Taxi Driver Online

I think they are great for doctors, dentists, hairdresser etc.

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IDFIMH

My issue with the freephone numbers isn't the cost of them, but the fact that they are mostly used by companies that need to illustrate a nationwide coverage. I don't believe that a local taxi firm or PH company needs to have a national image. Infact it would be better to play the local service aspect.

Has anyone used a company that can embroyder a comany logo onto clothes for a uniform? Any recomendations (and an idea of costs) would be good.

Thanks for all your comments so far.

My issue with the freephone numbers isn't the cost of them, but the fact that they are mostly used by companies that need to illustrate a nationwide coverage. I don't believe that a local taxi firm or PH company needs to have a national image. Infact it would be better to play the local service aspect.

Has anyone used a company that can embroyder a comany logo onto clothes for a uniform? Any recomendations (and an idea of costs) would be good.

Thanks for all your comments so far.

Of course, the 'national' firms are in fact mainly booking agents that farm out work to local firms.

I'm not sure if freephone numbers are that successful anyway - if it's a huge success then it can easily be copied by other firms and then all the firms have a freephone number and no one has a competitive advantage, but all have higher bills

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

Plus nearly eveyone books a job using their mobile phones these days, and you have to pay to call a free phone number from a mobile! I think that it's just a silly scheme .... but what do I know!

How would you feel working for a firm where a uniform for drivers was in place? Something like a polo shirt and jacket with the company logo.

Would it be more paletable if the company bought the uniform for the drivers in the first place?

Please let me know your thoughts. This forum is great

Personally I would like it and clearly it would be preferable if the company bought the gear.

However, it could put of a lot of drivers who just like to come out in the clothes they happen to be wearing when it's time to go to work.

Of course, this could benefit you in some way because you'll be attracting the right type of driver.

Some firms are more worried about keeping drivers than dress standards and the like - I've known firms that have dress codes, for example, but some drivers still come out in jeans and trainers and the firms don't do anything about it - basically they're worried that the drivers will just say **** it and go and work for another firm that doesn't bother.

Of course, keeping drivers in the short-term for this reason may mean that in the long-term the firm is less successful, but that may represent the difference between a well run business and one badly run.

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

As long as all drivers were made to keep to that, then I think most would, in time, be fine with it.

I think it is a good selling point when trying to gain new work, because customers always seem to remember when old smelly was sent to pick them up.

Get rid of the old smellies, and thingscan only improve.

As for who buys them, I think it should be the firm.

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IDFIMH

Not a view shared by all in the taxi/PH trade.

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IDFIMH

I'm slowly learning that! Having said that our trade is a fantastic mix of personalities and skills. Wouldn't change it for anything

Going back to the freephone point our company has a freephone in the local morrisons and we get at least 300 hundred jobs a day out of it. We also have them in the local Tesco's and Asda. These are the kind of deals you want to be getting as you will get a lot of quick business and its all picking up in the same place so you dont have to spread your cars out too much. This will then keep you busy while you build the fleet up and help in atracting new drivers.

HI
But the downside is that you will pay silly money to the likes of "Transport Inovation" (the old Medigen, remember they were on TV a few years back)....

Some companies are bidding anywhere between 1000 and over 10000 pounds.

regards

Hi
The thing is that you cant really use the text techonology and now that it will work all the time. How many times have folks sent out text messages and they have not arrived for a number of hours.

Also there is a cost and some of the software suppliers are trying to pass this onto the customer, so when they have a PAYG phone they might get hit for 30 or 50p for the text you sent out. Mmm Might not be a happy customer.

regards

Hi
Freephones are a waste of time and cost YOU money. The object of this is to make YOU money not have it so your paying out stupid amounts to these telephone companies.

Also your right about mobile phones. A lot of people will use their mobile these days and they will get charged even more for phoning a freephone number.

regards

Hi
These all cost you money on an on going basis. If you have 10 cordic units sitting on urself then your still paying for the GPRS data bundle each month.

Also you will be tied into an air time contract amongst other things.

Your a new start company ....the message is

************ KEEP IT SIMPLE ***********

If you dont then you will spend a bucket load of money and will never recover it. Get yourself 10 2nd hand radios and see how things go.

If you start to get bigger then look at systems. Dont RUN BEFORE YOU CAN WALK.....

regards