Taxi Driver

thelurch · 23-10-2008 02:35AM #1

As a taxi driver this about sums it up, a letter to thr Irish Times, Comments welcome

Madam, - I have been a taxi-driver in Dublin for the past 14 years. I am appalled at the apparent inability of either the current taxi regulator, Kathleen Doyle, or the Government even to recognise how the business has been decimated since deregulation back in 2000.

This week we had the announcement that taxi fares are to increase by 8 per cent from November, with additional costs to take a taxi during the Christmas and New Year period. The regulator seems to believe this will help to offset the massive increases in the cost of running and maintaining a taxi.

Prior to deregulation in 2000 I used to earn a consistent and worthwhile wage. I worked reasonable hours, had a second driver working the night shift on my licence (so the car was on the road for about 20 hours each day), and thoroughly enjoyed my work.

Today I worked a 10-hour day shift. I had eight fares in that period with gross takings of €69. My petrol expenses were €25, so my take-home pay for 10 hours' hard driving on Dublin's congested streets was a mere €44! This is before I take into account the wear and tear on my vehicle and maintenance costs. So the stark reality is that I earned €4.40 an hour, far below the minimum wage.

Although not every day is as bad as this, I now consider it a "good" day if I manage to clear €80 after expenses. Is this because I am a bad taxi-driver? I think not. The reason is very simple: there are now so many taxis on the streets of Dublin that it is impossible to get parked on a rank. So most taxi-drivers now have to resort to cruising the streets looking for fares, not only adding to their costs, but also to the carbon emissions in the city. The undeniable truth is that there are too many taxis now plying for hire, with the result that it is now virtually impossible for a driver to earn a reasonable wage.

I am more than happy with the fare structure as it now stands. What is required from the taxi regulator and the Government is not an increase in fares but for some method to reduce the number of taxis.

The current situation can only get worse with the news that the country is now officially in recession. For it seems that one of the first things workers who are made redundant think of these days is to buy themselves a taxi licence under the false impression that they will be able to earn a good living. They will be joining thousands of part-time drivers who simply use their taxi at the weekends and at peak periods to supplement their good incomes as firemen, postal workers, gardaí, etc. This "double jobbing" is something the taxi regulator and Government could tackle immediately. May I close by appealing to anyone thinking of entering the taxi business to think again. They'd earn more money cleaning tables in a fast-food restaurant. - Yours, etc,

KEN JOHNSTONE,

__________________

The_B_Man · 23-10-2008 05:25AM

In all reality, ya dont need a degree or anything to be a taxi man. If you want more money, put some hard work into training yourself. Just dont complain that you have a non-skilled job and you're not earning 6 figures! I dont understand why everyone EXPECTS to be paid well, even if they havent done anything to merit it!

phantom_lord · 23-10-2008 05:54AM

it's pretty simple, if there's too many taxi drivers some of them will go busto, and the market will stop being over saturated. there's no need for government intervention. btw if i was made redundant buying myself a taxi licence is one of the last things i would think of.

Morlar · 23-10-2008 09:15AM

I have no sympathy for them at all and never will - I can remember the bad old days that letter refers to.

Slow Motion · 23-10-2008 09:24AM

I'm sorry but not a lot of sympathy here, I am sick of hearing about poor taxi drivers and poor farmers, deal with it or get another job the same as the rest of the poor workers in this country, why should you get any more consideration than the rest of us!

Zascar · 23-10-2008 09:29AM

I'd say everyone here has spend hours in the rain in town at the weekend trying to get a taxi in the past, it does not seem to be as bad anymore and that is a good thing. In other countries it is generally even better for the customer. In London you come out of a club at 3am and the taxi drivers bid for your business so you get the cheapest fare possible.

Maybe regulate the hours some people can work to allow more taxis on the roads at peak times etc - that might be fair.

mkdon05 · 23-10-2008 09:30AM

How do taxi drivers in other countries make a living?
If you go to the likes of spain etc... there are loads of taxis on the roads.
The difference is that, it doesnt cost you €10 to go 5 minutes up the road in Spain, you would probably pay about €3.
This encourages people to take taxi's more often and therefore creates more work.
(and the difference in petrol costs couldn't warrant that extra charge.)

not yet · 23-10-2008 09:35AM

That letter is a complete load of sh*te, I have family and friends in the game and if they work the hours (what any taximan expects) they will earn 800-1000 euro a week.

