How can Taxi drivers improve their image?

Flat rates for distance traveled. No suspicious meter.

Welcome to Fluther.

Be friendlier. I know I’m mostly paying just for the ride, but I hate saying “how’s your night going?” to someone I’m doing business with and getting a grunt in return. I don’t care if your English isn’t very good… just make an effort to be friendly.

@cabdrivers

FIND THE RIGHT ADDRESS!!!

Both when you’re answering a call AND when you’re dropping of customers.

I hate when a taxi driver is on the phone while driving. I want them to be available to me if I have a question and not talking to someone else, which I find to be rude. I like to hear positive energy in a cab drivers voice, that they seem to like their job.

There is an old customer service example about a taxi ride, I cannot remember what book it is from, where the passenger gets into the taxi at the airport in Chicago. He is pleased to find the cab is very clean, and the local newspaper available. The driver, greets with a “hello” and after getting the address of the desitination, offers to point out some landmarks and sights on the way into town if the customer is interested. Of course this would not be appropriate in every situation or in every city.

Generally exceeding expectations is the key to good customer service and improving image.

(particularly in NYC)...change their names to something that doesn’t have 4 Q’s and 3 X’s in it.

@dalepetrie that made me laugh. That actually does not bother me at all. I think you might be showing your midwesternness/apple pie/not very exposed to other cultures.

Bathe? And, chat a bit more. If I’m new to the city/or visiting, tell me a bit about the surroundings whilst driving by.

@JLeslie – No, I wasn’t exposing anything, I’m very well versed in other culutres…that, my dear was what is known as a joke.

Actually, the initial, “hello, how are you today?” lets us know your command of the English language and your willingness to talk even if your name has a lot of Q’s and X’s.

I tend to use a lot of exaggeration in my humor :)

@dalepetrie Well, you succeeded in making me LOL so I guess your joke worked.

Well. you can’t! Hollywood makes Taxi Drivers Greasy and shabby, and Hollywood was Spot on! However, in small city’s, or towns Taxi drivers look normal, they don’t look like a business man or woman, but they don’t look Nasty either. Big City’s like California, New York and others, The Greasy grease pals only have a bad image because they don’t earn much money driving people around. Big city stores are exspensive, and Taxi Drivers just try to live life. =)

Or maybe I’m wrong, Maybe they just like looking like Crap :P

The reality of taxi drivers is that most of them got into that kind of work because they’re new to the country and driving is a skill that can make you fast money to feed your family. My grandfather, father, and two uncles were taxi drivers for many years. My cousin’s husband has been driving a taxi for at least a decade and another cousin is going to get his license soon. Except for the last one mentioned, all of them barely spoke/speak a work of English. Unlike other professions, taxi drivers are not trained in customer service, so they don’t know how to make casual conversation (especially in a language that is not their own), or point out landmarks, etc.. They only got into the business because they know how to drive.

It probably would improve the image of taxi drivers to have them trained as tour guides on top of their driving duties, but most of them just want to get you to your destination so they can go get more fares or go home. It’s an exhausting job, despite what you might think about sitting behind a wheel being easy.

In Chi town we’ve had some great ones said “Hey how are yous doin’ today?” or “If you both want to go to a nice bar after the show there’s one within walking distance from the theater.” and some bad ones Took us to the wrong side of the block and had us tromping through snow during a winter storm…talked on the phone the entire trip without more than a head nod when we said where we wanted to go…or had on crazy “screaming music” yes it was foreign

I’d say cab drivers that want a “good image” already know what to do, converse while being kind, friendly, and helpful….the others could use a lesson in ettiquette.

You can’t create lousy, badly paid jobs and expect great service to come out of it. Taxi drivers here in Chicago barely scrape by, get essentially no training (as has been mentioned), are frequently robbed, and get to spend all day in a high-stress environment. It’s a job of last resort for people desperate for a job. That’s not a recipe for a great attitude.

London cabbies, by contrast, are trained extensively and make upwards of $50,000/yr. (and, of course, their health care is covered). The work is still tough, but there’s a pride that comes with the job, and that makes a lot of difference. It’s a real vocation, not a dehumanizing ordeal.

On my daily drive, I try to cut taxis a lot of slack. Those guys work hard for their living, and don’t need the extra stress of me honking at them or not letting them do what they need to do.

