I regularly attend the Nexus meetings which includes a number of operators and licensing officers sometimes police and a few other bodies. I must also say the numbers are dwindling.
but after four years and much hard work by the disliked Mr Fidler and others they have forced Nexus to have a study done and paid for by Nexus on taxis/PH ! ( Taxi Study Final Report ) Adobe Reader.Get Here!
This had to be done by an independent firm called JMP? As they would not believe the figure presented to them by the taxi trade in the years leading up to this (I guess they were just time wasting as these bodies do)
the results of the study were spectacular for the benefit of our trades and that the public were generally very happy with the service of taxis and that from the figures we came out better value, pound for pound better than the METRO system and carried just a few thousand passengers less than the bus services! We then went on to say our plus points were we are the only 24 hour door to door transport system! This being a very safe way to travel.
the study put them very much on the back foot as I then requested after four years what were they going to do for our trades jointly with such things as subsidised fuels and other benefits that other forms of transport are receiving now they had such results in favour of our services. They squirm at this.
The meeting is carried out at the lowest level of staffing who do not have the power to do or change things. in the last weeks meeting, I asked for higher powered representation with the powers to be who can make changes and give us results now we have shattered the previous figures they had on taxi travel. They suggested this would be unlikely to happen WHY?
It is my view we are being kept suppressed by not being allowed access to those who could and would have to ability to change things for our benefit with the information they now have presented under their nose. I also think they want to lose this report in some deep part of their storage cupboard, and hope the trade does not shout about it to much. And rely on the fact that we don’t stand together as this would cost them money
Well they will most likely get away with it as the council knows and Nexus are learning is that the trade do not stand together and fight tooth and nail against each other (which is a shame)
so until the laws change (in my view) so the trade can become bigger with even more public carrying capacity than it is presently doing we will be kept in the dark so to speak by these organisations as they don’t know how to manage us or want to assist us.
And while the small and one man operators don’t really care as it does not affect them and they simply just want to get on making the money they require day to day. I want to see the trade be recognized and respected for my children to come into.
So if you get the chance or interested maybe you should get the JMB report from Nexus or maybe Alan Fidler! who I must say, what ever your thoughts about him he has worked tirelessly for the benefit of our trades to find miss-managed funds within the council of 150k+ and returned to us as a credit he has also gathered valuable evidence to prove both councils and Nexus wrong so many times.
So even if you feel he is like a dose of “thrush” (which he can be) he is the only mouth that represents us jointly and protects us from being trampled on by councils
{ 73 comments… read them below or add one }
Ian Shanks….
I have been reading this site and have a few questions for you
1. You have made many a point about North Tyneside council forcing drivers into having an MOT done that their test centre. yet at your last tariff change, you as a company forced your driver into paying you to have there meters changed, by this I mean, ALL drivers had to have their meter done on the Sunday at YOUR garage, any driver that didn\’t would be disabled, any driver that had his meter done else where would have to pay Blue Line £5 for them to inspect their meter before they were aloud to work again, thus making sure EVERY driver would pay BLT on the sunday to have it done?
2. You have stated on this site that you feel all customers should get a good, clean car and that BLT will not let a driver start unless his car is 51 plate or newer, Yet you have a fair few tatty cars working for you, the oldest I\’ve seen is an N reg Mondeo?
3. Last Monday you did a surprise meter check, yet no publication of how many drivers you caught with extra tariffs?
4. Why dont your call takers tell the punters that it will cost them 25p to be text the details of the taxi that is picking them up?
Spot on their John!
Ian said to me that a S reg vectra was too old!, just today 14/09/08 I have seen a N reg Mk1 Mondeo with something that resembles a boomerang stuck on the back of it, I assume it’s a odd-bod spoiler!, one of it’s NT door stickers missing aswell.
I always say, if either of the three Councils pass it it then it’s suffice.
Mr Shanks I will be giving you a call on Wednesday if that’s OK to arrange a Appointment.
Regards
Central Enthusiast!
john
thank you for showing so much interest in my business and having such concerns !
1 yes we did make sure all our drivers came to us to have their meters checked as i feel its in my customers interest that i protect them from possible over charging by a dishonest driver. this is my business and i have no control over other people carrying out check in correct manor as there are people out there programming them in a incorrect manor in the first place. Unlike MOT station who all have to report to a single standard and the test stations are all link direct to DVLA and if they were to do something wrong they loose there business. so there is a clear difference.
2 We do have a age policy and i do not buy cars older than a certain age. the cars you have seen as old as you have mentioned have been on the fleet before we introduced this rule, and can continue to work until that car fails. but on renewal it must be 51 or younger ! is that a problem ?
