Driver Quiz

You’ve made the decision to improve your life by starting your own BUSINESS. Yes, starting your own business, because driving a taxi isn’t a job. It is your own small business.

You, like many entrepreneurs, are taking a step to control your time, your money and  your life by leaving the limits of the “job” world and entering the potential of the small business world.

And with any small business, knowledge about your business determines your success in that business. Knowledge about the tools available to run your business. Knowledge about your customers and what those customers expect. Knowledge about maximizing your opportunities and PROFITS. This online seminar is intended to introduce you to some of the knowledge you will need to succeed in the Taxi Driving business.?

What exactly is a Taxi Driver?

A Taxi Driver is an Independent Contractor Small Business owner specializing in solving the transportation needs of your customers by providing safe and insured transportation for a reasonable fee.

As an Independent Contractor Taxicab Driver:

• You set your own hours.
• You decide when to take a break.
• You decide where to work.
• You keep track of your own earnings and are not required to report anything to the dispatch company.
• The company cannot track the income you receive or issue a W2
• You decide how large your transportation company becomes.
• You determine your earnings by your effort, Effort-In/Money-Out
• You decide when to take a vacation.

YOU are your own Boss of your LIFE.

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INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR

Because you are in your own Small Business as an Independent Contractor Taxi Driver you are not an employee, you are your own boss, you are not required to report any of your earnings and will drive any period of time you desire to provide the transportation of individuals and property on a for-hire basis. There are a large variety of ways to find customers looking for transportation services and if you choose to you can also receive requests for service from the Taxi Dispatch Service. A Taxi Dispatch Service uses advertising and other means to attract customers to place requests for transportation and then makes these requests available to those that choose to be available for a request.
The relationship between the Independent Contractor Taxi Driver and the Taxi leasing company is that of lessee/lessor, not employee/employer and just like leasing any vehicle you choose how to use the Taxi whether you are looking for a person to provide service or running a personal errand. There is no hiring or firing, just your decision to lease or not lease a Taxi. The Taxi Leasing Company provides all the necessary equipment to operate as a Taxi as well as any CDC recommended supplies for the protection of both you and your customers.

• You will decide the days you choose to lease and drive a Taxi
• You will decide where to drive
• You will choose how to run your business and the way you attract your customers
• You will choose if you want to accept requests from a Dispatch Service
• You choose how to promote your business

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HOW DOES IT WORK?

You come to the leasing office and get to decide when you want to lease a Taxi, once twice or multiple times per week,  your choice but remember the more effort gets you more money like any small business. Once you lease the Taxi you do a quick check over the vehicle and if all is OK, you’re open for business. Remember the more customers the more money you can make, you might decide to work events like spring training or concerts or go to a taxi stand where customers will come to you. You might choose to use the Dispatch System that gives you access to hundreds of  customers waiting to be picked up. Another of many ways to get customers is to advertise. After picking up a customer you might ask how often they need to get rides and based on how well their schedule fits with yours you may offer them your personal phone number.

Everyday is a Payday, add up the amounts you have collected for the rides plus all the tips you got by providing your best service and simply subtract the cost of the gas and the lease and everything left is yours… no more waiting for that PayDay because it can be everyday you lease the Taxi.

You’ve made the money and you want to take a day or days off just return the Taxi to the leasing office, please make sure the vehicle is clean, inside and out, and gassed back up.

You are the boss. You decide when to open for business. You decide when to take a break.

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Customers

There’s an old saying in the taxi business:” Tires turning, Pockets earning” but a more apt saying would be, “ tires turning with someone in the backseat......”.
The object of the “game” is to have someone in your car and you go to and fro for as many miles as possible.
So, who are these much sought after customers?

They are young, senior, fat, skinny, rich, middle class, homeless, athletic, disabled, of all races and  all religions and ethnic backgrounds.
Anyone and everyone can be your costumer. Your aim should be to make them, whoever they are, HAPPY customers.

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The Recipe for making a HAPPY customer

So, we have learned that the customer is the person in your backseat and is the very foundation for making your taxi business a success.
Always remember that every customer should be appreciated and afforded the best service you can offer. Why? Because all of your customers have choices in this super-competitive transportation sector, and they chose a taxi, your taxi.  If you want them to continue to choose a taxi, especially your taxi, please make them feel that they made the right choice for their transportation needs.


