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DaC Car Company?
I believe many of you will agree that we have had a particularly busy start to
the year. Our figures are excellent and as I stated in our Annual Report, I
expect 2005 to be a very good year for Dial-a-Cab.
Last year our sales were up £4m on the previous year and to date -
after five periods of our financial year - our turnover is up another £1million
on the previous year. This is particularly pleasing when you bear in mind that
the large contract we had with West Coast Trains came to an end after they
completed their engineering works.
One of the reasons for our sales increase is the amount of work we
are doing for a client through Concierge - our own ‘Job Distribution Engine’.
The system is working extremely well and the client is delighted with the
service that we supply, particularly in regard to the Billing and MIS reporting
that we are in a position to provide.
The only downside with the system so far as I am concerned, is the
service that some of the car companies are supplying to the customer. Although
we at Dial-a-Cab do not have any control over the other Vendors, it does
reflect on our product. Consequently, perhaps the time is approaching when we
should have our own DaC Car Company so that we have control over the service
that is provided to the customer? Dial-a-Cab would then be in a position to
really clean up in London and put us light years ahead of the competition
making Dial-a-Cab an extremely wealthy and profitable company – yes, even much
better than it is now!
Not only would it be good for Dial-a-Cab, it
would also be good
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for the few ‘cavemen’ that we have on the
circuit! After all, they would then be in a
position once again to make personal attacks
on me and perhaps even start another petition
– and all the time being directed by an
outside third party!
Speaking of personal attacks, since we introduced Concierge, we
have processed more than 40,000 trips through
the system with an extra 11,000 trips going to
the members of Dial-a-Cab. This in turn
has produced almost £300,000 of extra revenue
for our members. Not bad for someone who has
been accused by the minority of endeavouring
to give our work away? I wonder if they have
it within them to be men enough to say they
were wrong and apologise to me for all the
unnecessary work they have given me in order
to defend my position in keeping Dial-a-Cab as
the number one circuit? What a silly thought!
Of course they won’t! After all, it’s
nothing to do with the welfare of our members,
it is purely personal and they obviously have
a deep resentment regarding anyone or anything
that is successful!
Public Carriage Office
Much has been written in the Trade regarding
the stance that has been taken regarding the
Emissions Strategy. I believe most people in
our industry are in full agreement that we
should do everything within our power to
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help ‘cleanup’ the air that we breath in
London, however, it would appear that the authorities have had second thoughts
regarding the timescales and implementations, that they have set. It seems that
everything has been postponed for one year to allow the completion of field
trials, together with the development and approval of further systems, thereby
providing greater choice for our industry. However, the environmental charge of
20p will still be implemented as planned from the 2.April 2005. As I stated
earlier, I don’t believe many people will argue against cleaner air, but thank
goodness the authorities have seen fit to extend the deadline until 30.June
2008, to make all taxis reach Euro 3 emission levels or better.
The trade is still waiting for the PCO to announce their findings
regarding the ‘conditions of fitness’ normally I have a pretty good feel for
these things, but I believe the decision is really too close to call. If I
really had to stick my neck out (nothing unusual there) I would go for the
Status Quo to be retained, who knows – it might even have something to do with
the decision to delay the implementation of the Euro 3 emission levels.
Finally, you may remember that some months ago I informed you that Blueback
Private Hire Company were going to appeal against the decision not to allow
external advertising on Private Hire Vehicles. Well, I am delighted to inform
you that their appeal has been refused, consequently, from now on, if they want
a vehicle licensed, they will have to remove their exterior advertising in
order to comply with the legislation.
Brian Rice
Chairman, Dial-a-Cab |
