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Date: Wed Jan 7 12:06 AM, 2009

Advice for Someone Wanting to Enter the Trade

nuwater · A Forum Mentor

Anonymous wrote:

Hi all,

Nice forum you have here with good info.

I'm interested in trying out taxi driving as a means of income to temporary ride out the current economy situation. I'm in sales line and I'm currently very affected by the slowdown. Hence the decision to drive a cab.

I have spoken to a friend who drives a Merc cab and he has warned me that the current market demand for taxis have also been very much affected by the economical slowdown. I would like to find out from you all first hand, if this career path is viable for now. Also of all taxi companies, which would you recommend for someone who is new in the trade.

All response and advise are greatly appreciated.

Dear Bro Anonymous

You must be committed and hard working but now luck play a bigger role in our line. You still can make a couple of buck in order to survive but to buy condo and big meal every day for the family I can't comments

All the very best

Cheers

moshimoshi · Veteran Guru

Bro, first of all, welcome to this forum.
May I ask, how do you get to know about this forum??
If your intention is just to earn a few extra dollars to supplement your income,
it should not be a problem.
But as bro nuwater mentioned, it would not buy you a big house and big meals at
restaurants every day.
As for taxi companies, there's not much of a difference in that the daily rentals are
about the same.
The main difference in rental depends on the type/model of the vehicle you take.
For convenience, CDG will be a better choice as they have many diesel stations
all over the island.
Also, CDG drivers will be able to take in more booking jobs thus increasing
your income.
I hope these bits of information will help.
Any more queries, feel free to post as all STC members will gladly try to
answer them.
Cheers and a Happy New Year.

Drive · Guru

Hi Anon.
As with any service orientated jobs...there will always be a passenger for us. How many is another matter.

stkee · Guru

Hi Anonymous,

Welcome to our forum, first and foremost, try not to think that taxi driving is a fail safe and sure make money way when economy is bad or been retrenched.... there are more to taxi driving than what you see daily on the road... it is a profession that not everyone is cut out to be... it takes years of experiences and on-the-job training to be good and making money in this profession.

I am not trying to pour cold water etc... but many bros here would agreed that business and competitions is very tough nowadays and we have seen lots of newbies try to become cabbie and quit after few weeks of driving...

You must be very passionate about driving or you will never be able to survive atleast 10hrs behind the wheel if you drive half shift or as much as 15hrs if you drive OMO. My longest clocked hours per shift was abt 19hrs...

Taxi driving is the same as running a business, you need to manage your time, operating cost and maximised your profit...

For your info, a Toyota Crown cab daily rental is abt $88 per day for the oldest ones and diesel cost about $40 for abt 14hr for OMO. So you can work out how much you must make to get a decent profit... On top of that you still need to factor in your cablink charges(if driving comfort taxis), kopi and meal cost. Furthermore, if you are sick, there is no MC, you still need to pay your daily rental. Irregardless of what happen to you, the company will still collect the daily rental so long as you didn't return the taxi...

Hope that gives you a clearer picture of what you are getting yourself into.......

Bros, just my 5 cents worth....heeheehee

The December One · Veteran Guru

Anonymous wrote:

Hi all,

Nice forum you have here with good info.

I'm interested in trying out taxi driving as a means of income to temporary ride out the current economy situation. I'm in sales line and I'm currently very affected by the slowdown. Hence the decision to drive a cab.

I have spoken to a friend who drives a Merc cab and he has warned me that the current market demand for taxis have also been very much affected by the economical slowdown. I would like to find out from you all first hand, if this career path is viable for now. Also of all taxi companies, which would you recommend for someone who is new in the trade.

All response and advise are greatly appreciated.

Bro anonymous, if you don't mind, I hope you can put a name in your post.

As you spoke to your friend, I can understand he is affected by the current economy slowdown. And this is because he is driving a Merc cab which I belief is more affected than other normal cabs. You won't go hungry driving a cab but you won't "FA DA" either and have to put in a lot of driving.

