Taxi Driver Online

They're in for a shock then, at that rate it should net them about £3 an hour for a 20 hour day!

Its the opposite in my town...Theres No hacks..nowhere to hack from so no point in hacking not even a town within my Zone worth hacking from its all PH and folk tend to like that kind of service, its not thousands of Punters Chasing taxis here its tens of people Pre booking..The next Zone up where I could hack it would be futile to try as you either have Hacks filling the streets or that one hour of 2.00 am rush where you cant see a hack anywhere, again thats where the clever tend to pre-book.

If I had the urge as an owner Operator to hack Id have to move over a Zone and plate myself in the likes of Skippys zones..no point in that either as its Coming down in hacks.

As for School runs only supporting us PH chaps thats not the position with me..School work accounts for only about a 15% of my runs..the other 85% comes purely from Pre booked customers..mostly regulars but a fair smattering of tourists thrown in for good measure.


Its not Hacks versus PH in this area and probably likewise in many other rural and semi rural areas of the country..its more a case of whether Hack or PH suits the Various size towns best..its not a them and us situation...its just us as Drivers serving the public as best we can using whatever means we can..I dont think we have the same Prejudices as Hacks and PH's do in the Citys..

I think a union/association, if well run, would help out a tad with your firm, but a well run union/association will help out a very big tad with your council.

So you could get more of what you want via the council if organized probably.

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IDFIMH

Too many.

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IDFIMH

TerryFlanagan wrote:
In London currently 900 drivers a month applying for licences at the PCO!

I wonder how many licenses the PCO issued for 2008?
My money is on 750 with just 100 drivers leaving or loosing their licences;a net increase of 650.
Meanwhile a letter from today's Telegraph:-

SIR – Those of us who work in London have an accurate economic indicator: the percentage of taxis with lights showing them to be for hire.
Fewer than 10 per cent with lights on means the economy is thriving. More than 50 per cent means recession.
Tim Wilson
Bradfield, Berkshire

When will London (that's both Tfl/PCO and the trade) accept there are going to be hard times for the next few years and the last thing we need are more empty taxis?

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Charlton's lost past http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsFKWGlrze0
London's future? http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/ ... rants.html

The PH drivers here have lost faith in the Union rep that was about but seems to have vanished and the other union rep is only for HC and has so far managed to cause a big divide between the two. I couldn't even tell you which union these reps came from I think it is the TGWU. So to say we need a union rep is a bit of an understatement. I did consider setting up an association but I'm not sure that I have the time or I want the headache

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

Whatever you do I wish you well.

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IDFIMH

Thank you, but, I think I need more than well wishes does anybody have any miracles going free

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

It is apparent that the interview on the Vine show has created much soul searching, perhaps the reason I was invited onto the show might assist this debate; The BBC has been receiving many calls e-mails from the public referring to the apparent recession linked occurrences of both HC and PH drivers falling asleep with passengers in their vehicle or driving erratically due to their reliance on certain caffeine laced stimulants. Naturally our first instinct was to attempt to protect the DRIVERS, of course given the destructive lack of any agreed demarcation and continuous warfare between the two sides of the industry this was difficult. However, it appears that the media accept that no driver wants to voluntarily be at the wheel for 100 hrs a week. Our case of course was blown out of the water by a driver who stated that some drivers in Brighton regularly at weekends have less than 8 hrs sleep in 48hrs.

The GMB position is quite clear, legislation that is enforced is essential regarding hours worked, how could we argue otherwise when the overall evidence is that Drivers will work whatever hours are economically necessary despite the hazards inherent in these practices. What the trade must ensure is that such legislation adheres to the needs of the Drivers economically [subsidies?] For too long the industry has been REACTIONARY to its cost, we believe it must be PROACTIVE i.e. It must itself agree and lobby for suitable legislation to ensure the viability of our trade, this is a nationwide issue, my comments on London were merely for illustration, 4 million unemployed many heading for PH and HC how does the industry handle that?? I believe in increased standards.


