i am also new at this but maybe i can share my point of view
from so far, note just my personal opinions, look in the quote
Hi all,
I'm thinking very hard of switching my job to become a taxi
driver cos I'm really sick and tired of the corporate world with
all its stress and backstabbing. Need to have a job that is my OTOT
one, retrenchment-free, and less mental stress.
POV: there are a few assumptions you tend to make, maybe i can
help shed some light (on some). usually ppl associate cab driving
with carefree. its not. its as stressful, as backstabbing on the
road as in the office. the difference is, in the office, at most
you lose your job. on the road, you can lose your life (or
limbs).
I disagreed with "OTOT one, retrenchment-free, and less mental
stress." theres no (or very few oppt for) OTOT in cab driving (have
to find out); cab drivers face retrenchment everyday from the first
moment rent is paid out; and the mental stress? from self
(family?), from other drivers and of cos from passengers.
At the moment, I work 12-14 hours weekdays, and 6-8 hours
weekends. No time for family, friends, or even myself. My mental
and physical health also taking a beating because of this.
POV: 12-14hrs weekdays? That is "normal", for some even "under
average". 6-8hrs weekends? Cab Driving usually consumes even
more than that if you want to make good. Unless you just, quote:
"needs enough to eat, drink, smoke, toto, 4d and
newspaper."
I get the feel that you automatically assume cab driving will
'improve' your general well being.
I don't need to earn 4 - 4.5k that I'm making now. Just need to
make about 3 - 3.5k without CPF is fine for me cos I only have one
child to support and my wife oso working.
POV: Not alot of pple will realise, even after years and
years, that the secret (irony) of Cab Driving to earn a living is
NOT to earn a living. Drive cab because you dont need to.
Drive cab because you dont need (THAT LEVEL OF) income. Drive cab
because you have no expectations. Some called it "frustrations",
some called it "burn out", some called it "accidents", lets call it
"situations" will follow, sooner or eventually, the more
desperately you need to drive cab. I can literally bet, almost
everyone who started (or ended!) cab driving, thought "Enough is
Enough". haha
But there're 2 problems:
1. Still on company contract for two more years
POV: I think you'd appreciate theres always penalty for
breaking bond or contract. so much so they can take you up to court
for compensation. But one more thing about the contract part later
on.
2. I don't have a driving licence
a Class 3 asap, then wait for a year until my company contract
expires, so that I can become a OMO hirer.
POV: From the friends and associates i know of, who got into
driving, then got into cab driving, they usually take more than 1yr
to get to the driving licence eventually, then more time than the
strictly speaking 1st yr driving experience, THEN ANOTHER half or 1
or more yrs before they get to the TVL...THEN ANOTHER half yr or
again yrs (many) before they actually finally start their first Cab
engine. (then another few more days? weeks? months? before
they grow confident about sticking in the job). Think about the
strength of that commitment over time. Perhaps thats why in fact
all the cab drivers i know of got into cab driving WITHOUT planning
far earlier ahead, they got into cab driving because they thought
about it at most a few months back. But again, these are the
'average' that i know of, might not to apply to everyone whos
urgent to start cab driving. but note my previous remarks about
urgent to start cab driving.
Questions:
1. Can I apply for the VTL licence while I'm still working under
contract?
POV: Coming back to the contract part, most companies
usually close one eye. But certain company policy (dont worry about
checking, they wont inform you and when they found out or as you
say someone backstab you, then they will make one up along the way)
would designate any form of 'non-official, non-pre-approved
undertaking or training' as moonlighting, sidelining, liable for
penal action, even compensation. For example, they can "suspect" a
worker is operating in a diminished capacity during work hours
(regular or OT), without necessarily prior informing his mgmt,
hence seriously and possibly jeopardizing safety of self and others
blah blah blah..AND THEN IMAGINE a (non related?) accident really
happened! Compensation everyone knows, guess what penal action
means. Try check under 'scrapegoat'.
2. How long before the VTL licence expires? Renewable
yearly?
3. Which taxi company has the best benefits (in terms of
maintenance, insurance)?
POV: Because the Cab Market here is in reality an oligopoly,
anyone can say EVERYONE has the best benefits. or someone might say
NO ONE has any benefits. and then another might even say, What
which companies, isnt it all ONE company? See the irony? To me, its
just a matter of personal preference and fit.
4. Which model is the best for Diesel engine? Sonata?
POV: Some prefer CNG, Some petrol. To be honest, its abit early
to go into this because things might change (look at COE, the car
market and the public transport market today and 2 weeks ago) til
you get your license (then your TVL) (then your 1 yr driving
experience) (then you start your cab engine).
5. Can I expect an income of 2.8 - 3.4 k if I were to drive OMO
12 hrs a day, Mon - Sat, breaking up my shifts to include both peak
hours and the 3-5pm slot?
POV: refer to earlier pt about lofty expectations and
ideals?
6. Installing a GPS system is additional cost or is it included
in the daily rental?
POV: my personal experience, as someone mentioned, the best GPS
is the one between the driver's ears. but what intrigues (me) is
you harp on this (and even the monetary costs), BEFORE your first
driving lesson. it means (to me), you already foresee you dont know
where you going.
Sorry for being so 'Chang Qi' but I really wanna know from the
frontline soldiers than reading 'politically correct' versions on
the company public webpages.
POV: everything said, this is another dangerous assumption.
doesnt mean "frontline soldiers" give the best picture, than
'politically correct' press releases. To put things into better
perspective, since time immemorial, foot soldiers had charged in
front to get marked down first, by raining arrows, boiling oil,
hidden mines, but their Officers in their neat trim uniforms keep
sending them up FROM THEIR VANTAGE POINT AT THE BACK. So Who
Learned What actually?
Many thanks for your patience and hope to hear some responses.
Hope to join the ranks in 2 years' time!