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GT · New Member

Questions from a Newbie

AhTim · New Member

GT wrote:

a) I have already send our the application letter to LTA to become a taxi driver.
How long will it takes before i can get a approval?

Ans : LTA approval beri fast one, 2 weeks or so.
(hope u sent the app yourself, if u sent yours via s**t, then goodluck to u, me did mine via s**t, took one month to reach LTA niah )

b) I understand that i will be needed to go through a orientation, prior to me taking up a online course on the TVL, can any fellow experience forumers explain to me what is this orientation about? is it compulsory?

Ans : yes, it is a briefing to get your password and handbook and some q&a.

c) After the orientation, i will be able to take the online course,
how can i register for it ? Can i register on it online ? or i have to go down to Comfort, as i will be looking at to become a Comfort Relief driver.

Ans : you register first, then go orientation, then course. comfort has to go down sin ming/loyang or any kiosks to pay & register. smrt can register online.

d) After the online course, i need to go for a excursion right? can anyone enlighten me on these as well ? What is the excursion about ?

Ans : aka taxi-uncle-to-be sight-seeing /road familiarization tour....important for the test.

e) Lastly after the application, orientation, excursion, i will need to take a test.
Is this test a written test? or i can take it online ?

Ans : written test for classroom trainees, online trainees can take e-test @STA.

f) how long will it take for the results?

Ans : written test has to wait for marking, etc, dunno how long; e-test can know immediately after the test.

g) After i clear all, how can i get the licence?

Ans : you will be contacted by comfort/smrt. (they will brief u during orientation)

h) it seems that only SMRT has the page for online course registration, how about
Comfort Cab? Does anyone know how to ?

Ans : see pt (c), the only advantage smrt has is you can see when is the next available orientation date online.

you can call up the comfort/smrt to check up all these.
you can call up LTA to check your application
the rest of the qns let old birds enlighten u.

-- Edited by AhTim at 10:46, 2009-02-05

bridgestone · Guru

GT wrote:

Lastly, if i drive from 12-12, do you guys think that i am not being realistic if i am targeting a daily take home of about $150 per day?

1200-0000 OMO target for $150 net IMO is quite difficult. If 1600-0400 relief then is probably achiveable but still not guaranteed.

music · A Forum Mentor

GT wrote:

On a seperate note, i am just wondering if say, i am looking to be a Relieft driver, from say 4/5pm to 2am. Is it difficult to find a hirer?

Not difficult, most change shift timings are 4, 5, 6

OR i should just go straight to become a Hirer ? so i can drive say from 12 pm to 12am.? OMO

Suggest you drive relief and have the hang and feel first, b4 jumping in

How long does it takes for a assignment of cab? Say sonata from Comfort?
Not too sure on this may you can call them and ask , I oso interested to know

Lastly, if i drive from 12-12, do you guys think that i am not being realistic if i am targeting a daily take home of about $150 per day?

You can work backwards
Assuming the average collection for newbie is S$20.00 / hr
If you drive 12 hours, technically speaking you should collect S$240.00
Less : rental 105 and diesel 40
Your net income for the day is 95.00 +/-

So if you need to get $150.00 nett, you need to put in more effort

Pls do not drive only 6 hrs and stop
comfort will tell you thank you have a nice day, rest well and continue to drive tomorrow and they will continue to deduct the rental when it falls due

Hours = Income (Collection - Rental - Diesel)
6 hrs = -5 (120 - 105 - 20)
7 hrs = 12 (140 - 105 - 23)
8 hrs = 29 (160 - 105 - 26)
9 hrs = 45 (180 - 105 - 30)
10 hrs = 62 (200 - 105 - 33)
11 hrs = 79 (220 - 105 - 36)
12 hrs = 95 (240 - 105 - 40)
13 hrs = 112 (260 - 105 - 43)
14 hrs = 129 (280 - 105 - 46)
15 hrs = 145 (300 - 105 - 50)
16 hrs = 162 (320 - 105 - 53)

Note : Lao Chiao can earn more than the above
Disclaimer : Newbies may not earn that much

