Taxi Driver Online

Cambridge Bus, Coach and Taxi Operators challenge Community Transport Organisations.
http://www.route-one.net//articles_prin ... rch_term=&

Shock horror !!!!

_________________
IDFIMH

The real crime is that many LA's think that sun shines out of the CTO's arse and many LA's donate funds to them because they mistakingly believe that because they are allegedly non profit making then they must be good and community spirited, Wrong!..what they don't see though is that CTO's often charge more than PH, Hack or PHV operators charge and that the only reason they seem to be non profit making is because the directors that run them soak up any potential profit by way of income and expenses for the work they do before it shows as profit and then it vanishes as running costs . Just go look at one of your Local CTO's accounts at Companies house and you'll see just how cosy it can be to run a CTO even though the poor old lacky driver might do the driving for nowt..

Yes, when CTOs get to a fleet size of over 800 vehicles (yes, there's one in Birmingham) I doubt if it's not for profit! However, the European Court, in response to the case of Glockner Ambulanz said words to the effect that hire and reward is defined as being for financial activity, "regardless of the legal status of the operator". So, any money changes hands whether for profit or not, it's "financial activity".

A lot of these groups mix whether or not the DRIVER is being paid as "carrying passengers for hire and reward". They miss the point. It is the operator who is receiving the money! The Swedish case of Lindblom, although in respect of a tacho requirement on a racing car transporter, defines whether a vehicle is being used in connection with a trade or business and carrying goods (or passengers) for reward, or whether the carriage of such is in connection with a hobby. It's all plain for all but the CTO groups and the UK government to see. Definitive test cases at the highest level, yet no-one here takes any notice, yet the much-hated driver CPC is obeyed to the letter.