How to be the Ultimate Cabbie (Taxi Driver)

April 3, 2007 5:31 PM

Taxi Filter: I recently started to drive a cab for a living. I am looking for general/intermediate/advance advice on the Craft. Anything and everything that could help me be a better cabbie would be appreciated.
posted by Rolandkorn to grab bag (23 comments total)

My goodness. Well, here's a listing of Yahoo groups that might be relevant.
posted by Burhanistan at 5:46 PM on April 3, 2007

That's an awful lot of words that don't mention driving people around at all.

How to be the ultimate cab driver? Know the back ways to my destination (those won't be on a GPS) to avoid traffic. Get me there smoothly and on time. If I'm from out of town, give me some reliable recommendations for dinner or entertainment. Keep the car presentable. Don't do anything while the meter's running that doesn't involve driving a passenger to a destination.

That's about it, really.

What not to do: Anything that's obviously a tip grab that doesn't involve getting me there more comfortably and/or faster. Anything that makes it look like you don't know where you're going. Anything that makes you divide your attention between it and the road.

Have you given any thought to the actual act of driving people to destinations? Any?
posted by mendel at 6:04 PM on April 3, 2007

this question read like those fake novel snippets in spam.

Cab drivers should be familiar with any destination requested of them, and know how to get there, don't talk too much, keep the car clean. Everything else is pretty much incidental. Gadgets are not going to make you an awesome cabbie, unless you're Cash Cab.
posted by fidgets at 6:21 PM on April 3, 2007

I've ridden in LOTS of cabs. Until about 2004, and I cabbed to worked daily, paying up to $25 per ride (pre-tip).

Here's my take:

1. I'm in your cab either because I'm in a hurry or i don't like public transportation.

2. So get me to my destination quickly and without hassle.

3. Without hassle means, I don't want to hear your music, I don't want to talk to you. If you really want to impress, ask me what radio station I want to listen to. If you really need to listen to teh narrated Koran, that's OK. But don't talk to me unless I start teh conversation.

4. And by no means be too busy on your cellphone to listen to and respond to my instructions (which will be brief, I just want confirmation you correctly heard my destination address). And god forbid, don't be so busy on the phone it slows you down or seems to dangerously distract you. I'm paying the equivalent of $20-$60 an hour for your services, so pay attention to doing your job.

5. That means knowing the best, fastest route. Sure, if there's an issue ("at this hour surface streets are quicker, sir, should I take the surface streets, even though it adds an extra zone?", ask me, but what I value is a professional who can do his job. Part of your job is knowing the best route.

6. And knowing your rates. Especially if they're fixed zoned rates. I usually do know the rates and the zones, because I take the same trip regularly; don't try to screw me by going one block past the zone, and don't lie to me -- that comes out of your tip.

5. Yes, I'll tip you appropriately. Don't dawdle over my change or make faces, that just slows me down. Hand me my full change, I'll hand you your tip. If you get me there really fast and don't bug me, you get a bigger tip.

6. And make sure you have change. Thanks to ATMs, you'll be getting lots of $20s. Remember, I'm in a hurry. Do not make your lack of change my problem!

7. In sum: I'm employing you to get to my destination quickly and without fuss. Do that, and you're a hero. Do anything that distracts from it, and you're a goat.

Thanks for asking!
posted by orthogonality at 6:22 PM on April 3, 2007 [3 favorites]

My best advice is not to play music or radio in your cab while driving fares, unless a fare specifically requests it. For one thing, music is highly subjective, and a lot of people won't like what you play, regardless of what you have available. Trapping somebody who doesn't want to listen to music in a cab full of music is a definite tip killer, if not a bad Hollywood comedy routine. And it reduces your awareness of noises and traffic sounds, makes it harder to hear your dispatch, if you get radio calls, and makes it harder for clients to use cell phones, etc.

