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What is a "reasonable" amount of luggage?
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Author:  medway [ Thu Mar 06, 2008 4:00 pm ]
Post subject:  What is a "reasonable" amount of luggage?
Hi All

As a multi seater I obviously have to occasionally put up with loads and loads of luggage (i.e. shopping, push chairs). I bet all you multi seater out there have had it, i.e. at the supermarket rank families with a massive pushchair and 2/3 trolleys of shopping wait until you are at the front of the rank. Or you get the 3 or 4 students ganging up for their weekly shopping and coming to your larger vehicle.

Anyway my point is, the Hackney Byelaw state that the Driver must carry a reasonable amount of luggage etc etc. Well what is a reasonable amount? In my eyes if someone has 2 shopping trolleys then that is not reasonable? Often I still do the job, but the other day a lady had 4 kids, push chair and 2 trolleys of shopping. I got a little annoyed and said it wont fit therefore it is not worth trying, she wanted us to try. I picked up another job and went, but did think that the lady might report me to the Council.

Anyway ideas on this would be welcome ??

(I did think to ring my council license dept, but then thought they would just think I am not doing my job properly therefore did not bother)
Author:  hopper [ Thu Mar 06, 2008 4:18 pm ]
Post subject: 
In my experience LOs are not as bad as some would have you believe.

They can be very helpful sometimes and if you went and asked them for advice it would show to them that you do bother :wink:
Author:  GA [ Thu Mar 06, 2008 4:19 pm ]
Post subject: 
I would suggest that you would make that judgement based on your professional experience.

The example you describe seems that the ammount of "luggage" was as you thought unreasonable.

However, it is down to you own judgement and if you feel justified in your actions (as you should) then you acted quite correctly .................. if you feel as though you acted correctly and you think that a passenger may complain to the council about your actions they you should contact your LO and make them aware of the facts as you saw them.

B. Lucky :D
Author:  cabby john [ Thu Mar 06, 2008 6:56 pm ]
Post subject: 
Going back a few years ago I was driving in Newport, and on occasions I had shoppers turn up with supermarket trolleys.

Anyway this one day in particular a woman turned up with 23 (twenty three) bags of shopping, foods etc. As pious it might seem I do consider myself to be a gentleman, but she stood there expecting me to load the lot and no doubt take it out the other end, and I thought this is taking the P!ss.

First and fourmost I believe we have to give reasonable assistance but in this case it was up and above that, we also have to consider the safety aspect.

In this case the shopping bags would have had to be put on the floor of the cab, and if in the event of someone else causing an accident, causing the foods to spill out on to the floor then this could impede an exit in an emergency from your vehicle.

So the answer is you refused it because it compromised the safety of your passengers.
Author:  skippy41 [ Thu Mar 06, 2008 7:01 pm ]
Post subject: 
As soon as you get someone with mega loads bang the meter on and take your time, and keep it running at the other end until its unloaded :D :D
Author:  Sussex [ Thu Mar 06, 2008 9:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What is a "reasonable" amount of luggage?
medway wrote:
Anyway my point is, the Hackney Byelaw state that the Driver must carry a reasonable amount of luggage etc etc. Well what is a reasonable amount?

I think a reasonable amount is what can be put in the boot, or in the case of a WAV in the front space.

Having shopping and buggies in the car/cab is not reasonable, unless you decide it is. :wink:
Author:  rambo [ Fri Mar 07, 2008 7:27 pm ]
Post subject: 
This comes up alot at my firm, most drivers if they put stuff on the back seat charge fare and a half.
Personally I cannot see the difference between bags on the back seat or people so I don't charge any extra.
If I have to fold my seats down then I charge more.
Author:  grandad [ Fri Mar 07, 2008 7:42 pm ]
Post subject: 
rambo wrote:
This comes up alot at my firm, most drivers if they put stuff on the back seat charge fare and a half.
Personally I cannot see the difference between bags on the back seat or people so I don't charge any extra.
If I have to fold my seats down then I charge more.


Would that be legal in a hackney?
Author:  Sussex [ Fri Mar 07, 2008 7:46 pm ]
Post subject: 
rambo wrote:
Personally I cannot see the difference between bags on the back seat or people so I don't charge any extra.

You would if it was bleach. :shock:
Author:  Sussex [ Fri Mar 07, 2008 7:47 pm ]
Post subject: 
grandad wrote:
Would that be legal in a hackney?

Not unless it's on the tariff card. :wink:
Author:  edders23 [ Fri Mar 07, 2008 8:05 pm ]
Post subject: 
i did one a couple of years ago with 3 trollys full about 50 to 60 bags but the record was about 4 years ago when i was asked to take two students with a "few" bags from stamford to grantham college It took half an hour to load up and in the end i counted over 100 differant pieces which had the rear of my vito crammed to the roof plus the boot and the 2 passengers in the front with a load more on their knees. Half an hour later we reached the halls of residence and the porter took one look shook his head and said how the f**k are they going to get that lot into the student room !

And the really annoying part is that the job was quoted so i didn't even get a tip !!!!
Author:  rambo [ Fri Mar 07, 2008 8:11 pm ]
Post subject: 
No tarrif cards with PH in london, charge what we like :shock: :wink:
Author:  GA [ Fri Mar 07, 2008 8:38 pm ]
Post subject: 
Sussex wrote:
rambo wrote:
Personally I cannot see the difference between bags on the back seat or people so I don't charge any extra.

You would if it was bleach. :shock:


or milk.

B. Lucky :D
Author:  Nigel [ Sun Mar 09, 2008 1:41 pm ]
Post subject: 
Use your cannister, if it's a load and a half then refuse saying you can't get it all in the boot, if they say we'll put some on the back seat say nah sorry can't do that incase of spillage.

Giving someone a hand means loading it then un-loading it at the other end, not taking it to the door and un-packing it then putting it in the fridge for them like most of them expect. I had one the other day...she'd got a fair few bags, in the boot they went, we got to the other end she got out the car and walked off, me I just put them at the side of her gate....she didn't even drop me a few extra pence.
Author:  cabbyman [ Sun Mar 09, 2008 3:24 pm ]
Post subject: 
Our tariff allows 10p for each item of luggage carried outside the passenger compartment.

We do a lot of supermarket work but, most customers are regulars and I don't charge the luggage. Generally, I can get two trollies worth of shopping in the boot so I rarely come across the problem of too much.

I help load and help unload to the front door. Tips are commensurate with the amount of assistance I give and my own happy demeanor!!
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