the big firms here are just too big and not enough work to go around whereas smaller might have enough to keep few of its drivers busy. As for renting your car, make sure you find a decent driver, i personally feel happier keeping my own paws on the car , others may not treat your vehicle with the respect you do, and all wear and tear , insurance, radio costs are yours alone,,including accidental damage. good luck.

I read the enquiry as saying that Mr Browning was to be doing 30 hours PHing as well as his full-time job

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

Many thanks to you all for your replies.
Can any of you honestly recommend any Glasgow private hire companies? I've been for a "chat" with 2 of them and remain undecided. I can understand the logic in joining a "smaller" firm but am still left wondering if the "larger" firms would nontheless be a "safer" option.
It seems to me that it is probably the most important decision I must make and any hints you might offer me would be most appreciated. You guys are in the "know" and your experience is priceless to me.
Once again many thanks for your valuable time.
Browning,
Glasgow.

If I was in your shoes, I would start with a big firm, and see how it goes.

Then if it doesn't work out, you can look for another.

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IDFIMH

Thats sensible advice

Captain cab

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

Siding with Sussex,now that is a rare,must be softening in your old age;El Capitan

lol yeah i thought that when i wrote it, the old public image will suffer

I think me and my friend sussex actually agree on far more than we disagree on.

Captain cab

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

OH NO YOU DON'T