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Issue 234 | January 2015
­PHC
magazine
www.phcmag.co.uk
The Assembly says...
Report urges TfL to “get a grip”
on taxi & private hire trade issues
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ISSUE 234 | JANUARY 2015
Bumper To Bumper Publishing Ltd | 119 Chiltern Drive | Surbiton | Surrey | KT5 8LS | 020 8399 4678 | www.phcmag.co.uk
04: Cab report release
The London Assembly transport committee has published its ‘Future Proof’
research on the taxi & private hire trade
in the capital and it does not make
good reading for Boris Johnson or
Transport for London. The report recommends a wholesale review of TfL’s
regulation of the cab industry and lists
a number of key recommendations.
04
16
25
37
­PHC
magazine
❙ Publication Manager
Craig Conway
[email protected]
❙ Editor
John Sanderson
[email protected]
❙ Deputy editor
Craig Conway
[email protected]
❙ Contributors
GMB, Ian Kerr, Sue Moore
❙ Photography
Ian Ferguson
❙ Advertising
[email protected]
❙ Courier news
[email protected]
❙ Printed by Wyndeham Heron
PRIVATE HIRE
04 London Assembly release study
TfL told to ‘get a grip’
12
14
16
20
22
24
25
28
30
31
40
42
Fugitive PHV driver jailed
Driverless car cooperation sought
PHC night out with tout squad
Planet Taxi
LTDA case goes to High Court
TfL Uber statement
Cab boss responds to Mellor rant
Chauffeur News
Opinion from the GMB Union
Frankie Fraser minicab connection
TKG boxer edged out in title fight
Accountancy matters
THE COURIER
33
34
35
36
37
RHA calls for driver training funds
Resolve to make small changes
Continental Courier
UK delivery dispatches
Ian Kerr on the all new R1
CLASSIFIEDS
41 Accountants, printers, web design...
WORK ON WHEELS
44 11 pages of job opportunities
­PHC
magazine
 feature | london cab report recommendations
­
London Assembly transport
committee release taxi & PHV
report and recommendations
THE LONDON ASSEMBLY transport committee released its long awaited ‘Future Proof:
Taxi & Private Hire Services in London’ report
as PHC was going to press.
Full analysis and opinion on what will be the
biggest shake up in the capital’s cab trade for
quite some time will feature in next month’s magazine. Below are the key 19 recommendations
within the report, (which are actually 18 because
Recommendations (1) and (2) are mistakenly the
same) followed by comment from the London
Assembly, TfL and the London cab trade.
04 | January 2015
RECOMMENDATION (1&2)
By May 2015, the mayor should publish a long
term strategy for the development of both the
taxi and private hire industries. The strategy
should clearly set out the mayor’s position on
the continued role of taxi and private hire
services in London and actions that will improve passenger and driver safety, guarantee
a sufficient number of high quality drivers and
vehicles across the city and ensure that all
services meet the highest possible standards
for accessibility. The strategy should also set
out how TfL will strengthen its enforcement
and clamp down on illegal activity, within a
transparent decision-making framework.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
feature | london cab report recommendations
­PHC
magazine
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4
RECOMMENDATION (3)
By May 2015, the mayor
and TfL should further develop the database that
links drivers to vehicle
and operator information.
TfL should work with app
developers to produce a
tool that will enable passengers to check the status of their driver, vehicle
or operator.
More money for tout enforcement?
RECOMMENDATION (4)
By May 2015, TfL should produce a signage strategy for the licensed taxi and private hire industries,
including plans to pilot numberplate based fixed signage.
RECOMMENDATION (5)
By March 2015, the mayor and TfL should report back to the Assembly on options to incentivise the uptake of cashless payment options, for both the taxi and private hire industries.
06 | January 2015
RECOMMENDATION (6)
By May 2015, the mayor and TfL should set out how they intend to monitor and improve supply and
demand, for both taxi and private hire industries, across London. This should include a specific study into potential demand for an increase in taxi services in outer London town
centre locations.
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RECOMMENDATION (7)
By May 2015, the mayor and TfL should set out how they
intend to ensure that all Underground stations located on
the 24-hour Tube network have a taxi rank in place by the
launch of the programme in September 2015 and suburban
Underground and National Rail stations have a rank by May
2016. TfL should also prioritise rank provision in outer London town centre locations with unmet demand. Rank locations should be included on TfL journey planning tools and
TfL should explore options for increasing the visibility of
ranks through distinctive signage. The mayor and TfL should
also set out clear guidance for event planners to ensure that
taxi and private hire provision is explicitly contained in transport planning for major events and attractions.
RECOMMENDATION (8)
By May 2015, the mayor and TfL should satisfy this committee that the entry requirements into each market are fit for
purpose. This should include providing evidence there are
no artificial barriers to entry, that the requirements are relevant to the demands of each industry and that they ensure
protection for passengers, drivers and other road users.
RECOMMENDATION (9)
The mayor and TfL should ensure that disabled taxi and private hire passengers’ needs are met by taking steps to in-
CONTINUED ON PAGE 8
­PHC
magazine
feature | london cab report recommendations
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6
-centivise the provision of wheelchair accessible private hire
vehicles (for example, through reduced vehicle licensing
fees) with a view to reaching 25 per cent wheelchair accessibility across the private hire fleet by 2018. By May 2015,
TfL should also introduce requirements for all taxi and private hire drivers and operators to undertake mandatory disability awareness training as part of the licensing process.
TfL should also enforce a zero-tolerance approach to drivers and operators across both industries who illegally refuse
to carry disabled passengers and increase the visibility of
its complaints process so that disabled passengers can
name and shame providers who break the law. Drivers and
operators who are found not to comply with these revaluations should face suspension of their licences.
RECOMMENDATION (10)
By March 2015, the Metropolitan Police should improve the
information it collects on cab-related crime, to ensure
greater understanding of whether offences are committed
by licensed taxis, private hire vehicles and pedicabs and by
licensed or unlicensed drivers / vehicles.
RECOMMENDATION (11)
By May 2015, the mayor and TfL should provide the committee with a definitive assessment of the resources cur-
Police op tactics face efficiency investigation
08 | January 2015
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PHV marshals under scrutiny
rently devoted to enforcement,
setting out costed plans to increase these where necessary
and address funding gaps. This
should include options to increase
licence fees to ensure adequate
enforcement resources are available.
RECOMMENDATION (12)
By March 2015, the mayor and TfL
and the Metropolitan Police
should set out specific steps that
will be taken to improve the efficiency and visibility of non-covert
night-time operations.
RECOMMENDATION (13)
The mayor and TfL should immediately clarify the policy on destination bookings and reinstate the
requirement for private hire drivers
to record a destination at the time
of booking.
RECOMMENDATION (14)
By March 2015, the mayor and TfL should conduct a full review
of the policy on ‘satellite offices’, identifying and securing the
enforcement resources required to regulate effectively, including
plans to clamp down on unlicensed ‘marshals’. Further satellite
office applications should be suspended until this is achieved.
RECOMMENDATION (15)
By May 2015, the mayor and TfL should enable greater joinedup working on enforcement, including working with the private
hire trade and boroughs to develop a cohesive, pan-London policy on picking up / setting down arrangements.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 10
­PHC
magazine
feature | london cab report recommendations
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8
RECOMMENDATION (16)
The Government should act upon the findings of the Law Commission Review and propose legislation
that introduces stiffer penalties for touting and greater enforcement powers for borough and police officers, including higher fines and vehicle seizing powers.
RECOMMENDATION (17)
By May 2015, the mayor’s office, TfL and the trades should develop and publish a Memorandum of Understanding, which clearly sets terms of reference and defines the respective roles, responsibilities
and expectations of each party. This should include specific service level agreements.
RECOMMENDATION (18)
By March 2015, TfL should revise its driver engagement activity to ensure that it is as widely representative as possible and improve the transparency of taxi and private hire policy and decision making processes by routinely publishing the minutes of meetings with the trades. TfL should also provide
and publish a detailed breakdown of annual licence fee spending.
RECOMMENDATION (19)
By March 2015, the mayor and TfL should set out how it will increase the visibility and accessibility of
its complaints process and improve systems for passengers to give feedback and make complaints
about both taxi and private hire services. Complaints data should be reported to the TfL Board on a
quarterly basis.”
10 | January 2015
FUTURE PROOF: TAXI & PHV SERVICES IN LONDON
CONCLUSION
The taxi and private hire industries are at a critical point in
their evolution. Willingly or otherwise, the trades must embrace the technological changes that passengers are now
demanding of modern, fit for purpose transport services.
In an increasingly competitive market, these services will
need to prioritise the needs of passengers to ensure that
they continue to have relevance to the travelling public, or
they will miss the boat on innovations that can bring improvements to passengers and drivers alike.
TfL will have to work hard to restore its credibility as a regulator for these industries. It will also need to look internally
at how they can improve their performance as a regulator,
by listening to, and accept, constructive criticism and acknowledge where it has gone wrong in the past.
This process will be challenging, but it must be achieved.
Without a strong and impartial regulator, it is difficult to see
how the industries can continue to survive and prosper.
The transport committee recognises that the biggest challenges for the taxi and private hire industries still lie ahead.
Rebuilding a relationship with TfL will take courage, focus
and effort from all sides.
It is vital that the mayor and TfL get a grip on the situation
and provide strategic leadership before the situation spirals
further out of control. It is now up to all sides to demonstrate
that they can put aside their differences, learn from past
mistakes, and work together constructively for the continued survival and prosperity of London’s vital taxi and private hire services.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 12
­PHC
magazine
12 | January 2015
feature | london cab report recommendations
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10
FUTURE PROOF: TAXI & PHV SERVICES IN LONDON
COMMENT AND OPINION
CAROLINE PIDGEON
LONDON ASSEMBLY TRANSPORT COMMITTEE CHAIR
“Serious doubts have been expressed about whether TfL has the appetite,
and capability, to oversee these industries effectively. We are also deeply
concerned at the continued decline of the relationship between the taxi
and private hire trades and TfL.
“It is time for the mayor and TfL to get a grip on this spiralling situation and to develop
a long term strategy that will enable these vital industries to flourish and ensure that the
needs of passengers are addressed. The mayor and TfL must address the issues we
raise or face London’s reputation in this area being irreversibly damaged.
