Taxi Driver Online

Blueline taxi firm embraces new technology


Blueline is believed to be the only taxi firm in the region to provide cashless journeys in all of its cars

Tyneside's largest taxi firm is accelerating its technology drive by introducing chip and pin payment terminals to its fleet of cabs.

Blueline is believed to be the only taxi firm in the region to provide cashless journeys in all of its cars.

The 55-year-old firm teamed up with Barclaycard to roll out the system, which also takes contactless payments via mobile phones and similar devices using near field communication (NFC) technology.

Blueline’s corporate service manager Frank Sims said: “When it comes to technology this is the way forward. We were the first taxi firm to introduce text messaging for bookings and this is the next stage.

“We’re moving towards the cashless night out where people can go for a meal or to the cinema and even pay for their drinks with a card. It’s one of those things that drivers and passengers will find useful and the reaction has been very positive.”

In recent years, Blueline, which carries out 200,000 passengers every week, has invested more than £5m in technology, introducing the likes of sophisticated booking systems and its own mobile phone app.

Currently, it is also trialling telematics software to monitor driver performance through ‘black box’ recorders that register speed, routes and fuel efficiency. The technology can even record data from before and after a collision.

“The software is amazing,” Mr Sims said. “You can create your own settings, but it can email you if the car is being used at a certain time of night, if it is being driven erratically, or you can log in to see where the car is.”

http://www.thejournal.co.uk/business/bu ... ew-4881215

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

Beginning to sound more and more like employers with employees. Do the drivers have any choices in all this?

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

not a bad idea, would work as it makes passengers feel safer.

_________________
Live life with a smile

E-money technology = bye bye gratuity.

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

Really? How so? It's convenient but you are alluding to drivers mugging passengers Apart from it's another method of payment and if no cash is in the drivers vehicle it makes the driver safer perhaps. I do think it should be the option of the driver whether they take card payment or not, it should not be forced upon them.

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

Haven't some cabs had this for years??

and every fare including tips you take will be recorded . The tax office will be able to bill you down to the last penny

mum an dad best be more careful with credit card now as kid may run up nasty bill