Any Mini Cab Drivers on here?
Discussion
So just wondering if anyone does this. Within my job I have no real opportunities to to ear extra no overtime, etc. So at the money could do with some extra cash, All the mini cab firms in the area are always looking for drivers. So is this worth doing part time, 2-3 evenings a week maybe 1 day at the weekend. ?
Any experiences you care to share good and bad ?
Any experiences you care to share good and bad ?
My only experience of minicabbing or taxi driving was back in the late 90s early 00s. Random strangers jumped into my car (newish company Citroen Xantia)and barked an addresses at me almost every morning whilst dropping off my ex wife at Maidenhead train station. Was tempted to take them where they wanted to go and charge the going rate but apparently there are laws against it.
Tannedbaldhead said:
My only experience of minicabbing or taxi driving was back in the late 90s early 00s. Random strangers jumped into my car (newish company Citroen Xantia)and barked an addresses at me almost every morning whilst dropping off my ex wife at Maidenhead train station. Was tempted to take them where they wanted to go and charge the going rate but apparently there are laws against it.
Lol, had that happen to me once outside a pub, He got out sharpish after a few wisely chosen words Done it for last 5 years full time.
Got to become thick-skinned to deal with the weekend superheroes.
Money to be made if you are willing to put a lot of unsocial hours in at the weekend.
Also have to able to strike up the most random conversations with some weird and wonderful characters.
Also get used to what i call taxi tourettes - what time you finish? busy tonight? the Peter Kay sketch comes to mind !
Got to become thick-skinned to deal with the weekend superheroes.
Money to be made if you are willing to put a lot of unsocial hours in at the weekend.
Also have to able to strike up the most random conversations with some weird and wonderful characters.
Also get used to what i call taxi tourettes - what time you finish? busy tonight? the Peter Kay sketch comes to mind !
Tannedbaldhead said:
My only experience of minicabbing or taxi driving was back in the late 90s early 00s. Random strangers jumped into my car (newish company Citroen Xantia)and barked an addresses at me almost every morning whilst dropping off my ex wife at Maidenhead train station. Was tempted to take them where they wanted to go and charge the going rate but apparently there are laws against it.
Some junkie-looking lass tried to get into my car one in Leith Docks. Weirdly, she showed me her tits and tried to climb in through my window. Crazy b
h. The police were a bit weird about it too, talked a load of st about taking my car. Papa Hotel said:
Some junkie-looking lass tried to get into my car one in Leith Docks. Weirdly, she showed me her tits and tried to climb in through my window. Crazy bh. The police were a bit weird about it too, talked a load of st about taking my car.
Ahhh. She was a road side massage therapist. h. The police were a bit weird about it too, talked a load of st about taking my car. R.
The reason firms are always looking for drivers is because that's how they make their money. More drivers=more circuit fees coming in. As long as each driver makes just enough to stop them from leaving the firm couldn't care less how much YOU earn.
Depending on what hours you do you will need to learn to completely space out so you don't have to listen to some muppet telling you their life story, pick out from the crowd the one that's gonna puke, justify your very existence as you end up listing all the costs you face as a driver which is why you're charging them what you're charging them.
Costs is the other thing. You need to compare your outgoings vs fares taken and you may find you may not even make minimum wage sometimes. Whatever a firm and, for that matter, any driver will tell you they earn or can earn, you can reduce that figure by at least 25%.
You also need to enjoy driving. It's not all nice little runs to the airports & jaunts out into the countryside on a summer's day. You need to be ok with picking the little old dear up from the supermarket & taking her half a mile down the road.
And for the answer to the question I'm sure you're dying to ask, yes it does happen!
Just noticed you're thinking of evenings and weekends. Evenings are almost the quietest times apart from the graveyard shift. Morning rush hour is good, friday & saturday nights best, weekend days usually pretty good.
Depending on what hours you do you will need to learn to completely space out so you don't have to listen to some muppet telling you their life story, pick out from the crowd the one that's gonna puke, justify your very existence as you end up listing all the costs you face as a driver which is why you're charging them what you're charging them.
Costs is the other thing. You need to compare your outgoings vs fares taken and you may find you may not even make minimum wage sometimes. Whatever a firm and, for that matter, any driver will tell you they earn or can earn, you can reduce that figure by at least 25%.
You also need to enjoy driving. It's not all nice little runs to the airports & jaunts out into the countryside on a summer's day. You need to be ok with picking the little old dear up from the supermarket & taking her half a mile down the road.
And for the answer to the question I'm sure you're dying to ask, yes it does happen!
Just noticed you're thinking of evenings and weekends. Evenings are almost the quietest times apart from the graveyard shift. Morning rush hour is good, friday & saturday nights best, weekend days usually pretty good.
Edited by Centurion07 on Thursday 9th May 18:40
I think that you've got to be in it to win it, part time won't be worth while, I've been told by a few addison lee monkeys that they are bringing home 40k a year after all of the fiddles and they get a shiney lease car out of it. I don't normally believe the crap taxi drivers talk but it has been said to me enough times to take an interest, they are doing 70+ hours a week for that though.
If you're thinking or cabbing in London then forget about it. Too many new applicants and renewals, plus the cars have a ten year age limit (The car has to be under 5 years old if its never been used as a cab before). There's no money in it and it's also worth noting that hire and reward insurance can be upwards of 2K per year.
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