GARRETT EMMERSON / TFL / SURFACE TRANSPORT
“London’s taxi and private hire services are the envy of the world and
under TfL’s oversight are thriving. The number of trips are up, customer
satisfaction rates are high and due to our stringent licensing processes
and enforcement work with the police, journeys in taxi and private hire vehicles have never been safer.
“We will of course, carefully consider the transport committee’s recommendations and
note that many of the areas highlighted are already being worked through in collaboration with the industry. We whole heartedly agree that the needs of passengers must remain our top priority and we will continue to work closely with both trades to ensure that
this remains the case.”
STEVE WRIGHT / LICENSED PRIVATE HIRE CAR ASSOCIATION
“Following a thorough investigation by the Greater London transport committee in the taxi and private hire industry, we broadly welcome these recommendations.
“Like others, we have repeatedly raised our concerns over the controversial way in which the Transport for London taxi and private hire department regulates
the cab sector.
“Most recently, unacceptable rule changes and new interpretations of existing legislation have been brought in for ‘app only based companies like Uber, which in our view,
compromise the travelling public’s safety and financial well being.
“In line with the committee’s recommendations, we look forward to the reformation of
the regulatory policies and the establishment of a ‘memorandum of understanding’ which
would mark a very positive step in restoring this important regulator / industry relationship and returning a fair and balanced playing field for all operators.”
TAXILEAKS INTERNET BLOG
“Taxi Leaks feels the report, while welcome, does not go far enough with
regards to e-hailings and pre-bookings. Change is needed and long overdue. It would appear that if a private hire company is big enough and
wealthy enough, TfL will facilitate by changing or bending the rules, rather
than enforcing them.
“More money is desperately needed to employ a substantial cab enforcement force, to
deal with touting. But what is needed most of all, is the political appetite to deal efficiently
with the matter, presently sadly lacking.
“The implementation of temporary taxi ranks should also be common practice outside
major venues when large events take place. We saw only too well the chaos that ensured
when the regular taxi rank went missing at the Winter Wonderland.
“This report is proof that our cry of bias and incompetence at TfL’s running of TPH hasn’t been unjustified. Both sides of the trade have suffered substantial damage under this
administration.”
Coroner rules
on taxi death
crash
A CORONER has ruled that a 37
year old man who died after crashing into a vehicle being driven by a
taxi driver was driving too fast and
two times over the legal drink drive
limit.
Ebua Emmanuel was travelling at
47mph in a 30mph zone along Hempstead Road, Hemel Hempstead when
he crashed into a taxi driven by Mr
Gordon Fowler from Harrow. Mr
Fowler’s wife, daughter and dog were
sitting in the back of the vehicle.
Mr Fowler had been travelling between 20mph to 25mph at the time of
the incident. He said: “I suddenly saw
headlights a couple of hundred yards
away. The direction the vehicle was
going suddenly changed and came
straight at me. It all happened too
quickly.”
Coroner Edward Thomas ruled that
Mr Emmanuel’s death was accidental
and said: “This is an important message, not to drink and drive.”
Fugitive cab driver
jailed after helping
knife killers escape
LONDON PRIVATE hire driver Kyriacos Phantos (56) has been sent to
prison for three years and nine
months after he was found guilty of
driving a gang of youths around
North London as they searched for
a rival to kill.
Mohammed Abdullahi (20) was attacked and killed after he was wrongly
accused of shooting at the window of
Dean Winston (20).
Winston, Kylie Sober-Fraoud (19)
and Calvin Jerelle Collins (19) were
caught on CCTV punching, kicking
and knifing Mr Abdullahi.
Mr Phantos fled to Cypurs and on
return, was convicted of assisting an
offender.
­PHC
feature | cab involvement sought in automated car debate
magazine
London cab group call for trade to
be involved in driverless car tests
14 | January 2015
A PRIVATE HIRE and taxi steering group, hosted by
comparison and booking app Kabbee has called for
experienced drivers to be invited to take part in the
development of automated vehicles.
A spokesman for the steering group said that although
the prospect of cars without drivers on the streets of the
UK may be in the future, “Driverless vehicles would have
a much stronger proposition as a service to customers if
existing experienced drivers, with the knowledge of
London’s streets and an understanding of what passengers need and want, are consulted.”
The industry steering group, made up of representatives of the licensed minicab and taxi industry, including the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association (LTDA),
Transport for London, Kabbee and Get Taxi, met to discuss the potential impact that driverless cars could have on minicab fleets and taxi drivers.
The discussion highlighted a number of positives that might come out of driverless cabs but also expressed concern that the present technology could not compete with the current knowledge of London’s minicab and taxi drivers. In light of this, the steering group has sent an open letter to all
manufacturing, technology, GPS and research partners, to suggest a collaboration with a cross-section of experienced minicab and taxi drivers.
Founder and CEO of Kabbee, Justin Peters, said: “There’s no
doubt that one day, quotes for driverless minicabs will feature on our platJustin Peters
form. And when that happens we will
embrace the new technology.
“In order for driverless minicabs to become a reality though, drivers must be
central to the development of driverless
cars if they are going to have the maximum positive impact on the city.
“I believe that the work that licensed minicab and black cab
drivers do is massively underestimated and I am sure that the
people behind driverless car technology are starting to realise
that. We want to help drivers and technology companies come
together to realise success together.”
LTDA general secretary Steve McNamara, said: “Driverless taxis
will struggle to fulfil many of the services currently carried out
by taxi drivers. For example, assisting disabled passengers, especially those in wheelchairs. I also suspect that many customers will still to prefer interacting with real people, rather an
anonymous automatic box. Driverless taxis are not a reality as
far as I am concerned.”
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­PHC
magazine
16 | January 2015
 feature | hunting for touts with the cab enforcement unit
­
Tout and About
PHC joined inspector Julian Collinson of the Cab Enforcement
Unit as his team targeted tout hot spots in the centre of London
Upper Street / Islington
01:25 AM / UPPER STREET / ISLINGTON
First stop was Upper Street, Islington’s entertainment and
restaurant district. It is also a priority borough for the Cab
Enforcement Unit (CEU) because of the high rate of reported cab related sex offences. According to inspector
Collinson: “Our deployment is about public safety.There
is course the argument that touts take the money out of
the pockets of licensed private hire and taxi drivers, but
our main priority is the safety of the travelling public in
London. Making sure they get home safely.”
A short distance from inspector Collinson’s car, officers
in unmarked police vehicles kept a watchful eye on their
plain clothes colleagues as they blended in with tipsy
revellers staggering home. Some could barely walk and
several couples argued and rowed as they tottered along
Upper Street.
Most venues were now shut and the only vehicles on
the road were buses, PHVs and taxis. Some slowed down
to talk to the plain clothes CEU
officers but all of them drove
on. Most appeared to be looking for pre-booked customers
and carried on searching for
their passengers.
Strict rules govern though
what the plain clothes officers
can and cannot do. They are allowed to stand by the side of
Fabric Nightclub / Smithfield
the road and chat but they are
not allowed to entrap cab drivers by waving or hailing to get their attention. They can
engage in conversation with a driver but are not allowed
to do anything to encourage a driver to offer an illegal
cab journey. As inspector Collinson said, “They (the officers) are purely passive. This is not about creating a crime.
That helps no one.”
And it would appear that more licensed private hire and
taxi drivers are getting the message that it’s not worth
having their licence suspended or revoked for the sake of a few easy
quid.
PHC’s unmarked police vehicle was parked near to a restaurant that
was locking up for the night. A group of men and women stood on
the pavement, apparently waiting for a cab to take them home. Inspector Collinson, chatting to a colleague in a vehicle nearby, overheard the conversation between a licensed PHV driver and the
restaurant goers as he picked them up.
“He (the driver) was actually being a good driver and stopping to
see if they were the customers who had made the booking. The
message would appear to be getting through, which is good.”
And even if the public does act foolishly sometimes, with regards
to their own safety, the inspector believes the Safer Travel at Night
(STaN) message of the last decade is making a difference and has led
to a reduction in touting.
“Now you could argue that touting would not exist if people were
unwilling to get into an unlicensed vehicle. If people just said ‘no’
then there wouldn’t be a tout problem at all. But I do believe there
has been a drop in touting in the last few
years.”
Sergeant
Akiwumi
02:10 AM / FABRIC NIGHTCLUB /
SMITHFIELD
A different sort of venue and a different
sort of policing method. Uniformed officers were out in numbers to deter touts,
both licensed and unlicensed, from making illegal money out of the revellers coming out of the 2,500 capacity Fabric
nightclub, opposite the Smithfield meat
market.
There were people
and vehicles everywhere and the situation was chaotic with
PHV marshals in fluorescent coats and hiviz jackets pairing up
punters with licensed
vehicles on Charterhouse Street.
This infuriates the
taxi trade, who claim these vehicles are illegally plying for hire. But
PHC did not see any drivers approach punters or vice versa and clubbers from Fabric only got into a waiting licensed PHV after a marshal
took them to a car. That is not to say that touting never goes on outside Fabric. But, a robust police presence does appear to discourage
those who might be tempted.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 18
­PHC
magazine
 feature | hunting for touts with the cab enforcement unit
­
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16
18 | January 2015
And unlike Upper Street, where CEU officers
were incognito, uniformed men and women
reinforced the message that drivers would
not get away with approaching members of
the public for an illegal journey.
According to inspector Collinson: “The key
to success is getting here early. We take the
ground and then hold the ground. When we
are here first and the touts come later, then it
is important that we stay here to deter them.
We often see them do a few loops around
Smithfield before they move on and go
somewhere else.
“We also work very closely with the venue.
The attitude of the management is that, ‘Your
night out in Fabric does not end until you get
home’. So, if someone is touted or assaulted
on their way home, they will associate that
with the nightclub. And obviously Fabric
don’t want that.”
Charing Cross
03:15 AM / ROADHOUSE NIGHTCLUB /
COVENT GARDEN
Kicking out time at the late night music bar in
The Piazza in Covent Garden and it was easy
to see why drunken people and touts are
often the perfect match for each other. Illegal
drivers have no idea who they’re picking up
and sozzled revellers have no idea who they
are or where they are going.
The police do their best to keep the situation under control. But it’s difficult to help
people make the right choices about getting
home safely when they are sprawled face
down on the cobble stones of Covent Garden
and their slightly less drunk girlfriend is
screaming at them to “f*cking get up”.
And like flies to a honeypot, there were several men in cars without licence discs parked
up around the corner from the Roadhouse in
Southampton Street. They could have been
there quite legitimately but PHC saw at least one man
counting a handful of £10 and £20 notes. It doesn’t
take a huge leap of faith to wonder how he came by
the money.
