Taxi Driver Online

Lack of drivers puts brakes on private cab companies

MINICAB firms are being forced to turn away business because they cannot find enough drivers, it was claimed today. Abercorn Cabs in South Queensferry said a shortage of private hire drivers was being felt throughout the trade.

It said despite the relative ease with which drivers could obtain a licence, there was a shortage of suitable candidates. Private hire drivers need only undergo police checks and a medical before being handed their licence.

With redundancies in other fields, cab firms are puzzled about the lack of candidates coming forward for jobs. Gill Wiser, Abercorn Cabs' office manager, said some drivers willing to work a 60-70 hour week could take home up to £900.

She said: "There just doesn't seem to be enough people who have private hire licences. At a time when people are being laid off and looking for work it seems crazy that we're having to turn jobs away due to lack of drivers.

"The only people who seem to be applying are those who have a friend or family member doing the job and who know they can make a good living. "If anything, the demand for taxis is growing as more and more people leave their cars at home. But at the moment, we're having trouble meeting that demand."

The number of private hire drivers in Edinburgh has risen in recent years, putting minicab firms on a collision course with the black cab trade. In 2009 black cab firms cried foul after Edinburgh City Private Hire, the Capital's largest private hire firm, won the right to undercut its competitors by up to 30 per cent.

The move raised objections from Central Taxis and City Cabs, who argued it would lead to "confusion" among passengers. The rise in the number of private hire cars has been attributed to the council's decision to cap the number of black cabs in the Capital at 1260 in 2001.

Since then two studies have found there is no "significant unmet demand" for black cabs, so the limit has remained unchanged.

A spokesman for the council said: "In accordance with the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, the council requires all vehicles operating as a taxi or a private hire car to be licensed. Drivers of these vehicles also require to hold a separate taxi or private hire car driver's licence."

_________________
IDFIMH

£900 a week TAKE HOME!

Someone's having a laugh.

That seems at odds with the majority view

_________________

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

I don't believe that's a nett income nor do I believe it's an acceptable or safe level of working hours

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

Neither do I, but our view seems to be very much a minority in this trade.
Even if true, which I doubt, £900 a week doesn't seem that good a deal for sacrificing your social and family life by spending almost your entire waking hours in a car.
Is it any wonder this trade is littered with divorces and suicides?

_________________

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

Not to mention the early deaths caused by this lack of activity even amongst those that are considered quite healthy. Perhaps I'll write to them and ask for advice regarding potential income if a more acceptable level of hours are worked. After my visit at the end of the month I might like Scotland so much I could come work there seeing as they're so short of drivers

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

It'll also act as Catalyst for BRAKE (the safety group)...once they get a whiff of this guff they'll be shouting from the rooftops about dangerous, tired and overworked drivers...

£900 for 70 hours = less than £13

Less tax is about £9


Also the £900 take home is very suspicious. Maybe, just maybe £900 before fuel, tax, radio fees etc etc

I would be shocked if it excluded the above.

_________________
IDFIMH

if this were even remotely true i'd be right along the M8 and moving to the east

When did jackanory restart

dinnae worry, wee man, you havenae missed it!!!

Are they?

If I worked 70 hours a week, I'd expect more than that.

70 hours? FFS.

70 hours is the norm here for full time drivers and there won't be many taking that much

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

£900 aye right

always count on the press to print a load of tosh