Taxi Driver Online

'Super' Black Country taxi firm to take on Uber

https://www.expressandstar.com/news/loc ... e-on-uber/

Two of the Black Country’s biggest taxi firms are set to merge in a bid to take on Uber.


The Wolverhampton HQ of ABC Cars

ABC Cars and 24 7 Cars, both of which are based in Wolverhampton, are set to join forces to form a ‘super firm’ consisting of a fleet of 700 cars, the Express & Star has been told.

Bosses say they believe that pooling their resources is the only way to combat the threat of Uber, which has taken a large chunk of the private hire market in parts of the West Midlands and has already seen some smaller operators go out of business.

The plans, which are at an advanced stage, will see a business formed under a new name, along with new headquarters.

If the merger goes ahead it is thought that the new business would be one of the biggest 20 private hire firms in the country.

Neil Caley, boss of Ettingshall Road-based ABC Cars, said he hoped that by joining up with 24 7 Cars they would have the finances to take on Uber.

“As a big American conglomerate, Uber is a threat to local private hire businesses,” he added.

“We believe we can combat Uber or any other competition better together rather than fighting them separately.”

Mr Caley said talks over the merger were already at an advanced stage.

He said the move would involve a ‘total revamp’ of both firms, with new purpose-built offices under consideration. ABC currently has around 300 licensed cars on the road.

Uber, which allows people to use a mobile phone app to book a taxi, launched in Wolverhampton, Dudley and Walsall in 2016.

Its one-year licence to operate in Birmingham expired in March and has been temporarily extended while council bosses seek clarity about its operating model.

The firm’s application to operate in Sandwell was withdrawn in October last year, following a decision by Transport for London (TfL) to refuse the operator a new licence.

TfL determined Uber not to be ‘fit and proper to hold a private hire operator licence’ over concerns about how the company reported criminal offences and carried out driver background checks; misuse of software and data breaches.

A judge was yesterday considering whether to give the California-based firm a ‘probationary’ operating licence in the nation’s capital.

Uber has been subject to fierce scrutiny for its treatment of drivers and the safety of passengers in recent months.

In an attempt to pacify regulators, it introduced a 24/7 support helpline and vowed to be more proactive when it comes to reporting serious incidents to police.

It has also announced the launch of a driver feedback programme across the UK, responding to calls for greater rights and protections for workers in the gig economy.

Design a app with pricing and payment options job done. One firm round here has nailed custom with their app, it takes payment before the car is sent, driver and car details are given upon dispatch of vehicle. If there are any other pick ups or drop offs on route the driver enters additional pick ups and drops and the app calculates the difference and charges it to the customers card. It's a cracking bit of kit.

I think the bigger firms will be able to compete with Uber via availability.

Show punters that you have plenty of cars working, then they will use you.

Nowadays the kids don't want to wait and IMO the price of the job is now secondary to the time it take to get the taxi/PH.

_________________
IDFIMH

I would agree with that to a point the first question most customers ask me on the phone is how long ?

BUT once in the car the main question is how much

I think many customers assume that the level of competition around these days guarantees cheap prices especially as in many areas prices are generally less than they were 20 years ago

In the modern world social lives revolve around facebook which means everyone wanting to get there for a set time and many punters assume they can phone last minute when they are finally ready by which time they have nearly missed the deadline (facebook agreed meeting time)

_________________
lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Another recent merger in Shropshire - firm claims 50% of bookings now via app. That sounds quite a lot - still using two-way radios in my gaffe


Taxi firm Go Carz acquires Comet Cars in Shrewsbury

https://www.shropshirelive.com/business ... hrewsbury/

Shropshire’s largest taxi firm Go Carz has continued its expansion by merging with rival firm Comet Cars in Shrewsbury.

It means the company now has more than 210 vehicles in Shrewsbury, taking the firm’s total across Shropshire to over 600.

Carl Wilday, managing director of Go Carz, said: “The merger expands the number of drivers available in Shrewsbury which will mean improved efficiencies for drivers and enhanced service and improved dispatch times to customers of both Go Carz and Comet alike.

“We are delighted to announce this exciting development and warmly welcome the customers and drivers of Comet.

“We are proud to have been the biggest and most reliable taxi firm in Shropshire for some time, but we now have the largest number of available vehicles by some margin.”

