To be or not to be... a TD

Pandanchen SG

Any fun, interesting, strange or nasty driving experiences to share?

too many story to tell you over coffee

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cai_Mingjie

this is the highest educated taxi driver. maybe i am second on the list :)

Jasonlkl SG

Yes thanks! Nice book. Interesting to read the daily challenges he met on the road.

foolsh_2000 SG

This former FT he is smart.after experiencing taxi drvg published a book.make money alrdy.went back China become professor again!

Jasonlkl SG

Haha! Luckily i only borrowed from library

Pandanchen SG

end of the year is peak period for TD

are you driving yet ?

Jasonlkl SG

Attending comfort MDT course next week. Planning to drive part time once found a suitable hirer

bowah SG

Dun read his book lah, will send you to Holland, taxi driving is not about your status in the society, it is about the passion and the job you wanted in life, but if you are thinking of earning big, or telling story, sorry, this is not the job. During his time, there were no apps rides, if have, I think he would had joined them.

Money is a need, we all cannot deny it, especially so in the context of Singapore high living cost, however, money is not permanent, it can bring you a short period of happiness, but most of the time, prolong period of unhappiness due to shortage of it.

Therefore, to truly touch one soul, one hv to sincerely ask himself, what do you want in life, some people take up taxi is because it is all about self, ME or I, out of the corporate world of dirty politics, out of the world of back stabbing and bossing.

So, you need to have that passion in you to truly say, I enjoy driving and serving others by transporting them from A to B or B to C, and that there is no one to blame except ME, and

I answer for my own action and hold my own responsibility by earning an honest living by getting pay from direct serving others. You got to have that passion, otherwise, forget about it, it either you get out in a month or you go on and keep grumbling this and that even after 20 years of driving taxis.

Jasonlkl SG

Most job cannot earn big money nowadays. i am also not an ambitious person. This trade probably suits me.

Taxilim88 SG

So, you need to have that passion in you to truly say, I enjoy driving and serving others by transporting them from A to B or B to C, and that there is no one to blame except ME, and

Aiyah..ppl drive teksi for all kinds of reasons lah.

1. Some drive because got no choice. No education and cannot get a better job.

2. Some drive because they kiam ah long.

3. Some drive because they want to go find their bak bak.

4. Some drive because they cannot stand their lau kuay bu nagging all the time.

5. Some drive because got criminal record and no company want to hire them.

6. Some drive because they cannot stand corporate world back stabbing and nonsense.

7. Some drive because they just cannot work with people.

8. Some drive because retired and got nothing better to do.

So, how many left who drive because of the passion, like to drive and like to serve people? That's why TDs got all kinds of A**holes, chut all kinds of pattern and pax usually see a stoned and emotionless uncle at the wheel.

Want to beat Grab and Uber? Then up the service level and provide exceptional service with a smile to make the pax happy.

bowah SG

I lor, I drive with passion, a person who work with passion is a always a happy person, it is not about the hard work or passion for money alone, it is about what you enjoy, but of course you hv to take the good and bad of any industrial, the good times and bad times aka OBK times.

I know many do not find it passionate to drive taxis, but still drive because of this and that, but no matter what reason you can give to be a taxi driver, you are a taxi driver, full stop.

Just remember you are already a taxi driver, and since already truly a taxi driver, might as well enjoy it, be passion about it, otherwise, life will be more frustrating, more anger and more discontent.

Jasonlkl SG

Yes. These are all common and very real reasons. Honestly, I don’t think i will be proud to be td but i will be overall happier. And that’s my reason,

Jasonlkl SG

I have been seriously thinking abt being a td for past 3 mths. I am with my current job for 5 years. Not earning alot but sufficient. Unfortunately, my spouse is not so supportive when I mentioned i want to be a td. I understand her worries which is financial. However, I am unhappy with my job. Dragging myself to work everyday. Management sometimes wants us to do things we disagree or dislikes but lan lan must follow. Also i have completely lost my interest and passion with my job. My leave last min cannot approved due to lack of manpower so unable to attend my comfort MDT and basic customer service course next wk. All of us were told to avoid apply leave till end year unless emergency . Very frustrated but bo bian. Just want to share my thoughts and my current situation here.

Elginang SG

Yes. These are all common and very real reasons. Honestly, I don’t think i will be proud to be td but i will be overall happier. And that’s my reason,

ya sure ya want to be a td?

