Taxi Driver Online

Cab company becomes a big cat of the taxi world after swallowing up a competitor

https://www.eadt.co.uk/business/taxi-co ... -1-5824043

A taxi company in Colchester has become one of the biggest cab companies in the region, after taking over one of the town’s other leading taxi operators.


Image: East Anglian Daily Press/David Hill

Panther Cabs, which is based on Gosbecks Road, has just bought Hawaii Five-0, and now employs a total of 160 drivers.

Hawaii Five-0 began in 1999 and was run by Christie Wettasinghe, who has decided he wants to retire.

All calls to Hawaii Five-0 are now being redirected to Panther.

It’s the second buy-up for Panther, as two years ago the company bought another Colchester cab firm, PDQ cars.

Despite managing to successfully growing her business, Panther’s managing director Christine Hardy says the taxi market gets “harder and harder each year.”

“We just have to put the hours in to earn the money,” said the 56 year-old. “The drivers have to do 10 to 12 hours a day to earn enough money. They really have to put the effort in.”

Panther Cabs was set up by Ms Hardy in 2000, and she’s been in the cab market - as both a driver and as a control room operator - since she was 17.

Is she worried that Uber might expand into Colchester and start taking business off the town’s established taxi companies? “I’m not worried about Uber,” she said. “We have an app, so its the same sort of service that Uber provide - if not better. Our drivers are all CRB checked and we can check where the drivers are at any given moment.”

Colchester Borough Council is currently considering plans to install cameras in all the town’s cabs, and Ms Hardy says she is supportive of the plans.

“Its extra security for the drivers and the customers, but more for the drivers in this day and age,” she said. “Two weeks ago, one of my drivers had a knife held to him to hand over his wallet.

“Is it getting more dangerous to be a taxi driver? It depends who you speak to - this year, knife crime and drugs have gotten worse. But you could get attacked anywhere. I advise my drivers to keep calm and always try to be nice to people.”

As well as offering ladies cars for those who prefer a female driver, Ms Hardy now runs an ‘executive hire’ service at Panther, with a fleet of Mercedes and BMWs. “I’m going into that side of the business more now,” she said.

Image: East Anglian Daily Press/David Hill

Presumably plates not allowed on bumper here, hence the square number plates. Utterly fascinating


Well that's OK then

but just how many taxi apps are there ?

people will inevitably download the most well known and biggest not the one for their local operator

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

Good girl.

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IDFIMH

Loads of apps, but they are all more or less the same.

Punters will download and use the ones that supply a car at a reasonable price at a reasonable time.

By having that many cars it will help by showing punters they have loads of vehicles available.

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IDFIMH

Do they??

Panther Cabs's Chrissie is driving force in taxi industry

https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/173 ... -industry/


Image: Colchester Gazette

FLIPPANT sexist comments about women drivers are still, sadly, being made.

They are spread even in a society where there is an active drive for equality.

If anyone knows what it feels like to be a woman in a man’s world, it is Chrissie Hardie.

As her surname suggests, she has hardened herself to the backlash which comes with working in a male-dominated industry.

As a mum-of-three she set up Panther Cabs in Colchester in 2000 and has just bought Colchester cab company Hawaii Five O.

It means this wonder-woman is now in charge of a fleet of 150 cars.

Her career in the taxi industry started by accident as she had originally wanted to start a job in insurance.

She said: “I started off in the taxi industry when I was 17, as a telephonist at a Colchester taxi company.

“I moved up to manager and set up Panther Cabs in 2000. I was never a taxi driver but I help out on weekends driving.

“I started right from the bottom and have worked my way up, I wanted to have some sort of goal.”

She has been manager at previous taxi companies, which she ended up running herself, and did so while looking after her son and two daughters.

Her appreciation for the industry started when she helped out a friend as a teenager.

She said: “Someone I knew in the taxi industry needed a telephonist for the evening and asked me if I could help out.

“I started off part time, but before you know it you realise you are working full time, and then you are a manager and a full-time mum.

“I like the industry as you get to meet lots of different drivers.”

One of her main drives has been proving working mums can achieve whatever they set out to.

She said she has had her fair share of setbacks but has picked herself up every time.

She added: “At the end of the day I’m a woman in a man’s world.

“I have taken some kicks but I believe actions speak louder than words.

“I’m a strong woman, you have to be.

“I’m all for women in business.”

Chrissie and her team now have a lot of work to do after taking over Hawaii Five O, combining its fleet with the Panther Cabs fleet.

She works with about 20 others in the office setting, and has the 150 drivers to manage.

She added: “There are no other managers, I do it all myself.

“Taxis are not what they used to be but you have got to keep trying and not give up.

“There are so many taxis in town now and people aren’t going out as much as they used to as people don’t want to spend the money.”

Still, she is not phased by the amount of work she faces, and is looking forward to what the future holds.

It is a male dominated industry with Chrissie’s fleet including only about half a dozen female drivers but she has high hopes for them.

She said: “I’m not one of those mums who can just sit down.

“At the end of the day some people can say I can’t do it as I’m a working mum, but I’m not going to knock anybody.

“I have been doing this a long time and it’s all about how you speak to people.

“It was me who approached Hawaii Five O and asked if they wanted to sell. I have known them a long time and we have respect for each other.

“There is rivalry in this industry but I let them get on with it, maybe it’s a woman thing but I don’t get involved with that.

“We will just have to wait and see what comes next.”


Image: Colchester Gazette

What a great bit of advertising based on a tale of woe.

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IDFIMH