Concentrating on driving is Job #1 for any cabbie. Job #2 is learning the city you're driving in, 100% for the downtown and business districts, and 85 - 90% for major suburbs. For this, you need to study maps, until you've memorized them (street name order, address blocks, exceptions to grid plans, etc.) Job #3 is learning city traffic patterns for the shifts you drive, so as to be able to plan efficient routes, with respect to traffic. Personally, I'd get out of a cab where the driver was getting directions from a tomtom device, as soon as I possibly could. As in "Thanks anyway, but you could pull over, here?"
posted by paulsc at 6:30 PM on April 3, 2007

Please keep them coming sorry iput in actually brand names just trying to get some feedback into what is some good devices to use. As for knowing which way is fastest i am learning slowly everyday i am hoping a GPS will help me figure out how to get there quicker. Thanx for alot of the advice please keep them coming i got thick skin.
posted by Rolandkorn at 6:31 PM on April 3, 2007

Adding on to Orthagonality's post:

1) If you're picking me up on this side of the street, but we need to make a U-turn (where legal, etc), don't turn on the meter until we're going in the right direction. Yes, of course, I am theoretically paying you from the moment I get in--but that'll up your tip.

2) Likewise, stop the meter as soon as you get to the destination. Don't keep it running while I'm getting out my wallet.

3) Always offer a receipt.

4) Be quiet, dammit. A "good morning/afternoon/evening" is great, but 90% of the time when I'm in a cab, I'm on my way to work or (occasionally) a meeting. My mind is on other things, and I really don't want to have to make small talk. Sometimes I'm in the mood--but take the hint when you're getting monosyllabic responses. And like ortho said, I really don't want to listen to your music choices. I just want peace and quiet.

5) Have a clean cab. I know this gets difficult in the winter, what with snow and slush and so on, but I hate getting into a dirty cab.

6) A copy of the daily paper is always a fantastic idea. Tuck it into the pocket of the back seat.

7) Don't ever pretend. Don't ever pretend you didn't hear the routing your fare has asked for, don't ever pretend you don't know a shorter route. From my apartment to the nearest highway is a fairly simple and direct route. When a cab driver starts taking the convoluted and longer route, I know that they know the area (there's a maze of one-way streets), and have no excuse for not taking the direct route. The tip drops as the fare climbs.

8) Get off your thrice-damned cellphone. My life is in your hands. Don't be distracted. You can make your call when I get out. (Emergencies don't apply, of course.)
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 6:39 PM on April 3, 2007

As a GPS user, let me tell you that a GPS will not tell you how to get anywhere quicker. It will merely tell you how to get there. Often, a human with a map will pick a much better route without even trying. GPS units generally know nothing of traffic patterns or conditions, frequency and timing of stop lights, construction delays, or anything else you (as a cabbie) should know off the top of your head. Also, they tend to prefer major roads, which may well be significantly slower than back roads.
posted by CrayDrygu at 6:42 PM on April 3, 2007

Personally, I can't stand it if I have a bag or something in the trunk and the cab driver just pops the trunk and sit up front. Pulling the bag out while I dig in my pocket for your fare not only saves me time but increases your tip.
posted by ASM at 6:53 PM on April 3, 2007 [1 favorite]

You can always pick up a cheap disco ball & karaoke machine & become your local "party taxi" driver.
posted by miss lynnster at 6:57 PM on April 3, 2007

[edited down the question with the help of the OP, carry on.]
posted by jessamyn at 8:14 PM on April 3, 2007

Rolandkorn, drop me a line via e-mail. I drove a cab for 3 years (I just stopped last summer), and I'd be more than glad to share with you everything I learned. Depending on where you're driving and what shifts you do, I might be able to give you some very, very good advice.

One thing I'll be more than glad to share right now is that most of your fares will *not* be as high maintenance as orthogonality and some of the other posters here. It is, of course, of supreme importance to "read' your passengers. If you've got someone who doesn't want to talk, who doesn't want the radio on, who would basically prefer a robot be driving, then you can cater to that. However, a good 80% of your passengers (and up to 95% on a Friday/Saturday night) will reward you for being outgoing, conversational and interesting. My biggest tips did *not* come from being seen and not heard. They came from playing just the right song (I DJ'ed with an iPod), telling a good story, and generally acting like I enjoyed having that person in my cab. Hell, I've been tipped out $10+ after getting *lost*. People who drop the "I'm paying you to drive, and nothing else" attitude are easily ignored. Most people enjoy a good *ride*.

But do heed the no-cell-phone warning. Nothing turns a fare off faster than you yapping on your cell. Turn that shit OFF when you have a fare. Seriously. I cannot give you any more important advice. But do e-mail me, and I'll tell you anything you ever wanted to know.
posted by Banky_Edwards at 8:28 PM on April 3, 2007 [1 favorite]

I just wrote a huge response (I take A LOT of taxis), but my browser crashed. Anyway, I am too tired to retype all that, so here's the short version:

1. What orthogonality said.

2. Feel free to suggest a shortcut if you're absolutely certain it will work. If I say "no thanks" you say "okay, no problem." I usually know exactly where I'm going and your shortcuts rarely work. Seriously.