3 last Monday we did do a surprise check on all our fleets meters ! should we not have ?? and we will be doing the same in the near future again was i supposed to publish my findings to all and sundry? its only blue line business. on what grounds to you need or want to know ?
4 they often do, my call takers when we installed this service used to tell everyone but many of our customers are repeat and don’t need to be told time and time again if the telephone number jumps up on the screen this identifies they have used us before so we assume they will have been told sometime in the past, this is also advertised on various publications such as our hold music and various other forms of advertisement
why are you so aggrieved or concerned at how we run this business does this affect you in anyway that we can help.
ian,
“its only blue line business. on what grounds to you need or want to know ?”
because if 7 out of 10 were caught with extra tariffs on their meter, then it just confirms what everybody in NT and N/cle hackney trade know, that BLT are one of the main offenders when it comes to flimping!
Andy Warhol,
you are bang out of order with your comment about BLT drivers. Where’s ya proof? is it coz you see so many BLT cars in town turning people away before actually picking up the booked fare? or is that just the driver making sure he gets the correct fare that he was booked for?
Everyone has a spin on what they see and im sure some blueline drivers do flimp but not many, we are that busy we dont need to flimp, we can earn our money honestly, i know i do and the town is my prefered area to work (legally)
I’m sure other BLT drivers will back me up on this one
‘N’ reg mondeo?
You mean someone is using one of those as taxi? Jeez thats probably worth less than most peoples televisions!
CC
why is it a certain blueline driver is always hanging around the metro centre (driving from exit to exit ?)oh silly me hes flimping .
maybe its because we get a load of bookings from the metrocentre ghd!
Have you been to specsavers lately?
GHD hack, Name and shame, whats his reg/plate number
well give me his reg and plate number and will certainly find out if he is there for a office job or not !!
but does every car thats empty got to be accused of flimping or are you just continually suspicious and short sighted.
check it out before you all keep wobbling your gums !! oh and i guess a hack has never picked up out of his area !!!
why are you getting so jumpy ? i know for a fact hes flimping he even sits talking to some of the private hire drivers and openly admits it (why should he go pick up the jews when he can sit on the metro centre and poach jobs )his exact words .oh and he has a northtyne private hire plate .and im not gonna give his plat number or reg as i dont think there is any point god knows there are enough ghd private hire cars doing the exact same thing . so hes just jumped on the band waggon .
BLT are one of the main offenders when it comes to flimping!
but then again there are plenty ghd private hire drivers doing the same, and its not hard for the driver when approached by a fare to buzz it into the office to try and make it look legal .
I’m not bang out of order BLT driver!
it’s because BLT have cars and I ONLY see the same guys parked up at various points. We KNOW WHO THEY ARE AND SO DO THEY
Stephen
sorry i missed you call ! i did ring you back a couple of time and the lady who answered said you were at work !!
i rang central who said you were NOT at work !! must be living another life !
can you ring me again and explain to the call taker this time she must find me or leave your number for me to contact you on a mobile
Andy Warhol, if you know them name and shame or report the alleged offense to your local LA, i dare say you will be proved wrong on 90+% if instances
it really pisses me off when gob shits do nothing but complain about drivers flimping in front of there noises and then come out and say i am not going to give a reg or plate number as do don’t see any point
well why wobble your bloody gums if its not a problem shut the F–k up about or do something about like i would do !
i expect not to hear any more about it from you as there is no point !!!
Mr Shanks
I will get back to you, I was at work when you called, but not at Central, I am doing a temp School run at the moment and not getting in until late, it’s a multiple drop off!
Regards
Stephen
Dear Mr Gateshead Hack i suggest you look no further than your own trade before you accuse blt drivers and even your own ph of flimping!
On a busy sat night it is well noted that certain gateshead hacks come over the water to flimp the town!but there again MAYBE they have bookings!Sorry for the sarcasm.This is not directed at you personally.
You can believe what you want but i know that blt is one of the least flimpers in town if you go on percentages.
There will always be one bad apple somewhere but they are quickly thrown out when caught.
As i recall someone said earlier that there is no need for drivers to flimp at blt and that is very true!
Some people get paranoid because as blt is such a large company,all they see is blt passing them or picking up and often assume what they want to believe which in most cases is always wrong as i well know myself!
As i say look no further than your own trade first!
I agree with Mr Shanks….it really p*sses me off when people license themselves hundreds of miles away then have the audacity to complain about lack of enforcement, lack of test spaces, high test fees, high licensing fees, NEXUS etc.
ffs
CC
Dear Mr GHD Hack
Even when they ‘buzz it through’ its still illegal.