For a start you must enjoy driving and meeting people (which I see no problem on your side since you are in sales). As what the other bros mentioned, do consider and give it a try as a relief on weekends first before going full time into it. You are your own boss. And own boss have no annual leaves and have to pay for it because anytime you take leave your business will have no one to take care of.

Cheers.

runroadman · Guru

walau,,, all the BIG BRO and GURU,,, pls,,,pls,,, read his post CAREFULLY again

,,,
He said,,, he got a FT sales job ,,, but affected by the slow down,,,,, NOW want to make some extra $$$ ,,,
and U guy start to give all kind of info all oMo and etc,,

,,,,
okie ,,, cut it short ,,,
Anonymous,,,,,, since U r working , I would advice you that, U got to spend at least 6 hours on the wheel ( as anything more than that,,, U will not function properly the next day !!! )

for only 6 hours operation on the road and with your experience,,, do prepare take home $20 or so after deducting all cost during this down turn !!
try it,,, if U don't belive !!

-- Edited by runroadman at 03:35, 2009-01-09

pirate · Guru

6 hrs may not make $20.. see how lucky or goos u r with the road and place.. experience cabbies also knn liaos.. dont say new bird

Drive · Guru

pirate wrote:

6 hrs may not make $20.. see how lucky or goos u r with the road and place.. experience cabbies also knn liaos.. dont say new bird

Hahaha! How true! I am driving about that kind of hours and I mean 6 hours .'on the road' .
It takes 4 hours collection to pay for the rent , diesel and erp and network charges....on some 'lucky' days can take home more.

moshimoshi · Veteran Guru

runroadman wrote:

walau,,, all the BIG BRO and GURU,,, pls,,,pls,,, read his post CAREFULLY again ,,,
He said,,, he got a FT sales job ,,, but affected by the slow down,,,,, NOW want to make some extra $$$ ,,,
and U guy start to give all kind of info all oMo and etc,,
,,,,
okie ,,, cut it short ,,,
Anonymous,,,,,, since U r working , I would advice you that, U got to spend at least 6 hours on the wheel ( as anything more than that,,, U will not function properly the next day !!! )
for only 6 hours operation on the road and with your experience,,, do prepare take home $20 or so after deducting all cost during this down turn !!
try it,,, if U don't belive !!

-- Edited by runroadman at 03:35, 2009-01-09

bro, you read correctly but me too lei....so pls exclude me from the rest.
i said he's driving to supplement his income - thay means he's having a day job.
i agree, driving abt 6 hrs can only bring in $20 - $30 but still depends on
heng/suay hor..... sometimes can earn a bit more but sometimes considered
heng oredi if can break even. It's not so easy hor.....

bridgestone · Guru

I have full time job during day but can eat snake go sleep, so that's why can drive nite shift. However want to make reasonable $ is not easy, for instance hourly collection is about $18, driving 5 hours intake is $90 minus $70 cost == $20. If want $38 need one more hour driving.... etc. I know experience TD earns much more but this is my general achievement. Also another one hour (no income) for pump up and wash car before return.

runroadman · Guru

bridgestone wrote:

I have full time job during day but can eat snake go sleep, so that's why can drive nite shift. However want to make reasonable $ is not easy, for instance hourly collection is about $18, driving 5 hours intake is $90 minus $70 cost == $20. If want $38 need one more hour driving.... etc. I know experience TD earns much more but this is my general achievement. Also another one hour (no income) for pump up and wash car before return.

wah,,, Boy,,, U smart hor !!!
U drink what brand of milk powder & grow-up one ?!
hahhaaahahahahaha,,, just kidding

pirate · Guru

hahaa.. must be KLIM la.. popular in our days

CamryLimo · A Forum Mentor

No.... mummy's milk :D

taxiuncle · Senior Guru

bridgestone wrote:

I have full time job during day but can eat snake go sleep, so that's why can drive nite shift. However want to make reasonable $ is not easy, for instance hourly collection is about $18, driving 5 hours intake is $90 minus $70 cost == $20. If want $38 need one more hour driving.... etc. I know experience TD earns much more but this is my general achievement. Also another one hour (no income) for pump up and wash car before return.

wah, u got a very good ft job leh.
can buy coastal rhu very soon.