3. Don't turn on the radio or music unless you ask me first. I will not tip you if you are playing Bill O'Reilly while I am trying to read.

4. Learn how to stop properly. The vast majority of cabbies slam on the breaks whether you say "it's right here" or "it's just up on the right." This is really annoying and it's safe to assume that most people will give you a heads up before the stop arrives. And "it's just up on the right" means exactly that......gently slow the vehicle and come to a stop in conjunction with my pointing.
posted by dhammond at 9:13 PM on April 3, 2007 [1 favorite]

Speaking of the radio, here's something interesting I've noticed.

A) In some cities, there are multiple ways to get to many destinations that are equally good when there's not much traffic, but which could be drastically slower or faster depending on traffic conditions. Yes, there are certain patterns of heavy traffic that tend to recur at certain hours, but there are also a lot of unpredictable situations.

B) Most big cities have at least one or two radio stations that broadcast a report on traffic conditions every 10 minutes.

C) Never once in the 11 years I've lived in New York City has a cab driver suggested something like, "I just heard that the Brooklyn Bridge is backed up, so why don't we take the Manhattan Bridge?" Or "Apparently the West Side Highway sucks right now. Should I try going across to the FDR Drive?" Or anything that's indicated they've been paying attention to traffic reports.

D) Meanwhile, they'll ask me (the passenger) for my preferred route, when I've just been at work or in a restaurant, bar, or theater for the past few hours and have no knowledge of current traffic conditions. Whereas they've been sitting in a car listening to the radio, which is frequently broadcasting reports about traffic conditions.

This has always baffled me.
posted by staggernation at 10:12 PM on April 3, 2007

Re: the radio. Some will tell you it's okay, some will say it's not. But whatever you do, don't listen to talk radio. Half the time when I'm taking a cab, the driver has on O'Reilly or Limbaugh or a similar nutjob - and this is in Cambridge, for crying out loud! The majority of their customers are going to find that irritating. (Note: I'm using right-wing radio here because that's what I usually here. That said, you should leave the left-wing radio off as well.)
posted by spaceman_spiff at 10:25 PM on April 3, 2007

Do not twist your head around and leer at your single female passenger while you are driving. I've had this happen too many times in NYC and now mostly use car services because of it.
posted by brujita at 10:34 PM on April 3, 2007 [1 favorite]

A few things that some cab drivers do that bother me:

1. Talk on their cell phones constantly. It doesn't matter if they use a hands-free device or not, it makes me feel like they're not paying attention. It also makes it hard to give further instruction on where you'd like to be dropped off if they're having a conversation on the phone.

2. Excessive speed and sudden stops. I understand that they want to get me to my destination quickly - I appreciate that. But I don't want to be jerked around in the back seat of the cab when they take off too fast from a stop light/sign, or nearly rear end the car in front of us because they're going too fast.

3. Weave between lanes on the highway. I'm not talking about excessive lane changes, but just not paying attention to staying in their lane. I hate driving next to a cab on the highway, and hate riding in one even more.
posted by youngergirl44 at 11:09 PM on April 3, 2007

I live in NYC and have taken a lot of cabs in my day, for all sorts of different purposes, and I think the most important thing you can do to be a good cab driver, aside from the obvious like knowing the city you're driving and having a reasonably clean cab, is to be able to read the passenger you're driving. If you pick me up at 8 am and I immediately put headphones in after telling you where I'm going, chances are I don't want to have a conversation with you. On the other hand, if it's 11 pm on a weekend and I am clearly on my way to a party or bar I probably won't mind a well-timed joke or three or having the radio on.

Also, for what it's worth: everyone I know has a "cab story"--and exactly zero of them involve having a great cabbie that someone tipped extra because they were super friendly!! or got them somewhere really fast!! I, like a lot of people I think, tip a pretty standard rate as long as you do a reasonable job. There's little you can do that would make me tip you extra that wouldn't potentially annoy me. (Then again, I am from New York. Take with a grain of salt if you're driving in a "friendly" city.)

