Powered by NetXPosure
| mailshot |
| executive cars -
using our own drivers - may be an idea for the future (I think it will
mean pay cute for all). Limos or chauffeur driven are surely a must
because they don’t clash with our work and can only complement our own
high standards. Anyone who doesn’t realise that is living two decades in
the past. If we use our own owner-drivers with no large capital outlay if
leased, possibly a minimum wage for a set amount of hours to begin with,
drivers trained in safety and security so that customers are confident in
our abilities, it will help to make sure that we get all the best work
(that we must be loosing at the moment). There must be profit with cars -
even those that cost so much. I’m sure that some drivers will say no, I
say that it may be our only chance. My second point is about A/D multiple choice jobs. Why are they dispatched as A/D. This is happening more frequently at night. I’m sure many drivers look at this method of dispatch - as I do - with some suspicion. When it occurs in a zone with no drivers free to accept work, all the jobs will go to the bid zone. When you then bid for the work, the screen then reads ‘multiple choice trips in zone xxx’. If no drivers book into the zone, then these jobs will remain unmatched until put back into the system. This must cause delays for our customers. Multiple choice was surely meant for the driver’s benefit. Jon Robinson (E88) …AND EVEN MORE After reading last month’s Call Sign, I fail to understand the apparent enthusiasm by many of our BoM to convert Dial-a-Cab to a multi-purpose transportation supplier. Although it may be an ideal business scenario for some of our larger corporate customers, it does not serve the interests of Dial-a-Cab or its’ members. It is interesting that a similar one-shop transport concept was proposed about a year ago in Mountview News by their Strategic Development Manager. Radio Taxis members showed their support for this idea when he promptly vanished without trace at the next AGM two months later! Even if we could provide a good Motorcycle Courier, Van, Limo, and PSV service, it would invariably mean less taxi work and therefore taxi drivers would suffer. All delivery work would disappear, PSV’s would replace multiple cab jobs and Limos would take the airport and distance work, especially with discounted rates which the larger corporate customers could negotiate. Putting aside any discussion of whether Dial-a-Cab would benefit from by becoming Dial-a-Transport, it is worth looking |
at how this could
be achieved. There are two options, both of which demand that Dial-a-Cab
would have to convert to a PLC (need I say more!). Option one which is the one most likely to succeed, is to purchase or merge with one or a number of complimentary companies who could provide the Courier, Van, Limo and PSV facilities that are required. It may be difficult to find such companies, especially as we would require ones without Private Hire cars (or would we?). This merging or acquisition would be a permanent step. We could not do it on a trial basis. We would be giving the new company access to our contacts and customer base and staking our hard earned reputation on their performance. Almost certainly, the new company’s culture would be different to ours and it is hard to see any real integration taking place. In order to control the new company, a new management level would have to be established and this could only be accountable within a PLC structure. In order to maximise cost benefits, it would make sense to integrate many of the central functions; Call Taking, Control, Admin and Accounts would be the first areas to be amalgamated. Could our existing management structure and personnel deal with this kind of transformation? Are the members happy to have a board responsible only to the shareholders? Perhaps an easier method would be to set Dial-a-Cab up as a PLC and then sell us off to create a Taxi division for an existing company like Addison Lee. We could then all make a few bob but I don’t think this would be very popular. The second option is almost unthinkable. This would be to create from scratch our own Multi-faceted company. This would require major capital investment. This again could only be achieved by becoming a PLC and getting a partner or backer who could provide a massive infusion of capital. In addition to providing the necessary vehicles and drivers Dial-a-Cab would have to double its Call Taking and most of its in-house facilities. Without expertise or experience, we would have to take on established courier companies and compete on their terms. To those who suggest using Knowledge Boys for motorcycle couriers, this is only a very small part of the overall solution and even they would find it difficult to compete. Their knowledge outside the 6 mile radius would be limited and the majority of mopeds that they use are not fast enough nor sturdy enough to handle the rigours of courier work - especially the long distance work. Do we really think there is a benefit for taxi drivers to set up a new business operation without the capital, experience or incentive to do it? |
Lest I appear
totally negative, I do believe we have a bright future without becoming
all things to all men. Our BoM, who appear to be doing a good job, should
concentrate on ensuring that Dial-a-Cab ‘do what we do, do well’ and
‘do it better’. Improving our service, getting rid of the small
minority of drivers who do not come up to standard, ensuring clean and
modern vehicles and lastly and most importantly, becoming more cost
effective. We could all suggest ideas on how things could be improved, but
at the moment there is no easy mechanism to do this. At the last AGM,
Brian Rice mentioned re-introducing Driver Forums. I would like to see
these start as soon as possible. These would provide an appropriate forum
for a full flow of information and help to create a strong democratic
society. George Wilson (F17) via email Brian Rice replies to all the letters on the Tom Whitbread article: With reference to Tom's article, he mentions in two places that the views contained in the article are PERSONAL views, certainly not BoM policy. The letters from members which are printed in Call Sign are never censored by me and only on two occasions have I censored Board Members articles and that was when their personal view has been extremely controversial or their facts were incorrect. I know that some of you were upset by Tom’s views but wouldn't life be dull if we all had the same opinions? After all, we would all want to live in the same houses, drive the same cars and of course marry the same women. THE EDITOR, CALL SIGN AND LIMO’S AGAIN… Thank you for the time to put my arguments, (May Call Sign) although to be honest I don't agree with your editorial comments, I suppose my own comments and views of Call Sign did come through in one comment and as such caused the comment back. Ce la vie.....I'm not surprised that none of the question's or points were answered. I congratulated you on your appointment as Editor and hoped you would appear totally independent from the board, which ever board it was. You have done a very good job in modernising Call Sign, it looks and feels a very professional magazine. I just hope that it does not continue to be a corporate mouth piece of the BoM. Allen Togwell is quite capable of |
|
Powered by NetXPosure |
Copyright © 1999 Dial-A-Cab Ltd, All rights reserved.