Minicab Licensing
The Minister for London, Keith Hill, announced at the end of
November that London's Private Hire operators are to be licensed following
new regulations being laid in Parliament. The regulations will allow the
Public Carriage Office to process licence applications from 22 January
2001, with full licensing coming into force on 22 October 2001.
I am a driver who edits rather than the other way round and I
know the problems associated with attempting to offer times when, for
example, the Limehouse Link is closed, the City is at a standstill due to
the usual few drops of rain or Soho becomes gridlocked because of stupid
parking. But I hope that you will re-read the first paragraph, take note
and allow me to write about the situation as I - a driver - see it
affecting Dial-a-Cab.
Minicab licensing isn't something that will happen at a time
in the distant future; we now have a schedule with real times and real
dates, which will soon involve real minicab companies who will be more
than able to exclusively service reasonably large accounts - some of them
ours! They will no longer be minicab companies, but the more
refined-sounding Private Hire.
For a start, let's put touts out of our minds in regard to
the licensing topic, because the more respectable minicab-cum-private hire
companies dislike them as much as we do. The image touts present currently
does the licensed taxi trade a favour, because we can tell anyone who
listens that they are all lumped together - that a minicab is a minicab is
a minicab. I doubt whether the Evening Standard 'exposure' earlier this
month stopped anyone who normally gets a minicab tout from actually
getting one. And why? Well it seems pretty obvious to an evening shift
driver (6pm till midnight) like me. Try and get a cab in the City or West
End when it's busy. There's more chance of me becoming Mr Universe! And
like it or not, people have to get home somehow.
There are several large minicab fleets whose names have now
gained a certain amount of respect among corporate clients because they
present a well-dressed driver and a fairly new car. The minicab driver's
knowledge of London improves
daily because he/she is constantly driving around town with clients and in addition, modern technology can provide cars with their own how-to-get-there terminals if needed.
Get Ready...
So this is the situation, as I believe it stands. From October
22nd, the clients who have stuck with Dial-a-Cab through good and bad
times - many of whom believe us to be the best because we are licensed -
will have a choice of licensed services. There will be the licensed Taxi
trade or the licensed Private Hire trade and for the first time, many
clients will seriously consider the amount of work they intend giving
them.
We've all seen cars outside large corporate addresses. Many are there
because the driver is the personal chauffeur to the person he is waiting
for, but more and more are there to fill the hole left by the licensed
trade during very busy periods.
I have no doubt that for many of our clients - and my
editorial duties give me a ready made, if occasional, excuse to speak to
them - the licensed taxi is their preferred mode of travel. But what if
they can't get one? They will feel much safer knowing that as of October
22nd, the alternative will be licensed. It could well happen that they
will then forget their preferred mode of travel and go for whoever is
quickest - and with large providers that could well be PH. Why? Because
their drivers may well be happy to wait in a private holding area just for
a 'burst' from one company where as our system is to call the work as it
arrives.
Taking into account the huge size of our operation compared
to PH, our service is excellent most of the time, but any night man will
know when it starts to show signs of straining at the seams.
Any Answers...?
The increase in numbers of drivers seems to have helped but I
can't help wondering whether we
should look for another answer. No rude letters, please, this is only a
suggestion! How about everything being as directed, with no rejects? Then if
you are going home, you get up to three rejects on Code 77?
We all know that some drivers are far too choosy. I only do
account work and that is my prerogative, but if you want to mix account and
cash, that is your choice. But if a large account decides to close because
drivers are rejecting work from them at the busy times yet are
available to pick up from the street, then that person is costing you and me
money! And I object to that...
I remember the days of 500 drivers when we had to run all over
the show for a small run-in to prove that we could offer a service. That has
manifested itself into making Dial-a-Cab the most advanced radio taxi
circuit in Europe and one that carries with it a huge amount of respect. The
loss of two large accounts could change that so quickly.
In just ten months, those account clients will suddenly have
another choice of licensed service. If they leave us, they may not return
for years. Answers to Call Sign, please...?
HAPPY NEW YEAR
If everything goes to plan, then you should be receiving this
first issue of 2001 - the year of the 'space odyssey' - by Thursday December
28th, so I still have the opportunity to wish you all a very, very Happy New
Year. Because of holidays at the printing plant, this issue has had to be
put together in half the usual time, so apologies in advance if it shows!
However, I hope that any problems you have will melt away
leaving you with all your heart desires. To those of you who are not in the
best of health, I wish you a very speedy recovery.
My sincere thanks to you all for your letters, articles, photos
and general input and especially to Alan Green who at a moments notice,
launches himself to wherever I ask. Without all that help, there would be
very little to read or look at. My thanks also to the BoM for keeping their
word and allowing me total editorial freedom.
And finally to the Call Sign production team, from layout to
printing to proofing to advertising, my thanks you to you all.
See you next year...