I'm sure that whinger made a ''decent'' liveing before deregulation.....ffs their were only 2000 cabs to service a million people, a taxi driver pre degregulation could earn 1400 punts a week no proplem.

The market will find its own level of cabs required........simlpe as.

And no amount of crying or whingeing will stop the free market.

dade · 23-10-2008 09:35AM

Dear Mr Taxi driver

poor you previously you had is sweet you had your car on the road 20 hours a day, you worked 8 - 10 yourself and some poor sod paid you for the privilege of driving your car. jack pot two incomes in your pocket

i suggest you go here with your problems they may be able to assist you with resolving it

LightningBolt · 23-10-2008 09:53AM

not yet wrote: »

That letter is a complete load of sh*te, I have family and friends in the game and if they work the hours (what any taximan expects) they will earn 800-1000 euro a week

If in Dublin that's complete and utter bollox.

not yet · 23-10-2008 10:24AM

LightningBolt wrote: »

If in Dublin that's complete and utter bollox.

Listen pal the good old days are gone get use to it, and learn to live on a average wage......

LightningBolt · 23-10-2008 10:45AM

not yet wrote: »

Listen pal the good old days are gone get use to it, and learn to live on a average wage......

I have family and friends in the game and if they work the hours (what any taximan expects) they will earn 800-1000 euro a week.

I'd like you to show me where the average wage is somewhere between €41,600-€52,000 and pal, I'm no taxi driver either.

stovelid · 23-10-2008 10:51AM

thelurch wrote: »

Today I worked a 10-hour day shift. I had eight fares in that period with gross takings of €69. My petrol expenses were €25, so my take-home pay for 10 hours' hard driving on Dublin's congested streets was a mere €44! This is before I take into account the wear and tear on my vehicle and maintenance costs. So the stark reality is that I earned €4.40 an hour, far below the minimum wage.

Without sounding harsh: change jobs then.

Taxis are a public service. They don't exist solely to provide lucrative jobs for taxi drivers. I didn't see drivers showing any solidarity with each other when they were flogging plates to each other for 80k before deregulation.

not yet · 23-10-2008 10:54AM

LightningBolt wrote: »

I'd like you to show me where the average wage is somewhere between €41,600-€52,000 and pal, I'm no taxi driver either.

Show you!!!! show you how..............

Would you like the contact details of my friends or family members.

I work with a guy who does it ''part'' time 30 hours a week, he told me he wouldn't do those hours for less then 700euro a week.

4zn76tysfajdxp · 23-10-2008 10:56AM

Stupid taxis drivers and their whinging.

Karoma · 23-10-2008 11:07AM

Dear Mr Taxi Driver,
You didn't make minimum wage on one day? Why sir, this is clearly a travesty. Nowhere else in Ireland or the world would this happen. It is no less than an outrage!

I hereby offer you a contract to pay you minimum wage. That's right, you sir, are guaranteed the minimum wage each day, every day. In return, you will be expected to hand over all earnings (inc. weekend earnings, and the money you do not normally declare for tax reasons) to me. You will also be expected to read the new employee handbook and will be contractually obliged to be courteous, quiet, attentive and avoid vulgar language. you will be expected to maintain a high standard of hygiene. Any airing of racist views shall result in disciplinary action. You will also work the hours specified, not just the ones that suit you.

If this suits sir, please feel free to e-mail me at igiveacrap@boohoohoo.ie

Kindest Regards,
K.

LightningBolt · 23-10-2008 11:09AM

not yet wrote: »

Show you!!!! show you how..............

Would you like the contact details of my friends or family members.

I work with a guy who does it ''part'' time 30 hours a week, he told me he wouldn't do those hours for less then 700euro a week.

€700 for 30 hours work is pretty good I must say. I guess I'll just go out and buy a plate and I'll be on my merry way :rolleyes:

You said learn to live on an average wage, if I was earning what your friend does for "part time" work I'd be out on the streets right now(working obviously). I'd love to know how much he was earning before he had to learn to live on average wage.

My father is a driver in Dublin. After weekly costs there's no way he'd be up €700 for 30 hours work.

lost marbles · 23-10-2008 11:21AM

not yet wrote: »

Show you!!!! show you how..............

