Taxi Driver Online

Hi All

I did use the search, but couldn't find the answer, so a question for the Hackney cabbies.

I am looking at possibly getting a black cab (renting to start with) and the 1 question that is so hard to get an answer for is how much per hour do u make?

I know it will depend on when, where and how many hours you put in, but is it realistic to hope to get an average of £100 per day (before fuel etc comes out) in the southwest, I'm in Plymouth by the way.

Also with the recession biting now is this a really bad time to start cabbing, assuming all industries will suffer?

I have been recently been made redundant and I enjoy driving, so I have been looking at alternative jobs and black cabs appeal for the self-employed and flexibility aspects.

I understand that plates are like gold-dust and cost a bomb, so I am thinking about renting to see how it goes, but any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

there is absolutely no way anyone can tell you that because there are so many variables if you are working ranks only the best way to judge is to spend an hour or two by each rank and work out how many fares are taken and how long it took the cars to get a job that will give you some idea of a realistic number of fares then you need to work out what the average fare comes to and do the maths

I think that could be a reasonable average depending on what days you work, and what you don't.

If you want to maximize your income, nights and weekends will help. If you work 9 to 5 Monday to Friday then you might struggle doing the average.

Best bet is to try it out for a month or two, and if it ain't happening, go and fill them shelves at Tesco.

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IDFIMH

Thanks for the replies to what I know is one of those 'how long is a piece of string' questions.
I am prepared to work the peak times, including weekends etc, so I guess I need to try and see how that would work out.

A couple more niave questions if u don't mind.

Plates - my understanding is that I would need a local authority licence, then also rent a cab with plates. When you buy plates, are they always attached to a cab or do you buy them separate? So if you bought an old cab with plates you might still need to ditch it for a newer model that fits all the newer legislation?

Fares - how much business do you see drop off in recessions? Cabs are probably in alot of cases considered a luxury. I understand that where I am, Plymouth, that Jan & Feb trade is low.

Cheers in advance.

In my town you do not buy plates. You get a car and submit it for the test and if it passes you are GIVEN a plate. You just pay for the testing fee and the license. Of course you need to get a drivers badge before you start and that may take a few weeks. You will be very luck to get one this side of Christmas if you haven't already put your application in.

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Grandad,

a few months more like

I think these are the questions you need ask the sellers of plates.

And the trade will tell you the full SP while you are doing your first few months.

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IDFIMH

The trade is effected in the same way as many others, but it seems that when folks fail or are made redundant from another trade they migrate to the taxi/PH trade.

Now I haven't a problem with that as long as they don't spend the rest of their lives moaning about how bad it is.

As I said, you can earn out of the trade if you want to put up with all sorts whilst working unsociable hours, if not then try something else.

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IDFIMH

Sussex makes a valid point....not everyone is cut out for the anti-social hours of the job. Ive known several that fell by the wayside simply because they lost interest due to the long and anti social-hours...often with them being self employed were working for way less than minimum wage, some just simply burned themselves out.

Certainly its not a job for the thin skinned or the whiner types.

Is you out in the stix? I'd be very sus of any government dept giving me something for nothing

Do you have to do a knowledge and is more than 75 routes?

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

Plymouth has a large young afluent population with money to burn ie The Royal Navy so you won't necesarily be affected by the ressesion. Do a bit of research around Union Street at 3am.

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Life? Don't talk to me about life!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjm2eslm6hI

I live in a fairly rural Market town, population around 40,000. There was a knowlege test introduced a couple of years ago. You get no prior warning of any routes you are expected to know every street and you are asked to 5 destinations from 5 starting points. You also have to know where several villages are in the borough.
I believe there are something like 100 taxis licensed within the borough although you rarely see more than 20 at any given time, even on a Saturday night.

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Grandad,

A Knowledge test in a town that size hardly calls for Cerebral Excellence...cant see that being a sticking point for a future Driver.

5 starts to 5 destination?

the two councils i looked at plating in sent a list of the 30 main points and 30 main streets


the menu at our indian takeaway has more options...

Aye....and the Ability to speak in Indian would help with both the Menu and the Taxiing in our lovely multicultural britain..