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Junior Lex · A Forum Supporter

初体验TDVL Bros: Share your feel/ thoughts on your 1st day drive

Junior Lex · A Forum Supporter

Me still not yet begin, highly likely will start on 1st week Jan.
Now in process opening UOB account thereafter, proceed registration with Hirer.

flykite · New Member

ok let me start

ytd (xmas day) was my first day driving, 5am-5pm
my hirer came back around 3.45am so i started early at 4am

pick up first pax at 0430 sibeh excited, 2 young boy go clubbing and bang bang with their girl at the girl house, after finish take cab go home. left their unused condom in my cab. don't know want to surrender to lost & found anot haha

then empty cab go to simpang bedok, 4 ah beng ah lian opposite side, not in time to u-turn, so bo bian

drive empty to geylang, 0555 one indian worker got turned down repeatedly to go penjuru, so i new bird i take him go penjuru, pay by nets, 0555 reach so still got midnight

0610 try to bid current booking at teban gardens, hand not fast enough never get

0615 pickup at jurong east go rws, song liao. reach there dropoff then pickup one aunty go henderson. $3 surcharge (ho seh liao)

0640 pickup at redhill mrt one malay aunty go adam food center

0700 go dunearn road shell toilet

0715 go to novena bo lang, then u turn got 1 couple from hotel royal sibeh desperate for cab. go airport (ho seh again)

0735 reach airport t2, u-turn go t3 queue 45 min, pick up pax go tai seng garden, after that empty cab ply the road for quite some time... go serangoon no pax, serangoon garden not lucky, go serangoon north i kena cut by another driver lost pax, then finally pick up 1 family go church at yio chu kang road. this time i gabra, forget to on meter, but they quite nice since from serangoon north ave 1 go to yck rd church quite near they give me $4

0910 turn to buangkok, pickup malay couple go bedok silat center, then turn to siglap and press mdt wrong knn. thought is current booking i press advance booking 1130. so i rest and go ubi pump full tank first

1130 i pickup advance booking go marina mandarin, then from there another pax go holland close, then another pax go jurong east ave 1. at jurong east got 2 bangla and 2 pinoy maid flag me go airport. listen to their conversation macham the maids kena sent back then the bangla help them pack and send to airport (lucky they paid)

then go queue at t2, this time 30min wait, but little did i know this is my last rest period liao.. bounce pax all the way until handover. from airport go mandarin orchard, then from there go mbs, then mbs pickup pax go chinatown, then to rws, then to jalan bukit merah, then go sgh, then to east coast park, then go toa payoh lor 8, then go jalan besar, then go 313 orchard, then go parkway, then go siglap center. at siglap got to reject pax because late liao

then end shift liao, handover vehicle late 7min

ytd was good day, gross $304, diesel $40 rent $55 (sonata) total mileage 393km

first pax pickup was cold sweat. ask the same usual questions during training (eg. which route u prefer, etc) the small boy say "uncle, i dont have licence, i dont know how to go, fastest way can?" hands very cold when driving. lucky i bring the durian glove so i wear it.. look so funny. somemore the boyboy got to borrow money from the fren to pay me. then the bangla go penjuru is 2nd pax, dont know whether he will merlion or run anot, lucky he is nice guy. then after that, the rest of the day is quite normal liao, except that one forget to on meter.

i dont talk to pax, unless they want to talk to me... dont know if it is anti-social behavior anot, but i see the money i earn i very happy... mostly $10 note... make me understand now how the vietnam girl feel when they sit with u at ktv... their money also hard earned. all $10 note some quite crumpled. didn't expect me to have this kind of feeling at the end of yesterday

then after that some of my course mates from the taxi course very excited ask me out for dinner then we talk about it until late night (but i sibeh shag liao because the last night i didn't sleep, excited, and also scared 4.30am alarm never hear, so actually last night quite steam ald nv come here to post my experience). then i just wake up this morning.

now can feel and really respect those drivers omo otr everyday. i chiong 12hr i come back i pengsan liao. not easy. got time must come out stretch and toilet need to go pls go.

ok thats all for now

-- Edited by flykite on Thursday 26th of December 2013 12:41:34 PM

-- Edited by flykite on Thursday 26th of December 2013 12:42:03 PM

-- Edited by flykite on Thursday 26th of December 2013 12:43:34 PM

-- Edited by flykite on Thursday 26th of December 2013 12:46:03 PM

-- Edited by flykite on Thursday 26th of December 2013 12:48:12 PM

Junior Lex · A Forum Supporter

That's a lucky day for ya!

