Private hire driver REAL earnings

poorphdriver

Hi everyone

I am a private hire taxi driver in the NE England. I just want to share my frustration of the lack of earnings us private hire drivers get for the hours we do. I know it may differ in different parts of the country but just to shed some light on this here we go.

Car Rent £280 PW
Fuel £150

Outgoings already before you have even started equate to £430.

So lets say for example I take £130 in one 12 hour shift and times that by 5 =£650 now minus the fuel £150 and minus the rent £280 = £220... Now divide by the 60 hours worked = £3.66 per hour. This is the true earnings of a phd in the NE and includes tips.

So there you have it, for catching constant colds, putting up with people that stink, putting up with abuse physically and verbally. Not to mention the constant stress of rush hour traffic and fatigue. Imagine driving for 6 hours but double it. Such an under paid job.

That is all

Any questions

DCFC79

poorphdriver wrote: »

Hi everyone

I am a private hire taxi driver in the NE England. I just want to share my frustration of the lack of earnings us private hire drivers get for the hours we do. I know it may differ in different parts of the country but just to shed some light on this here we go.

Car Rent £280 PW
Fuel £150

Outgoings already before you have even started equate to £430.

So lets say for example I take £130 in one 12 hour shift and times that by 5 =£650 now minus the fuel £150 and minus the rent £280 = £220... Now divide by the 60 hours worked = £3.66 per hour. This is the true earnings of a phd in the NE and includes tips.

So there you have it, for catching constant colds, putting up with people that stink, putting up with abuse physically and verbally. Not to mention the constant stress of rush hour traffic and fatigue. Imagine driving for 6 hours but double it. Such an under paid job.

That is all

Any questions

Do you like said job ?

If not look at doing something else.

1886

I worked at Sainsburys for six months last year doing home delivery, a guy joined a few weeks before me who was previously a taxi driver. He had left because he could'nt make it pay

When he told me about the job and the hours he had been doing I thought it sounded pretty bad, getting up really early, getting some sleep when he could and then back out again until really late

I would look for a new job if you're not happy unless there's a way you can use a car you own and not have to rent one

Marktheshark

Sitting on your backside has never paid well.

87mave

Truck drivers get paid decent, no?

ohreally

Marktheshark wrote: »

Sitting on your backside has never paid well.

Mp's, bankers, pilots, air traffic controllers, lawyers, brokers & train drivers all do well sitting.

bugslet

87mave wrote: »

Truck drivers get paid decent, no?

pay depends what area in the country you are, but between £7.50 at the bottom end of the scale up to around £13.00 if you get lucky.

Having said that, average is probably around the £10.50 - £11.00 mark. Hours are long, you can end up kipping in a tin box in a layby. Most companies, around 75%, don't pay whilst you take the legally required breaks of 45 mins every 4.5 hours.

And everyone hates you.:D

glentoran99

poorphdriver wrote: »

Hi everyone

I am a private hire taxi driver in the NE England. I just want to share my frustration of the lack of earnings us private hire drivers get for the hours we do. I know it may differ in different parts of the country but just to shed some light on this here we go.

Car Rent £280 PW
Fuel £150

Outgoings already before you have even started equate to £430.

So lets say for example I take £130 in one 12 hour shift and times that by 5 =£650 now minus the fuel £150 and minus the rent £280 = £220... Now divide by the 60 hours worked = £3.66 per hour. This is the true earnings of a phd in the NE and includes tips.

So there you have it, for catching constant colds, putting up with people that stink, putting up with abuse physically and verbally. Not to mention the constant stress of rush hour traffic and fatigue. Imagine driving for 6 hours but double it. Such an under paid job.

That is all

Any questions

So you only make £130 on a Friday or Saturday night?

Double_V

I know.
I feel for you. Taxi business is not the same what it used to be. Too many people got the license to operate. etc.

Look into something different.
Bus driver ? With normal shift work and days off as well, that way you can give time to your family.

Don't do it if you are not happy. It is not good in the long run.

I wish you good luck.

CKhalvashi

It's not as good as it was, and the £30/hour being the norm, rather than the exception are long gone.

Just looked through our computer system for last week, as an average of 38 cars.

Takings: £1106 (£427 cash, £679 card/account)
Commission to office: £199.08 (15% + VAT)

Fuel will be about another £180, and rent on the car (including insurance) will be another £150 + £30 VAT + £40 insurance, so £220

Total: £500ish for 55 hours; not amazing, but well above minimum wage.

This is just 30mi North of Central London, near a large airport.

getmore4less

There was a very interesting syndrome to do with taxi drivers that applies to other trades.

Some have targets so on a busy day/night they stop when they hit the target.

On a quiet day they struggle to reach the target working long hours.

Now if some took the day off on quiet days, fewer drivers to spread the work out.

Worked extra on the busy days they would increase their average rate per hour


(just checked and it is call the taxi cab syndrome)