Just about to try my hand at some private taxi work,airports,cruise passengers type deal but sacre bleu the hoops to be jumped through Any pointers most appreciated ? I apparently need a crim check and medical to even begin the licence and knowledge stuff but as my truck and car licence are now expired, i figured on renewing them both (with convenient Seetec funding) but am wondering if a hgv medical would by default transfer across to taxi ? which would presumably mean avoiding having to do both ?.I always saw the sense in having a parallel option to lorrying and with no real enthusiasm for the game that once carried me through,l still would prefer to be ‘oven-ready’ should an inviting opportunity arise ?
I had a recent dream…(ish) job slip from my grasp; pulling and setting up mobile medical clinics to hospitals but the firm outsourced to a private operation and it became unviable as they needed drivers on the doorstep near Upper Heyford whereas the original company had no such qualms with me commuting (two lads even based in Cornwall).Felt like a last chance saloon for me doing something a little different but still in my wheelhouse.
Ironically i had to have a recent MMR scan in Chichester last June (remember summer ?) and it just happened to be the firm in question operating the scanner and the unit was pulled just forwards of the mobile clinic.They drive through the night and the unit curtains were closed,window down on a sweltering hot day and i twigged that unlike the original firm who had standard equipped cab-coolers (a major selling point for me),the new owners obviously consider this something of a ‘luxury’.Unbelievable.Pulling million quid plus clinics and the driver trying to rest in a noisy bloody car park before commencing a lengthy night haul.I did mention this to the new firm but realised by then l was on something of a hiding to nowhere and abandoned all hope which forces me to consider taxi work but definitely not by choice.Bit stream of consciousness but any feedback would be appreciated ?
manalishi:
Just about to try my hand at some private taxi work,airports,cruise passengers type deal but sacre bleu the hoops to be jumped through Any pointers most appreciated ? I apparently need a crim check and medical to even begin the licence and knowledge stuff but as my truck and car licence are now expired, i figured on renewing them both (with convenient Seetec funding) but am wondering if a hgv medical would by default transfer across to taxi ? which would presumably mean avoiding having to do both ?.I always saw the sense in having a parallel option to lorrying and with no real enthusiasm for the game that once carried me through,l still would prefer to be ‘oven-ready’ should an inviting opportunity arise ?
I had a recent dream…(ish) job slip from my grasp; pulling and setting up mobile medical clinics to hospitals but the firm outsourced to a private operation and it became unviable as they needed drivers on the doorstep near Upper Heyford whereas the original company had no such qualms with me commuting (two lads even based in Cornwall).Felt like a last chance saloon for me doing something a little different but still in my wheelhouse.
Ironically i had to have a recent MMR scan in Chichester last June (remember summer ?) and it just happened to be the firm in question operating the scanner and the unit was pulled just forwards of the mobile clinic.They drive through the night and the unit curtains were closed,window down on a sweltering hot day and i twigged that unlike the original firm who had standard equipped cab-coolers (a major selling point for me),the new owners obviously consider this something of a ‘luxury’.Unbelievable.Pulling million quid plus clinics and the driver trying to rest in a noisy bloody car park before commencing a lengthy night haul.I did mention this to the new firm but realised by then l was on something of a hiding to nowhere and abandoned all hope which forces me to consider taxi work but definitely not by choice.Bit stream of consciousness but any feedback would be appreciated ?
The Hgv medical does not transfer over to taxi in some local authorities, even though it is exactly the same medical with the same standards etc (it may do in others but I know for sure not in mine) it used to do but this changed about 5/6 years ago, my authority also want a new medical every 3 years not 5. You will also be expected to go on one or two courses about child exploitation and disability awareness etc, again this may be authority dependent.
manalishi:
Just about to try my hand at some private taxi work,airports,cruise passengers type deal but sacre bleu the hoops to be jumped through Any pointers most appreciated ? I apparently need a crim check and medical to even begin the licence and knowledge stuff but as my truck and car licence are now expired, i figured on renewing them both (with convenient Seetec funding) but am wondering if a hgv medical would by default transfer across to taxi ? which would presumably mean avoiding having to do both ?.I always saw the sense in having a parallel option to lorrying and with no real enthusiasm for the game that once carried me through,l still would prefer to be ‘oven-ready’ should an inviting opportunity arise ?
I had a recent dream…(ish) job slip from my grasp; pulling and setting up mobile medical clinics to hospitals but the firm outsourced to a private operation and it became unviable as they needed drivers on the doorstep near Upper Heyford whereas the original company had no such qualms with me commuting (two lads even based in Cornwall).Felt like a last chance saloon for me doing something a little different but still in my wheelhouse.