In actual fact it could be argued by sitting in a place where the PH could be approached by the public, the PH is in fact illegally plying for hire.
Now, if the appropriate authorities ever decided the vehicle should be impounded, then crushed and the driver castrated, then crushed, then we’d see results!
regards
CC
The JMP report is heavy reading, its 78 pages long and the problem is, its so boring you fall asleep after 10 or so pages, but i’m sure there is some very interesting stuff buried within it. Sorry i’m onto page 20 or so now, gotta go.. zzzzzzzzzzzzzz
p.s. please dont read the JMP report and then immediately drive, the TRL (Transport Reseach Laboratory) have proven that it will lead to a 30% increased chance of having an accident. They recommend a break of at least 2 hours…. so my advice, for what its worth “stick with the Sun or Mirror”, or even the Daily Sport if your that way inclined
Captain cab,you say that it could be argued that a ph driver could be “approached while sitting” is illegally plying for hire!
Well what a load of tosh as it can happen anytime anywhere and all the driver says is “i aint for hire”,which is perfectly legal.
What about the hacks who dont sit on designated ranks with their for hire lights lit,is that not illegal!
By the way my b”lls are still intact.
Thats the probs in this trade,too many i ams!!
The trade will never unite when there are too many different egos kicking around.
Just curious here CC but which part of the country are you from?is it carlisle leeds or newcastle?
Deka,
There is reams of case-law on PH illegally plying for hire, and your quite correct, what the driver states is the crucial part of it.
I suggest you read Milton Keynes vs. Barry 1989 with particular reference to a booking being blown in, and Ogwr vs. Baker 1989 in respect of where a PH is positioned.
Your probably right about the HC trade, but what do you expect when a council license hundreds of vehicles and provide no additional hackney carriage stands?
My ego is fine but many thanks for your concern
regards
CC
A Hackney carriage is for hire anywhere on the street within it’s own Licenced area and strictly speaking a Private Hire Vehicle is supposed to return to off street parking as soon as a fare is completed. Read the post: http://www.toomanytaxis.com/2008/06/17/north-tyneside-private-hire-zoning-policy/ ,which states how you as Private Hire are supposed to be working..
Has Stephen been into Blue line yet?
There are plenty ghd private hire drivers doing the same, and its not hard for the driver when approached by a fare to buzz it into the office to try and make it look legal .
and it would seem ghd hacks do the same over the water on a saturday night .I WASNT BEING CRITICAL JUST THE FACTS .
Dear admin a hack is only available for hire whilst it is on the move back to the nearest rank if you want to be nitty gritty(according to our byelaws anyway).
And if that hack is parked up with its for hire light on it is deemed as ieggaly plying for hire!but there again diff councils have diff laws
Deka, Fair comment but when a council issues 800 plus Hack licences and only provides 100 plus Rank Spaces what do you think is going to happen.I agree with you about the Byelaws but your Zoning Policy says the same thing, have you read it and do you stick to it?
maybe the private hire drivers should start taken photos of the Hack parked up not a rank and send them to the council?
SC, take the pics send them to me and i’ll put them on the site!
You still don’t get it “TooManyTaxis” Pictures just add weight to the argument……
SC, take as many photos as you want but you will always find ph are at the front waiting for a pick up wether it be legal or illegal that is a fact !!!
Steve, at the front of where? maybe its because we have more work
Course you got more work you muppet! there’s four times as many of you,you have advertising and you undercut the rate set by the Council.
What a Prick. People say stuff on here an all you can come back with is: “Ho! Ho! maybe it’s cos we got more work!” DuuuHHH! don’t take a Brain surgeon to work that one out!
Well well, has Stephen (central enth) vanished off the radar? we havent had him on here much this week keeping us right in the world according to Stephen.
Whats more to the point though is how was his tour of BLT offices and working practices? maybe I.S. could tell us how it went as Stephen has gone all shy on us. Or maybe his PC is broken coz im sure being a man of his word he will want to tell us all just how wrong he was about BLT’s workload etc etc
NT hack, relax, sarcasm a new concept to you? if life on the street is that bad, take the step, join the dark side
Myself and Stephen missed each other on Thursday and i was busy most of Friday with 26 students from Durham University who are doing a project on taxi businesses !! so my self and Stephen have penciled in Tuesday !! but Stephen if you get this sooner please call me on Monday as i am looking forward to meeting you and hearing your views !! so any time, you have my mobile number now.
Stephen you could text my you mobile number !!for contact purposes i it will be kept safe i assure you !!