So therefore, the industry needs to agree standards, naturally the proprietors will welcome both PH and HC with open arms, all too often we read on here of proprietors flooding their circuits with drivers and stating quite clearly [you don’t like it eff off]. High time for the drivers to exert their power [thanks for that Trev]

Ignore the problems and you the drivers could suffer bankruptcy, repossession, divorce, family access, all await your indifference. We advocate debate, strenuous as that might be! Cross trade agreement could ensure your future, inactivity guarantees your demise. This industry cannot and will not survive on driver’s working18 hr shifts; it is immoral, dangerous and unhealthy to the driver and of course extremely dangerous to all other road users and OUR passengers.

We note that JD declines our invite to the next MOM meeting; sadly your experience and knowledge will be the trade’s loss.


Finally the GMB seeks to assist the creation of a safe viable industry for all working within it and for all our customers and ALL other road users, this will not be achieved without considerable effort or determination, the exploiters will of course fight us tooth and nail, be prepared.

Regards
BB & TF

Anyone wishing to speak to Terry Flanagan GMB PDB National Organiser can reach him on 07958 275339

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Mick Hildreth (07814 032002)
GMB PDB P39 Southern Region Branch Secretary
mick.hildreth@gmbtaxis.org.uk
www.gmbpdb.org.uk

Are there any figures??? is it 1...2.....or 100?

CC

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Furthermore, we the GMB PDB's are prepared to work with any member of our industry, national or local for the mutual benifit of us all.

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Mick Hildreth (07814 032002)
GMB PDB P39 Southern Region Branch Secretary
mick.hildreth@gmbtaxis.org.uk
www.gmbpdb.org.uk

My hours will be dictated by my take! If I've taken my money in 5 hours I'd be happy if it takes 12+ then so be it.

I don't actually"Drive" all the hours I am on a shift, so the time between jobs could be classed as a rest period couldn't it? So where is the problem?

Over to you GMB

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

HGV/PCV tacho+driver hours are in the same boat but cant be dodged, "other duties" count towards a shift spreadover, driving forms only a part of the regs, a shift must have a start and finish time within the regs.


daily driving
9 hours, Can be extended to 10 hours twice a week

fortnight driving
Maximum 90 hours in any two consecutive weeks.

breaks from driving
After4½ hours driving, a driver must take a break of at least 45 minutes. The break is a period during which the driver may not perform other work and is exclusively used for recuperation. This break may be split into smaller periods and distributed throughout the 4½ hours. In this case the first period must be at least 15 minutes, and the second period must be at least 30 minutes.

daily rest
11 hours in 24 hour period commencing at the end of the last daily or weekly rest period. This may be reduced to 9 hours no more than 3 times between any two weekly rest periods. There is no compensation required.

Where a driver takes daily rest periods away from base, they may be taken in a vehicle, provided that there are suitable sleeping facilities for each driver and the vehicle is stationary.

split daily rest
The 12 hours period can be taken in two periods. The first must be at least 3 hours, and the second at least 9 hours.

weekly rest
Within six 24 hour periods from the end of the last weekly rest period, a driver will extend a daily rest period into a regular weekly rest period of at leased 45 hours, or a reduced weekly rest period of less than 45 hours but at leased 24 hours.

In any two consecutive weeks, a driver shall take at leased two regular weekly rest periods, or one regular rest period and one reduced weekly rest period of at least 24 hours. However, the reduction shall be compensated by an equivalent period of rest taken en block before the end of the third week following the week in question.

Where a driver takes weekly rest periods away from base, they may be taken in the vehicle provided that there are suitable sleeping facilities for each driver and the vehicle is stationary.

Theoretically an HGV driver can be on duty for 84 hours a week - 3 x 15 + 3 x 13 hour days, but it is impossible to do so. Once the "Working time Directive " is taken into account , and "periods of availabilty" - including waiting time deducted the working week is reduced to an "average" 48 hours over either 17 or 26 weeks - whichever his firm has opted for.

The daily rest can be reduced to 9 hours 3 times a week, giving in effect a 15 hour " spread over ". The maximun daily driving is 9 hours, which can be extended to 10 hours, twice a week. Maximum driving is 90 hours in any " Rolling Fortnight" i.e: max 56 hours in week 1, then a max of 34 hours (giving 90 hours), then a max of 56 the following week, and so on !! The only part you can opt out of is the max 10 hour night duty - between 1800 & 0400.

They are on an hourly wage I'm not

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