U very 'zai' on your 1st day, bro flykite.

Did u use gps? I put myself in your shoe, most routes i have no idea how to link up.

Thanks for sharing, very very interesting!!

flykite · New Member

i tried using streetdirectory app on my iphone but i tell u, the 3G network nowsaday is so horrigible that the map didn't load.

the pax some of them will be nice and tell u which route u ask them, some of them dont know ****, some of them will bird u when u ask them which route they prefer.

the route just try to figure out. if u have no idea then i can share with u the route i take.

this sun i will be driving again see if u guys want i can give u my itienary the day after again lol

taxiuncle · Senior Guru

my first day and first pax was a primary school boy going home to HG st 32 from his primary school.
i told him i didn't know the route and asked him to direct me. i was so happy and excited until i
forgotten to press meter.

-- Edited by taxiuncle on Thursday 26th of December 2013 10:01:27 PM

Niteowl · A Forum Mentor

Thanks for sharing .. Shall share my virgin day..

Wah Taxiuncle.. U can still remember your first time ah? ：pi

Chiku · A Forum Mentor

wah! flykite, you very zai and damn good luck also. Many of us lamenting xmas day was slow day, hence i didnt start otr until 12 noon lei.

jia you!

SHC3155C · Veteran Member

Flykite Bro, virgin day u get Gross $300+..... U r my Idol Sld give you a Medal =p

My virgin trip starts using a old crown SMART Taxi (now history) at Tiong Bahru Plaza TS. A elderly aunty with walking difficulty going to Taman Ho Swee. Ask me if i mind, i told her no problem. Similar like Taxi Uncle forgot to press meter

From that passenger knew i was New to the Trade. End up she pass $5 to me which i told her never mind it my own fault gave back change.

Chiku · A Forum Mentor

Forget to turn on meter is very common with newbies cos very kan cheong mah.

Once i didnt turn on meter until half way. At the end, the pax (a elderly indian lady) paid me the full fare with a small tip also.

Only once got one angmo happily pay me what was shown on meter though i didnt turn on the meter until 1/4 into the journey and another time, until i almost reach the destination (some cheapskate singaporean chinese woman). but who am i to blame? treat it as tuition fee lor

Zhivago · Senior Member

Seem to me bro flykite diesel pumped abit less for the mileage travel. Also always the main factor for hirer and relief buay gum.

-- Edited by Zhivago on Friday 27th of December 2013 01:30:47 AM

Taxilim · A Forum Supporter

Hey flykite,

Well Done. You really flew on your first day. For my epica, I usually pay around $41 (after discount) for about 300km travelled. Okay, here's my story on my virgin drive not too long ago. I shared it with my fellow TD classmates on our facebook.

My Virgin Drive

In the course of our lifetime, we come across life changing moments; marriage, birth of our first child etc. Well, yesterday was such a moment for me. It was my first day of driving as a full fledged taxi driver. I was like a child, excited about a new toy.

I collected my taxi, a Premier KIA Magentis at 7.45 am (note: I started out with Premier as a super relief before I joined SMRT as a permanent relief after I found my hirer). Following religiously on what I had learnt in taxi school, I checked the engine oil and water, scratches, dents, spare tyre etc. I drove to the coffee shop opposite and had a light breakfast. Then, I was ready.

I took a deep breath and started the engine. Not knowing who my first customer will be and when I will meet one, I drove out of the car park. Barely after I made a left turn into Bedok South road, an Indian couple and their child waved at my taxi.

My heart was pounding like a 155mm howitzer. Hey, they are hailing my cab, my first customer! I have been chosen..so happy. $$$!