Would you like the contact details of my friends or family members.

I work with a guy who does it ''part'' time 30 hours a week, he told me he wouldn't do those hours for less then 700euro a week.

the last part of your statement says it all

so this guy your working with is doing 39 hours plus traveling time to and from work and then coming out and doing another 30 hours driving a taxi .
and in his "part time "driving he,s earning more than 700e a week [yeh right ]
thats over 70 hours a week .
how safe is that driver at 4am on a sunday morning ?
take it from me and other taxi drivers who might care to respond you are being fed aload of sh1te

asdasd · 23-10-2008 11:27AM

if there's too many taxi drivers some of them will go busto, and the market will stop being over saturated

Why would they go bust - it is possible that immigrants may work for less than the average, or even minimum wage. The problem here is a race to the bottom. And the argument could apply everywhere else as well. Too many doctors? Too many lawyers? Hire more until the market becomes unsaturated.

Too many civil servants? Why not apply the race to the bottom philosophy to everyone, and make civil servante compete for their jobs with people who would do it cheaper? Taxi drivers were not the only worker cartel in ireland.

not yet · 23-10-2008 11:29AM

The reason this guy works a taxi, plus full time job is he bought a plate for 82k before dereg, so has huge payments on that loan, the hours he does are hours I wouldn't work i.e thurs fri sat 6pm to 4am but the money is there.

arybvtcw0eolkf · 23-10-2008 11:56AM

not yet wrote: »

Show you!!!! show you how..............

Would you like the contact details of my friends or family members.

I work with a guy who does it ''part'' time 30 hours a week, he told me he wouldn't do those hours for less then 700euro a week.

Your friend is telling you porkies, and isn't your friend.

He's asking you to believe that he makes over €20 per hour, EVERY hour. Thats bullsh*t.

jaycen · 23-10-2008 11:58AM

Complaining about having to work hard :rolleyes: Welcome to the new Ireland, it's about to get a lot harder.

It's really a part time job these days (like it or not) thanks to so many plates, customer numbers etc.

Increasing the price would eventually kill it as a business, people (already under pressure financially) would just stop taking a taxi, either bus it, walk, stay in or something else.

lost marbles · 23-10-2008 12:10PM

not yet wrote: »

The reason this guy works a taxi, plus full time job is he bought a plate for 82k before dereg, so has huge payments on that loan, the hours he does are hours I wouldn't work i.e thurs fri sat 6pm to 4am but the money is there.

sorry mate but even if he did spend 80k before dereg thats nearly nine years ago .the guy is a danger to the public in his actions .
he feeding you a big brick with salt on it .
at this stage i dont give a sh1te anymore .its the likes of this guy who is spoofing others and getting them to buy plates with the illusions of this gold mine that is the taxi industry .
so folks there thousands to be made ,BUY THAT TAXI PLATE ,EARN 1000E FOR A SATURDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT
remember the only people who made money in the gold rush were the ones selling the picks and shovels

2qk4u · 23-10-2008 12:16PM

I drove a Taxi full time for 6 years mostly evening,nights and weekends.I sold my Taxi to a guy that got redundency. I tried to earn a living working monday to friday from 9.30 am to about 8 pm and it was hard to do.I would earn some money but quiet days were more often that the busy ones.I was with a very good taxi company but in general it very slow.I was fed up working all the unsocial hours and days was my only option. It didnt work for me so I gave it up.
I understand the frustration felt be many Taxi drivers. A lot of the older Taxi drivers are realy stuck.They have been a long time in the industry and getting a full time job would not be easy.
The Taxi industry in this country is in transition.Its changing from a good money spinner to a part time/low income job.
My fear is for the public, I am a family man and try to do the right thing when I can,Ive brought young girls home from town after being attacked and getting seperated from their friends without taking a penny for the fare,Ive driven to other countys to return lost phones,bags ect.I brought pensioners to the post office for free... My point is that there is a new breed of Taxi driver now, they are low paid and from all types of backrounds.A taxi is not the safe place it used to be.
The solution is simple = If in doubt, get out !

not yet · 23-10-2008 12:20PM

Mairt wrote: »

Your friend is telling you porkies, and isn't your friend.

He's asking you to believe that he makes over €20 per hour, EVERY hour. Thats bullsh*t.

