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?