SC,obviously i meant the front of any hackney carriage rank where some ph drivers feel the need to help us hacks out most of the time therefore STEALING our work most of the time. …..
Mr Shanks
I will contact you PM Monday and will hopefully see you on Tuesday!
Just read your message at 01.45am Monday!, so won’t disturb you with a Text at this time!!!!
Once again “Steve” on this site has been making good comments, but I will like to RE-ITERATE to you all, I am not him!!!!, a BLT driver at the weekend started lecturing me on the “Boat”, because of one of “Steve’s” comments, because he views this site regularly, I informed it was not me!
BLT driver and proud of it!
Don’t worry I am back on the Radar!!!, Just been talking about you with a couple of canny Lads from your Office at the Garage, they were asking me what it was like at Central as their office has been slow (BLT), It has been a slow week, but they can’t be doing what you are doing if they are getting itchy feet!!!..
Having a brief chat with Mr Shanks, he sounds like a decent bloke and he did’nt sound angry about what has been said on here, however I am still not convinced about your earnings BLT driver, when so many of your colleagues are whinging at Garages and Takeaways when they chat to other drivers!
But Tuesday awaits and you may get a apology BLT driver, you never know!
Regards
Stephen
Central Enthusiast!
your right there central enthusiast your not me (steve) your not as good looking lol
Stephen,
Please feel free to ask to ask to see my job history when you visit the office, you will then see that i speak the truth but rest assured, there is no need for an apology as i got it wrong with my thoughts when i first went to see about starting at Blueline too.
any news on the berwick plates
Stephen,Ian. You’ve got each others phone numbers now.Use them!This isn’t Facebook or a dating website!!!
It’s nice to see the NT Hacks having a dig at me!, but it’s OK chaps I will go and see Ian alone and you lot stay safe now behind your computer screens!!.
Will inform you all of the outcome
Regards
Stephen
SO STEPHEN IS GOING TO SEE HOW A TAXI OFFICE WORKS I FOR ONE CANT WAIT FOR THE NEWS I THINK ITS SOMETHING LIKE THE PHONE RINGS SOME ONE PICKS IT UP TAKES THE JOB AND SENDS A CAR BUT I MIGHT HAVE THAT WRONG HOLD THE FRONT PAGE HE SAYS HE WILL INFORM US ALL OF THE OUTCOME WOW WEEEEEEEEEEEE
Stephen are you insinuating that Mr Shanks has been making threats to anyone ? are you scared ? you sound it ! you want to grow up BOY ! Why would the hacks be having a dig at you ? is it because your a sh**t stirrer ? You change your tune from day to day calling central then kissin arse, calling blt, then kissing arse, calling the hacks, then kissing arse. Go and see Mr Shanks for wotever your reasons and chill the f**ck out and stop coming on here spouting general sh**te IT GETS BORING MATE !!!! We want to hear about the trade and wot the council will or wont do, wot the drivers want or dont want, i for one am sick of the crap between you, blt and proud, and shanksy. STOP IT !!!
Spot on Steve, its about the rights & wrongs of the trade & as we all know there’s far more wrongs , ( Mr WILSON ) for 1,,,,,,
Steve!
Just for the record I did go and see Mr Shanks yesterday, but if you don’t want my feedback on the visit because it will bore you then I will not bother typing it!
If you are sick of “crap” then stop going on about that bloody Boat, Flimpin and Operators!
Their is no point “calling” the Council names on here mate, as their is no one from Licensing to engage with is there????
BIG SILVER!
The visit was not just about seeing how a office works, it was about comments I made about BLT and it’s Drivers!!!
Regards
Stephen
no what to talk about out come of berwick court case is it sill up in air has mr shanks han no feed back yet on the case
Stephen, i am sick of YOUR crap mate ! i for one dont give a monkeys how blt run thier office thats entirely up to them and shouldnt really concern you either , you dont work there ! and by the way its not {crap} talk about the DFDS or the FLIMPIN it actually concerns us all in the Hack trade and yes we are bothered or we wouldnt be on ere would we. And last but no means least the Council DO monitor this site that is fact ….
Steve!
I will take your advice and get off here, OR turn my attention to NT & B Council, but one last thing!
You wrote; “i for one dont give a monkeys how blt run their office thats entirely up to them and should’nt concern you either”
Fair point I thought!
BUT!
You then go on to say; “and by the way its not crap talk about the DFDS or the flimpin it actually concerns us all in the hack trade”
Steve mate, who has the rights to DFDS????….the company you think no one should talk about or be concerned about!
