The ‘Clyde’
Column
©
Passion form and was reported to be the new taxi the committee and let them know that you
Over the years I have written many articles whizz-kid and probably thought the same have an interest in the company and not
in this trade magazine. In some of them I
then as they think now… OH! How times just sounding off like an empty 45-gallon
have reported aspects of the cab trade and
have changed since that millennium. drum. Remember that we drivers have a
in others have reported on the common
job to do as well. Itʼs not only about getting
welfare of man. Some articles I have
There is a word in my taxi vocabulary and the public from A to B by the best route,
written on a more jovial nature intended
itʼs called ʻPassionʼ and I must admit that I itʼs about respecting the job that you do.
to bring a small smile to some of you
cannot surpass this word. For me it means Itʼs about giving a good impression of the
miserable characters out there and some
total commitment to the cab trade. Very trade you work for and may spend many
about my old favorite “COMMON SENSE”
few people have ʻpassionʼ for this trade. years in. Itʼs about giving the public a clean
or the lack of it as the case may be. I dare
Some may think they have, but deep and friendly environment inside the taxi
say that every article I write draws good
down their loyalties lie elsewhere. Itʼs more they are paying to be transported in.
and bad comments from the different
often seen on the football terraces than the
sectors that this magazine reaches. For
taxi AGMs. (please donʼt confuse anger How about treating these customers as
obvious reasons most of my trade stories
with passion!!) Unfortunately, I feel the you would treat your own family? Itʼs not
are fi rmly focused on the cab trade in
passion that taxi drivers once had for the rocket science to create a good impression
Glasgow. As I babble on with my writing
trade has withered away, especially in the or respectable appearance. Itʼs all about
(in my Glaswegian way) I always attempt
Glasgow cab trade. The lure of fi nancial trying to encourage the customer to come
to include a fi rm input into the trade
gain turns their heads very quickly in the back and use our services again and
throughout the country. Sometimes offering
opposite direction. It may be that loyalty, hopefully again. Try and create a little
advice (however bad it may be) and
passion and myself are heading for the old ʻpassionʼ for the trade. If everyone tries a
sometimes offering sympathy, especially
age pension and soon to be classed as little harder then as sure as sh*t the job
to the regions now de-limited and suffering
yesterdayʼs news… right enough. fi gures will go up. I donʼt need to remind
you all about how quiet it has been over
great hardship.
Wanting to be a committee man on the the spring and summer season. These
board of management requires several paying punters have a choice of who they
Iʼve been in the trade all my life and my
qualities: fairness, loyalty, respect for phone. Private hire fi rms pitch their prices
father before me. My old man was a
the trade, an eagerness to improve the low to encourage the public to use them
founder member of the second largest
business and offer support to the man rather than the taxi trade. We must try to
taxi radio system in Glasgow. These radio
on the street, and if possible, passion. encourage these people back to use our
systems have since amalgamated to form
Now itʼs no use expecting the committee cabs. We must give them something to
the thousand-car Glasgow Taxis Ltd. Itʼs
to have these qualities (if that is at all coax them back and if we canʼt compete
now my turn to become the old man. At
possible) without the majority of drivers on price then we must offer a better
the grand young age of 57, soon to be 58
giving their effort and support to the service, a cleaner cab, a more respectable
years vintage, some would say that I am
very people they have voted into these image and most of all a more friendlier
on my way out and not to listen to that ʻold
positions. Itʼs absolutely no use standing approach to our customers. This all adds
fartʼ, heʼs yesterdayʼs news. They are right;
on a rank belching out about how crap up to respect for our trade. Please donʼt
I am yesterdayʼs news. Everything has
the committee men are at running the be afraid to show other drivers that you
changed since I was a wee boy putting
company. Get off your soap box and make an extra effort to keep customers
ʻtaxi cardsʼ through peopleʼs doors when I
approach the offi ce, speak to the men who happy. Always complain to the ʻarseholeʼ
was 8-years-old. I know that there is a new
are trying their best and simply ask for driver if you think he is giving bad service.
generation of whizz-kids out there bursting
their opinion, or the reason they did this Itʼs your work he is throwing away. Donʼt
to pounce into committee positions and
or that. Donʼt be shy, these guys are only let him off lightly. Bad conduct is bad for
prove that they can do the job better than
too pleased to get feed back and it might business. Letʼs clean up our act and just
anyone that has gone before. Great...
just be that they give you a good answer maybe it will instill a little passion. All the
come on down... donʼt just sit back and that makes you see their decision in a best guys, hope you all have a busy run up
say that us old farts donʼt know jack shit different light. On the other hand, however, to Christmas.
about eff all. And by the way, I might just if you disagree with them after hearing
disagree with them, because there was a their side, let them know you are unhappy. Copyright Jack Clyde author of Glasgow
time (albeit 30 years ago) that I was on top Either way, it must be better to approach Taxi. www.taxibook.co.uk
to subscribe to taxi talk
telephone Brian on 08700 850 570
or visit www.taxitalk.co.uk
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