COVID STORM IN EASTBOURNE
“Not only do we have a completely computerised booking and dispatch system, we are also able to track the exact location of all vehicles via GPS satellite. This enables us to offer first-rate courier services, with experienced and uniformed drivers.
“We provide courier services for those unusual deliveries such as important documents, small packages, weekly payroll or simply moving equipment such as a photocopier or stock. You don’t always need a man with a van, as we have vehicles ranging from estate cars to minibuses. We can also provide vans with an electric tail-lift if required, to help with those heavy items.
“We never close, so we can provide a 24-hour delivery service with no extra costs after midnight or Bank Holidays. We provide safe and reliable courier services, with fast responses for that same day delivery.
COVID CONSCIOUS
“With regard to Covid, we researched whether we should fit all our cars with screens between the passenger and the driver. Whilst this became normal practice for a lot of firms we decided to have our cars Electrostatically deep cleaned on a rolling 28-day basis. With the deep clean service we opted for, the process kills 99.99 per cent of known viruses and bacteria, including coronavirus, for up to 28 days. The drivers are given the solution to spray in their cars as a top-up and we find this works really well.
“As for the personal side of coping with Covid we have lost a couple of drivers to other taxi companies who they believe are busier. We did try telling them we are in the middle of a pandemic and business has been hit everywhere, but what can you do!
“During the first lockdown we only had a handful of drivers who came out to work and naturally business was dreadful, but this lockdown seems to be dragging more even though schools and some businesses are open.
“We can’t change the situation obviously, but how we respond to it in terms of the way you treat drivers I think will hold you in good stead for the future. I know of firms who have charged their drivers, whether working or not, their full weekly rents during the lockdown! I’m a firm believer in what goes around comes around – treat your drivers with respect and they will respect you – after all they are my customers too.
“In June this year we came away from charging our drivers a fixed weekly rent and went to a percentage model, hence if the drivers don’t work they don’t pay anything. This had a lot of positives, the main one being it has helped us to retain drivers and they see it as fairer payment model.”
DECEMBER 2020
The future? Daniel tells us: “I’m very optimistic about where our business and the trade in general will be 12 months from today. Obviously at the moment our job figures are well down, but I generally believe there are opportunities to be had next year and the news of a potential vaccine is a posi- tive our industry and the wider business community needs.”
It is refreshing and gives one a lift to hear of a company with such a positive outlook, in particular their approach to driver retention. Hopefully 2021 will be a better year for us all, and for Call-a-Cab in Eastbourne.
CALL-A-CAB Address: Website: Telephone:
Year firm started: No. of vehicles: Types of vehicle:
9 Lismore Road, Eastbourne BN21 3BA
www.746746.co.uk 01323 746 746 2008 100
Private hire and hackney: Saloon / estate, multi-seaters Executive
Licensing Authority: Eastbourne-Lewes Council Cost of:- Operator licence: £5,500 (5 years) Driverʼs licence: £315 + DBS (3 years) Vehicle licence: £150 (1year) Booking system: Phone system:
Cordic Cloud Vale Comms / Avaya 41
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