I don’t think I am a stirrer, I am confused!!!
Regards
Stephen
Stephen, BLT do have the rights to the DFDS but as it USED to be hacks who once had it then was stolen from them for a fee… As i said before it concerns us because >>>>>>> the way it is being run at the moment ie : The legality of it !!! And i dont remember saying we shouldnt talk about or be concerned about blt do you ? And there you go again taking a major huff saying oooo i wont come on here again , take it on the chin stop stirrin and post something interesting on this site ….
No News on Berwick case as yet. Lots of rumours though I even heard one that suggested the ‘Judge had tipped someone the wink’Yeah Judges do that don’t they!Another one is that all Private cars will not be allowed into the City Centre,meaning taxis,Buses,emergency vehicles & deliveries only, yet another one said they had heard Berwick had won and Deregulation is imminent the list goes on and on. The fact is no-one knows until the Judge announces his findings.That could be to-morrow or months from now. Whatever happens the Taxi trade will not disappear and we will still all be in work the day after.
how come a private hire car be done for flimping on the street when black cabs parking on illegal ranks ie floritas and outside anywhere with a light on dont surely if not flagged down or on an official rank they are commiting the same offence
STILL NO NEWS FROM STEPHEN OR MR SHANKS I WONDER IF THAY DID MEET AFTER ALL THAT CHIT CHAT ON THIS SITE . WHAT IF IT WAS LOVE AT 1ST SIGHT AND THEY HAVE RUN OFF TOGETHER IF THEY DID RUN AWAY TOGETHER I HOPE THEY GOT A PRIVATE HIRE CAR AND NOT A HACK TO THE AIRPORT RITE ROBBING BEES THEM HACK DRIVERS
i love u big silver but do you know there’s a CAPS LOCK KEY!!!!
Colin Byker
i had that exact conversation with a Newcastle licence officer today and when cars are overloading ranks, or not on ranks his answer was to back heel it and say, it was a police traffic wardens issue for parking on double yellows etc etc. this is the problem we all need resolved double standard councils !!
i hope one day you will all see that, and things like the berwick situation although not brilliant is one of the few ways the trade could lever something to be done about it and attempt to get better standards for the industry as a whole and get rid of councils various silly rules!
BIG SILVER
i did meet with Stephen and its up to him to air his views after being showing around our place and investigating some of the issues we have had on this site. BUT i will say you sarcasm above with your description of how easy it is to run a a taxi office suggests you know very little.
or maybe some people are getting scared that they may be found wrong in all they have said and are trying deflect their foolish and misconstrued ideas of the business we are in as its not all about the “one man and his dog hackney” sitting on a rank in a X reg vectra charging the maximum the council with let him which is still not enough in his eyes !!
I asked Stephen to but his views on the site good or bad with what he was free to view and experience. so its now up to him but i guess if its not what you want to here you will still have a go at him.
Mr.Shanks. I am a Hack driver in Newcastle and believe me we are not happy with the situation, Re: Rank spaces. No wonder the Council ‘Backheel it’ as you say because they are the ones who issued all the Taxis with no consideration as to where they would park. We could follow the rules and proceed the next available Rank when a Rank is full to capacity but I think even you would agree we would very soon experience Gridlock in the City and that would not benefit anyone especially BlueLine cars trying to get in or out of the City. So if you or anyone else has a sensible solution Share it.
BIG SILVER!
I did meet Mr Shanks, I did not want him to put in me in the same category as you, someone who spouts off behind a user name!
Your little friend Steve stated he has had enough of my conversation with Mr Shanks so I don’t want to upset him now do I???
Generally I spout off, and don’t give a monkeys’s but if someone is right and I am wrong, then I take it on the chin and off I go!
My first comments on here were about the Hacks (NT), because I was informed that they were out to cause bother for the PH, Berwick and company Car drivers, well that was not exactly the case so I stopped making comments about them because I was wrong, likewise Mr Shanks on Tuesday put me straight on a few issues and I see his point, who am I to argue??, I thought we were all blokes on here that could take a bit of rival banter, but that does not appear to be the case does it????, so BIG SILVER, go and work out how to write small case on your computer, I am sure your mate Steve might help you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PS If anyone wants to ask me questions about my visit to BLT I will gladly answer them!
AND
BIG SILVER! are you a Berwick boy???????? SHHHHH..don’t tell Steve!
Regards
Stephen
Stephen, what did you think about the amount of work that Blue Line covers on a daily basis? and do you now believe the statements made by BLT and proud and myself about how much you can earn at Blue Line?