Any input/advice will be greatly appreicated

GT

fairfare · Senior Guru

bro music

gd initiative to response to newbie...jz wanna add your insights are only assumptions but not far off target tho

you're right that lao chiao cld earn more...it all boils down to experience where to get paxs...having said that i believe daily luck also comes into play...everyday is different from yesterday

you're right to advise newbie not to be too optimistic being a newbie...he better be a relief driver & get the feel on d roads

GT · New Member

hi music

thank you for your advice..
now still quite early stage for me, still waiting for the LTA to approve and i also dunno how long it will before i can get the TvL

GT · New Member

from your computation.
for driving 6 hours to maybe 12 hours, if i am a relief,the rental shd be halved right ? like say 5pm- 5am. 12 hours

if $20 per hour x 12 = 240 -52- 40= 148?

is that right? any advice?

seems like this forum is quiet ...is there any other forums i missed out ?

music · A Forum Mentor

GT wrote:

from your computation.
for driving 6 hours to maybe 12 hours, if i am a relief,the rental shd be halved right ? like say 5pm- 5am. 12 hours

if $20 per hour x 12 = 240 -52- 40= 148?

is that right? any advice?

seems like this forum is quiet ...is there any other forums i missed out ?

When you drive 1 shift (ie 12 hours), you are effectively driving only 11 hours, cos 1 hour got to reserve for pumping diesel, wash veh, makan, empty cab rtn to hirer if far away

so compututation is $20 per hour x 11 = 220 -52- 40= 128 +/- bah

Date: Sat Feb 7 4:26 PM, 2009

another questions from a Newbie here.

Hi, seniors, is there a radio installed inside the cab?

Whatsever company the taxi belongs to, as you know folks, it will be very boring without a music flowing in the air while driving the taxi for hours.

mecabby · Guru

Anonymous wrote:

another questions from a Newbie here.

Hi, seniors, is there a radio installed inside the cab?

Whatsever company the taxi belongs to, as you know folks, it will be very boring without a music flowing in the air while driving the taxi for hours.

All cabs do not have a radio installed ..you have to install it yourself....

Date: Sun Feb 8 2:32 AM, 2009

what you mean, i thought all new cars comes with radio accessories.
Maybe the taxi companies extracted out that makes the first user's cabby installed it thus it benefit to those hirers or relief drivers coming their way.
You know driving on the road the whole day without any music or sounds damn boringdriver

CamryLimo · A Forum Mentor

Comfort taxis are not equip with radio (this is done on the hirer's own cost). It could be that CDG request not have radio accessories as they do not want to burden themselves as the turnover rate of taxi exchanging hand is rather high.

Other companies with new taxi do come with it.

-- Edited by CamryLimo at 05:14, 2009-02-08

GT · New Member

hi camry

base on your experience , can you give me some advice ?

a) is it reallistic to make 150 net per day if i drive from 12noon-12 idnight?
i am considering being a hirer from silivercab or citycab. What are the significant advantage of a OMO compare to a relief?

b) if i choose to be a relief, is it difficult to get a hirer if i want to drive the night shift? will i be able to net $120 average? what are the conditions to take note
when negotiating with hirer?

C) during cashless payment, how would the system know if the fare goes to the relief driver's acount or hirers account? and how long does it take for it to be credited?

any advice for a newbie would be greatly appreciated

bluenuts · Veteran Guru

GT, join us for meet up and u'll have a better picture.
Some of the qn that you ask there's no certain answer, it's up to you.
Driving a taxi have no template, no formula, hence no fix answer.
There's no other forum that you can find that will be able to answer you like we did, if you can find one, do let us know.

Frankly if you read through our forum you'll get most of your qn answered.
What you asking basically other members had asked b4.
So please read through them.

-- Edited by bluenuts at 18:30, 2009-02-08

GT · New Member

hi bro bluenut

thanks for the reply.
yes i would love to meet up with you guys for more advice and insights.
but i haven got my TVL yet, still waiting for LTA to send me my approval letter.

yes, i did read through the postings on the forums, just cant find sme answers,
and i think alot of the regulars stop postings already.

apologies for the repeated postings or questions, just some insecurities in me before i really become a FT TD..

Gt