Ironically i had to have a recent MMR scan in Chichester last June (remember summer ?) and it just happened to be the firm in question operating the scanner and the unit was pulled just forwards of the mobile clinic.They drive through the night and the unit curtains were closed,window down on a sweltering hot day and i twigged that unlike the original firm who had standard equipped cab-coolers (a major selling point for me),the new owners obviously consider this something of a ‘luxury’.Unbelievable.Pulling million quid plus clinics and the driver trying to rest in a noisy bloody car park before commencing a lengthy night haul.I did mention this to the new firm but realised by then l was on something of a hiding to nowhere and abandoned all hope which forces me to consider taxi work but definitely not by choice.Bit stream of consciousness but any feedback would be appreciated ?
The Hgv medical does not transfer over to taxi in some local authorities, even though it is exactly the same medical with the same standards etc (it may do in others but I know for sure not in mine) it used to do but this changed about 5/6 years ago, my authority also want a new medical every 3 years not 5. You will also be expected to go on one or two courses about child exploitation and disability awareness etc, again this may be authority dependent.
Thanks chap.Had a hunch this would be the case but worth a punt.
Had an uncle who owned a taxi. Had friends who were taxi drivers. Don’t do it. There are effectively no controls over drivers hours, no monitoring, no enforcement. It’s very common to be doing the Saturday shoppers during the day, the nightclub kickout on a Saturday night, get to bed around 3am then be up a couple of hours later to do a 4 to 8hr round trip airport run. If you think you’re just going to be doing airport runs you’re kidding yourself. It’ll start out like that but like haulage it’ll then be the "can you just cover this for tomorrow? and before you know it you’re slogging your guts out, getting little sleep and if you’re not on PAYE most likely earning below NMW. The only person I know who was happy doing taxi driving was a friend who was retired and worked for a taxi company on a local authority contract taking a kid with special needs from his home to school in a morning then school back to home in an afternoon. He did it more to fill the time than for the money as he was single and bored out of his skull in retirement.
Had an uncle who owned a taxi. Had friends who were taxi drivers. Don’t do it. There are effectively no controls over drivers hours, no monitoring, no enforcement. It’s very common to be doing the Saturday shoppers during the day, the nightclub kickout on a Saturday night, get to bed around 3am then be up a couple of hours later to do a 4 to 8hr round trip airport run. If you think you’re just going to be doing airport runs you’re kidding yourself. It’ll start out like that but like haulage it’ll then be the "can you just cover this for tomorrow? and before you know it you’re slogging your guts out, getting little sleep and if you’re not on PAYE most likely earning below NMW. The only person I know who was happy doing taxi driving was a friend who was retired and worked for a taxi company on a local authority contract taking a kid with special needs from his home to school in a morning then school back to home in an afternoon. He did it more to fill the time than for the money as he was single and bored out of his skull in retirement.
Maybe not quite as radical here on the Isle of Wight perhaps ? Is 130 quid the going rate nowadays for hgv medicals with your GP ? seems a bit steep ? Worse ways of earning a crust than pottering round the iow i guess ?
Taxis and private hire cars are regulated by Local Authorities. What happens in one area may not be the case some where else. Its very difficult to earn enough in the taxi trade nowadays. Too much competition for the good work, so rates have fallen. If you work the night time trade there arent many police about Just dont do it! Punters urinate and vomit in the car and guess who tidies up afterwards!!
Any pointers most appreciated ? I apparently need a crim check and medical to even begin the licence and knowledge stuff but as my truck and car licence are now expired, i figured on renewing them both (with convenient Seetec funding) but am wondering if a hgv medical would by default transfer across to taxi ? which would presumably mean avoiding having to do both ?.I always saw the sense in having a parallel option to lorrying and with no real enthusiasm for the game that once carried me through,l still would prefer to be ‘oven-ready’ should an inviting opportunity arise ? 
and it just happened to be the firm in question operating the scanner and the unit was pulled just forwards of the mobile clinic.They drive through the night and the unit curtains were closed,window down on a sweltering hot day and i twigged that unlike the original firm who had standard equipped cab-coolers (a major selling point for me),the new owners obviously consider this something of a ‘luxury’.Unbelievable.Pulling million quid plus clinics and the driver trying to rest in a noisy bloody car park before commencing a lengthy night haul.I did mention this to the new firm but realised by then l was on something of a hiding to nowhere and abandoned all hope which forces me to consider taxi work but definitely not by choice.Bit stream of consciousness but any feedback would be appreciated ? 