CJ
i don’t know the answers other than we can not go on with controlling councils and councilors that make decision on us or about us and have no idea what they are deciding.
even thou the one man band may well be happy as the existing rules are suffice there are issues and problems that clearly need attention. And while the Berwick Situation in one sense is not the answer it is and has been a “tool” that has caused enough turbulence to get things addressed. and it needs something like that to get the government to sit up and address the 362 or so councils and different standards we face around the country.
it would be my wish to get some standards across the board and to be controlled by one body with fixed standards that reflect our needs ! not you can have that car here but not there !!!
any way while we may not agree on much it does seem that many of us do have a underlying issue with councils and their rules. and lets not forget many of the by-laws they have set over the years would not hold water if challenged as they themselves are in breach of the laws they have to work to and have simply adapted them to suit THEMSELVES and relied on the little man not being able to challenge that !!
ps STEPHEN i am interested in what you found from your visit with us so please let me know if we are as we say we are or not ??
Stephen, i’m interested in your findings @ Blt on tuesday so please tell all, were you pleasantly suprised at the working practices and the high standard that has been achieved by I.S. over the years of hard work?
Also did you get a look at my workload to see that ive been honest with my postings as to earning potential at BLT?
Will we be seeing you in a Blueline car soon?
Colin Byker
a newcastle hack is not ‘flimping’ when sitting outside florittas, just ilegally parked.
A newcastle hack can pick up anywhere within the boundries of newcastle upon tyne, as it is licenced to do so and has the public hire insurance reqd.
Newcastle enforcement don’t care about the door staff, work vans, PRIVATE HIRE waiting for jobs etc etc parking on OUR rank spaces so why care about Hacks on double yellow lines?
The traffic wardens DO shift us, or ticket us if we refuse to shift off double yellows, and so do the police on average about once a month. Yet I am trying to make a living, what about the restaurant staff parking all down the left of the Bigg Market on double yellows? Or the PRIVATE HIRE who continue to park outside the fire station with police cones and large NO PARKING notices.
I think you will find also Colin, that if WE DID NOT park outside floritas, flairs etc etc, PH come along and try to claim it as their own ILEGALLY FLIMPING. Just like they used to when Blue Bamboo first started, flairs and apartment.
And dont get me started on the ‘paranoid’ crap, it was the same cars from the same firm doing it! (not BL).
There has been much mention,both on this site and off it,about Hacks parking all over the place. i.e. making unnofficial Ranks and overflowing official Ranks. The point is you cannot put a gallon of water in a pint pot. You would think the policy makers & decision makers would have enough intelligence to realise this and by intelligence I mean in the sense of gathering information,Re: the situation on the streets. The first question,when deciding wether more licences should be issued,must be ” do we have enough space for all these Taxis?” Instead we find ourselves in the position where Hackney Carriage licences have been issued by the Councils and are being Ticketed & Fined through no fault of our own. Flimping has also increased due to excessive licensing of Hacks and it’s not just Private Hire or Berwick Taxis. North Tyneside Hacks,Gateshead Hacks etc. are also regularly Flimping the town. This is just a symptom along with overcharging of too much licensing without any thought as to the consequences.
Hacks will make unnoficial Ranks wherever Private Hire or out of town plates have been known to gather.Rather than let them continue to illegally ply for hire there is no course to take other than to monopolise any unnoficial Ranks created by Private Hire etc. Enforcement is a non starter as even Ian Shanks will agree!
I have read the JMP study published on this site,it was obviously not written by councillors or licensing officers but these two groups should definately read it as the may learn a thing or two about the Taxi trade and possibly influence their policy making for the better.I partly agree with a previous commenter (p.Smith) of South Tyneside. The Councils are unwilling and evasive when it comes to giving a breakdown of fees received. Basically they treat us as a cash cow with no regard to our ability to make a living. He is kidding himself with regard to Berwick however.As they are no different in that it is all about the Money(read The Berwick Advertiser, Search David Wilson). Ask Berwick Taxi drivers what they think about Taxi Licensing. At the end of the day Hacks,Private hire whatever are all in the business to make a living. How can we do this when the powers that be insist on an ever increasing workforce. Private Hire ! your numbers are increasing faster than anybody, it’s only a matter of time before your earnings go into decline.
The Bluline propaganda machine is no better,they are rent collectors the same as the Councils. More cars , more rent. Don’t let any of them kid you. Your ‘BIT’ is more important to any of them than your living. BLT driver and proud of it…come back on this site in a couple of years and give us more of your spin.