And that is why it is so important to have venues
working closely with the police and the licensed cab
trade to protect the public.
According to the inspector: “For many clubs, it is a
condition of their licence to have a licensed operator
on the premises. And I think that, as long as they are
run properly, clubs, restaurants etc with licensed operators inside are a good thing. It is all about public
safety and that has to be the driving force in all that
we do.”
Inspector Collinson
04:35AM / CAMDEN MARKET / CHALK FARM ROAD
The roads were almost deserted and the few revellers
still out and about, clutching their fast food breakfast, were handing over the
streets to bleary eyed early morning commuters heading off to work.
Buses outnumbered private hire vehicles and taxis and it was hard to imagine
there were many touts still plying their illegal trade at this time in the morning.
But, there is always one. And in this instance, a very unlucky one.
Two unmarked cab enforcement cars were waiting in a side street off the Chalk
Farm Road when they got a call from their undercover officers to say
they had just been touted. The police vehicles raced to their assistance
and blocked the car of the alleged tout in the entrance to Hawley
Street.
A few minutes of interrogation revealed the man had no private hire
driving licence, no driving licence to drive a car at all and no insurance
cover for either activity. Paperwork was filled in and handed over and
the gentleman will be in court in the near future. Happy New Year!
DEBRIEF
The stats for the weekend show the Cab Enforcement Unit arrested
eight people for touting (and other offences) on the Friday night that
PHC went out with them. And a further eight on Saturday. Overall, over
1,000 arrests for tout related offences have been made since April of
2013. Does inspector Collinson think the level of touting has changed in the last
few years? “I believe that touting has decreased, certainly in the last few years. I
don’t think that touting will ever be eliminated completely, but in terms of sheer
volume and scale, the number of touts has gone down. The CEU and TfL’s compliance and enforcement officers are out on the streets of London most nights
of the week and that has a positive effect on the levels of touting that we see in
the capital.”
PHC would like to thank inspector Collinson for taking the magazine out to see
the Cab Enforcement Unit at work and Vicky Barnes of the Metropolitan Police’s
Roads & Transport
Policing Command
Hawley Street / Camden Market
and Jasmit Jabbal
of TfL’s Enforcement & On-Street
Communications
Office for arranging
the evening and
coming out on the
operation.
­PHC
 feature | global hire & reward stories
­
magazine
PLANET TAXI
20 | January 2015
CAB TRADE NEWS AROUND THE WORLD
Cape Town police impound 200
‘outlaw’ taxi vehicles every month
THE CONDITION of South African cabs is
under the spotlight after it was revealed the
authorities have seized and impounded
over 3,500 vehicles in the last 16 months.
Library photo / Cape Town taxis
JP Smith, mayoral committee member for safety and security in Cape Town
said: “This is a staggering statistic and illustrates the difficulties of regulating this
industry.
“The city’s role is limited to enforcement however and this particular transgression is incredibly difficult and time-consuming to police. Because
in many instances, our staff examine the impounded vehicle, only for
it to be released a few hours later.”
Two thousand Cape Town taxi drivers have also been fined for overloading their vehicles in the past 12 months.
Smith advised commuters that it was better to get the next taxi than
to overload one. “Being a few minutes late is better than not getting
there at all.”
Mzoxolo Dibela, of the Western Cape Council said that 95 per cent of
taxis were not overloaded and had been targeted unfairly.
Strict new taxi laws for Singapore cabbies
HACKNEY CARRIAGE drivers in the City State of
Singapore have been told that 85 per cent of the fleet
must be on the roads during the morning and evenning rush hour. Eighty five per cent of cabbies will
also have to travel a daily minimum of 250km.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) said the new rules
were an extension of the Taxi Availability (TA) framework
introduced in 2013. A spokesman for the LTA said the
percentage of taxis on the road had already increased from 82 per cent in 2012
to 87 per cent in 2014.
Of the six taxi companies operating however, only two, Comfort and CityCab have
been able to meet all the requirements in
2014. Prime, another Singapore taxi company was fined $140,000 for not meeting
the new criteria.
National Taxi Association executive Ang
Hin Kee, said: “The LTA could have gone
further in helping taxi drivers with the challenges faced in meeting these requirements.
“The percentage of drivers doing shifts
has already increased from 53 per cent in
2012 to 66 per cent in September of 2014. But single-shift
cabbies continue to face difficulties in finding relief drivers due to a
decline in the pool of Taxi Driver Vocational Licence (TDVL) holders
and competition from taxi operators who are also searching for available drivers to take over as hirers.
“The NTA has suggested new TDVL drivers should join the trade
as relief drivers first. With the majority of taxi drivers driving 12 hours
a day, the key is to make the taxis work harder, not the drivers.”
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­PHC
magazine
22 | January 2015
 news | taximeter case referred to high court / cab attack / ulez date
­
LTDA Uber case sent to High Court
Judges to consider taximeter prosecution evidence
THE PRIVATE PROSECUTION of a number of Uber
drivers by the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association
(LTDA) has been sent to the High Court by Westminster Magistrates Court.
The LTDA launched the test case in August after the
black cab lobby group accused the drivers of breaching
Section 11 of the Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act
1998.
The association claim that Uber drivers use a taximeter, which is illegal in private hire vehicles, to calculate the
cost of passenger journeys.
Uber claim the “meter” is a pre-configured smartphone
device and as it is not fixed to the vehicle, it is not covered
by the terms and conditions of the 1998 Act.
Transport for London’s (TfL) managing director of surface transport Leon Daniels said the licensing authority
had taken, “very careful consideration” into the structure
of Uber’s operating procedures and concluded there was
no ground to prosecute drivers working for
Uber.
High Court
The court heard the LTDA had been paying private detectives to pose as Uber customers to collect information. A spokesman
for the association said: “We obviously
have to get evidence”. And added: “We
have got the determination and the funds to
pursue this one all the way.”
it’s they who must act on this and a whole host of other matters.
“We know the real background here.The corporate bully boys and
political interference from above. Don’t expect too much, it will be
mired in the courts for months and even if these drivers do get a
guilty verdict, Uber will just change the way they operate.
“What we need is to get the message out there that apps that send
vehicles, ‘there and then’, as well as having pictograms that show
cars nearby (soliciting) are illegally plying for hire and all concerned
drivers and operators should be arrested and the IT kit seized.”
Anonymous
“I and many others within the taxi trade are getting frustrated by the
day by the continuance of the complete incompetence of TfL who
seem to have never heard of or read the contents of The Private Hire
Vehicle (London) Act 1998. Had they done so, Uber would never
have obtained their operator’s licence. The fact now is plain to see.
They do not comply with ALL the requirements of the law and their
licence should be suspended immediately.
INTERNET COMMENT
I’m Spartacus
“TfL are the licensing authority. It’s clearly a
breach of CoF (Conditions of Fitness) and
Taxi driver suffers vicious assault
A TAXI DRIVER IN his 30s was left with severe facial injuries after he picked up a number of
passengers from the Eight Bells pub in Long Ditton at around 9pm on Thursday 11 December. He dropped them off in Woodstock Lane North, South West London and was then attacked at around 10.10pm.
Paramedics from the South East Coast Ambulance Service treated the driver at the scene of the
attack and transferred him to hospital for further treatment.
The alleged attacker was described as, a white man, about 5ft 8in tall, around 50 years old, of
medium build with short cropped hair and stubbly beard. He was wearing a dark hooded top, blue
jeans and a jacket.
Detective constable Heather Francis said: “I would appeal to anyone who either witnessed the assault or may have information on the person responsible to share this with us. This was a violent assault against a man who was just doing his job, and no doubt this horrific experience will stay with
him for some time. We need to find the person responsible and we need your help to do this.”
Anyone with information should call Surrey Police on 101 quoting reference number 45140104664.
Don’t forget
ULEZ date
Mayor Johnson’s proposed consultation on an
ultra low emission zone
finishes on January 9. The
zone will mean new PHVs
have to be zero emission
capable from 2018. Have
your say at: www.consultations.tfk.gov.uk/environment/ultra-low-emiss
ion-zone/consultation
­PHC
 tfl notice | official statement on uber
­
magazine
London Taxi & Private Hire
24 | January 2015
Notice 15 / 14
Transport for London Board Statement - Uber
Leon Daniels has given the following statement to the TfL Board
with a summary of the position regarding Uber, especially following the numerous stories in the media about activities worldwide.
Uber remains a licensed private hire operator in London, fulfilling
the requirements as set out in the private hire legislation. There
have been various stories in the media about their activities and
the sanctions applied in other countries and other jurisdictions.
We note all of these, but the laws in those jurisdictions are different.
In one, it was reported that Uber had shown, at a public event, the
location of a famous personality in an Uber vehicle. This we regarded very seriously as a potential breach of privacy. We took
steps to immediately look into this and Uber London Ltd gave us
an absolute assurance that no data about individuals was ever released.
There was also a story about a case where an Uber driver in India
had ben arrested on a charge of rape involving a passenger in his
vehicle. As far as we are aware, no one has yet been convicted of
any offence.
There has been a concern from the taxi trade that individuals
could be licensed as drivers from countries where the current DBS
checks cannot be obtained. The position regarding drivers who
have recently arrived in the UK and apply for a private hire driver’s
licence remains the same as before.
To be licensed, and in the absence of a DBS check, a certificate of
good conduct is required from the embassy of the country of origin. This discloses any offences that have been recorded against
the individual.
I should remind board members that this is a long standing requirement which applies to all private hire drivers and predates
the arrival of Uber in this market. I would also repeat that all private hire operators are subject to periodic compliance checks. The
last check at Uber was found to be satisfactory but in common
with all operators, further checks will take place at a time of our
choosing.
Lastly, board members will recall that there remains the issue of
whether or not the smartphone provided by Uber to its drivers is
a taximeter as defined in private hire legislation and, if it is,
whether or not, Uber private hire vehicles are illegally equipped
with it. Whilst we have already stated that we do not think it is,
we accept that the (1988 Private Hire) law is open to a different
interpretation, having been written well before the advent of such
devices.
Because the law is unclear, we have said that the appropriate way forward is to seek a declaration from the
High Court, which of course we will enforce.
This might well have been concluded by now. However, the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association (LTDA)
chose to bring a private prosecution in the magistrates’
court against a small number of Uber drivers on the
taximeter issue. The High Court does not have jurisdiction to consider applications for a declaration while
there are on-going prosecutions in the criminal courts
in relation to the same legal issue.