We’re back to HAPPY customer. What’s the recipe? Legendary Customer Service. That’s right. It’s that simple and that hard. Consistent Legendary Customer Service.

HAPPY customers= REPEAT customers= more MONEY for you.

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LEGENDARY CUSTOMER SERVICE

Legendary Customer Service is simply treating EVERY customer The way you want to be treated. There is a “rule“ in the taxi business: Treat your customer the way you want a taxi driver to treat your mother or your grandmother. Hop out of the Taxi and open thedoor for your customer and let them know you appreciate the opportunity today, You won’t go wrong by applying this “rule“ every time you get behind the wheel of your taxi in your small business.

First, before you pick up your first customer make sure your vehicle is clean inside and out. Don’t try and take the “Shortcuts“ by using overpowering perfumes to cover odors. The best smell is that simple clean smell.

Second, time is of the essence. There are two types of customers when it comes to time. Some customers are “ASAP“. You get there as soon as it safely possible.
Some customers are “Time calls“. These customers give you a specific time for pick up and you make them happy by being there at the appropriate time. Many of these customers have appointments-jobs, flights-to get to. If you’re late, they’re late. Not a happy customer.

A satisfied customer is a happy customer. A happy customer is money in your pocket. So, if you want to maximize your money making, make your customers happy.
You’ll be happy.

HAPPY CUSTOMERS= MORE MONEY

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Third, The Greeting

You should always confirm the name of your customer before they get in your vehicle.

Besides being on time it’s important to pick up the right person. Nothing upsets Driver and Customer more than the driver picking up the wrong person because he did not confirm the name of the person getting into his Taxi. Even if there’s only one person in the pickup area, confirm the name on your dispatch tablet.

It’s “good service” to open and close the door for your customer. This gives you a chance to control who enters your car. If it’s the wrong person you can gently say,” sorry I’m here for someone else.”

it’s also “good service” to load and unload any luggage or bags your customer has with them.

The Greeting can set the mood for the ride with your customer. The Greeting “tells” your customer that you are glad the chose your taxi company.

Remember, a cheerful smile, a warm greeting and a helping hand can pay dividends and repeat customers and bigger tips.

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Fourth, confirm the destination and method of payment with your customer.

It’s possible the Dispatch typed in the incorrect destination or the customer changed their mind between call for a taxi and getting in your taxi.



Fifth, if the customer wants to talk then talk, but if the customer wants to be quiet  then be quiet.
(Tip-as a rule of thumb, you should avoid discussions involving politics, sex and religion)

Ask the customer which, if any, radio station they prefer(blaring gangsta rap when transporting a senior citizen just out of church probably won’t increase the chance or size of any tip. You might get a complaint). You want to make your customer HAPPY.



Sixth, honor all coupons for your taxi company.

When your customer uses a coupon give them another one for the next trip. People will call your taxi company first. People will wait for your taxi in order to save a dollar.

Generally, coupon users are better tippers.



Seventh , build your own personal clientele.

Don’t be shy. Hand out those business cards to any customer your want to transport in the future (corporate customers that are received through the dispatch system cannot be personalized).

It’s your business. Advertise. There’s not a more cost efficient way to advertise than handing out business cards.

Generally, Drivers who hand out business cards and create “personals” are “slump” proof. When things slow down(for example some periods in the summer) drivers with personals keep moving and earning all year round.

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DISPATCH

[Text]-    A great source of customers is the taxi companies dispatch system.
Anyone needing transportation will call the taxi company.
A call taker will answer and take all the necessary information to get a taxi to the customer.
That information includes:

• name of the customer
• desired pick up time or “ASAP“
• method of payment
• destination address
• any special instructions needed to get to the customer
• (most important) pick up address – including, if applicable, apartment/suite number, name of the establishment and gate code

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Who wants it

The dispatch system serves as a “matchmaker” for drivers and customers.