Go Carz has invested more than £1 million on cutting-edge systems, mobile phone apps and automated booking systems in recent years.

Carl said these “back office” systems were all designed to make the process of matching a vehicle with a customer as smooth as possible.

“We are very much a corporate taxi company, with a corporate set-up, internal systems and structures,” he said.

“Our mobile phone app is very simple to use and now accounts for 50% of our bookings.

“We also have an executive vehicle service which caters for business clients with a fleet of high-end cars and very smartly dressed drivers, and a fleet of minibuses which are regularly used for airport trips or group outings.”

Carl added: “We are proud of our service, which is underpinned by a team of excellent staff and drivers who are all highly trained and given enhanced checks when they join the firm.

“We are looking forward to continuing our growth and maintaining the first-class service we provide for our customers across Shropshire.”

Nidge, that app sounds good to me, whose is it? I.e. is it part of the dispatch providers system or a third party app?

But if it's busy will they refuse your reasonable prices and wait for someone else instead?

Around the town I get asked for a price less than once a day, and even for out of town work most jobs go unquoted.

_________________
IDFIMH

That will change, if for no other reason than few of the old radio systems are being made anymore.

_________________
IDFIMH

Is this going on about what I think they're going on about?

New electric taxis hit the streets of Corby

https://www.northantstelegraph.co.uk/ne ... -1-8549164

The first range extended electric taxi has been handed over to a pair of drivers in the town – and they are now taking passengers.

The Midlands has historically been the home of taxi production in the UK – and LEVC (formerly known as The London Taxi Company) has built the hackney carriage in the region for the past 70 years.

Corby Borough Council’s Deputy Leader, Cllr Jean Addison, said: “We are extremely pleased to be licensing the first electric taxi in Corby and welcome all new clean, green drivers operating in our town. We hope this will be the first of many electric cabs to arrive in the town – with the rapid growth of the Corby’s charging network the main reason for drivers making the switch.”

The arrival of these purpose-built, electrically driven vehicles means that those travelling by taxi in Corby will now get to experience the greater comfort and safety that comes with a taxi designed and built by motoring experts from across the West Midlands. The new taxi, the TX, is already getting positive reviews – and the arrival of the vehicle will mean an improved passenger experience for those in the town.

Jack O’Donovan has worked in the Corby taxi trade since the 1990s, and decided to make the transition to an electric taxi after discovering the high number of charge points in the town. He will be double-shifting the vehicle with another cab driver, meaning the vehicle will be required to do hundreds of miles a day.

The TX uses technology which combines a small petrol generator known as a “range-extender”, with a class leading battery and proven electric powertrain. The TX has a range of up to 377 miles, including 80 miles electric range.

The taxi is also the only electric cab to have installed the first ever 2 way radio system by Tranex, Rothwell-based radio specialists.

Jack has been praised by Tranex for coming up with the suggestion to fit a VHF radio data and voice system into one of the new vehicles. It was initially not known if the technologies would clash as LEVC had never had a request to fit one.

LEVC lent Tranex a demonstrator vehicle so Jack could test out the compatibility of the radio apparatus with the type in service with Sky Cabs and with the vehicle itself.

A full installation and live on-road, vehicle and radio RF testing was conducted in the Corby and surrounding areas after Jack was given permission to do so by Corby Council.

It is thought that Jack’s cab is the only one in the world to attempt this successfully.

It is expected that Jack will cut his carbon footprint by 7,000 tonnes of CO2 a year.

He said “I’ve known to be driving customers in the only green coloured diesel taxi in Corby for well over a decade now, so I’m incredibly proud to be the first driver of a REAL green electric cab.”

Jack is also hoping that any businesses or organisations in the area will get in touch with him, via Sky Cabs, to let him know if they have a charging point where he can re-juice his cab.

Chris Gubbey, CEO of LEVC said: “Our purpose-built, passenger focused taxi, has been designed with the intention of getting more people in the back of cabs – offering the safest, cleanest, quietest and smoothest taxi ride yet. We are delighted to have had the support of Corby drivers to deliver this vision for the taxi trade in Corby – and I look forward to hearing about how they all get on in the new cab.”

It's a one they've designed themselves to work with Autocab. It's a cracking App available to download via the App Store.