I stopped my taxi for them. The husband opened the door and let his wife and kid in. He did not follow them. I greeted them good morning and the wife said, "Uncle, Mountbatten road, please. Go by ECP, then by Marine Parade road". I said okay and proceeded on with the journey. I said to her, "There may be a traffic jam on ECP". She said, "Never mind, I don't want to go through all the traffic lights". I said okay again, politely, as was to be expected of me.

After about 3 mins, I suddenly realized that I forgot to press the taximeter. Wah lao, can forget one arh? So I quickly pressed the Hired button on the meter. Think I lost about $1.10 for the stupid mistake. Luckily I drove slowly because of the child and thus did not lose much distance.

The lady said to me, "Uncle, can drive faster please? We are late". I said okay and stepped on the accelerator a little, just to please her. Our trainer at taxi school taught us to do this in order to placate our customers.

I did not make any small talk with my pax. Just kept quiet and drove. Most morning pax are like that, always in a rush.

As we reached Mountbatten road and nearing her destination, she suddenly said," Uncle, stop here please". It was outsidea landed house, along the main road.

Behind me was a Mercedes. The driver honked at me and flashed his headlights for suddenlystopping along the main road. But, what to do? That's one of the hazards taxi drivers face everyday. Honks, middle finger and headlight flashes from irate motorists.As drivers, we are sometimes guilty of this too...I think it's retribution for me. Haha..

Throughout my shift, it was pick and go, pick and go... Some interesting events throughout the day..

I picked up 2 China mei meis along Geylang road after I dropped off a pax. They said in Mandarin," Bu Ye Zhong Xin". I was like, huh? I asked in Mandarin whether they knew the English name or road name. Needless to say, they said they don't know. What should I do? Should I tell them to get off and find another cab?

At the traffic light, I quickly took out my iPhone and googled "Bu Ye Zhong Xin Singapore" No luck of course. Now half panic..

The girls then said they were told all taxi drivers in S'pore will know the place. They then called someone they knew...maybe the pimp haha..

Passed the phone to me and the guy at the other end said, "Jalan Sultan". Then I realised. Bu Ye Zhong Xin is actually the Textile Centre along Jalan Sultan. So, as taxi drivers, we must also know the Chinese names of roads, buildings etc. Lots of China people here.

And no, at the end of the journey, they did not suggest offering "special" services in exchange for the fare. It would have been too cheap. They gave me a $50 note for a fare of like $4.50. What a joke. I had to use up all my $10 notes in change.

In Toa Payoh, I picked up a 60+ year old man who could barely walk and asked to go to " Keng Chio Kah" or Petain road/ Flanders Square. I remembered the 3 Kahs thatour trainertaught us; Mang Kar Kah, Tek Kah and Keng Chio Kah. This Kah is a red light district..

This old gentleman looked frail and weak. He took a long time to get into my cab. But, I waited patiently for him. He sat at the front seat.

He was about 60+ years old, maybe 70, yet he called me 'unker'. Lol...

Along the way, we chatted, in Hokkien. He was a chatty fellow. Guess some old folks are just lonely with no one to talk to at home. He talked about his grown up children, how one son stole money from the sister and how the sister got the police to arrest the brother which saddened him a lot. Then, about his good friend who was very rich, but gambled away his fortune and now ended up as a taxi driver.

He was dressed quite shabbily. Whilst chatting, many thoughts came to my mind...What if he had a heart attack on the way? What if he said he had no money to pay? Should I scold him and threaten to take him to the police station? I decided that if he could not pay the fare, I would just give him a free ride.

What would an old man be doing at Keng Chio Kah, you might ask. Well, I did not ask him, but he revealed that he was meeting a friend who would help him find a job. At 70 years old? Maybe he knew what I was thinking and just wanted to act normal..I leave you to draw your own conclusions.

Thankfully, he was able to pay for the fare, which came to about $8+.

From driving an old poorly dressed man to a rich lady and her obese son. I picked up the pair at Ngee Ann City taxi stand.

Once in my cab, the rich lady said in a commanding voice, "Sixth Avenue, go by Holland Road'. I said okay and proceeded to drive off. Idid not knowwhat I was thinking and I prepared to turn left when I should have turned right into Orchard Turn towards Ion Orchard, and then to Orchard Blvd, Napier Rd etc..