So every person I know who is in the game are telling ''porkies''

The bottom line is if your willing to work fri, sat nights you will make 250 min each night.

not yet · 23-10-2008 12:25PM

not yet wrote: »

So every person I know who is in the game are telling ''porkies''

The bottom line is if your willing to work fri, sat nights you will make 250 min each night.

Add to that 80-100 euro per shift i.e mon,tue,wed,thurs 9ish to 6ish and that a good weeks wages.

major_pain · 23-10-2008 12:40PM

I know Taxi drivers who have 3 and 4 houses and now they're complain that they cant get tennants in because "all the foreigners" are gone home.

Im not saying all taxi drivers have 3 and 4 houses but it goes to show that there is money out there and if they can earn it why cant the other taxi drivers?

It seems taxi drivers do nothing but complain no matter what

High&Low · 23-10-2008 12:47PM

I have zero sympathy for taxi drivers - I remember pre 2000 and walking 6 miles home from town as there were no taxis.

In addition as a cyclist and motorists I find taxi drivers to be the most ignorant users of the road and really think it is about time that they are no longer permitted to use bus lanes

LouOB · 23-10-2008 12:56PM

Karoma wrote: »

Dear Mr Taxi Driver,
You didn't make minimum wage on one day? Why sir, this is clearly a travesty. Nowhere else in Ireland or the world would this happen. It is no less than an outrage!

I hereby offer you a contract to pay you minimum wage. That's right, you sir, are guaranteed the minimum wage each day, every day. In return, you will be expected to hand over all earnings (inc. weekend earnings, and the money you do not normally declare for tax reasons) to me. You will also be expected to read the new employee handbook and will be contractually obliged to be courteous, quiet, attentive and avoid vulgar language. you will be expected to maintain a high standard of hygiene. Any airing of racist views shall result in disciplinary action. You will also work the hours specified, not just the ones that suit you.

If this suits sir, please feel free to e-mail me at igiveacrap@boohoohoo.ie

Kindest Regards,
K.

ENOUGH- I am not going to prattle on here about taxi drivers. My father is one and will defend him
(and other hard working, full time only drivers ,who are in the game longer than peoples average age on boards)

BUT what I dont expect is a MOD to add fuel to the fire
OP posted letter clearly trolling - as per responses - as we dont know why Ken wrote the letter having to defend himself ie, we dont know full reason behind the letter. As most taxi drivers are too well aware of public perception (as people sh*te, piss and get sick in their places of work)

petrochemical · 23-10-2008 01:24PM

I don't know how many times I've nearly been killed by taxi drivers driving like the thuggish bullies that they are.

Also, how do they justify the 50 euro Airport charge? The cheek of them. Last time in the airport I asked a driver 'How much to town?". "50 euro" He said. "And you think that's reasonable?" I said. "Fookin take it or lee-urv it, pal, bleedin jaysus and shoite, fookin bollix, waaaaa, belch." He then "gozzied" on the ground beside me, seemingly to insult me, or something. "I'll tell you what," I said. "Take your 50 euro, and shove it up your ***". "Fookin cant talk to me loike dat you fookin poshy prick basturd". He then tried to get out of the taxi but tripped and fell in his own gozzy. Then the cops arrested him for being a dublin scumbag with a dublin accent.

LouOB · 23-10-2008 01:31PM

petrochemical wrote: »

I don't know how many times I've nearly been killed by taxi drivers driving like the thuggish bullies that they are.

Also, how do they justify the 50 euro Airport charge? The cheek of them. Last time in the airport I asked a driver 'How much to town?". "50 euro" He said. "And you think that's reasonable?" I said. "Fookin take it or lee-urv it, pal, bleedin jaysus and shoite, fookin bollix, waaaaa, belch." He then "gozzied" on the ground beside me, seemingly to insult me, or something. "I'll tell you what," I said. "Take your 50 euro, and shove it up your ***". "Fookin cant talk to me loike dat you fookin poshy prick basturd". He then tried to get out of the taxi but tripped and fell in his own gozzy. Then the cops arrested him for being a dublin scumbag with a dublin accent.

Ya, thats funny
Reminds me of the time when my father came home shaking because 2 junkies held a syringe to his neck
Was hilarious

read the posts.