Taxi Driver Online

Boro Taxis to start charging passengers while the driver waits

The largest taxi company on Teesside will begin charging customers while they wait.

Boro Taxis is trialling a new fare system where passengers will be charged based on the distance the car travels and waiting times.

This means the time a customer takes to come out of their property and into the vehicle will be clocked by the driver.

The taxi firm said the new system is being tried out in Eston and will be rolled out over the coming weeks.

Boro Taxis, based in Middlesbrough, said their aim is to ensure drivers are paid "a fair amount" for their service.

A spokesperson for the company said: "Boro Cars fares are one of the lowest in the country and will remain so even though over the coming weeks a new fare structure, based on distance and time, will be rolled out.

"The system, used by taxis locally and throughout the country, is initially being trialled in Eston.

"Boro Cars provide an important service and our aim is to ensure that our drivers are paid a fair amount for the service they provide, taking into account their increased running costs, and that our customers also receive value for money and that we retain and attract new drivers to meet the travel needs of our loyal customers."

Last month, Boro Taxis apologised to customers for delays caused by driver shortages.

They said a reduced number of drivers, following the coronavirus pandemic, had led to delays at times for passengers.

The company admitted that their usual standards had not been met for "several weeks".

They reassured customers that they were doing everything they can to employ more drivers and delay waiting times.

Boro Taxis also announced they were starting a recruitment campaign, with the aim of hiring 300 drivers.

They said: "The people of the Tees Valley certainly do like to get out and about and party which is great news for the local economy.

"This demand, together with our reduced driver numbers, has led to delays at times, for which we wholeheartedly apologise to all our customers. We really are sorry.

"We are most grateful to everyone for being so understanding. We will continue to do all we can to improve service delivery.

"We also want to say a 'massive' thank you to all our customers, drivers and office staff for their support throughout."

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IDFIMH

Well that should get new drivers flooding in.

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IDFIMH

Hmmmm….. charging on distance and time.

Wonder where they got that idea

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Former taxi driver

Yes, great idea, and doubly interesting given that Uber started with a similar taxi-style system, but has gone the other way with fixed pricing.

But let's hope their system is a bit more refined than is portrayed below, although not clear if this is Boro's take, or just how the newspaper has characterised it - for example, it makes it look as if the customer would be charged even if the car arrives early for a timed booking.



113 comments on the website, and a quick look suggests some people taking issue with that.

Which might have been avoided if it had been explained properly

So what Boro Taxis are saying is come and work for us because we have the cheapest fares in the UK.

That mindset says more about the firm than a thousand words possibly could.

Basically they are saying that the drivers on that circuit have to work harder to earn the same as drivers on other firms, and their cars will require much more maintenance than cars on the other circuits.

Very much doubt, very much hope not, that new entrants will be bashing down the doors to join that mob.

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IDFIMH

ah so it was your suggestion then was it well quite right too now perhaps you could suggest to Rutland that they have taxi meters in their hackneys

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

Top up your earnings by state benefits but we still charge top rents to enable us to line our pockets.