Taxi Driver Online

Thanet Cars manager paints bleak picture of future for taxi firms, after business nearly halved since lockdown

The manager of a taxi company in Thanet is concerned the industry has been irreparably damaged, after business plummeted in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic .

Andy Doody, who has worked in private hire for nearly four decades, has been faced with dwindling customers and frustrated drivers, even after the lockdown eased in July.

Prior to the pandemic, Thanet Cars would have had between 60 and 75 cars out across the isle daily, making up between 14,000 to 17,000 jobs a week.

Since the effects of Covid gripped society, Mr Doody said the number of cars out on the road is sitting at around 40, with around 8,000 paid trips being made a week.

Despite a slight increase of customers in the past fortnight, the firm manger does not think it is likely they will be able to claw themselves back to the previous level of business.

He said: "I don't think we'll see that ever again.

"What we did class as a normal amount of drivers, I don't think we'll see again for years, if ever.

"From the business side it's hurting, it's really hurting."

Funds are tight as Mr Doody navigates paying his permanent staff who work at the offices, and managing the self-employed drivers who are out on the roads.

He said: "It's pretty desperate - all the drivers are self employed and they pay a circuit fee which we use to pay staff in the three offices, one of which is open 24/7.

"But if the income isn't there because we're 40 drivers down, it's going wrong."

Traditionally taxi companies would reap a significant portion of their weekly trips from people travelling from home to restaurants and clubs on the weekend, as well as the return trip.

But the Thanet Cars drivers have noticed a significant decrease in the number of people using the service.

Mr Doody said: "The 30 plus age range have just stopped going. The young ones are still going, I think they've probably got a different attitude to it."

Looking ahead to the festive period, he believes the business will continue to feel the impact.

The private hire veteran said: "I personally think it's going to be a very quiet Christmas for business.

"The days of Christmas parties, firm functions, pubs, restaurants - the work's not going to be there, because people can't do it.

"I think a lot of small businesses are just going to crumble - people are used to doing things from home, so I think for small businesses it's a pretty sad look, especially with the furlough ending.

"We've all got to get used to the new normal, but that doesn't help the restaurants, it doesn't help the taxis.

"There's nobody about, and it's up and down the country but it's going to be a frightening time."

The squeeze is being felt by businesses across the UK, and one organisation is seeking help from the government to provide better support for taxi firms.

David Lawrie, director of national Private Hire and Taxi Association, said: "The key issues are that trade is down 80% at least, and also drivers are handing back the cars - hundreds of thousands of vehicles, rented and financed. The car parks are full of them apparently.

"There's also very little help for the trade form the government. You've got help for buses, coaches, trains and everything.

"But taxis and private hire aren't classed as public transport, so there's nothing to help them."

The organisation have approached the Department of Transport for further guidance and help for private hire firms who are now desperately struggling to make ends meet.

Despite Mr Doody's gloomy outlook on the future of his - and many other taxi firm's - business, he said he was proud of his drivers who risked their own health during the lockdown to help people living in Thanet.

He said: "We had a steady 30 cars that came out everyday, and they kept going right through.

"I was pleasantly surprised, because I wouldn't have wanted to do it, but they did and they were doing NHS work, taking the frontline crews, shopping drops, meal deliveries.

"They really got into it for the community."

_________________
IDFIMH

A bit misleading. Including the bounce back loan (underwritten by government) I've received a five-figure sum. And tens of thousands of legitimate drivers in same boat.

Never seen this David Lawrie chap's name before - is he the new Mr Roland? I thought Donna Short was Bryan's replacement, or am I getting job titles mixed up?

He is the main man now, after the passing of Bryan and the retirement of Donna.

_________________
IDFIMH

Think you will find Donna is still the editor.

Of course, it's easy to confuse the association (NPHTA) and the newspaper (PHTM), and obviously there's a significant overlap.

So maybe David Lawrie is the new head of the association, while Donna Short is editor of the newspaper?

Had a look at their website, Facebook page, Twitter account etc, but no definitive source of who's who.

they are both part of the same organisation PHTM was started by NHPTA !

_________________
lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

The Bounce back loan is all well and good BUT it has to be repaid !

If you borrow a load of cash and then trade doesn't return to normal in 12 months time you might be facing bankruptcy.

I personally think our trade is well and truly crocked. If a third of all firms and drivers disappeared by January maybe just maybe the rest could earn a living. There will NEVER be the level of trade there was before people have changed their travelling habits

_________________
lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Thanks for pointing out that a loan has to be repaid

But that wasn't the point I was making, which was about government support.

The bounce back loans are on very favourable terms and are underwritten by government, so it's a form of support or subsidy.

And, as regards your point about bankruptcy etc, the payback periods are very long. Of course, that doesn't mean they're not supposed to be repaid, but it all helps

Yes, but they are different entities. As I said, there's an overlap, but they're not precisely the same.

Heathcote said that Donna Short still editor of PHTM, but my initial question was specifically about the association.

And, strictly speaking, your point is incorrect - wasn't the letter T only added later

Does nobody ever question some of these figures? 17,000 jobs a week for up to 75 cars is about 33 jobs a day per car. Is that really possible unless there's a lot of very short trips from the local Sainsburys round to the local housing estate?

The reduced number of cars would be doing 28 trips a day per car, 7 days a week.

Does seem a lot, but of course as often seems to be the case with this kind of thing, the figures may well be exaggerated in some way, or best\worst-case scenario.

And maybe a lot of the cars have two or even more drivers.

But in smaller towns with lots of short runs and not so much traffic congestion, traffic lights etc, those kind of job totals might not be too unreaslistic, especially if combined with an efficient despatch system.

I think if any of my cabs ever did 33 jobs in a day they'd want a holiday to recover from such hard work !

And the most efficient despatch system is the human brain armed with good local knowledge !

_________________
lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

In all the years I've been in the trade I have never met, seen or heard an operator give honest and accurate job numbers.

_________________
IDFIMH