On the back lot at United Cab you can see the overflow of the Bay Shuttle vans that take people to Tampa International Airport and also pick up at the Airport to points unknown. That is a direct threat to our business. Don't get me wrong, I believe in free market capitalism but Bay Shuttle is owned by United Cab. What do they care?
As long as the cab drivers pay the lease every week, day or shift($25,000 a year) they are doing just fine. The only thing that happens is I have to work harder and longer to make the same amount of money that I have been used to. Even these efforts no a days don't really help. I know what you are thinking, get another job. But I sort of feel like the bank robber character played by Robert Dinero in the movie HEAT. He said "I have been doing this for so long, I don't know if I could do anything else." After 12 years it becomes a part of you. It is your daily routine. I give order and stability to your life. Like any addict, it would be hard to just walk away.
In Tampa just today I saw AFFORDABLE TAXI, ADDIS TAXI, AMERICAB, ABC TAXI, A-1 CAB, OLDSMAR TAXI, NORTHWEST ZONE TAXI. Does Tampa really need all of these taxi companies. They must all be a bunch of paupers. There is not enough business out there to support what is going on. I guess these idiots are willing to work 16 hours a day 7 days a week. Just today in the business office I saw to immigrants filling out the forms to become new drivers. One of the guys said he used to drive in Boston where you have to own the medallion...it cost $750,000! That sounds insane. You cannot earn that driving a cab. Do I sound burned out?
3 comments:
I said that 5+ years ago when BS started.
I started driving a cab in 1988. Every ones and while I take off and get a “real” job. This last time, I worked for JPMorgan Chase. Sure the money was unbelievable; benefits; perks, but they have you 24/7. You go home to rest up for the next day; and boy are you beat. Worse, you have some snot-nose punk telling you what to do; she becomes your mother, your father, sister; fuck it, I walk out after eight months. Thank God I drive a cab!!!!
Why can cabbies prosper in cities throughout the Nation which have no market restrictions on vans & limos yet Tampa cabbies can't seem to do it?
Answer; Tampa Cabbies are a bunch of dumb shits who think they have been granted some entitlement act.
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