Taxi Driver Online

Hi Guys,
Just looking for a few opinions on employing drivers on an hourly wage.
I know this is pretty much unheard of in the trade and wanted to discuss it along with the following issues:

> Number of Hours (some drivers currently do 60+ hours so earnings may drop)
> Use of car outside of work (Full rent drivers currently have cars 24/7/365)
> Dishonest Drivers (Saying fare is a 'no show' yet keeping the cash)
> Control over company policies (car cleanliness, company uniform)
> VAT implications (a big one, I know!)
> How much the hourly rate should be? (our drivers hourly takings vary from £7-£17 per hour, before expenses, depending on shifts worked)
> Employee rights (holiday/sick pay, PAYE)
> Any others you can suggest!

I'm looking for feedback from both drivers and operators on this.

I look forward to your replies!

edit: forgot to add that our fleet is 95% company owned.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/ ... /index.htm

That should give you some information

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

cheers toots.
It's not so much the legal implications, but more opinions of weather to persue it or not. How would drivers feel, have any operators got any experience of it...

Personally it would depend on what the hourly rate was. Would the drivers be able to pick what hours they worked or would they have set hours? Are these vehicles taxis or private hire or a mixture? What if it's an owner driver. It's quite simple when it comes to company policy if they don't like it they can leave, it's your company. I think you're opening a pandoras box of troubles tbh.

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

I can see certain people sheeting a brick at this idea, and why not, why should they mug their drivers off with lies, put the cash on the table and know if it's quiet it's quiet,

and now for a song, cos music expresses more than any man can

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86OKd1pM ... re=related

I should imagine an hourly rate of around £7 p/h.
Obviously drivers would be consulted on what hours they would prefer, but it would take the flexibility out of being 'self employed', working when they wanted.
Our fleet is a mix of PHV & Taxi, but tbh, 90% of our work is PH bookings. We wouldn't be able to really do it for owner drivers because of the overheads they have.
My gut feeling is your right when you say I'm opening pandoras box



not entirely sure what you mean by this?
I can see some drivers thinking it would be a good idea.
They'd have a regular income every week. Knowing exactly how much you would be earning is a big plus. Plus there's the benefit of holiday pay.
When it's quiet, it wouldn't matter as drivers would still be earning no matter what.

You would still have the problem of the driver saying customers are a no show and pocketing the cash. One way of limiting this is to have a tracker fitted to your vehicles. Of course that would then mean that someone has to moniter the trackers. I have drivers on the books but they are only doing school contracts. You would be suprised how many 45 minute jobs can take over an hour when someone is on an hourly rate.

_________________
Grandad,

It's a sticky wicket Luke I wouldn't go down that road mate if I were you.

The only way you can work it and keep track of their takings is make them do contract and airport work only, that way you'll be able to keep tabs on them and their takings making sure they aren't doing their own work while swerving the cash into their money bag.

Hope that helps mate.

Nidge.

I suppose it depends on whether or not the drivers want to go this way, but if you employ them surely the Working Time Directive applies, which will be a major factor.

That said I think our trade should come into the 21st Century, and drivers should be employed with all the safe-guards such as holiday and sickness benefits.

But that's not a universal view in the trade.

_________________
IDFIMH

If you have 90% contract work use PAYE, if you have 90% cash work go thirds....

_________________
Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

@ AAA

I mean the employer, I would think drivers would jump at the chance tbh.