Taxi Driver Online

I am an Edinburgh driver, have been many years.

I have driven for every company, airport ph included.

At Airport i was a ph owner.

Edin Airport now finished for Onward Travel,the ph side, Forward Travel taking the bulk of work,central/city side, due to rank position outside terminal door, not hidden behind a 6ft fence as Onward Vehicles are.

Hence i left.

ECPH now also have desk in Terminal.

They about to have a 6car rank at old car valet spot even closer to terminal Forward Travel rank.

They can continue to expand there fleet as there are no restrictions on phc.

I now rent a black taxi on a 6 night rental.

This costs me £340 a week, night off being a monday.

My Annual Rental is £16,320, this giving me 4weeks holiday a year, on top of this is fuel,the taxi is a tx2 auto,with current fuel prices 100mile is around £33. Tonight was 122 mile £38.67.

This week my gross is £977.

My rental as always is £340.

My fuel was £289.33

This leaves me before tax etc £347.67

I worked 66hours for this.

Hourly rate £5.27 before tax.

Really not sure if this is more than minimum wage but i dont think it a fair wage for 66 hour week?

Or am i being unreasonable?

Bear in mind minimum wage person probably got time and a half from 40hours, and also never had pressure of rental find or fuel.

Now i could run/operate my own taxi for less than £340 a week,work better hours,or more or less if i so choose and believe i would not be worse off even if 4,5,or even 600cabs came on.

It would in time find its own level.

Owners would certainly have to give up there champagne lifestyles,but drivers would be no worse off,tho i admit no better off in the early days.

However as its currently restricted, this aint possible.

My question is do you think its fair/reasonable for me to have these costs in order to earn a wage?

Im not looking for an argument.

Im only curious to your view, i have read your posts over last few weeks and i get idea you think guys in my position are happy, or content with current system,trust me you could not be further from the truth.

As i say im curious to your view and will truly appreciate your reply

regards

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Edinburghs taxi drivers are desperate for change

Owners think not!!!!

Pressumably you've done your sums regarding ownership of your vehicle so is there any chance you could put them up on the thread please

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

Hi toots,

Yes done sums,

Current owners car a tx2 auto, 53 reg value £6000ish.

I believe buy cab,insure and run for less than my current rental.

I reguraly pick taxi up at garage to start shift, i also pick up bill for owner and truly believe i would be better off, but do concede in early days would be hard, tho with no debt i would be under less pressure(i see my rental as a debt)

Also id buy a manual so much cheaper on fuel

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Edinburghs taxi drivers are desperate for change

Owners think not!!!!

No, I think you'd be better off yoked to a £50,000 debt, presumably mortgaged on your home, assuming you have the equity in your home to raise such a sum.

Simples, innit?

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Caledonian Cabbie

Not even close!
Even before you take holiday pay, sick pay, and various other benefits employed people are entitled to, into account.
It's pathetic.

There is the problem caledonian cabbie,hi by the way, those that paid in,will pay out for years, or should i say, i will if they keep getting there own way?

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Edinburghs taxi drivers are desperate for change

Owners think not!!!!

Sorry frank,dont know how to cut and paste.

After i posted i googled minimum wage, im seriously disturbed.

Lets hope influential people read these forums.

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Edinburghs taxi drivers are desperate for change

Owners think not!!!!

Well put it this way, the most influential is Captain Cab

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Caledonian Cabbie

You won't get this answered by the restrictionists.

They don't give a XXXX for your plight.
It's necessary to support their status and protect their investments.
They may even claim to be doing you a favour........

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

Everythin in life is a gamble.... it might be better to take a partner and half the gamble. if you choose to go that way

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

I take it there isn't an age limit in your LA on first licence of your taxi but if there is, what is it. Usually when an area derestricts they will put an age limit of under 3 years for first licence, not always the case but usually. How do your sums add up if you have to purchase a vehicle of under 3 years?

Any chance you can give us a break down for your cab like you did for the rental cab?

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

That's a big IF.
Around here it's 5 years for a saloon taxi or PH & 10 years for a WAV.
Was the same before derestriction.

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

So you work 66 hours a week and earn exactly £7.67 more than the owner of the vehicle?

Methinks Mr Skull and Mr Jasbar have a point.

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IDFIMH

Evidence, particularly in areas that are all WAV already?

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Caledonian Cabbie

Is this thread aimed at me to answer? I presume it is;

Really not sure if this is more than minimum wage but i dont think it a fair wage for 66 hour week?



I'm not sure about owners having champagne lifestyles, the owners i've met from Edinburgh live in modest houses and drive their own cabs.

I think £340 per week is a colossal rent to pay, even for a vehicle on a full time basis, let alone part time, I certainly wouldnt pay it and would probably go PH.

Your gross income was more than double my own, If you're earning that kind of money and paying that kind of rental, perhaps you should buy a cab?

regards


CC

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