Recently, the magistrate dealing with the prosecutions, concluded that the matter was rightly the
province of the High Court. However, the LTDA did not
agree to withdraw the criminal summonses and the
case was adjourned indefinitely to allow us to pursue
our application to the High Court.
However, since the criminal cases remain outstanding,
we are of the view that the High Court will still not accept an application for a declaration as we would wish.
For this reason, we have written to the LTDA, asking
them to withdraw their criminal summonses. Until and
unless they do so, we will remain in a position where
the very concerns of the taxi trade that we are trying
to resolve cannot be progressed because of the actions
of the LTDA.
Helen Chapman
General Manager
Taxi and Private Hire
Transport for London
Cabbie accused over collision death
PRIVATE HIRE DRIVER Kugannesan Balasubramaniam (31) is currently on trial over the death of a passenger in a vehicle he allegedly drove his Peugeot
PHV into.
Economics teacher Nick Sennett (58) died at the scene
of the accident from serious head injuries sustained in
the four-car crash on 16 April 2014 on the A40 Westway.
The court heard that Balasubramaniam had worked 90
hours in the previous seven days and that he had been
talking on his mobile phone just before the accident.
The trial continues.
 news | mellor response / licence fracas
­
PHV boss condemns Mellor outburst
Cab operator says Tory rant was “deeply offensive”
­PHC
magazine
January 2015 | 25
A WEST LONDON private hire operator says ex-ConservaMr Ibrat Ali
tive minister David Mellor’s tirade against the London taxi
and mincab trade was “highly repugnant”.
Mr Ibrat Ali, boss of Embassy Direct Minicab & Courier Service in Ealing said: “The use of vulgarities reflects his ungentlemanly investiture. And furthermore goes a great way in
revealing his hypocritical attitude in those he calls “low” and imparts as “scum”. Inherited wealth does not bestow a man with
class sir.
“My company has been trading for over 50 years, serving the
local community, council and NHS, as well as
“Furthermore, I do not believe that Mr Mellor, of all people, with his most quesblue chip companies throughout London. We
tionable betrayal of ethics (matrimonial affair, political controversy etc) should be
simply would not have provided this sustained
the one who defines moral standing. The derogatory remarks made were illbusiness to these high standing organisations
mannered, untasteful and deeply offensive to an entire industry which plays a
if, as Mr Mellor states, we were the, “lowest
pivotal role in the British economy.”
of the low”.
PHV operator caught up in Madame Jojo’s licence revocation
A LICENSED PRIVATE HIRE operator based in a well known Soho
nightclub was involved in a fracas with a member of the public
which led to Westminster City Council revoking its seven-day-aweek 3am licence after 50 years in business.
The incident which led to the local authority decision, occurred on
24 October 2014 after bouncers at Madame Jojo’s became embroiled in a dispute with a customer at the burlesque, transvestite
and more recently hip-hop, late night venue on Brewer Street.
An incident report by the Metropolitan Police said that members
of the security team and their in-house (un-named) minicab operator allegedly violently assaulted a man after a “verbal altercation”.
The police statement said: “The security manager removes the item
and hands it to the minicab operator, who removes the bin liner to
reveal a baseball bat. The security manager removes another baseball bat in a bin liner, from the
same place.
Madame Jojo’s
“Another security guard
searches the area and picks
up an empty bin liner before
dropping it. It is clear from his
actions that he was looking
for another baseball bat.
“The minicab operator runs
up the road and hits the black
male several times with the
bat. He is joined by the security manager and the other
security, who all attack the
male.”
Madame Jojo’s replaced its
manager and bouncers with
a team approved by West-
minster Council but the local authority’s licensing committee has decided to revoke the club’s licence after a
recommendation in the initial police report.
Tim Mitchell, chairman of Westminster City Council’s licensing committee, said: “On 24 October, an organised
assault with injury took place at Madame Jojo’s, raising
serious about their management.
“Our licensing sub-committee has to consider the
safety of the public and after considering evidence from
a number of interested parties, including the police, it
was concluded that the licences for both bars should be
revoked.
“The fact that these events are the subject of an onging criminal investigation tells you how serious the assault was. And also means we are unable to say any more
at the moment.”
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­PHC
 feature | executive car & limo stories
­
magazine
CHAUFFEUR
NEWS 28 | January 2015
Delhi chauffeur praises bank accounts for poor
A CAMPAIGN BY India’s prime minister Narenda Modi
to encourage the country’s banks to help poor people open a bank account has been praised by a
chauffeur in New Delhi.
New Delhi
Ramesh Singh (27) said: “Any help the government provides will
be appreciated. That is why I opened this account when I was given
the opportunity.”
The government wants to “sideline extortionate money lenders”
who charge high rates of interest and are blamed for
driving tens of thousands of impoverished Indians to
suicide each year, often for debts of just a few hundred dollars.
Prime minister Modi said: “This initiative will help to
give the poor renewed strength to fight poverty. When
a bank account is opened, it is a step towards joining
the economic mainstream.”
In a letter to the country’s banks, Mr Modi wrote:
“There is an urgency to this exercise, as all other development activities are hindered by this single disability.”
Chauffeur claims that James ‘godfather
of funk’ Brown “still hasn’t been buried”
THE PERSONAL DRIVER of the late, great soul singer
James Brown has claimed that the 73 year old, who
died on Christmas Day 2006 of congestive heart failure
after catching pneumonia, has still not been laid to
rest.
Former chauffeur William Murrell has claimed that
Brown, who partied hard and abused drugs throughout
his life, is still very much with us. He said: “He’s been dead
since 2006 but he still hasn’t been properly buried. He’s
at his daughter’s house.”
Murrell, who has also worked as a personal driver for
Prince, Michael Jackson, Don King and Reverend Al
Sharpton, added, “They mummified his body so he
would never rot, at a cost of $140,000. Why? When
you’ve got almost 20 kids and six wives it’s hard to get
you into the ground.”
Murrell also gave his opinion on Michael Jackson, who
he drove to Brown’s funeral. He said that Jackson was a
“pretty cool guy” but said that his appearance has been
a “little disturbing”. To see him in real life was scary. His
skin colour was white and so where his hands. He spent
an hour alone with Brown’s body so that he could “spend
time with his mentor”.
James Brown in 1973
New Stockholm tariff rules
CAB AND LIMO drivers in the Swedish capital have
been told to, “make their costs more transparent”.
Under new regulations, which came into force on January 1, drivers have to tell customers if their fare is likely
to be higher than 500 kronor (£43).
Drivers will also be legally obliged to tell passengers
the highest fare for their journey and make a record of
any agreement between them.
­PHC
magazine
Taxi drivers attack Uber passenger
A FRENCH STUDENT travelling home
after celebrating her birthday claims
she was set upon by an angry mob of
taxi drivers in the northern town of
Lille.
The un-named female academic
said she had been enjoying her birthday with family and friends and was
set upon when she chose, “The rival
private chauffeured car service Uber
over their services”.
When the executive vehicle arrived,
at around 3am in the morning, the
woman claims that a group of taxi
drivers began insulting her and her
friends.
One taxi driver threw a bottle at her and she said: “It
hit my head and then I found myself on the ground.
There was blood dripping everywhere and I started
to panic. But I am a student and I don’t have the luxury of being able to take a taxi, because I simply cannot afford to.”
January 2015 | 29
Chicago councillors add stretch
limos to city wide parking ban
Chicago
ALDERMAN HAVE ADDED limousines to the type of vehicles that face extra
parking restrictions on the streets of Chicago.
The City Council has passed a proposal put forward by councillor Ray Suarez
that prohibits limos, “whether for hire or without hire” from parking “at any
time” on either residential or business streets within city limits.
Limousines, taxis, trucks, trailers, motor homes and recreational vehicles
longer than 22 feet are all banned from parking in residential streets. Taxis will
though be allowed to park on some business streets, but not for more than
two hours between 2am and 7am.
Limousines and taxis can still load and unload passengers but it must be
done in an “expeditious” manner. Stretch vehicle party buses will also be affected by the sub clause of Section 9-64-170 of the Municipal Code of
Chicago which states: “Additionally, the law prohibits the standing or parking of any vehicle six feet in height within 20 feet of any crosswalk, alley, com-
mercial driveway or fire lane at any
time”
The limo parking ban is part of a
number of measures the City Council has taken as elected officials struggle to regulate ‘ride-share’ companies such as Lyft and Share Ride.
Sceptics say the new council regulations might not make much affect
anyway as many of the stretch limo
firms are based in the suburbs near to
O’Hare International Airport.
Taxi drivers in Chicago say something must be done because the
ride-share rules, backed by mayor
Rahm Emanuel, discriminate against taxi drivers
because they are bound by state regulations that
make their journey tariffs more expensive.
In response, Chicago City Council licensing officers say they are looking to develop a “universal
smartphone app” that will connect taxi customers with the nearest available cab, to save
passengers the time and hassle of having to
book vehicles from several different vehicle companies.
The council’s ban on stretch limo parking
comes after London-based taxi despatch company Hailo announced it had withdrawn from
the American cab market.
­PHC
 opinion | views from the gmb professional drivers’ branch
­
magazine
Gone digital
No more paper licences
Before we get down to the nittygritty, we would like to begin by
wishing you all a happy, safe and
prosperous new year.
Licences go online
We start our first column of 2015 reminding drivers that the paper part of the driving licence is
now a thing of the past and like road tax, is now
only accessible online. This gives rise to the potential possibility that your information could
become accessible to all.. Any penalty points
you receive for driving offences will go online
and may be open for all to see, creating potential data protection issues.
When attending a new operator for interview
purposes you will be now be required to give
them written permission before they can access
your information on the web. Otherwise it’s illegal.
Whilst the digital storage of drivers’ information can have its pitfalls there are positves. One
of these is that the digital driving document
could be used to store your status as a private
hire or public hire driver. In our view, this may
help stamp out touting by making it easier for
the authorities to check that a driver in a licensed vehicle is actually a legitimate driver and
going about his lawful business.
30 | January 2015
Drive safely this winter
Hopefully the Christmas period was a profitable
one for you all - especially now as we are officially in the so called ‘kipper season’.
Whilst most of you are conscientious drivers, it
is probably worth us giving you a quick reminder to check your tyres are above the legal
requirements of 1.6 millimetres across the central ¾ of the tread around the complete circumference of the tyre and that the pressure is
correct to the manufacturer’s requirements.
