Ground Transportation
Dial-a-Cab have had some enquires from very large corporate clients
for us to manage their ground transportation. That means anything that
moves will be ordered by Dial-a-Cab - that includes taxis, cars, couriers
and even coaches. The BoM will have a simple choice; either we organise
their ground transport or someone else will!
If the contract were to go to another organisation, we
would have to hope that they ordered their taxis from Dial-a-Cab and not
from Com Cab or Radio Taxis, or if it were someone from the unlicensed
trade, that they did not cream off some of the more lucrative work for
themselves. That is the simple choice that we have to make.
I believe that we have no alternative but to offer the client
what they require in order that we maintain the work levels that we have
at the moment. There is no-one in the market place that has the know-how
or the technical capabilities or the ability to supply the corporate
account client with as much technical information as Dial-a-Cab and make
no mistake, given the opportunity I will offer the account client this new
service in order to maintain or even improve upon your existing workload.
I believe that we will all have to get used to the fact that DaC will be
sub-contracting work to other organisations.
Going Home
Many of you will be pleased to know that we have now perfected the 'going home' facility. When you have finished your shift, you will be able to enter your home zone and the computer will offer
you jobs that are going to that zone or any of the back up zones,
including any work that is despatched A/D that will include work from the
island or from Finsbury square.
The new procedure is still being tested at the moment to
ensure that there are not any 'bugs' in the system, but I would anticipate
that it will be installed when we include all our latest modifications
sometime in the middle of August. We will release all the details as to
how it will work when we are happy that it is functioning correctly.
Com Cab/Data Cab
It has been announced that Computer Cab has purchased Data Cab, the
circuit of 400 mobiles, for approximately £2,000,000. If you remember, I
did advise you of these type of possibilities more than eighteen months
ago, I believe it will always be very difficult for 'mutuals' to compete
with companies that have wealthy parent companies as in Computer Cab's
case. It is therefore imperative that we give the client the service that
they require whether it be managing their ground transportation or simply
ensuring that they receive a taxi where and when they require it.
You will have to be extra vigilant in supplying a service.
Please do not leave it to another member, if we start losing
accounts the rot will soon set in. Dial-a-Cab has been extremely successful in recent years and I want that success to continue. The future is in your hands, look after it.
Deliberate Mistake?
Last month in the Chairman's Report, I wrote about the possibility of
having a different licence south of the river excluding Waterloo, however
the editor chose to print including Waterloo. I am very surprised that
none of you informed us of the error (yes, he does make them sometimes).
Last month was the first time that I had not read the
magazine before it went to print as I was on holiday. No more holidays I
suppose and I just know that this paragraph will be concluded by some
smart - or as he would say - humorous comment by the Editor.
Wouldn't dream of it, sir! But you were obviously right, the magazines
you gave me DID make my eyes go funny...Ed
Financial Year
The end of this month sees the ending of DaC's financial year. We are
again on course for another excellent year and our surplus will be in the
region of one million pounds- not bad bearing in mind that there has not
been a subs increase in over three years making us, by far, the cheaper of
the three major circuits and giving our members continuing value for
money. I will look forward to issuing our end of year report soon.
As a last word, remember to be extra vigilant with your
coverage, just one extra job per day from each mobile will see us and our
accounts safe.
Brian Rice