Ian Shanks: I wouldn’t be surprised if it was you who created this site for your very own sounding post, Having said that I find myself agreeing with you a lot of the time but then I pinch myself and realise you are just ‘Marketing’ raising your profile so to speak. This is a site for Taxi Drivers. I believe you come here to shout loudert than the rest of us so we can’t be heard. Your entitled to your say,just as any other Taxi driver is but this site seems to be Blueline this and Blueline that. The trade is bigger than just BLT and ther’s a silent majority out there who could shout you down. On your own admission you are to a large extent responsible for the Berwick fiasco and for what? The Berwick issue is and has cost a lot of people money, So you could make a point. There is a two tier system in operation in this country and it works well as your company demonstrates. Why can’t you leave it at that instead of creating your very own third tier? Between BLT,Newcastle,North Tyne & Berwick, what was once a thriving trade for everyone has now become a shadow of it’s former self..The coffers of all the above are full to the brim whilst hacks scratch about and Private Hire kid themselves they are well off running on low rates. Low rates cannot sustain a good living,flimpers are a testimony to this. It cost over 60p a mile to run a car in Britain…Long term you are losing Money. I’m not sure how long a comment is allowed to be so I’ll shut up for now!!!!
Ilegitimus Non Tatum Carborundum
BLUELINE!!!!!…Feedback from visit!!!!
As some of you well know I visited the BLT Office to meet Mr Shanks, this was not a visit to see how a Taxi Office works, it was to see the earning potential for the ordinary driver at this large office, and see what is different about this office to others!
First of all! Mr Shanks!!!
Mr Shanks come accross very open, pleasant and did not take offence to what has been said about him on this site. Mr Shanks invited me to ask any questions that I wanted about his business, he allowed me access to his whole office.
Mr Shanks showed me work lists randomely of different drivers, and what areas they had worked in and a average of what they had earned, he asked me to pick driver numbers 1 – 400 so I could pick a number and see that all his drivers do OK earnings, he also showed me the main areas of work that Blueline cover.
So Mr Shanks was a decent honest bloke!
Anyway what else did I learn!
1./ A high percentage of BLT’s work is out of the North Tyneside area, most of it in Newcastle and some long haul jobs.
2./ According to Blueline’s Newsletter, BLT are going to employ their own enforcement officers to stop Flimpin…GOOD!
3./ During my Visit Mr Shanks asked various drivers around the Office what it was like working for him and they generally give good feedback and stated it was a good office with lots of work if you are prepared to put the hours in!
4./ After showing me BLT’s workload, I agree that a North Tyneside Locality Test is Nil & Void if you are working in Gateshead/Washington and of course Newcastle, so a NT Driver and a Berwick Driver South of the River could both be lost!
5./ BLT and proud of it & SC if you do 14 hours at BLT, I do believe that you would earn good money, so apoligies chaps, however I still don’t agree with you Guy’s posting your earnings on here! (TMT)
6./ Blueline has a Training room for new drivers in which is a good idea, especially those who come from a Radio office.
7./ BLT would be a good training ground for brand new Drivers to the trade.
To summerise Blueline looks a good office, Mr Shanks comes accross a honest Guy, his drivers and staff appear very professional and generally a excellent all round business!
Yes I have taken my Meds by the way!
PS A couple of bad points!
1./ A forthcoming uniform for the drivers??/ Hmmm, I think that would take a little “Self employment feeling” off you!
2./ Blueline’s stance with Central drivers was apparently due to a influx of Drivers in 2006 from Central making a stance against Central following a disagreement???…, and they all returned to Central after all BLT’s Data equipment had been installed!
Get over it!!
At my visit Mr Shank’s Manager quoted “once a Central Driver always a Central driver”, SO what can I say about that??? “once a Blueline Driver always a Blueline Driver”, this meaning a Pole Driver with a Berwick Car??????Hmmmmm.
Anyway a canny Office generally, apoligies to anyone I upset regarding earnings!, and Mr Shanks thank you for your time once again!
Regards
Stephen
*** applauds Ilegitimus ***
and excellent sig.
stephen did you ask how many berwick plates he has on his books.
then how many were existing BL drivers on NT plates who changed over?
then asked him to show the evidence that these guys are the same drivers he had BEFORE the berwick fiasco and NOT new drivers to the trade as is claimed?
offices like BL are striving to have a 1 tier system wherby we ALL have to pay bit to an office and are unable to make a living without them!
… and finally,,
2./ According to Blueline’s Newsletter, BLT are going to employ their own enforcement officers to stop Flimpin…GOOD!
and just how exactly is this going to stop flimping? how many ‘enforcement’ officers is he going to take on, and then as soon as 1 driver is stopped the rest will know who to look out for. And is Mr Shanks going to pass the deatils of any driver caught to the police for prosecution or are they going to be given a series of warnings?