With our inclement weather conditions, regular
...GMB drivers’
branch president
Simon Rush tackles
more driver issues
 It’s goodbye to the driving licence paper counterpart
checks are especially important at this time of year, ensuring optimum braking efficiency and generally making the journey safer for you and your customers.
We also suggest that you replace a struggling battery and keep your window washer fluid topped up,
so you don’t get caught out in those cold early morning starts. And for those of you that do regular long distance trips across the country, keep a hot thermos,
spare warm clothing and a spade to dig you out of
trouble should the need arise.
Cycling, subsidies and drivers aged 65+
In December we attended a number of events including; ’Is Cycling Good for London’ seminar, hosted by
the mayor’s cycling tsar, Andrew Gilligan,
a compliance meeting with TFL,
and also a ULEZ update, informing where TfL is
going with future emisson controls and the potential
future subsidies that may be on offer to drivers.
We will bring more details on this in next month’s article and we may also have some interesting news for
drivers over 65 years of age, in regard to their annual
medical check.
It’s all in the small print
Hopefully most of you are taking the time to carefully
read any contracts you are offered, before you sign. If
you have any queries with a contract - get professional
advice before you sign. Members of the GMB Professional Drivers Branch are reminded that the union is
with you every step of the way, with free advice available from on our qualified legal department line.
GMB pro drivers’ branch meeting
The next meeting will be held on 26th Jan at GMB Euston Office, 22 Stephenson Way, starting at 7pm.
Until next time, take care out there.
 feature | gangster cab link dies with fraser
­
­PHC
magazine
Frankie Frasier’s death marks the end of
gangster connection with PHV operator
SOUTH LONDON GANGSTER ‘Mad’ Frankie Fraser, who died recently aged 90, was well known for his violent criminal career
which led to him serving 42 years in prison. Less well known is his
connection to a South London private hire operator who came to
his aid during one of the most notorious gangland fights in the
1960s.
BACKGROUND
Francis Davidson “Frankie” Fraser, better known as ‘Mad’ Frankie
Fraser was born in Waterloo, South London and the youngest of five
children.
Turning to petty crime at the age of ten with his sister Eva, he was
sent to borstal in 1941 and then Wandsworth Prison for 15 months
for breaking into shops.
Working as a bodyguard for gangster Billy Hill, Frankie was in and
out of prison during the 1950s and 1960s and while in Durham
Prison, was certified insane and sent to Broadmoor.
Also known as ‘Razor Fraser’ and ‘The Dentist’ for the violence
meted out to rival criminals, Frankie was introduced to South London gangsters Charlie and Eddie Richardson in the early 1960s. The
brothers allegedly helped him avoid arrest for his involvement in The
Great Train Robbery, by bribing a policeman.
GUNFIGHT AT MR SMITH’S
Dave, not his real name, was a respected private hire operator, but in
the 1960s, worked as both a cabbie and a catburglar on the streets
of South London.
According to him: “We had a cab firm which had seven or eight
drivers but we never made any money. We were too busy breaking
into shops.”
His criminal past is well and truly behind him but his first cab firm
was involved in one of
the most notorious gangland fights, between
Charlie
and
Eddie
Richardson and associates of the Kray Twins.
The Richardson boys
and Reggie and Ronnie
Kray ruled the roost in
South and East London
respectively. But tension
between the two gangs
came to a head after
Richardson
associate
George Cornell allegedly
insulted Ronnie Kray at
the West End, Astor Club
in the run-up to Christmas in 1965.
Frankie said Cornell was
innocent but the per-
January 2015 | 31
ceived insult could not be ignored and matters came to a
head in the spring of 1966 over
who controlled Mr Smith’s nightclub in Catford.
Billy Hill had introduced Charlie
and Eddie Richardson to the
Frankie Fraser, in the 1950s
club’s owners, Manchester businessmen Dougie Flood and Bill
Benny and the two brothers had agreed to ‘protect’ the
venue in exchange for allowing fruit machines on the
premises.
Unfortunately, another group of ‘businessmen’ (and associates of the Krays) Billy and Harry Hayward, Peter Hennessey, Billy Gardner and Richard Hart (a cousin of the
Krays) thought they had been contracted to, ‘look after
the club’. The dispute needed a resolution and matters
came to a head after both gangs had been drinking
heavily throughout the night at Mr Smith’s on March 8.
Eddie Richardson told the boys from the Kray gang to,
“drink up and leave” but Hennessey refused and called
Eddie a, “half-baked f*cking ponce” who he could have,
“any f*cking time”.
The two men and fellow gang members came to blows
and during the melee, pistols were drawn and fired
across the crowded nightclub floor. One gangster later
recalled in court it was like, “Dodge City”. In the confusion, Richard Hart was shot dead and several others suffered serious gunshot wounds.
No one wanted to hang around and talk to the police
and the call went out to Dave’s minicab firm to spirit the
Richardson gang, including Frankie, away from the murder scene. According to him: “There was a huge shootout
and we were called in by Eddie and Charlie to get them
out before the Old Bill arrived. Our cars were completely
covered in claret (blood).”
Eddie Richardson, Fraser and several others were taken
to Lewisham Hospital but would later deny all knowledge of the gun battle to the police.
Fraser was accused of shooting Hart but denied it in
court. And no one was prepared to testify against him.
He was though found guilty of, “causing an affray and
malicious wounding”.
RETIREMENT
Frankie’s criminal career carried on until he reinvented
himself in the 80s and 90s as an author, after dinner
speaker, television pundit and tour guide to the old criminal haunts of the East End. Dave sold his cab firm to a
local gangster after the fight at Mr Smith’s and then returned to the trade as a PCO licensed operator a few
years later, before finally selling up and retiring.
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thecourier
delivering distribution dispatches
Funds needed to halt driver decline
DESPITE disappointment at the lack of funding in the chancellor’s Autumn Statement, the Road Haulage Association (RHA) has been
pressing for further talks with government to gain financial support
for firms in a bid to get more people licenced and qualified to drive
heavy goods vehicles.
In a letter to George Osborne, requesting an urgent meeting, RHA
chief executive Richard Burnett highlighted the growing threat to UK
economic growth of a worsening shortage of drivers and an increasing reliance on drivers from abroad, saying: “Government is
failing this industry and the economy and urgent action is needed
from the Treasury. An opportunity to lead transformative change was
missed in the Autumn Statement, which ignored our strongly-supported case for funding for companies.
“The analysis that the RHA set out remains valid and the problem
of a worsening driver shortage is not going to go away.”
He continued: “We support the chancellor’s objectives set out in
his Autumn Statement – but the economy needs to have enough
lorry drivers if he is going to deliver.
“Right now, we are 45,000 drivers short. And If the issue is not urgently
addressed, in 12 month’s time that figure will increase to 60,000. If the
UK doesn’t have enough people able to drive the lorries that keep
the economy moving, the economy will grind to a halt”.
OWNER VAN COURIERS
& DESPATCH RIDERS REQ.
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✔ Branches in WC1 and NW10
020 7685 1121
CALL RECRUITMENT ON
inside this month...
 RHA calls for driver training funds
 Resolve to make small changes
 Continental courier dispatches
 UK distribution news
 Ian Kerr on the all new R1
FTA supports Rugby
World Cup bid
Right now we
are 45,000
drivers short.
And if the issue
is not urgently
addressed, in
12 months’
time that figure
will be 60,000.
 Richard Burnett, RHA
THE FORMAL bid by
the Irish Rugby Football Union(IRFU) to
host the 2023 Rugby
World Cup has been
welcomed by Freight
Transport Association representatives in both the north
and south of Ireland.
Neil McDonnell, FTA Ireland’s general manager,
said: “Attracting such a high profile
international event as the Rugby
World Cup would provide a welcome opportunity to stimulate Ireland’s economy, and the necessary
infrastructure is already in place to
make it a highly successful event.”
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January 2015 | 33
“
It’s only January, yet 9 out of 10 of people have already broken
their New Year’s resolutions. Sue Moore asks; “Are you one of them?”
ThE main rEaSon that new Year’s resolutions are broken so often is that people set themselves unattainable goals or
simply lack the motivation/will-power,
despite having the best intentions to see
them through.
What makes it worse is that we are reminded of our failure to fulfill our resolutions by the incessant bombardment of
facts about how dangerous smoking/
drinking/lack of exercise is, as if we didn’t
know it already.
So this year, rather than being a slave to
unrealistic resolutions (even if it is only for
a short period) why not concentrate instead on implementing small changes
that benefit you and those around you.
1. Drink more water
Despite the benefits of drinking more water
being widely reported, they are often ignored. And many of us are more inclined
to grab a soft drink (or an energy drink)
when out on the road.
But did you know that reaching for the
H2O instead could actually help if you suffer with back pain? Keeping your body hydrated decreases the discomfort of back
aches, as the discs in your back are filled
with fluid that can be quickly obtained
from drinking water. Anything else you
drink has to be filtered trough the liver
first, making it less efficient.
By replacing a just a few of your daily
cuppas or soft drinks with water, can make
a difference.
2. Try to relax
Easier said than done if it’s been a long day
and someone has just cut you up or you're
stuck in traffic.
Driving for a living is one of the most
34 | January 2015
stressful jobs, both physically and mentally. Stress can cause anger, irritability,
aches and pains, rashes, nausea, high
blood pressure and diabetes.
You can't control the actions of other
road users (what a wonderful world it
would be if we could) but you can control
your reactions to them.
If you find yourself getting irate; take a
deep breath in, count to four and breathe
out slowly. Alternatively, SMILE! It's hard
to be angry when you're smiling - even if
you're faking it.
“
My excuses for already
failing my New Year's
resolution are more
complicated than the
Maastricht Treaty.
Unknown
3. Eat healthy foods more often
As a busy, professional driver, convenience
is essential. Unfortunately, the most convenient food isn't always the healthiest
option.
If possible, plan ahead by preparing
healthy snacks for the road like apples,
pre-peeled oranges, nuts, seeds or cereal
bars.
Mini fridges are a great way to keep food
fresh; sandwiches, cold pasta dishes and
salads are much cheaper if prepared at
home.
A flask of hot soup can really hit the spot
on a cold day too.
When fast food is the only option, try and
order a healthier alternative like a wrap or
a salad, and don't be tempted to 'go large'.
