Private Hire Signage
I have recently had one of my regular meetings with the PCO to discuss all items in general that affect our industry. As you know, I’ve always been very concerned the authorities might allow exterior signage on Private Hire vehicles, a proposal that was defeated last year by the taxi industry. I have informed you in the recent past that the authorities were going to review the situation, well, that time has now arrived. It appears the Operators have now reviewed the situation and many of them wish to allow advertising on the exterior of their vehicles. Should this come about it will be one of the biggest threats to our industry we have ever experienced! Consequently, the authorities are going to issue a first draft of their consultation document in the very near future.
   What is extremely worrying is that I have been reliably informed the Mayor’s office is in favour of exterior signage, as it would "make the vehicle easily recognisable." But we all know that signage would then be used by members of the public to give authenticity to the vehicle, regardless of whether it was licensed or not! If they think the touting situation is bad in London at the moment – well they ain’t seen nothing yet if these proposed changes in legislation comes about!
   I’m convinced that the best way to fight these proposals is within the subject of Public Safety. The Mayor’s office believes that the public are more inclined to get into the correct vehicle if it has signage – that is nonsense! In reality, what will happen is that the more unscrupulous within our society - and I don’t mean Dial-a-Cab - will put bogus signage on their vehicles in an attempt to do a bit of ‘kerb crawling’ to entice the more unsuspecting and vulnerable members of the public into their vehicle. Who knows what then might happen! I believe this threat is so serious that all organisations within our industry should make it their number one priority. The issue of signage has been tried in other UK cities and has been an absolute disaster, Birmingham being one that comes to mind. Consequently, we will be collating all information in order to present it to the authorities when we respond to their consultation document. This is going to be a very difficult battle to win - far more difficult than last time – and if I were a gambling man then I’d put the current odds at 70/30 against us winning. The Radio Circuits together with our lobbyists will do everything within

our power to stop this proposed change in legislation and I just hope that all other organisations within this industry are just as committed. Quite frankly, I don’t really care who claims the victory – if there is one - just so long as we win. It’s at times like these that we need one organisation to speak on behalf of our entire industry instead of just bickering amongst ourselves and scoring points off each another. After all, the Private Hire industry only has one organisation to speak for them. I have been in the taxi industry and a member of Dial-a-Cab for over thirty years and it has always been the same; what is it about our industry that promotes a self-destruct scenario?

Call Sign, Barry Hooper and Me…!
Speaking of bickering, you may remember a few issues back that I responded to Barry Hooper regarding his column in TAXI regarding the welfare of Dial-a-Cab. My bottom line was to tell him to keep his nose out of our affairs and that it was none of his business! I’ve now been informed that Barry was quite upset with my reply and I can understand why – but you started it Barry and I am not prepared to sit around and condone an unprovoked attack on this Society no matter who perpetrates the onslaught. In the latest issue of TAXI (of which I am an avid reader), Barry replies to our Editor concerning remarks that he made in the last issue of Call Sign. Barry says he has written his last words on the subject and that the matter is now closed. However, he asks a few questions to which I am best qualified at DaC to answer. He rightly states that DaC operate a fleet proportionate to the volume of business and asks if that was a member’s or a Board decision? It was a Board decision because we are fully aware that if the size of the fleet outstrips the volume of work, then you lose members as quickly as you fit them.  Conversely, if the database of account customers is too large for the fleet then you will obviously lose clients. Barry goes on to ask why we do not adopt this principle to the whole trade – well, it’s obviously supply and demand, but who says that WE don’t? I have always been in favour of keeping an equilibrium; it’s just plain common sense. Because people run a Radio Circuit, they should not be labelled and put in a box as a vested interest, after all there is not one organisation within our industry that is not a vested interest – yes, even the LTDA.  They are concerned with recruiting members and catering for their interests, that’s fine and noble but what better way to appeal to an already licensed driver than by saying there should not be any more taxi drivers in London! That way the cake gets bigger for existing drivers and is a sentiment that would accepted by almost everyone. But that is feasible only in the short term.
   Anyway Barry, I know you want to bring this matter to a close, but I would like to leave you with a passing thought: You know me well enough to know that no matter what I say I always

A Tender Process!
You are probably aware that our largest account was out to tender and I am in a slightly awkward position because I am writing this article on Sunday 25th September because the Editor has to lay the magazine out tomorrow! Why should that be a problem? Well, we cannot use this client’s name in print until we receive permission and in this particular instance, we have not as yet received that permission. I understand the Editor has constructed an article for inclusion in this magazine, but at the moment he cannot use it! Consequently, I am going to give you as much information as I can without naming the client, if however an article does appear elsewhere in the magazine actually naming them and giving more details, then you will understand why – we must have received permission before the magazine went to press.
    But I am delighted to inform you that we have officially retained the account as sole taxi supplier.  There are also three car suppliers, just as there are currently…
   This is one of the largest accounts in London and the competition to control the account was fierce, not only from the taxi industry but also from the PH side. There are two reasons why we retained this account. One; they know us and what we’re capable of producing regarding their Management Information and service and second, we can supply them with Concierge. They were so impressed with our new system, that they arranged a visit to our existing client that uses it and were given a glowing report. I am absolutely convinced that due to our foresight, not only will we win more business with our new software, but it will also enable us to retain existing business. We will pilot one department as of 1st November and if things are satisfactory, the whole of the client’s business will be transferred at a later date.
   I know the above will come as a disappointment to a small handful, because they are totally against progress with DaC living and succeeding in a commercial environment, but what they should remember is that we are in the service industry and must fulfil the client’s needs. We must adapt and give them what they require because as the customer, they will give their business to whoever fulfils their criteria. Currently it is DaC – long may it remain that way!

Dial-a-Cab Fleet Size?Carrying on nicely from the above, as I have been predicting in past issues of Call Sign, our account work is currently very busy and even will get busier. To that end, the BoM have had to institute the forty trips per month rule, however, we are still experiencing coverage problems.  As a result, we will be increasing the size of the fleet slightly, probably by around fifty mobiles.  During the past ten years, we have operated a vetting procedure whereby we do not recruit just anyone onto Dial-a-Cab, we endeavour to attract the ‘best of the best’. But as you can appreciate, some do slip through the net and we do not always get it right. So if any of you have friends or relations you believe might fulfil our criteria, ask them to apply.

Brian Rice
Chairman, Dial-a-Cab