Immediately, she shouted, 'Hey, where are you going? Turn right'. I quickly said sorry and luckily still managed to steer my taxi in time to turn right..

I kept quiet throughout the journey. Along the way, she chatted with her son, about how happy she was in being able to buy the expensive shirt for him, how he should prepare for his violin audition the next day etc...The rest of the journey proceeded uneventfully. Once we reached Sixth avenue, she directed me to turn left after the second traffic light, go straight etc. Eventually, we reached The Teneriffe Condo at Laurel Wood Ave.

Most paxes are like that. They will tell you to go to a well known location like Sixth Ave or Indoor Stadium. Once you reached there, they will direct you to their destination. They don't expect you to know where Laurel Wood Ave is, or where The Teneriffe Condo is. Oh, I gave her a discount on the fare, just to make her happy. She was like, "Are you sure?" Bloody hell, I was expecting her to let me keep the $1.45 change, being the rich people they are..must be dreaming lah, this naive taxi driver.

And so, it was quite a contrast to drive one lonely old man and a rich family. All human beings, but leading totally different lives. But, I prefer to take the old man any time..humble, unassuming and just makes you feel comfortable driving them.

I also drove students after their school ended. Most of them took my taxi in groups of 2 or 3 and they will go to multiple locations.

Taxilim · A Forum Supporter

Continued....

"Uncle, go to Eunos MRT, then to Lorong Sarina", they would say. The last student to alight would pay for the full fare.

There was also a maid who took my taxi, but didn't know the road name of her destination. How to drive like that? She told me, just drive, I will direct you there. And so, she will say, turn left, turn right, go straight etc.. Well, we managed to reach her destination. Like that, also can hor...lol.

I also had two pax who are colleagues and complained about their bosses, colleagues, work etc., throughout their journey, as though I am invisible to them.

And so, in just a short 8 hours of driving, I had an interesting adventure, if you may call it. That's the fun part about taxi driving. You never know who you gonna meet next or where your destination will be. Every fare is a new beginning. Maybe because this is my first day. After twenty years of driving, I may sing a different tune.

Being new, I get excited whenever I see a pax flagging my taxi. There is suddenly this strange connection you develop with the person the moment you see him or her flagging your cab. Can't explain it, but you will experience it when you drive. It could be the same for them being able to hail that elusive taxi in crowded Singapore.

Are pax nasty? Thankfully, I was fortunate not to have met any on my first day that would mar the experience.

Do pax look down on cabbies? Well...hard to tell..really. They don't worship you for sure, but I feel that they are always skeptical that you are out to cheat them..So, if you make a mistake, always apologize sincerely and tell them that you are new.

Remember, the pax taking your cab may travel along the same route everyday. He or She knows exactly how much the fare should be..

I have enjoyed my first day.I hope and I believe you will enjoy yours too.

Thank you for reading.

flykite · New Member

Yes that is right, bro zhivago. I realised that later too. But for me, that day when i put $40, the amount was actually more than the 1/2 tank when i received. Means i started at 1/2 tank but when i handover is about more than half. So i'm not too sure also, he also never complain that i put more than i actually use.

Thanks everyone, i just keep driving and didn't know what to expect of this result, this sunday i will be driving again, so if u guys interested i will post again lol

Zhivago · Senior Member

Sonata is a troublesome cab to pump . I've driven a five months to five years old cab. Most new sonata hirer would want relief to pump till pump click and add $2 more but takenote with the slowest flow .

The old sonata most modified tank which allow u to pump till brim without hassle . From what I observe, after pump click u could pump more than $10 .

The common issues between hirer and relief are Timing, diesel , and cleanliness .

For diesel pumping I usually add a dollar or two on top of the hirer requirement . If no time to pump will give $1.20 for 10 km travel plus a $2.l

Timing is very sensitive to some hirer , I always pass cab 15 to 30 mins earlier than the takeover time .

One thing I learnt from veteran driver is want to eat don't eat own breed (taxi driver.). Of cuz this doesn't point to anyone but just wanna share with newbies .

-- Edited by Zhivago on Friday 27th of December 2013 07:01:31 PM

-- Edited by Zhivago on Friday 27th of December 2013 07:03:32 PM