4. Spend more (quality) time with
Dear God, my prayer
for 2015 is a fat bank
account and a thin body.
Please don't mix these
up like you did last year.
Unknown
family & friends
Obviously make sure it’s with the ones you
truly like, and try to plan your time off
wisely, rather than fill it with the neverending list of ‘Jobs To Do'.
Instead, arrange a day out with your partner/kids/siblings/parents, or an evening
out with friends doing something you
enjoy. If money is tight, why not have a
'movie night' - just add popcorn.
Its these simple things that create memories to look back on.
5. Be Kind To Yourself
Imagine your partner or friend had an
awful day. Maybe they had a row with
their boss or made a silly mistake at work.
You would probably listen, empathise and
maybe console them.
So, how would you react if the person
having a bad day was you? Probably not
with as much kindness.
People who are less empathetic to themselves are more prone to procrastination,
the enemy of self-kindness!
Give yourself a break occasionally and
cut yourself some slack. Besides, no-one is
perfect and tomorrow is another day.
“
Good resolutions are
simply cheques that men
draw on a bank where
they have no account.
Oscar Wilde
continentalcourier
AirAsia takes its
Redbox courier
service into
Thailand
airaSia has expanded its
newly launched courier service, redbox, to include thailand.
The Malaysia-based airline company
claim Redbox charge up to fifty per cent
cheaper rates than existing courier companies by utilising the airline’s extensive
route network.
AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes
said: "With Redbox, we hope to open up
a new horizon for businesses in Malaysia
and across the region. In the current
economic climate, businesses can only
benefit from low-cost courier services
such as this, promising reliability and up
to par with industry standards.”
Redbox already has operations in six
Asia countries and 31 major towns in
Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the
Philippines, Vietnam and Nepal, and
plans are afoot for expansion into Australia, Japan, China and Hong Kong.
Electric new DHL deal
Caught on camera; driver escapes rig
inferno by climbing through windscreen
a paSSiNg MotoriSt caught the terrifying moment a tanker truck driver crawled
through his windscreen to escape his burning rig after a fatal crash on route 78 in
New Jersey.
The tanker, which was carrying 9,000 gallons of fuel, hit an Audi which strayed into its
path. Both vehicles then crashed into a tractor-trailor before mounting a concrete barrier
and bursting into flames. The driver of the Audi, James Pinaire (24) was pronounced dead
at the scene.
Joe DeGioia witnessed the crash and began filming. "I saw it in the distance and I didn’t
think anything of it, but when I got closer it
was surreal," DeGioia said. "I started taking
video and you can hear two or three explosions and then I saw the man crawl out
UPS deliver dream job
to starstruck youngster
UpS are really pulling at the heart
strings with their new advert showing
them making a four-year-old's dream
of becoming a UpS driver come true.
According to his mother, Carson of Colorado Springs, always watches out for the UPS
truck as they make their deliveries. He even has his own UPS
uniform.
Carson's favourite driver, who he calls
"Mr Ernie", said: "I can come here three
times in a week and I get the same reaction every single time. All that excitement. It's pretty neat to see him all the
time with his UPS uniform on. He's always looking really sharp with his hat
and his boots. The whole outfit!"
"Mr Ernie" took Carson out for the day
on his deliveries and presented him
with a specially made UPS truck.
DeUtSCHe poSt DHl has signed an
agreement to acquire StreetScooter
gmbH, a former start-up that is committed to the development of affordable electric vehicles.
As a result of the agreement, the company will also acquire the development and
production rights to vehicles as well as the employees of StreetScooter GmbH.
the horrific blaze (left), the
drivers lucky escape (right)
of the windshield of the truck. After
that I stopped recording."
The tanker truck driver Balwinder
Singh (35) survived but was in a critical condition.
Reward to find
missing delivery driver
CriMe Stop in Jamaica is
offering a US$1,000 (£640)
reward for information
leading to the whereabouts of delivery driver
Missing:
Steve
Steve Harris, who has been
Harris
missing since November.
The last sighting of the fifty-year-old
was at 10pm on November 5th, when he
was seen collecting goods for delivery at
the Jamaica Beverage Company in Portmore, St Catherine.
Harris's empty truck was discovered
three days later, 9 miles away in Ewarton.
January 2015 | 35
thecourier
Lotta Lotto Lolly for
Lucky Lorry Driver
A dundee lorry driver can retire
early after winning more than £1m in
the euromillions lottery.
 Raymond Storey celebrates big win
Raymond Storey (61) also had the
chance to add a trip to Australia, Peru or
Brazil to the £1m prize or a cash alternative as part of the 'Mega Friday' draw,
and chose to take the extra £50K.
The lucky driver checked his ticket the
morning after the draw, saying: "I found
out I was a millionaire at 06:00 and I decided to retire at 06:02. I had two lines
on my ticket with two raffle codes. I realised the end of one code matched a
winning combination; however I still
didn't think I had won.”
"I checked the raffle code three times
then ran up the stairs to tell my wife. My
head was spinning."
The new retiree added: "I'm a lucky
man. It's wonderful to know that I can
enjoy my retirement, secure with the
freedom to do what I want.”
"I've not decided to buy anything in
particular. I'm just looking forward to living my life as I please."
DX buys into Gnewt Cargo
dX Group has announced the acquisition of almost half of last-mile delivery company Gnewt Cargo for £1.75m.
Founded in 2009, Gnewt Cargo has
36 | January 2015
Doorstep thieves
strike in UK & US
A spAte of doorstep parcel thefts has
been reported in esher, with one being
caught on CCtV by the victim.
Enzo Pozella, of Severn Drive, checked his
CCTV to see why his delivery hadn't arrived
and saw a woman swiping his parcel and
running back to a waiting car.
Other properties on the road also fell victim to a similar crime and police said there
had been numerous reports of parcels
being stolen throughout the area.
The local Residents’ Association sent out
an email warning home-owners about the
thefts and advising them to be alert. It said:
“In the run up to Christmas it seems likely
that this sort of activity may well continue
to increase, so please be vigilant and report
any suspicious activity to the police.”
 Caught in the act in America
grown by 200 per cent and now operates a
fleet of more than 100 electric zero-emission vehicles.
The founders of the company will retain
the remaining 50.2% stake of the business.
Speaking at their Buckinghamshire-based
HQ, DX chief executive Petar Cvetkovi said
“We now look forward to working with the
Gnewt team to expand their environmentally friendly ‘last-mile’ delivery services to
other UK cities."
“I am delighted that Matt and Sam, who
both co-founded Gnewt, have chosen to
partner with DX."
“We use Gnewt’s services ourselves and
therefore know just how efficient and customer-focused they are. And, of course,
how they help to reduce emissions and
make city centres better places to be.”
Surrey Police crime reduction adviser,
Elaine Burtenshaw, said: “Unattended parcels left outside your property could prove
to be very enticing to an opportunist thief.
“To reduce the risk of theft you should always ensure that there is someone at home
to receive your order. Alternatively, arrange
for delivery to a neighbour or another address where it can be received on your behalf. Don't think that placing the item out
of sight behind a plant pot makes it invisible. If a parcel can be left there, a thief can
also easily find and take it.”
Opportunistic thieves across the pond
have also been pinching people’s parcels.
Two teenagers in America followed a UPS
delivery truck stealing packages that were
left on customers’ doorsteps by the driver.
The brazen pair were caught in the act by a
quick thinking resident who captured the
thefts on his mobile phone before calling
the police. Arresting officers recovered 26
stolen items from their vehicle.
A woman in Washington was so fed up
of having her parcels
stolen that she left a
decoy box full of dog
poo on her doorstep
and filmed it getting
pinched!
New dad spared jail
A repeAt offender who stole a parcel delivery van has been spared jail
after the judge heard he realised his
crime was “inappropriate” after recently becoming a father.
Mark Brady (22) stole the vehicle after
the driver left the keys in the ignition.
Brady’s DNA was found on the steering
wheel when it was found a month later.
Jamie Gamon, defending, said becoming the father of a girl had made Brady
realise his conduct was inappropriate.
Brady, of Southampton, received a
nine-month suspended sentence with
12 months’ supervision.
Ian Kerr MBE runs the rule
over Yamaha’s all new R1
enthusiast and journalist I am a regular visitor to
As aallmotorcycling
the major motorcycle shows and it pleases me to see so many
models on the market that excite existing bikers and tempt new riders
onto two wheels. However, there is one ‘new’ machine that really
stands head and shoulders above the rest. Not only because it is visually stunning, but also because it is the closest thing to a MotoGP bike
on the road. I refer to the new Yamaha YZF-R1.
It was seventeen years ago that Yamaha unveiled the original YZF-R1.
A light, powerful and agile machine, it offered a whole new level of performance to the Supersport rider and changed the level of customer expectation. Now it appears that Yamaha has raised the bar once again with
the release of its next generation superbike. A machine, they say, that has
been built without compromise to allow the customer to experience the
kind of technologically advanced motorcycle which, up to now, has only
been enjoyed by factory riders.
Track pedigree
The 200 PS engine has been developed from the same M1 race bike that
is ridden by Lorenzo and Rossi in MotoGP. At the heart of the state-ofthe-art 998cc in-line, four cylinder engine is a newly designed cross-plane
crankshaft which gives an uneven 270°/180°/90°/180°firing sequence.
As a result, each piston and con rod gets its own individual and separate movement to create a stronger low to mid-range pulse, which gives
The 200 PS engine
has been developed
from the same M1 race bike
that is ridden by Lorenzo
and Rossi In MotoGP
Continued overleaf >>>
January 2015 | 37
>>> Continued from p37
a very individual exhaust growl. The new motor
also has a different bore and stroke, compression
ratio, cylinders, cylinder head and fuel injection
system from the old model.
There is lot of M1 technology used in the motor
which now gets a 23 per cent larger air-box to
deliver increased volumes of fresh air into the
Yamaha Chip Controlled Intake (YCC-I) funnels.
The YCC-I consists of sets of long and short funnels that are electronically activated to match the
prevailing engine speed for optimum power
output and torque characteristics.
The new R1 is also equipped with a Yamaha
Chip Controlled Throttle (YCC-T), operating a
newly developed fuel injection system featuring
2-directional 12-hole main injectors that direct
their high pressure spray at the back of the two
new large diameter intake valves.
To enable the new engine to attain peak
power and also to enhance the linear torque
characteristics, the 2015 R1 is equipped with a
newly designed exhaust system, manufactured
mainly from titanium. Its compact muffler contributes towards the ‘mass centralisation’ that is
a key feature on this advanced new superbike.
