Getting Regular Customers: What is a proper way?

Ah-Bickle SG

Hi,

I’ve read that cabbies, especially those Limo drivers, have a group of regular customers that serves to supplement their income since these customers take the guesswork out of cruising around looking for passengers. And I understand that such arrangements are often made via the advanced bookings from taxi companies.

My questions: Are taxi-drivers allowed to negotiate with a passenger for future regular bookings without informing their companies? If no, what are the penalties for flouting this rule?

If yes, do they set any sort of guidelines? As in are you allowed to freely publicise your service say etc using a namecard or via the internet?

Any feedback is welcomed, thanks!

ALN SG

i think nothing wrong…. in fact LTA meter got a option for private booking….

RaTtY8l SG

u can givthem ur hp number. if they call u, u still charge them the booking fee lo

zichuan SG

services or visit geylang ofen,

zichuan SG

sometimes geylang pimp offer services to taxi driver to fetch their girls from hdb/condos to geylang to work, at a price.. but well.. visit geylang ofen sit down kopitiam rapport with those ah pek , lao puay lang.. etc..

Poolman SG

infact , when i was a driver , many paxes asked me for number , when they need me , they call me .

Some did , only when there's really no cab around , and to dial for a cab , it takes them an hour to get a cab sometimes .

But when hotline is busy , of course i am busy as well . So when they called me , i had to turn them down .

Also i dun like myself being tied down by tied routine , rush here rush here !!!

Bad for my heart .

Poolman SG

there's no correct ways ... just make sure u are given 30 minutes grace period to reach them .

If u estimate cannot make it , then dun promise .

Especially u got a pax with you .

If regular , daily basis , make sure worth while , and always be punctual .

As for meter , by the button K2 , for comfort , pressed until u see PTE , meaning for Private booking , and so on .

Poolman SG

if u're new , and thinking of getting regulars for regular income , i would advised , dun do it , very restricted !!

Rushing like fuck , if kena jam , walan , ur balls shrink sia .

Poolman SG

there's no fixed fare ... but must be reasonable .. like normal flag down , plus booking etc ....

Poolman SG

that's why u see Merc Cab they give away their name cards .... no violating of any rules in Singapore .

ALN SG

ya loh… so restrictive…. to me, drive cab is for more flexibility…. not more rules and fixed schedule….

unless routing and timing is perfect… e.g. coincide with your timing of first trip from base

KCTK SG

i used to have a regular. teacher in a sch in JE. Poor guy got some health problems now, so receiving treatment.

key points

1. 500m from my home

2. pickup time coincides with first trip

3. destination is excellent for next connection

fare can be discussed to mutually benefit both. u dun really need to set private booking, so long as you start the meter. advantage is u dun have to worry about your first customer of the day. esp. when u see so many empty cabs cruising.

other than that i usually dun take private bookings cos the 30mins prior to pickup, u can't really pick any other pax. and as poolie & alvin said, too restrictive. ditto advance bookings. unless chun-chun coincide with tea break finish time.

Poolman SG

now they on-call .... 3 minutes taxi reached them , cheap somemore .

ALN SG

yup, connection and timing very important

for my advance at 5am, if me drop off earlier pax at 430am, me will rest and kopi….

if swee swee drop off at 4.50am and near pick up point, even more ideal

5am advance no jam…. pasir ris to jur west st 91… 25 min max… shiok

Ah-Bickle SG

Thanks for the comments. I am no cabbie so its nice to learn and hear from the cabbies themselves that it is actually against economic reasons to schedule a regular trip, esp during peak hours.