Ya current job have cpf contribution, which has an additional of 16%.

but if ya do td, dont have cpf at all... y not consider switch a new job?

Jasonlkl SG

Thanks for your kind reminder. I am a o level holder . During younger days, i switch jobs alot so my job history is very poor. I agree with u regarding cpf. The additional 17% as of now is helpful to me as ii am still paying housing loan. If i drive taxi, i need to set aside monthly $500 cash for cpf housing provided my wife is still working and contributing with no additional montly cpf savings. That’s why i now suck thumb keeping my job knowing that i really dislike it. I joined this forum to know more abt td real life experiences and estimated income. Becos once i made my decision, i know there is no turning back. I cannot assured/ convinced/ promised my wife that i can take care of our expenses monthly being a td. She knows it very well too. Have u guys been through this stage? I am sure some have.

bowah SG

We worst than you, I only PSLE, also cannot pass. Our time is different from you, that time I drive taxis in the late 80s, no apps, no hp, no GPS, only got one walkie and horse racing calender, we still can earn and afford to bungalow,

now drive taxi can end up in a gallow/hospital.

As Chinese saying, every trade produce it own scholars except taxi driving.

So my advice is, dun even think of driving taxis, if you really need an assurance on why it is not wise to join taxi driving, I can sent my Bro Ah Fool to give you a one to one lecture, FOC.

Jasonlkl SG

Ya. The current taxi rental costs really so much different compared to the past making it tough to earn enough. Not to the extent that i need a counselor lah. Lol! However, another good advice for me today.

f1taxidriver SG

Jasonlkl, mind sharing what kind of work you have that is so unpleasant that you think cabbies got a better deal?

I honestly think even those working in mcdonalds got better life than cabbies.

Jasonlkl SG

Sure but i prefer to share part of it. My job basically is like indoor sales, working hrs more to office hour timing. I get a basic pay and sales commissions. I sell product to people who need it. After sales, i get commission. i usually need to service that customer for next 3 to 7 years before i can get to earn his/her commission again. Company do not provide much training so alot of things u need to deal on your own. During these 5 years, i will need to handle my customers complaints, dissatisfaction, phone calls, entertain him/ her etc. i worked 6 days a week. 14 days annual leave. Medical coverage not so good. I get my 13th mth bonus every year.

Taxilim88 SG

Aiyah, if your current job sucks, then switch lor..

As a TD,

Pros:

1. Flexibility, yes but comes at a price. You decide whether you want to work or not and not others decide for you against your will.

2. You get to meet all kinds of people. Some nice, most neutral and few nasty.

3. You get to go places that you have never been or thought existed, but once in a while only. You can see some nice houses and atas condos.

4. You do not bring your work worries home unless you get involved in accidents or trouble with pax. End of shift, switch off engine and go home be with family peacefully. Every day, start engine is a new day.

5. You may meet some very nice pax who chat with you on interesting topics, offer you food and drinks or give good tips.

Cons:

1. Health wise, you may suffer. But if you know how to eat properly, take breaks to rest well and exercise properly, should be sustainable.

2. You are on the roads 12 hrs or more a day. Safety is paramount. Drive safe, don't be impatient and give way even if you have the right of way to avoid accidents at all costs.

3. You do meet some nasty pax occasionally but keeping a cool head and sometimes apologising usually solves the problem.

4. Fare evaders can happen to you. Just take it in the right spirit and move on.

5. It is a job that ppl look down on. But if you are not bothered how others including your friends and relatives see you, then should be no problem. It is an honest living.

Financial wise, if you are not a big spender, you can raise a family comfortably. 50,000 taxi drivers are doing it, you should be no exception. Your wife needs to give her support, not in the financial sense, but she should not feel inferior to be the wife of a taxi driver. Then all will be fine. Safety on the roads is very important. Any other problem can be resolved.

If you are young, go upgrade yourself. This is to give yourself another path to walk on should you want to get out of this trade in the future. Good luck and drive safe.

decent02 SG

See most discussion here abt pay comparison , cpf , annual leave etc.
First ask yourself these question before even thinking about taxi vocation.
Are you a above average skill driver
Are you able to manoeuvre fast at tight space situation
Are you a fast driver
Are you cool level headed
Do you have good sense of road direction
Do you have high EQ…required as a td
Some decent IQ required too
Play games with pa

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