First, the “Call” is offered to any driver within a 5 mile radius (the offer radius can vary) of the pick up address.
The driver can accept or decline the “call” freely. There is no penalty for declining calls, but remember, more calls equals more customers equals more paid miles equals more money in YOUR pocket.
If no one within the “offer “radius grabs the “call“, The Dispatcher will post the “call“ on a “bid“ screen to be seen by all active drivers. The first one to “bid” for the “call” gets it and makes money.

The dispatch system, if you choose to use it, is always there. 24 hours a day 365 days a year.
You can go you can choose to log in the Dispatch system and get customers in your backseat and make money.

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iCabbi

For the purposes of this online seminar be discussing the iCabbi Dispatch system.

With a iCabbi you, the taxi operator, can:

• 1.  View unclaimed “calls“
• 2. “Bid“ for “calls“
• 3. Accept “calls“ offered to you
• 4. Get all the necessary information to pick up customers
• 5. Use the built-in navigation system to get to the pick up address
• 6. Know the method of payment
• 7. Communicate with the dispatch operator through calls or text
• 8. View future “calls“ coming up in the next few hours
• 9. Go over your customer trips history

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Active Driver

When you want to start making money you can choose to login into the iCabbi Dispatch System to become an active and available Driver. You don’t have to take any “calls” from the Dispatch system, but it’s there if you choose.
You login using your driver ID and PIN number given to you when you lease a taxi, this combination of numbers are yours only and can be used each time you lease a taxi.
The driver ID is an eight digit number.
The PIN number is a four digit number.
You get both numbers on your first day of leasing and you keep them for as long as you are eligible to lease a taxi.
You are now an active driver
As an active driver you can use your iCabbi dispatch tablet to:

1. Check the area around you for a present and future “calls”
2. Check which “calls“ are unclaimed and available for the taking
3. Accept/Decline “calls” offer to you

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The Home Screen

After you login the cabbie Dispatch system you come to the “Home“ screen
From the “Home”  screen you can perform a number of functions to help you make money.

Let’s look at the buttons on the “Home” screen

1. “Available”(green)means you are available to be offered “calls” from Dispatch. You are also available to “ bid” for calls from Dispatch. If that button is red and Shows  “Unavailable” you can’t be offered “calls” nor can you “bid” for “calls”.
2. “Bids”. Pressing this button while available  takes you to the “Bids” screen. This screen could be called the “more money” screen, because it’s where you go when nothing is being offered to you, but you want a customer.
3. - zone screen “Zones”. Taxi companies break up their service area into smaller areas call zones. Each zone is labeled (114 ,361 ,202).  That label ,or name ,tells The Dispatcher and Driver what part of the service area the “call“ is located in.
   

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4.“Base” is another name for the Dispatcher. Press this button when you want to communicate with The Dispatcher. You can communicate via text or request that the dispatch call you. You can also send a preset message-“what’s the gate code?” for example.

5. - Bookings screen “Bookings”. Want to know what “Time calls” are coming out in the next few hours? Check out the “Bookings”screen by pressing the “Bookings” button. It’s a good way to gauge the flow of business volume.

6. - message screen “MSG”-messages. You can go back and check all the previous messages sent to you from Dispatch.

7.photo of the Busy screen with options “Busy”. Want to take a break? Make yourself “unavailable“ but still active by pressing “Busy” and choosing between “short break”, ”long break“ and “log off”.

8. menu screen “Menu”.  Pressing  “menu“ gives you options to adjust your tablet settings.

9. “Panic”. When in need of emergency help press the panic button three times to notify The Dispatcher that you need immediate  attention. Only for emergencies.

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Anatomy of a “call”

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Breaking down the "call" information

Take time to look over the “call“ information on your tablet. This will prevent mistakes.

You don’t want to go to the wrong address or arrive too early on a “time call“.

You don’t want to get the customer to the airport and look for payment only to find out that you should have gone into the hotel for the payment from the front desk.

You don’t want to waste your time.

You don’t want to upset your customer.

So, look over the information before putting your taxi in “drive”.


First,  “Time”

Take note of the time the customer expects a taxi pick up. A time (military time) followed by (PB) means the customer “pre-booked“ the pick up for a stated time in the future.

So, 12:15(PB) Means the car was “pre-booked” for a 12:15 PM pick up.

