Taxi Driver Online

Advertorial, but slightly different from the norm. This is more about the sale of the firm.

Huntly is a very small town, which can maybe be worked out from their advertised opening hours - 11pm closing, except Fridays and Saturdays, when it's 2am

Would guess it's a small firm with a handful of cars. One of those Google reviews that pops up says the driver was the owner's daughter-in-law. Sounds about right.


End of the road for owners of Huntly taxi firm as they drive off into retirement

https://www.grampianonline.co.uk/news/t ... rk-264963/


Image: Grampian Online

A BUSINESS which has taken thousands of people safely home, ferried people to hospital appointments - even expectant mums to the maternity hospital and hundreds of oil industry workers to the heliport is on the market.

Deveron Taxis owners, Brian Morris and Jim Forbes have decided it's time to hang up their driving gloves and have the option of an early night or long lie.

The business was founded by Keith Petrie and Brian sat into the driving seat on Christmas night in 2000 to be joined by Jim as a partner in 2008.

But Brian, (65) and Jim (64) have decided that their days of working late nights and weekends are over.

During their time in the business, the longest fare ever was to Wolverhampton although runs to Edinburgh and Glasgow have been common place.

A former lorry driver, Jim never thought twice about the long haul runs.

In recent years, the firm has held the contract from Keith Cancer Link to take patients from the Keith area to Aberdeen for treatment.

Brian said: "That is a good and valuable contract but it is also very satisfying to be able to make life easier for folk when they are going through treatment.

"They appreciate the personal, door to door service but are often quite frail or anxious. As their treatments progress, they are often really tired too and get into the car and fall asleep."

Jim added: "As a taxi owner it's not something you can do half, you have to be available pretty much 24/7."

Brian added: "To do that means missing out on such a lot of nights out, family celebrations and such like. We have done our turn of that and have had some very loyal customers but it's time to stop."

The partners plan to retire in April.

The business comprises the telephone number and goodwill, the cars may be available by separate negotiation.

If the photo is recent then looks like the cars not worth much anyway. Near ten-year-old car, no doubt with mega-mileage and used as a taxi...

Of course, no mention of you-know-what in relation to their decision to sell up, but wouldn't be surprise if that's a factor, particularly given their mid-60s age

Slow news day?

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Former taxi driver

slow news month more like

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

If you sell a small taxi or PH business would any NHS or School transport contracts held transfer to the new owners if it retained the same trading / Business name.?

yes but obviously the new owners have to abide by the prices and terms agreed

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

Not necessarily, The new owners would have to be approved by the people who let out the contract first. If they are a Private Hire company then the new owners will have to get their own operators license as these are not transferable, unless that is different over the border.

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Grandad,

Up here the the Drivers Taxi Licence doubles as an operators licence and we dont need seperate ops licence.

I wish them well in their retirement.

But I'm not convinced they have much to sell really.

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IDFIMH

Don't know if these contracts are pretty standard, but it's probably detailed in the terms of the contract that was signed.

Could well mean that the contract is breached and/or terminated, but I suspect such contracts will make provision for any change in ownership etc. It'll all be in the small print

Obviously any purchaser would have to make sure they know the terms of any such contract that they hope to take on, because they could well end up buying something without the anticipated contract work.

I suspect there normally wouldn't be a problem as long as the new owner passes the licensing authority's usual fit and proper tests etc etc.

Don't know if that's the best way to put it.

Basically, you need a booking office licence for premises taking bookings for four or more HCs and/or PHVs.

So on the one hand it's different from England, because down there the number of cars is irrelevant.

On the other hand, down there HCs are irrelevant as far as a licence is concerned to take bookings - you only need a third-tier licence to take bookings for PH.

But if no third-tier licence is required, and only badges and plates are needed, then maybe more accurate just to say that that aspect of the business is unregulated, and thus no licence is required.

Your quite right...you do not need a booking office license in Scotland unless you have or taking bookings for 4 or more vehicles.