TAXI fares could soon be raised in a move aimed at improving
cabbies' income and at retaining drivers. There is speculation that
market leaders Comfort and CityCab are planning an increase in the
flagdown fare to S$3.80, with the meter adding 30 cents for every
400m travelled.
The flagdown fare for the two taxi companies' regular cabs is now
S$3.70 for the Hyundai i40 model and S$3.20 for the older Hyundai
Sonata; for both these models, the meter jumps 22 cents every
400m.
The price increase in distance travelled is said to replace the
morning and afternoon peak-period surcharge of 25 per cent of the
metered fare, which some commuters have said is confusing.
Comfort and CityCab are both owned by land transport giant
ComfortDelGro; together, their two fleets account for 60 per cent
of the approximately 28,500 taxis running on Singapore roads.
If these two industry heavyweights revise their fares, the five
other taxi companies are expected to follow their lead.
A source said: "The big player sets the pace and influences the
market price. But it will be good if their fares rise because it
gives us an opportunity to do likewise."
When contacted, ComfortDelGro said it does not comment on
fares.
The changes are said to be a response to the stagnant takings of
taxi drivers in the last three to four years, even as rental rates
of taxis have risen. The i40 costs almost S$132 a day to rent, and
the Sonata, around S$110, both prices including GST.
Back in 2011, the Sonata cost under $100 to rent. ComfortDelGro
began introducing the i40 only in early 2013.
The group was recently reported to have expected revenue from its
local taxi business to rise with the replacement cabs, which
command higher rentals, but some drivers have complained that their
monthly income has not risen significantly despite increased demand
for taxis in recent years. An average driver is understood to take
home about S$2,500 a month, though their more hardworking
colleagues can earn between S$3,000 and S$4,000.
Taxi companies have thus seen their pool of active drivers shrink
as these cabbies leave the industry in search of better pay
elsewhere, said a source, who claimed that one of the smaller
operators has been left with about 10 per cent of its fleet
idle.
"This is a problem that affects everyone because the taxi company
doesn't have enough drivers and commuters don't have enough
taxis."
He added that this is happening just as many "good, professional
drivers" are turning 73, when they have to retire, and also when
higher taxi availability (TA) standards are being enforced. TA
standards require a company to have a minimum number of cabs plying
the roads.
If fares are raised, drivers who make at least 25 trips a day can
expect to earn almost S$20 more daily, which will swell their
monthly income by up to 25 per cent.
The source said: "With this increase, I am sure it will encourage
more cab drivers to stick to the profession."
市场再传德士车资将提高25％，起程车资将调至3元8角，但繁忙时段附加费将废除。
《商业时报》引述消息来源报道，康福德高旗下的康福和城市德士，都将调高车资。
据消息来源透露，起程车资将从现在的3元2角（旧现代Sonata车款）或3元7角（新现代i40车款），一律调高到3元8角。而每行驶400米的车资，也将从2角2分增加到3角，换算成一般车资将上涨约25％，但早上和傍晚繁忙时段25％附加费将取消。
业内人士：德士租不出导致车资上调。完整报道，请翻阅14.01.2015《新明日报》。
