Taxi Driver Online

why do you need to be searched like a criminal ? do they think he/she was hiding cheat notes in their pockets ?

whilst i can understand where he is coming from I think he is missing the mark because this is actually a benefit to his members as it will restrict the flood of new drivers coming into the trade which surely must help protect the earnings of existing drivers

He is not interested in protecting drivers earning but probably like most private hire operators is only interested in protecting and increasing their own income by having more and more drivers on their circuits at the expense of all drivers.

The pie does not get any bigger only the slices diminish in size,when is an investigation by those in power going to take place with regard to the taxpayer subsidising these private hire operators in regard to drivers having to claim benefits from the State to make ends meet.

"Ridiculous" £180 Language Test For Private Hire Drivers

A ‘ridiculous’ language test which forces London private hire drivers to fork out at least £180 to prove they speak English could see a private education firm pocket £20million.

The new rule has caused outrage among workers – particularly those who were born and raised in the UK and are being asked to shell out to show they can speak their own mother tongue.

Unless they can prove they have an English GCSE, Transport for London (TfL) says they must undergo a day-long language test under belittling classroom conditions from their recommended provider – Trinity College London.

With an estimated 110,000 Private Hire Drivers in London, and with each tests costing at least £180 [1], this could see the company trouser a whopping £19.8million.

Trinity College’s turnover last year was £32million – so this windfall almost doubles their annual income.



Steve ******** (pictured), GMB’s professional drivers’ secretary, said:

“Not only are these tests unnecessary and demeaning, they will shovel huge sums of money into a private college’s coffers thanks to a virtual monopoly.

“Our member work hard for their cash – why should they have to stump up £180 for to prove they can speak what, in many cases, is the language they’ve spoken all their lives.

“We completely accept drivers need good verbal communication skills – but do they really need an expensive written exam to boot?

“TfL really need to rethink this ridiculous requirement before it’s too late.”

source: http://www.fleetpoint.org/fleet-industr ... e-drivers/

London Private Hire Taxi Drivers Forced To Pay £180 To Prove They Speak English In 'Scarcely Believable' Test, Says GMB

New move by Transport for London “a sledgehammer to crack a nut” according to union.

British private hire taxi drivers are being forced to stump up £180 to prove they speak English – even if they are born and raised in this country.

The new scheme from Transport for London (TfL) have been slammed as “scarcely believable” by the GMB.

Divers risk losing their license if they cannot prove they have a secondary school-level qualifications.

If they do not have a GCSE certificate, they must undergo a day-long language test under belittling classroom conditions.

Private hire operators in London are furious about the move and Steve ********, GMB's secretary for professional drivers, has written to the London Assembly to raise members’ concerns.

GMB has organised a protest against the tests at the City Hall on Thursday December 8.

Steve ********, GMB's professional drivers’ secretary, said:

"The audacity of TfL imposing these expensive and unnecessary tests on more than 110,000 drivers is scarcely believable.

"Forcing workers - many born and raised in Britain - to fork out £200 just to prove they can speak English is totally unacceptable.

"GMB recognises the need for drivers to have good communication skills - but these measures are above and beyond what is required.

"It's a sledgehammer to crack a nut."

Tbf, when i get old people in the car i sometimes pretend to be "French & deaf" Désolé, je veux que vous hors de rapide vous puanteur de urine rassis

Especially if they say more than one sentence.