The new assist and slipper (A&S) clutch has
been designed to match the engine's high
power and torque delivery, and as well as being
19 per cent lighter than the current model's
clutch, its diameter is also reduced by seven per
cent.
The A&S clutch design features a specially-designed aluminum cam between the clutch boss
and pressure plate that ensures excellent engagement during acceleration, together with
reduced clutch pressure during rapid down
shifting before entering a corner. When high
levels of back torque occur, the R1's A&S clutch
delivers a level of slip equivalent to around halfclutch function, giving smoother and more efficient cornering and reduced lap times.
Precise and efficent handling performance
The power-plant is mounted in an aluminum
‘Deltabox’ frame featuring gravity cast components that are welded together to form a single
structural unit, with the engine acting as a
stressed member. Pivoting on the back of this
this is an upward truss type aluminum swingarm, which has been manufactured in the same
way. Bolted onto the main frame is a magnesium
rear frame, which contributes towards weight reduction and overall compactness.
38 | January 2015
Weighing in at just 199kg with oil and fuel - and only 179kg dry - the R1's racing DNA
is evident in the design and construction of every component.
Yamaha's designers have focused on concentrating weight as close to the bike's
centre as possible, but the compact dimensions of the new chassis also play an integral role in shaping the highly focused race-bred character of the R1. With a short
1,405mm wheelbase, this next generation R-series flagship has clearly been developed with circuit riding as the primary focus.
The fully adjustable front and rear suspension systems have been developed by the
KYB Corporation in association with Yamaha, for precision handling and effective
power delivery both on the road, as well as the track. The 43mm upside down forks
give 120mm of wheel movemen and, together with the large diameter 25mm front
axle, the R1's front end should give excellent damping characteristics with a predictable and planted feeling during braking and cornering.
At the rear end is a link-type Monocross suspension system that is designed to optimise the transmission of engine power to the track surface, giving precise and efficient handling performance during acceleration, braking and cornering.
Great for brakes
For the first time on any Supersport class Yamaha, the new R1 is equipped with an ABS
(Anti-lock Braking System) and also Yamaha's Unified Brake System (UBS). These advanced braking systems are designed to allow the rider to achieve high levels of controllability in different circuit or road situations.
With the UBS, operation of the front brake also generates a corresponding braking
force at the rear. And when the rider operates both the front and rear brakes, the UBS
controls the balance of braking force that is applied to each brake.
In each case the distribution of braking force is based on input from the 6-axis Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) which takes into account such factors as banking angle
and machine attitude. The only situation where the UBS has no control is when only
the rear brake is operated by the rider.
The 2015 R1 sits on magnesium wheels, the front being equipped with twin 320mm
thecourier
discs gripped by 4-pot calipers, while the rear gets a single 220mm item. The new
cast magnesium wheels represent a weight saving of nearly 900g compared to a conventional alloy design.
Unique face
The machine is wrapped in an aerodynamically designed fairing, akin to the M1, which
is claimed to reduce wind resistance by eight per cent. New small diameter LED headlights are positioned on either side of the central air intake, and are located much
lower than on other Supersport models. Because of their compact design they appear
to be virtually hidden in the new front cowl, giving the R1 a unique 'face' that expresses its racing pedigree.
One other striking feature is the use of linear position lights that are located within the
front cowl. The narrow and straight lines of these twin LED position lights come on
when the ignition is activated, and they give the R1 a truly unique frontal expression.
When the ignition is turned off, the LED position lights gradually lose their luminosity.
No compromise road-legal racing machine with all the bells and whistles
But, it is the electronic package that comes with this bike that really places it in the category of being a road legal racing machine. It comes with the most advanced electronic control technology ever seen on a production motorcycle.
We have already mentioned the 6-axis Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) that in-
stantaneously delivers comprehensive machine
running data to the ECU via gyro and G force
sensors. Data is then sent via a Controller Area
Network (CAN system)) to the ECU that makes
real time calculations and instantly adjusts the
R1’s various electronic control systems in order
to achieve optimum performance with high levels of controllability.
Thanks to the information available as a result
of this system, it has enabled Yamaha to equip
this new superbike with the most advanced MotoGP technology, such as a banking angle sensitive rear wheel Slide Control System (SCS) and
Traction Control System (TCS).
The R1 also has a LIFt control system that has
been developed to control front wheel lift when
accelerating hard, and a Launch Control System
(LCS) which restricts engine rpm to below
10,000rpm - even at full throttle. For good measure, they’ve also thrown in a Quick Shift System
(QSS) for rapid gear changes, a power mode selection (PWR) and Yamaha Ride Control system
(YRC). By now, I’m sure you get the picture this is
very much a massively advanced piece of technological motorcycle engineering in a small
compact package!
Coming soon
The bike will be available in two colours (Race Blu
series and Racing Red) from March this year, although no prices have been announced at the
time of writing. And if the standard machine is
not enough, a race version in the shape of the
YZF-R1M - aimed at professional teams and
highly experienced riders who demand the ultimate track and race performance - will also be
available.
Featuring a range of highly sophisticated
equipment - including Electronic Racing Suspension (ERS), carbon bodywork, a Communication Control Unit (CCU) and high-specification
Bridgestone tyres - the YZF-R1M will be produced in very limited quantities.
Once again no prices have been announced,
and although you know it won’t be cheap, it hasn’t stopped people already forming an orderly
queue to get their hands on one. Having seen
the standard bike, I know why.
Even if you are not in the market for an R1 you
just have to check out this new bike because (for
most) it is the closest you will ever get to a MotoGP machine.
I can almost guarantee though, that once you
see it, you’ll want one. I know I do!
January 2015 | 39
­PHC
magazine
40 | January 2015
 boxing | challenger runs champ close
­
Skeete title tilt comes up short
Keen Group sponsored boxer, Bradley 'Super'
Skeete narrowly missed out in his bid to win
the British and Commonwealth welterweight
titles last month.
In challenging former world amateur champion and current British kingpin Frankie Gavin,
the Penge native was taking a big step up in
class (with all due respect to previous opposition), and despite suffering the first defeat of his
professional career, proved the doubters wrong
by taking Midlander Gavin the full championship
distance.
The fight itself proved a tentative affair, akin to
a chess match, with both boxers all too familiar
with each other's skill set and none able to over
commit to a sustained assault - making it extremely difficult to score.
A similar pattern ensued throughout, with
Skeete working smartly behind a stinging jab off
the back-foot, while Gavin continually edged forward behind his southpaw lead, seeking ways to
get inside Skeete's rangy physique and set up
quick fire combinations.
Gavin always looked to be the aggressor but
Skeete's neat footwork ensured he stayed out of
trouble, while his jab and snappy right crosses
left Gavin marked up under both eyes, showing
the shots that Skeete was landing had more
venom than perhaps it may have appeared.
Despite this, the champion always seemed
to be the one pressing and the slightly busier of
the two, edging a number of close rounds with
a marginally higher work rate.
And this was the way the judges saw the contest too, with the Birmingham man’s hand raised
at the final bell - given the nod on all three scorecards by margins of three rounds (for two
judges) and four rounds respectively.
ll setback,
Whilst a sma
disastrous
defeat is not
e
onsidering th
for Skeete, c
was keeping
company he
Whilst a small setback, defeat is not disastrous
for Skeete, considering the company he was
keeping. And he should find himself in the mix
to contest either of the titles, once Gavin relinquishes them in search of higher accolades, as
he surely will.
With plenty of up and coming talent on the domestic welterweight scene, there will be no
shortage of opposition for Skeete in 2015. And
on this showing he has proved that he can mix
it with the best in the country and just perhaps,
a little higher up the ladder too.
CLASSIFIED
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The friendly face that knows the trade
So Phone Gary now on 020 8529 2600
Email: [email protected] or look us up on
www.drivertax.co.uk
we accept credit & debit cards
London Minicab
LONDON MINICAB HISTORY BOOK
The story of the
London private
hire industry
£10
Incl. P&P
Purhcase your copy now:
call John on 020 8399 4678
SELLING YOUR BUSINESS?
Looking to sell your business
with the minimum of fuss?
We can make it happen - and at the right price
For further information
contact Imran on 07720 636 494
All negotiations handled in upmost confidence
FULL COLOUR
MINICAB CARDS
CARDS & PRINTING
12,000 ...... £99
25,000 ...... £130
50,000 ...... £195
100,000 .... £295
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For a Free Design or Samples Call
020 7476 5065
www.arborealprint.co.uk
ARBOREAL PRINT GROUP
GILLIAN HOUSE, STEPHENSON ST,
LONDON E16 4SA
­PHC
 feature | tax matters
­
magazine
big
42 | January 2015
The
deadline
for taxpayers
Gary Jacobs of
Drivertax talks
tax issues
You are reminded that the deadline for submitting
2013/14 tax returns electronically is on 31 January 2015.
Taxpayers should also be aware that payment of any tax
due should also be made by this date. This includes both
the payment of any balance of Self Assessment liability
for the period 2013/14, plus any payment on account due
for the current 2014/15 tax year.
The following penalties apply to Self Assessment returns
that are filed late:
From day one:
Taxpayers will be charged a £100 penalty even if they
have no tax to pay or have paid any tax due on time.
From three months late:
Taxpayers will be charged an automatic daily penalty of
£10 per day up to a £900 maximum.
From six months late:
Taxpayers will be charged additional penalties which are
the greater of five per cent of tax due or £300.
Over 12 months late:
There are additional penalties based on greater of five
per cent of tax due or £300. In serious cases this penalty
may be increased up to 100 per cent of tax due.
Last year over 1,500 people filed their Self Assessments
returns online on Christmas Day and almost 5,000 taxpayers filed on Boxing Day. If you were one of them, it
might be worthwhile planning ahead to try and avoid
working during the holidays!
Talking telephone numbers

Increasingly, HMRC has been moving away from
0845 numbers to 03 numbers. 03 numbers are
non-geographic but are usually charged at the
same rates as 01 and 02 numbers and are free with
some telephone packages.
All HMRC helplines now have 03 prefixes, and the
majority of calls are made using them. To help create a smooth transition to these lines and minimise inconvenience for customers, HMRC
has continued to use their 0845 numbers. However, since 11 December 2014 they have all been taken out of service and callers will now
just hear a recorded message telling them that the number is no longer
in service. They will then be given the new dialling code and the call will
terminate. Callers will have to redial using the correct 03 number to contact the relevant department.