The call might be offered to the drivers 30 minutes before the desired pick up time to give the driver ample time to get to the pick up address safely.


On the other hand,12:11(ASAP) means the “call“ was entered into the dispatch system at 12:11 PM and the customer wants to be picked up as soon as possible.

Second, “INFO”

Press the “INFO” button to read any special instructions and/or more details about the pick up address-apartment #, name of a business, gate code, or details about the method of payment, for example.

[Photo]- info screen with details

When you’ve read the information on the “INFO” page press OK to go back to the “call” screen.


Third, take note of the method of payment by reading the information following “Type”.

“Pay in car“ means cash or credit card. Any other method of payment-vouchers, gift card, specialize debit cards, “credit card on file“-Will be noted here

When the customer is in the Taxi, please confirm the method of payment before starting the meter.


Fourth, “Name”

Please note the name of the customer. you need to confirm the name before anyone gets in your taxi.

Fifth,”Fare”

Quiz-

1.When you see “USD 0.00 (METERED)” on a cash/credit-card “call” you can charge your customer....

• no money
• the amount on the meter
• three times the amount on the meter

2. What space on the “call” screen gives you the method of payment?

• ”NAME”
• ”ETA”
• ”TYPE”

3. Which button do press to find special information-apartment #,gate code, etc.- concerning the “call”?

• “TIME”
• ”OPTIONS”
• ”INFO”

Sixth, “FROM”

Arguably the most important piece of information on the “call” screen is the pick-up address.

Please take note of the direction in the address: east, west, north or south.
Going to 6400 E Camelback rd, instead of 6400 W Camelback rd, is a 16-mile mistake that will upset all  parties involved.
Please take note of the city in the address. For example,there are three “1900 E University dr” addresses in the Phoenix metro area: one in Phoenix, one in Tempe and one in Mesa.
An innocent oversight can cost you money by creating an UNHAPPY customer.

Seventh, “To”

The customers destination will appear after you turn on your meter, if the customer informed the call taker of an destination address.

If no destination address was given, you will see
“AS DIRECTED” in the “To” slot.

Eighth,”VT” is vehicle type(sedan or van) required for the “call”.

“ 4 Seater/1” tells you the customer needs a 4-seat sedan and you should expect one rider.

Quiz-

1.”NAVIGATE” uses ______ to assist you in finding the pick-up address.

• Compass
• GPS
• Weathervane

2.”TO” gives you....

• The number of customers
• The destination address

from “ VACANT” to “HIRED”

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1. Who approves all “no shows” on dispatched “calls”?

• The Cashier
• The Mechanic
• The Dispatcher
• You

2. When do your press “ARRIVED”?

• When your 10-5 minutes away from the pick-up address
• When you’ve arrived at the pick-up address
• When you accept the “call”

The Meter and PIM( credit card machine)

Your taxi meter is your cash register.

When you’re ready transport your customer(s) to their destination, “ring up” the sale. Turn on your meter.

Operating a taxi meter(Centridyne for this online seminar) is simple.
You use two buttons: “Hired” and “ Time Off”.

You firmly pressed the “Hired” button
Your “call” screen will go from “VACANT” to “HIRED”
Your meter flashes the “meter drop”(initial pick-up charge). For example,$2.75. That’s your starting point.
Your meter continues to add to the total:
Per mile as you’re moving. For example,  $1.95 per mile Per minute as you sit in traffic. For example,$0.75 per minute

When you are at the end of the ride, you firmly press the “Time Off” button.
Your “call” screen changes from “HIRED” to “TIME OFF”
The meter stops accruing charges.

It’s time to get paid

Video#16

The action now switches to your customer(s).

In the back seat there is a payment terminal(for this online seminar we will consider the CURB credit card machine).

Your customer(s) chooses cash or credit card or a combination of both.

If they choose credit card, they can add a tip and run the card themselves.

You never have to handle their credit card.

Either way, your customer(s) can opt to receive a receipt at the end of the transaction.

You can avoid the embarrassment of running out receipt paper by changing the paper roll when you see a red line on the side of your customer’s receipts.

Video# 17(changing receipt paper)

There you go. Money in your pocket. NOW.

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