Taxi Driver Online

My first post and just a bit of a rant/moan.

At start of this year I was made unemployed from an engineering job. The missus suggested I could drive taxis.

So I went to see somebody local who runs a taxi firm and he told me to go and get a PH licence, which I did. Cost me £200 from Falkirk Council.

Next thing I'm driving one of his cars, all very good except I'm not making very much. The other guys are driving Taxis, which need a Hackney Licence, and they appear to be doing better than me, hard to tell though.

I wasn't told about these, so I went back up the council to be told by the very nice lady, that she would probably have advisd me not to bother with PH and to go for Hackney from the start.

To get Hackney will be another £200 .... ffs

Now I'm [edited by admin] at the 'friend' who gave me the duff advice at the start.

Thing is I can't find another compnay to give me a job with the PH.
With PH I cant sit on ranks or pick up from the street or drive cars with taxi plates, so its very limited.

I liked driving but they had me out doing a sunday day shift.... I started at 06:30 and finished at 16:00.... and I made £15 .... thats when I quit.

I lasted 4 weeks.

I'm wondering if I should 'invest' another £200 .... would life be any easier ?

Was I too hasty in chucking the job I had ?

Am I being greedy expecting more than £15 for 9 hours on duty ?

Thanks for listining ... Gordi

I would consider talking to some of the lads driving cabs. They might give you a clearer picture.

Starting on a taxi makes a bit more sense than on a PH, although that's what I did. That way you can gauge the amount you might earn driving PH if you decided to jump ship.

Give it another go, and get your taxi badge, although how they can justify £200 for a £2 bit of plastic confuses me.

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IDFIMH

Hi flash, who did you start with James Buchanan's Express, or one of his many "named branches" ?. Have you tried Bruces for a system car? No dictating of hours/area to work etc, just pay your money and go.

Remember the Taxi Licence route means a knowledge test. A few weeks private hire will give you a good idea of the streets, points of interest etc.

I'd try Alex first, then reconsider after another month or two.

BTW the trade in and around Falkirk is as bad as I known in 14 years of working it. £15 for 9 hrs is a bit extreme, even in these circumstances.

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My heart is heavy, but my consience clear,
I voted Yes, without any fear.

No it wasn't Express. I'm best not mentioning names, but the company worked a system where they took 33% of the meter, which suited me cos I just wanted part time. The car rent system suggests to me I would be out 7 days a week trying to make as much as possible. And with only PH I don't see how that would work.

I did phone Bruce's but was told they are not taking drivers at the moment.

Another company siad they were busy but they wanted me to provide a car with meter all set to go .... um ... how do i do that ? Sounds expensive.

Maybe things are just dead quiet.

I'm not blaming the company, the folk were dead nice really.

Nail on the head methinks.

_________________
IDFIMH

methinks you're right.

_________________
My heart is heavy, but my consience clear,
I voted Yes, without any fear.

Not sure, but are you sure it wasn't one of the "express group"? He runs cars under 4 or 5 different names, but no matter. We all work part time, we just do full time hours.




With system you would get a school run. Great during term time, not so great during holidays. That's the same for all of us.



Write to him and give your details, do the same with express. Try phoning early on a Monday afternoon as well. Cars are returned at weigh-in all the time.



AFAIK, all the PHVs are either company owned or by the driver alone. So no idea. I can't even think of any company that's busy enough to warrant adding cars. Sounds like someone wants more for himself, at his drivers expense. Could be anyone.



Nah, it's worse than that.



Until you work for/with them. Then they change. Usually takes a week or two, but remember you'll change too.

_________________
My heart is heavy, but my consience clear,
I voted Yes, without any fear.