Andy mate!
You have made some good points on here, but you should have come with me to BLT to question Mr Shanks.
Lots of issues with BLT don’t concern me personally, ie the DFDS Terminal and what goes on in the City Centre on a Saturday night, that is why I was restricted to the earning potential at BLT and that’s all I can comment on after meeting Mr Shanks.
At least Mr Shanks is making a effort to address some of the problems within the trade at his own expense, whats happening here is Hacks are very focussed on what BLT are up to, this is allowing flimpers from smaller operators to get away with Murder!!!, their is a fair few Newcastle operators employ Berwick wagons and very little gets said!, two Saturdays ago I was waiting for a Customer on Collingwood Street, when a couple offered me £100 for a quick ride to Hartford Hall, I refused and they asked a Toon Based Berwick and he kindly obliged!!!, right next to three NC Hacks who were too busy eyeing up a BLT company Car parked outside of Perdu!!
Regards
Stephen
I have no concern over what a BLT driver makes.
I do have concerns with the STEALING of our work that blatantly goes on every night (& day!)
BLT get it because none of the other operators come one here to have it pointed out to them …
… how about dayshift the ABC mondeo that parks outside heros.
… the BLT driver that sits on the bigg market rank early on a sunday morning.
The noda drivers that park outside the premier inn newbridge street and jurys inn. A ‘contract’ does not mean parkoutside and put the job through the data head when you get one, it means the premier inn have called for a car for mr smith we’ll send one
… the gateshead central drivers that park outside the travellodge accepting all that walks out and by, again this is plying for hire!
… the ABC vectra and his pal who park outside FYEO.
… the ace, landsdowne and BLT drivers who park on osbourne rd plying for hire on a weekend afternoons. Correct me if I am wrong but firstly arnt they meant to park out of the way and secondly NOT on hack ranks!
… the five star driver who parks on shakesphere street outside the theatre royal, YES you with the glasses!
… The dean taxis drivers who flimp on highbridge next to the duke, and the guy who even after talking to a lady through the window when I blasted my horn had the nerve to say he didnt pick her up coz he thought she was too drunk!
… the list could go on and on … but like I say it isnt just BLT, it’s just that I.S. comes on here to answers questions.
And once again paranoia clan, we know the cars and the drivers faces. it’s not paranoia, its common sense when an office has 100 plus cars and you see the SAME people parked in the SAME places, or lurking round the town, might i also add with data heads off in some cases!
with so many cars sitting in the same places time and time again and as obvious as you make out Andy you would think the licensing officers you pay your money for would be able to do something about them !!!! maybe you should be venting your anger and frustration at their failings !! and stop having a go at everyone else !! is only your lads that can deal with it !!
so if central of gateshead shouldnt sit at travel lodges etc then is it legal for NODA PRIVATE HIRE VEHICLES to sit outside Jurrys inn, and the old Holiday inn next to Ikon and just pick up like a hack without a taxi marshall or a booking?
Gateshead Central have the contract for the Travel Lodge…….
Might have something to do with car out front picking people up
all the time ……..
Lets face it, its sour grapes with all in the trade cause everyones working more for less. But so is the local pub landlord, shopkeeper, hgv driver, and any other self employed service related business, so why can’t we just stop whinging and grin and bear it.
Regardless if its a case of ‘had it too good’ in the past or ‘hard done by now’ spending hours on here blaming all and sundry isn’t going to help the matter.
It s an economic slump, so my idea is tighten the belt, keep the chin up, and do whatever you can to get through it. But the constant moaning, whinging, and general crying on the ranks, in the offices, and throughout the trade is doing absolutely nothing but making it harder to come to work, earn little AND have to listen to a bunch of miserable $&@(*&$@)……
If it’s that bad get out, do something else, and stop boring the living daylights out of the rest of us that are just trying to get on with it.
cheekybacktofronthead
firstly i would like newcastle enforcement to obtain a copy of the agreement, and ensure it is all above board.
secondly, gateshead central may ONLY send a car to the travel lodge when a booking has been made (as you say they have the ‘contract’)
they may NOT sit outside and pick up anybody who walks out and then deceides to get a taxis, this is flimping, and putting themself in a place where they are advertising themself to passing trade(Azzuri etc.) as this is plying for hire.
so they have no authority, along with noda outside the holliday inn to rank there and this WILL be taken up with Mr O’Brien if he attends the next trade meeting as he promised us he would look into this and give us answers to the questions!