It was the Fall of 1987 when I first signed up to be a “Cabbie” (aka known as a taxi cab driver).
Originally, I signed up for this occupation to supplement my income.
In order to become a Cab Driver, I had to go down to the DMV and get a Chauffer’s license.This type of license allows a person to drive passengers or even do a delivery type of service either for a company, or create your own company. If a person decides to do their own company, there are certain other requirements involved.
After I received a copy of my temporary Chauffer’s license, I proceeded to the City Hall to get my City Permit. I believe that most cities have this requirement in order to be a “Cabbie”.
When I worked as a “Cabbie”, I would work either shift, daytime which begins at 5:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and then the night shift is the same time except in reverse.
Everyday on the job, each “Cabbie” is required to pay a set fee for using the cab everyday. In addition, each driver has to bring the cab back clean inside and outside.
The Company a person drives for provides the cars and they are fully insured. The company is also responsible for the upkeep and maintence of each vehicle.
During the time I was a cab driver, I paid approximately $35-$40 for the daily dues for the use of the cab. Any monies beyond the dues and the cost to clean it were mine for the keeping.
I could make anywhere from $400-$600 a week. Summers were always slow and the winter months were very busy. Of course, it depends on where you live too.
I would pick up all different types of clientle. People who went shopping, or to do their laundry as well as Doctor appointments.
New Years Eve was a big money maker for a cab driver. Picking up the drunks and party people. The downside, one of the drunks might make a mess in your cab that you will have to clean up right away.
I remember one time a $200 tip I received from a drunk passenger. Absolutely no strings attached, they were just being nice to me!
Taxes still needed to be claimed on whatever you would make driving a cab because the company will not take them out for you. However, they will give you a 1099 at the beginning of the following year for the past year of your work.
I liked the freedom to be my own boss. I liked driving around and meeting all types of people and carrying on conversations with them. That was the fun part of my job.
The hard part of my job was picking up some of the deadbeats that would stiff you for the ride they just had.
Due to that problem, I had to often ask for a deposit up front.
One time, I took a nice pair of “Nik’e” shoes for a deposit until we arrived at the final destination. Guess what, I got my money for the ride in exchange for his shoes back.
Before that incident, I remember some customers whom I knew were trying to stiff me, so what I did first, was try to get the police to come and help me with the problem, in which they refused to give me assistance.
So, what I did at that point, I took the one rider left in the car and dropped his happy but off way out in the country. I told him to tell his buddy thanks for allowing him to get the nice ride in the country and that he was lucky I did not make him take off his shoes and walk barefoot back home!
I think from that moment on, people knew not to mess with me and that they better have the money for their fare.
I was never ever afraid of driving a cab. Of course, the cabs I usually drove had double plexi-glass between me and the customer and the power locks would allow me to do a lock down on the cab if necessary.
After a period of time working, I built up some regular clientle that would request me to give them their ride. That was nice to have regulars that were good paying customers.
Sometimes it would be a battle between Cab drivers to get the customers and to get certain cars to drive. Some would get better gas mileage.
Oh yeah, I almost forgot, each driver had to make sure that the car they used was filled back up at the end of the shift.
In the city I live in now, I think it would be more dangerous here for me to drive a cab then where I drove cab at in the past. It would also be quite a bit more expensive due to the price of gas today!
