If you want to set up, or expand, a fleet of taxis, then you’re going to need some drivers.
This is our essential guide to recruiting taxi drivers. We’ll cover some strategies for attracting high quality taxi drivers to your fleet, and we’ll also discuss some key characteristics to look out for when hiring your drivers.
If you are looking to set up a taxi fleet, then you’re also going to need dedicated taxi fleet insurance. No matter how big your fleet is, we can help you get the cover you need at the best price. For more information, call our dedicated team on 0208 290 9099, or email CM@AnthonyJones.com.
Should Taxi Fleets Recruit Full-time or Freelance Taxi Drivers ?
Full-time taxi drivers
A full-time driver may be able to pick up and drop off fares throughout their shift. However, full-time taxi drivers may spend a lot of their shifts on standby, which may mean that there’ll be times when you’ll be paying them to essentially do nothing. It can’t be helped, but it’s not very cost-effective.
Freelance taxi drivers
This is why many taxi fleets rely on freelance drivers. A fleet of freelancers means you can cater for many journeys across a large area without having to keep full-time drivers on standby. Some fleets are run entirely with freelancers.
Combination of freelance and full-time drivers
You may prefer to go for a combination: As many freelancers as you need to meet demand, but with a few full-timers you can depend on should there not be any freelancers available.
Do I Need To Provide Vehicles To My Taxi Drivers?
Do you need to purchase vehicles for every driver in your fleet, or can they use their own vehicles? This depends on the type of taxi driver you want to hire. You don’t need to provide vehicles if you only recruit owner/operators, but you will need to if you want to recruit other types of drivers.
Different Types of Taxi Drivers
- Owner/Operators – As the name implies, some drivers own and operate their own car. They have total freedom to set their own schedule, and they may even lease their vehicle to other drivers from time to time. Some taxi firms work with owner/operators. If you set up a fleet with Uber, for example, it’s likely that all of your drivers will use their own cars.
- Subletters – This is a similar arrangement to an owner/operator, in that the driver is free to set their own schedule. The difference is that they’ll lease a cab from a taxi company, and will work as a representative of that company.
- Renters and Leasers – These drivers will also use a vehicle provided by the taxi firm, yet there’s a subtle difference between the working arrangements. Renters will rent the cab on a shift-by-shift basis, which gives them the flexibility to choose when and where they work. Leasers will instead take out a long-term contract with the taxi company, which may involve specific shift times.
Where To Recruit Taxi Drivers
- Online jobsites – Advertise on sites like Indeed, Reed, Monster, and LinkedIn.
- Recruitment firms – Recruitment specialists can source and screen potential drivers on your behalf. This can save you time, but of course, their services will come at a cost.
- Temp agencies – Register with a temp agency in your area, and you’ll be able to access a pool of pre-screened taxi drivers. You may have less choice over just who you work with, but this could be a good way to get drivers on the road as quickly as possible.
- Go local – You could post job listings in your local newspaper, and you could even post flyers in shops and other public places.
- Referral – Finally, if you already have some trusted drivers in your fleet, ask them if they know anyone else who might work for you. You could offer referral bonuses and other perks for anyone who successfully finds a new driver for you.
What Makes For a Good Taxi Driver?
These are the qualities you should look for in your new taxi drivers:
- A full UK driving licence with no spent or unspent convictions.
- The ability to use navigation, communication, and payment processing technology.
- Familiarity with the roads in your local area. Navigation technology means that taxi drivers no longer need encyclopaedic knowledge of roads, but most drivers will feel more confident driving on familiar streets.
- Clear communication skills.
- Good customer service skills.
- You might wish to specify a certain amount of driving experience, as experienced drivers tend to be safer drivers. Plus, if you fill your fleet with new or inexperienced drivers, it will increase the cost of your taxi fleet insurance.
Once you’ve determined the qualities you’re looking for in your new drivers, you should find it easy to write a clear and compelling job description for your vacancies.
Don’t Forget Taxi Fleet Insurance?
Remember that you’re also going to need dedicated taxi fleet insurance. No matter how big your fleet is, we can help you get the cover you need at the best price. For more information, call our dedicated team on 0208 290 9099, or email CM@AnthonyJones.com.
