Taxi Driver Online

There is some truth in what you say.

However, the only reason you have a plate "value" is because drivers are being denied unfettered access to the tools of their trade. No fettering of licenses and there is no one to buy a plate from an "owner." Plates would be worthless.

The Ph doesn't want de-restriction because they need drivers to expand their business, and it's only a cap on taxi numbers that allows this to happen. Ph drivers would migrate to the taxi trade to take advantage of the brief and owning a taxi.

ECPH, need drivers and Taxi owners need drivers and that's where the real "value" lies. You are two sides of the same coin, working to enslave drivers for your own benefit.

Oh and CC, I know eventually that Ph, might start growing again after the playing field leveled somewhat, but the "value" is in the driver.

The last time Edinburgh de-restricted, what Ph drivers there were, made the jump to driving a taxi. Now just think what would happen to Edinburgh Airport if that were to happen. It wouldn't be in the hands of Ph for long, that's for sure.

Oh and I should point out, when I started driving it was a de-restricted market, and Ph was virtually nonexistent.

Lets not discuss income....should be first rule of taxi school.

The doom and gloom you predict is your opinion. And opinions are a lot like [edited by admin].
The black cab trade has been quite robust through the worst economic times in our lifetime.
You will never convince those that have spent money on a plate to embrace de restriction....not even pretendy businessmen like the Kaiser!

I'm not trying to convince anyone, and it's not just my opinion, it's the facts. Tell me where I have it wrong.

Almost everything that's happened to the taxi trade, especially in recent years, I've predicted, and I have lived through most of it.

It's your trade now bonny lad. It makes no difference to me, and if you won't or can't see the truth about your situation, then that's fine also.

As I stated somewhere before, for you to earn what I was making twenty years ago, for hours worked, pro rata, you would have too more than double your income at today's date. And if that's not a downward spiral, I don't know what is?

And now the Ph has you by the balls, as predicted...

The last time Edinburgh de-restricted, what Ph drivers there were, made the jump to driving a taxi. Now just think what would happen to Edinburgh Airport if that were to happen. It wouldn't be in the hands of Ph for long, that's for sure.

Not true. Why are PH in the airport at the moment? Because the airports owners decided they wanted a choice between taxis and PH for passengers. As long as the airport decides they want that choice for passengers then PH will be at the airport

Not true. Why are PH in the airport at the moment? Because the airports owners decided they wanted a choice between taxis and PH for passengers. As long as the airport decides they want that choice for passengers then PH will be at the airport

The Key words are Pro rata. Fare tariffs were I think nearly 40% less twenty years ago. The cost of living was a fraction of what it is now with diesel being about a tenth of your earnings. Oh and tips were around 20% of your earnings.

I could do over fifty jobs on a Saturday night and 25 - 30 jobs on any week night.


So don't talk shi*e!

Oh and if my memory serves me correctly, the cost of a taxi was about £18000 - £20000.

And Artur, I had books that dated back to 1991-1993, which showed Monday nights where, between the hours of 17:00h and 01:30 I had around £130 on the clock for approximately £8 – £9 of fuel with £20 in tips.
I'm not going to discuss earnings in great detail but that's not unattainable. You do realise the price of a barrel of oil is through the roof? Also cheap credit has allowed people to own their own car more easily.

And that was with, at least, 36% less on the tariff you operate today. Your tariff might be even higher now. I'm not sure.
I'm sure you're aware the cost of living rises also.

And my first house was 35K.
The only reason I am not quoting you the exact figure is because I threw these books our years ago.

Oh and Artur, if you compare my earnings to that of self-employed tradesmen or semi-professional people twenty years ago, to what these people are earning now, it's frightening. Taxi driving was seen as a well-paid job, and now it's more like working at McDonald's.