Taxi Driver Online

Read the story here:

http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/minicab.htm

Discuss the issues below.

Now where have I heard that 'not enough drivers' quote before. It must be something to do with capital cities.

I'm afraid the London minicab/soon to be PH trade can't have it both ways. If you want a licensed/checked driver, driving a licensed/checked vehicle, you are going to have to make sure they earn a good living. Not making them duck and dive to scrape a pittance.

but they dont want it anyway! they want to just put on the drivers from loories entering dover!

Sussex you are miles off the london private hire or minicabs did not want to be licensed.

Wharfie

Well I disagree, firstly I don't believe that to be the case, and secondly even if it were true, they don't have a choice, cos it's the law.

For the un-licensed minicab trade to gain the pukka work in London, they have to be licensed PH. Hence the big boys can see the pound signs, if they do the job right.

The problem arises with the smaller companies, who as you say have gained drivers from the dregs. Now with, and it's a big with, proper enforcement they can make a dent into these lower forms of life.

However for the vast majority of firms that try to do it right, they need to make sure that their drivers also do it right, and part of that persuasion is to make it financially worth their while.

It should go without saying that some did not want licensing.

Equally, it should go without saying that some did.

Dusty

The ones that wanted licensing, are the ones who are doing it right at the mo. Those that didn't, didn't for a reason i.e. they don't like doing it the right way.

So who should we be praising, the ones who want to do it right, or the dregs?

To me it's a win win situation, the ones doing right are legitimized. the ones doing it wrong, will (in the main) be booted out. But all the time this is happening, customers will still need to go from A to B.

Thus both the legitimate PH lads, and the Black cab boys will gain, because they are doing it right, and those that ain't will be fewer and far between.

Just a little note, are you guys aware that a minicab firm from London is moving into a Lancashire seaside town basically because of this very reason.

Apparently they see the London Private Hire act as too tough on them, whereas the 76 act is weak in some areas.

They are being selective in their target areas.

Well that is interesting.

I've always thought that if the criteria for London PH becomes too hard, they could simply move their offices just outside of London, although perhaps Lancashire is a little way off.

If they choose to move just outside London, they could find a council that licenses vehicles and drivers to a lesser standard than London (of which there will be many). Then they could still carry on working in whatever part of London they wish, no problem. Providing all the calls to them are taken at the office in the new district, it matters not where they come from or who picks them up, as long as the vehicle and driver hold the same license as the operator.

And even Mrs Blair/Booth couldn't convince a court of such stupidity.

If the London PH act is so good, should we not expand in to us country folk?

Now if thats not a hint to read a boring document I dont know what is!

Incidentally the seaside town is Blackpool, the local TOA is using all means to expose the problem, but you didnt hear that from me.

Captain are they moving to work there, or are they just moving the office thus bypassing the London Act, and diverting the calls via that office.

Either they are daft in going so far away, or the PH standards in Blackpool must really be crap.

Quite so. Minicab drivers should be as proud of their job as most taxi drivers are - but why aren't they? Why is there such a huge turnover of drivers in this field? Yet, when they do the Knowledge of London and become licensed taxi drivers they remain so for decades. There has to be an explanation.

They should not be exploited like they are reported to be, by avaricious and unscrupulous employers. Many of these in London sought the legitimacy of a licensing system but now don't want to face the realities that licensing brings. They are learning that with a licensing system they cannot do as they please if they are to meet the standards laid down.

Minicab drivers, if they did the Knowledge of London, would be in a much more powerful position to tell their employers where to get off. The minicab operators wanted to be in charge of the registration of drivers and the CRB checks. It is obvious why they wanted this. If a man spends about 2 or more years of his life learning the Knowledge, he is not going to go along to a minicab operator and work for peanuts and make the operator rich and his own job prospects hang by a thread. It would be absurd, but that is what the operators wanted.

Thank goodness they didn't get it. The power of the taxi trade is vested in the drivers who pay for everything - this should be true in the PH business too. But with no proper qualifications and personal investment to protect the minicab driver is much more passive. (Especially if he is drawing benefits and working in the black economy) His debating position is non-existant and doesn't that suit the bosses? I hope minicab drivers see the wisdom of this position and assert themselves to protect themselves from unscrupulous operators.

If this were to be the case they would be the equal of their taxi driver countrparts - and rightly so.

Cruisin' Cabby

you know this is the style ask a question answer it, liberal use of the word absurd, of [ ]
WILL THE READ [ ] PLEASE STAND UP?
Wharfie

Whatever they wanted, they have got a licensing system very similar to the rest of the country.

Now that's not perfect in some manors, but it's a hell of a lot better than no licensing system at all.

I think the major effect will (initially) be on the operators. If they aren't fit and proper, then they can and will be booted out, if the PCO have the balls to do it. If they don't then the whole licensing issue has been a waste.

Now the operators are fully licensed (apart from the touts, who will never be), they are responsible for all the work that comes into their office. So if the driver or vehicle is not up to scratch, then the operator is deemed to be equally at fault, and hopefully will no-longer be an operator.

In my opinion it will take a while to sort out, but things are going the right way.

[quote] you know this is the style ask a question answer it, liberal use of the word absurd, of [ ]


Wharfie,

I wasn't sure what you were trying to say. Did I not answer a question asked of me? Did I not ask a question expected of me? And what did you mean by 'know this style'? I know I can be dumb at times, but am I missing something here?

This is the second time you've referred to me as [ ] (whoever he is) and I was wondering why? I thought the the protocols of the list permitted anonymity and it was to be respected. Am I not entitled to post in the way that I have? If anyone objects I shall be happy to retire from subscribing further.

On checking the membership list I noticed that the name geoff appears in your e-mail address but you sign yourself off as 'Wharfie'. Some give even less information than this. Am I any different?

I'm sure it doesn't matter what my name is as it is my postings (and everybody else's) that are the topic of debate and nothing else. If there is any doubt as to their veracity it would soon be discovered and my postings discredited.

As for the word 'absurd' ... It is a common word in the English language, an adjective, and is used to describe things. It means: Incongruous; inappropriate; unreasonable; ridiculous or silly, amongst others. It was used in what I believed to be an appropriate context in my posting, so what makes you take issue with it?

Did I spell it wrong? Was the use I put it to, absurd, incongruous, inappropriate, unreasonable, ridiculous or silly? Is there another word I could have used in its place to avoid offence? In fact was it offensive at all?

Regards,

Cruisin' Cabby

are you a kiddin?
with many ph off the streets because of no driver licensing they will turn away radio rents?
dream on.

Wharfie