If one has to spend 3 years to study The Knowledge, one would hope to be well-paid at the end of such an endeavor!

I haven’t had a problem with any cabbies, really, except the few times I’ve been asked if I want to drive into a shady little corner somewhere to do the do, or if I’d be willing to marry their cousin for $5K. Luckily, I’ve been able to politely refuse such requests and keep everyone’s ego intact! The “shady” ones don’t get such a great tip, though.

@aprilsimnel are you serious about the corner thing, and cousin? Thats being a hooker but on their part!

Most cabby’s in the big city’s are alot of times immigrants, and they still do work for a really small amount of cash, wouldn’t you rather earn ten times the amount you earn on the street? I would, and if I’m new in America I would probably want to learn, I can’t even imagine how immigrants Feel/felt when coming, of course Scared and Happy.. but how about confused, I am being really wordy: what I’m saying anyways is I would spend 3 probably even more years learning stuff for a job, and this could include English, Driving, Hand signals, math, Reading and American maps because then I would have an easy job that I have experience on. Talking to my passengers, getting the right amount of money not getting ripped off, Hand signals for the Def.

Now I know I said alot, But read it if you hadn’t!

This last thing is Qualifications a Taxi Driver needs:
1.- driver’s license in good standing, held for a period of time in the state (1 years, 2 years, etc.)
2.- solid driving record, with no recent reckless driving charges and few, if any, traffic violations
3 – no major criminal convictions (or at least nothing recent)
4 – no DUI convictions (or at least nothing recent)
5 – ability to speak English
6 – no sex offenses
7 – at least 21 years of age
8 – passing a class and/or exam (Including recent Drivers, Reading, Math for tax, Area knowledge, and map reading)

- Thanks if you read, I learned some stuff on this topic now =)

@Resistka, yes, I have been asked for sex a couple of times (over 15 years, that’s really not a lot) and one man did ask if I’d be willing to marry his cousin so he could get a green card.

@aprilsimnel
wow… thats, Kinda wierd, I mean I hear about that stuff all the time but when I just hear about it, I think oh.. Another one bites the dust. Good thing you said No, and was the guy mexican? I dont mean to be racist but ive never heard a Mexican refer to his family as Brothers or sisters, just Cousins…

The “please marry my cousin” guy told me he was Palestinian. I don’t know what the wanna-be boot-knockers were, but they didn’t appear to me to be Spanish-speaking.

They should just be polite, not cheat passengers by driving them out of the way to get a larger fare/tip, and not smoke or eat in the taxi if they can help it. That’s all I care about.

@aprilsimnel Yes, Thats really good, thats something you can put on the Qualifications list, Back to kindergarten for MANNERS 1 – The P Word

Off topic: Woah! If I knew what the real P word was in 1998, I would have been the coolest 4 year old ever!

Stop texting while driving!

And pay attention to your surroundings. So many turn without looking. I don’t find them to be the best drivers.

@willbrawn Exactlly my man, the way they see it they don’t need to be good drivers they just need to get you from point A to point B, take your money and Run.

Um, speak the same language as their customers?

Stop fuckking tailgaiting and sounding horn!!

I strongly believe that part of a car dealerships ‘taxi package’ should include disconnection of the cars horn as well as that uneven yellow finish.

As a New Yorker I’m annoyed that if I’m paying for the service the ride can’t be relaxing.

You call yourself a professional driver? Then be smooth, please?

@proXXi I say if that’s the case, if you don’t mind, phone a Taxi company and either have then send one of their most Favorited drivers, based on compliments and what not. Or tell them hey, Dirty Steve, or Hairy jerry.. yea not the best.

You would be helping you and other people

City governments need to quit limiting the number of Taxis (with licenses or medallions….. those things need to become $35 not $10,000 ).

Then after doing that, there will be more competition. Prices will drop in half, and some companies will offer horrible service, and some will offer great service.

London cabbies are brilliant and polite, having taken a very serious course and having to pass an exam.

NY cabbies suck and don’t even speak English.

I think we should trade.

Tokyo taxi drivers have GPS so you can give them any address and they can find their way. Some speak a little English. They have white covers on the seats many times and wear gloves.