Updated child tax credits & child benefits
A new table of rates has been published by HM Treasury which sets out
thresholds for tax credits, child benefit and guardian's allowance from
April 2015.
Tax Credits:
● The child tax credit child element will increase from £2,750 to £2,780.
● The child tax credit family element will remain unchanged at £545.
● The income threshold for the child tax credit increases to £16,105
(from £16,010) per year.
● The working tax credit childcare elements are unchanged.
Child Benefit:
● The weekly rate of child benefit for the only or eldest child will
increase to £20.70 (from £20.50) and the weekly rate for all other
children will be £13.70 (was £13.55).
Need representation in times of trouble ?
Need Legal protection?
Worried about delays in relicensing with DBS
checks and need to be sure you won’t lose work?
Concerned about having a voice and being heard ?
Drivers and Small Operators Contact Us
for representation in an unequal world...
Call for details 020 8202 8272
or join online at www.gmb.org.uk
G56 Professional Drivers’ Branch
Thorne House, 152 Brent St, London NW4 2DP
Try
for your Fleet Insurance
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Motorcade Insurance is a trading styles of Acorn Insurance & Financial Services Ltd, who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Excludes Ireland, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands.
Please note that we only quote a *In a 12-month survey of 968 customers over 95% would recommend us to a friend
Professional
company car & owner
drivers
wanted
Let GLH help you drive your earnings forward
020 7566 9042
GLH is an equal opportunities employer
licensed owner
and company
drivers
required
Experienced drivers & beginners welcome
New company
vehicles available
Including...
 MPV’s  Saloon cars
 Mercedes executive E and S Class
Cash & account work
Days - nights - split shifts
Full & part time work available
Office positions
We also currently have vacancies
for the following roles...
As one of London’s busiest, licensed private hire
companies we are looking for experienced,
owner and company drivers to help us deliver
a professional service for expanding contract
work across the capital.




Call centre manager
Fleet manager
Full time sales manager
Controllers (Day & Night shifts)
Call our recruitment team on:
020 8813 1234
Company cars: 07956 223 212
Dave on: 07957 158 154
Head office: 2 Hayes Metro Centre | Springfield Rd | Hayes | Middlesex | UB4 0LE
l
FLEET l
OWNER DRIVERS
DRIVERS
REQUIRED
www.fleetminicabs.com
WANTED
OFFICES IN EDGWARE & HENDON
FREE RENT PERIOD
SERIOUS DRIVERS EARN SERIOUS MONEY
 Large cash circuit
Excellent account work
 Dedicated team who
care about the drivers
 Weekly insurance
can be arranged
07970 88 22 07
Please call Grant on
[email protected]
At United, we value our drivers. Established
since 1975, our executive service prides itself
on providing exceptional customer service,
which begins with our drivers. We offer you:







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
Exclusive contracts with top London clubs
Professional & experienced controllers
Quality corporate & restaurant work
12 weeks rent free for day circuit
Minimum charge £10.00
£2.50 per mile (account)
£3.30 per mile (cash)
CLUB
95% cash work
DRIVERS
Open Shift
CONTACT
Adnan, 07958 351 564
REQUIRED
22 Shoreditch High St
London E1 6PG
www.unitedcarriage.com
Sitting on standby again?
Based in Middlesex & North West London serving London and the Home Counties
If you’ve grown
tired of waiting
on the plot
for your
next job,
give us a call
Weekly pay by BACS
No circuit fee
Cash & Account
Collar & tie (no clubs/pubs)
Various shifts
Excellent earning potential
Company Toyota Prius,
Avensis & MPVs available
Call Martin: 020 7749 3452
www.destinationscouriers.co.uk
*subject toTs & Cs
FREE CAR
for three
months*
£25 fuel
allowance
on your
first day
EXECUTIVE DRIVERS REQUIRED
Crawfords of London are recruiting drivers for all shifts to help us
cope with increased workload. You must have industry experience
and be prepared to work hard.
- FREE RENT* - Brand new Mercedes - Various shifts available
- Corporate clients - Great earning potential - Weekly BACS pay
- Fantastic bonus scheme
New! Blue-chip, City-based contract
Call Steve Mellor on 020 8752 8040
or email: [email protected]
*terms & conditions apply
licensed owner & company
drivers required for our
busy 24-hour circuit
100%
RENT
FREE*
NIGHT
DRIVERS
Due to the recent
introduction of a
large contract
WE ARE
BUSY
» Regular account and cash work covering all of London
» Busy 24-hour circuit paying good rates
» Offices in North and South London
» Saloons, Estates and MPVs welcome
» Low rent for owner drivers
» Competitive rent for company car drivers
Call recruitment on
020 8358 6688/9
or e-mail [email protected]
Chequers Transport Ltd is an equal opportunities employer www.chequerstransport.co.uk
Chequers
Transport
20% COMMISSION | 80% CASH WORK | ATTENDANCE BONUS
EARN £100+ WEEKDAYS AND £150+ PER DAY AT WEEKENDS
 80% CASH WORK  No starting fee  £6 minimum  £3.50 per mile cash
 Open shift  Bring your own XDA  5-star hotel and club contracts
Company Prius available | Owner drivers - all 59+ plate vehicles considered
OFFICES IN SE & SW LONDON
020 3004 6312
Thriev is the UK’s
first completely zero
emission chauffeured
car service
PCO Drivers &
Dispatchers Required
Competitive earnings
Flexible hours
Gain valuable industry experience
Guaranteed Earnings for drivers
Call 020 3476 3966 or
Apply online at www.thriev.com
EXP. CONTROLLERS REQUIRED
Day & Night shifts available
Must be computer literate. Experience of using the
Cordic system would be an advantage, although full
training will be provided
FLEET MANAGEMENT ASSISTANT
Previous exp an advantage - Full training given
ACCOUNTS ADMIN ASSISTANT
Call for details
NIGHTCLUB STEWARDS
Greyhound Cars requires bookers and assistants to
work out of exclusive night venues in Clapham and
south west London
OWNER DRIVERS
Call Earl or Tom on 020 3388 3388
PCO registered
required by very busy
West End based company
PLENTY OF CASH WORK
Days - Nights - Split Shifts
Drivers coffee lounge
call: 020 7580 1133
Urgent Cars, 27 Tottenham St, London W1
company & owner drivers
We currently have vacancies for professional
Day and split shifts XDA job allocation No fees
Expanding quality corporate work Assistance with licensing
Weekly pay by BACS Opportunities for promotion to VIP
FREE start for Company drivers
£10 min (standard saloon rate) £15 min (MPV & Exec vehicles) £22.50 min (VIP vehicles)
Owner drivers 10%
BONUS
All shifts available (especially splits)
Must have 12 plate (+) saloon or MPV
ON
GROSS *
Company car drivers £100
ACK
£100PW cashback payable
CASHB
T&C’s apply* - Offer only applies to company vehicle drivers*
*
EK
PER WE
airportdirect
16 Wotton Road | London | NW2 6PX
Very busy North London
based private hire company
requires PCO DRIVERS
Lots of quality cash and account work
including 1500 airport transfers per
week (minimum) plus ports & tours
Drivers must have:
Mercedes’ Jaguars BMW’s Audis
MPVs or other prestige marques
Vehicles no older than four years
Limited number of company vehicles
available to the right applicants
020 8450 3050
EXPERIENCED CONTROLLERS
ALSO URGENTLY REQUIRED
email cv to [email protected]
The quality of a leader
is reflected in the
standards they set
for themselves
*
*
* Raymond Albert "Ray" Kroc (Oct 5, 1902 – Jan 14, 1984)
Experienced company & owner drivers required
Competitively-priced vehicles available incl
Mercedes E-Class | Toyota Prius & Prius+
Starter bonus for all new drivers
**
 Executive & standard car circuits
 Quality Work and the best rates for our drivers
 Weekly and monthly payment by BACS
 Dedicated back office team to help and support you
Flexi-Shift available
brunel
Corporate...Executive...Global
Total Ground Transportation
Excellent earning potential
for hard working drivers
New large accounts
and great cash
circuit now open
Owner drivers of late model vehicles welcome
Good knowledge of Central London req Minimum of 5 shifts per week
NO rent / NO circuit fees / NO charges
**
Call Saf Rahman or Nilesh Modhwadia to arrange an immediate interview
020 7068 5291/5275
Brunel Carriage PLC 5 Twelvetrees Business Park | Twelvetrees Crescent | Bromley-by-Bow | London E3 3JQ
**Bonus & No Rent offers subject to terms & conditions. Due to high volume of calls your call may be diverted to an answering machine. If so, please leave your name and number and we will contact you within 12 hours
Keep up to date with all things Brunel by adding us on facebook or tweet us @BrunelTGT You can also download
our new booking app from the itunes App Store by searching brucar, The Fast, reliable and affordable car service.
ew
Brand nxys &
la
Ford Ga
es E300
Merced brids
Hy
Bluetec le
availab
Great earning potential for smart, presentable
and motivated drivers who have excellent:
 Customer service skills  Communication skills
 Road knowledge  Industry experience
 5 Offices in Sth London
 Cash and account work
 Open shift  PDA auto despatch
 Free driver uniform
 Dedicated driver liaison team
 Proactive fleet dept.
| Battersea | Bermondsey | Brockley | Crystal Palace | Wandsworth
something new
for the new year
At Greyhound Cars we are always looking to try new things to make life
better for our drivers, which is why we are making a few changes...
NEW
NEW
Shifts & Rents
Open Shift Full Time - £161.00
Strict Day Shift (open weekends) - £145.00
Strict Night Shift (open weekends) - £145.00
Open Shift P/T (any 3 shifts) - £110
Open Shift P/T (any 3 shifts) - 20% commission
Vehicle Hire Rates
Toyota Prius+
Toyota Prius
VW Caddy Life
Vauxhall Zafira
Toyota Auris Est
£200.00*
£175.00*
£165.00*
£125.00*
£185.00*
Peak & Night Tarif increase
*Price excludes fully comp insurance at £60 PW
ER
LOWES
RAT
We have introduced extra fares Mon-Fri between
the hours of 06:00 and 10:00 and 16:00 - 20:00
and also weekend evenings midnight to 04:00
NEW
20% rate increase
£8.00 cash min - £7.00 AC min
020 3388 3388
for an appointment call Earl or Tom on
*Terms & conditions apply