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CALL CENTRE CHAT |
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| I have
dedicated this report to the workings of E140. Many calls have
been received from drivers regarding the controllers altering
the rules of E140 when we are busy. As you know, the initial set up of E140 was for drivers to be positioned anywhere within the security cordon. When work is more plentiful, it is extended to allow drivers who are 15 minutes away from the pick up to book in and take a trip. The general feeling from those regular drivers who work the island is that the 15-minute rule should remain all the time, as they believe this gives all drivers a level playing field to work to. I would like to make it clear that our controllers and the BoM do not have any preference whatsoever what method is put in place. Despite the belief of some, we are not here to make the working practises of members difficult, our responsibility is to ensure the trips in the system get covered and that our clients receive the best possible service. More importantly, our role is to ensure the dispatching system is fair for all members. There have been a number of suggestions as why the 15 minutes would be perceived to be the fairest system and I would like say that I fully accept these suggestions, however it is open to abuse, which in turn then makes it an unfair system. Unbeknown to the nucleus of members who regularly work the island and adopt the policy that you take the rough with the smooth, there are those who do not subscribe to this. They book in within the correct time and when they receive their details, if the trip just happens to be going local, they contact the controller to have |
the trip taken off them on the grounds that they
are running further than the trip is going. There |
more
rejects are happening because a driver dare not accept for fear
of not getting to the pick up on time. There are those who do
take a chance and end up offering a long delay, which in the big
picture is unnecessary and gives clients the wrong impression of
our service. Drivers become very indignant as to their
estimation of how long it takes them to travel certain
distances, which in more cases than one means they are given the
benefit of the doubt when deciding on a complaint being issued.
I also agree that being inside the security cordon does have its
problems when drivers book in when they are not in the correct
position. I have written and spoken to many that monitoring this
is not only time consuming, but also takes up resources to do
it. When work is plentiful, I would be the first to agree the 15
minutes would possibly work, but when it’s not, then being
inside the security cordon works better. So the moral of the story as I see it is that we need a solution to level out the playing field for everyone. My suggestion - and I repeat it is only a suggestion - should we now be implementing because of the amount of work we undertake on the island, a within 15 minute distance book in and make all trips non rejectable as with EC5? This, I feel, will make the system a fair one and it would definitely create the level playing field members are striving to achieve. Or alternatively, let the controllers carry on in the same way. When it’s quiet, be inside the security cordon, when it’s busy being within 15 minutes of the pick up operates. Keith Cain |
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WHAT A TOSSER! |
 A
touch of wind and DaC’s John drops his pancake in Liveryman’s
race…!This year’s annual inter-livery Pancake Race took place in The Guildhall Yard, on a bright sunny day. The race is always competitive, but sadly due to a gust of wind, The Worshipful Company of Hackney Carriage Drivers team failed to win any races. Dial-a-Cab’s John Dixon (B67) was leading the Liveryman's race and within five yards of the finish line when the ill-fated gust of wind removed the pancake from his pan! John told Call Sign: "The City of London holds a Pancake Day series of races every year on Shrove Tuesday where most, if not all of the Livery Companies based in the City, take part and the proceeds go towards a chosen charity of that year’s Lord Mayor. There are several races and I was doing really well in mine – in fact I was leading and had no trouble in tossing the pancake, but just as I was about to cross the winning line, a gust of wind blew the pancake clean out of the pan! Last year I had trouble tossing it because the pancake seemed stuck in the pan and this year it was the reverse – it came out without even a toss!" Taxi Globe Editor, Sandie Goodwin, who is also the WCHCD Press Officer told Call Sign: "Past Master Geoff Richards took part in the Masters Race, Jacquie Quaile in the Ladies Race, John Dixon in the Liveryman's Race and Carlos Oliveira in the Mad Hatters Race. All the hats worn by the competitors had to reflect the current Lord Mayor's chosen charity. This year it is ORBIS world sight charity." DaC’s Jim Rainbird (T25) was on hand to encourage the teams and take the photographs. He told us: "Jacquie Quaile was penalised for a tossing penalty (no double entendres please) but she was re-instated for the semi-final after a stewards enquiry and a firm word from Carlos Oliveira. Everyone enjoyed the event and we had a lovely sunny morning as well, unlike last year when it was wet and slippery." Well done to everyone, but Jim, what on earth do you mean by no double entendres? What type of magazine do you think we are! |
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