(Also: my cab story involves my driver getting pulled over by the police. Twice. Don't be that guy.)
posted by cosmic osmo at 11:11 PM on April 3, 2007

My best taxi experiences have been in London. I never had any fears about the driver not knowing how to get me to a location unless it was parts of way outer London and even then the driver could triangulate pretty well and only needed directions for a few final blocks. Anyway, read up on the Knowledge I agree with a lot of folks on:

1) no cell phone;

2) read the client;

3) no LOUD radio;

4) Don't scare or stare at me;

5) clean cab;

6) with a load of kids and luggage, please offer to help;

7) Get me there in a reasonable manner.

Worst taxi experiences - Guilan, PRC and Washington, DC - try this, auto accidents that were definitely the taxi driver's reckless fault (includes injury to other party) and then extortionate demands for the fare.
posted by jadepearl at 1:03 AM on April 4, 2007

What Banky said. I drove a cab for a while, and the most important thing is being able to conform to each type of customer. Pay attention. You'll learn the types and know what they want. Driving a cab is a hustle. I often lied through my teeth to tell a good story catered to whoever was in the back seat.

The only advice I can touch on that Banky didn't mention is try to find a niche. I don't know how big of a town you live in, but find the hot spots and have a battle plan. Better still, try to find a business or area that a million other cabbies haven't already latched onto. It's out there, you just have to do the legwork.

Lastly, promote the hell out of yourself. Here in Louisville, regulars were my life blood on a slow night. Print lots of business cards (attractive ones) and give them to everyone who isn't an ass. People would much rather get a ride from that nice guy who told the great story than roll the dice on a stranger.
posted by Roman Graves at 1:56 AM on April 4, 2007

I second most of this advice--especially the no talking on your phone.

Also, don't try to screw your fare. Just because I'm at a tourist location doesn't mean I'm a tourist and don't know where I'm going. Taking me 30 blocks out of my way just gets you nothing.
posted by misanthropicsarah at 6:56 AM on April 4, 2007

Roman has good advice - business cards can be a great source of income on a slow night. How many you give out, and to who, depends largely on how busy you are and how large an area you cover. At first, I gave my cell to *everyone*. But eventually it became a pain to try and cover all those calls. I would be downtown (Boston), and someone would call from Cambridge with a $5-6 fare - that's not worth coming all the way back for. And of course, after the first or second time you can't come for them, they don't call back. However, I did end up with a few regulars who knew to only call with $20+ fares, and also knew to call 10-15 minutes before they wanted to go. Some of them booked me days in advance!

As for the radio, I see the debate still rages. Here's something I forgot to consider - lots will depend on whether you have a partition in your cab. I did *not*, which made a cab ride in my taxi feel much more like riding in someone's car. Hence the radio was appropriate, talking was easier, and the ride generally more comfortable. If you have a partition, that gives the sense that there is "your" area and "your passenger's" area. Pumping the radio in the back is then maybe not such a good idea.

Oh, and as others have said - NEVER tune in the talk radio (except, perhaps, NPR). If people want to hear your politics, they'll ask (and they *will* ask). But don't subject them to radio politics.
posted by Banky_Edwards at 8:51 AM on April 4, 2007

As an ex-Londoner, I second the recommendation to look up the knowledge and train yourself to that degree in your area. I hate getting into a cab and finding out the cabbie has no idea where my destination is, I feel that its the cabbie's job to know the city like the back of his/her hand.

Agreed that cellphones are irritating. I don't mind the radio at all, as long as its not talk radio, but preferably something light or mellow, like jazz would be good. I might have a problem with a heavy metal cab I suppose :)

I also don't mind talking with the cabbie, as long as its not politics or griping about something. The worst conversations I have got stuck in, have been of the complaining about immigrants type thing (politics plus griping!). The best conversations have been the cabbie telling me their fascinating life story (probably fabricated but it doesn't matter because it was a good story). If you are good at this, then go for it. If you are a terrible storyteller, terminally shy etc then just being polite and minimal will be fine too.

Definates are - make sure all the seatbelts in your cab work, and are not stuck under the seat, don't pull away while your passengers are still struggling with the seatbelt, offer to help if they struggle for a while. Offer to help with luggage too, its polite, pleasant and will help earn you a good tip.

Really though, knowing the city, back routes and traffic patterns is the number one thing IMO. Good luck with your job, the fact that you want to learn what people want is a good sign!
posted by Joh at 3:22 PM on April 4, 2007