If, as expected, the licensing process for private
hire begins as of Monday January 3rd 2000, then we are just over twelve weeks away from
what could be the biggest threat ever to the livelihood of licensed taxi drivers in
London.
I've ridden this horse before and my belief still hasn't changed; PH will
take little from us that they don't already have. The question that still remains more
pertinent is how much will we give them? We are currently in one of the busiest periods
that we have had for 15 years and that gives us two problems: The first is that -with the
best will in the world - we are not going to be able to cover every single job on time,
while the second is that every client who phones Dial-a-Cab expects their cab to arrive on
time!
One thing that I desperately seek to avoid is for this page to do something
that I have tried to stop Board members doing on their report pages - ie write a column
that just says 'cover the work and we'll be okay'. I like to think that as a full-time
driver, I know what it's like out there and I also am delighted that so many drivers give
me their thoughts on how they perceive things to be at DaC. I'd say that 90%+ of those I
speak to believe that they are with the best radio taxi business in London and are happy
with the way things are run even though they may have a few small gripes - but then no one
is perfect!
Moans
The moans I get cover a wide spectrum. There are those who were really upset by the
original introduction of Code 77 on ranks such as EC5 and E14C while there were those who
berated me when the facility was removed from those ranks! Whilst I think it may be
slightly unfair for anyone to have a go at me for something that is nothing whatsoever to
do with me, I'm happy to soak up driver's frustrations if it means that I get to know what
bugs you.
There are drivers who don't like Gary Gates putting messages out that plead
with drivers to cover work. I also get drivers asking me to thank Gary Gates for reminding
them why they are there! The same can be said for
those staff from the Call Centre who put out messages re the Westminster account.
I get drivers moaning at me because they don't like our corporate logo and
refuse to use it while I also get those who moan because some drivers don't put our logo
on their doors while they do! Life gets confusing at times but as I said, I enjoy getting
driver's input and although none of it is my responsibility, I am always happy to pass on
legitimate gripes and suggestions.
Looking From the Oppositions View
After the above preaching (and it was done as a fellow driver who has use of a magazine
and nothing else), I thought I'd take a look at the way private hire are looking at
things. One of the many monthly magazines that comes my way quite frequently is Minicab
and Courier. The Editor, Elliot Clark, is not some uncouth tout who tries to cajole
innocent victims into his old banger, but a respectable and extremely literate guy who is
fighting his corner - that of PH.
The first decision Mr Clark made with the clock creeping ever closer to the
day, was to change the name of his magazine to Private Hire and Courier - that in itself
should send a few shock waves because editors don't change magazine names unless they
really have to.
Among the items in their September issue was one that described a meeting
between PH and Roy Ellis at the PCO as ""..long and constructive." On the
same page but in a separate article was the piece the trade had some months ago where
"... following complaints from disgusted Westminster residents, the PCO have had to
step in following cab drivers urinating in the streets." Are they trying to say
something?
Remember that last sentence and then read this little item from page 15:
"Anderson Young has celebrated the signing of several new London blue chip
contracts by splashing out a staggering £1.3 million on over sixty new company vehicles.
The Fulham based (PH) operator will soon receive the keys to 24 new S and E Class Mercedes
plus 20 Peugeot eight-seaters. All the vehicles will carry Anderson Young personalised
registration plates."
That, let's remember gents, is just ONE company!
Looking at page 42, the magazine claims that Securicor have gone to an
on-line booking service for their parcel deliveries. It will give customers the option of
selecting which type of vehicle they require and of tracking their delivery at every stage
without needing to phone the company.
Or how about the item on American company Skynet holdings? In recent years
they have acquired many leading courier companies and now their delivery service covers
much of the western world and has an annual revenue of about - wait for it - £100
million! Now they intend moving into the UK market. Currently they concentrate on a
delivery service, but if they thought passengers were a viable outlet, they could go out
tomorrow and buy 1000 S Class Mercedes and not even notice it.
Last But Not Least...
And, last, but by no means least, according to PH & MC, their industry's
spokesman, one Victor Mengot, who is spouting about the "wide ranging benefits
enjoyed by the back cab trade." Mr Mengot now wants amongst other things, the
following 'concessions' to be granted to private hire companies: The ability to use bus
lanes, exemption from any future road charges and permission for PH vehicles to
"...pick up customers from designated locations along high streets." These are
not scare tactics from Call Sign, just some facts to mull over and hopefully to help us
decide what we need to do. As I said at the beginning, it isn't what PH will take, it's
what we give them. As Gary Gates says: "Let's give 'em nothing!!!" Alan Fisher
