FEMALES IN THE FLEET
Article by Rachel Dale Head of Operations AAA Taxis, Herts
COULD WE HAVE FOUND OUR LONGEST SERVING FEMALE IN THE FLEET?
John Igoe from Mi Taxi Service reached out last year when the females in the fleet initiative got underway. His mum, Jean, has
been at the heart of the business since its inception, firstly as a driver and then in the office. Currently at the grand age of 88, Jean still logs on to the system on her iPad and contacts John to get more drivers out at busy times!
BACKGROUND
Originally set up by Mick Igoe (John’s dad) Mi Taxis Service started in 1954 as a family business transporting family & friends. With such a strong heritage it is no wonder the company has grown to covering Nuneaton, Bedworth, Hinckley, Solihull and Wolverhampton, boasting the largest fleet in the area. Mick’s story is a compelling read about how he overcame challenges to drive his Morris Minor car which had to be adapted because he had lost a leg when he was 17. You can read his amazing and inspiring story which was highlighted in PHTM issue 347.
FEMALE DRIVERS
As well as Mick’s own determination, his success was largely achieved by his female drivers.
Mick was supported by Jean, his wife and good friends Carol and Margaret, who drove for him during the day whilst Mick and his friends did the night shifts. Females in the Fleet is looking forward to being involved in a podcast with Jean in 2023, hearing about her experiences and views on an industry she has lived and breathed.
John’s support for FITF is enthusiastic as he shares 38
details of female drivers he has worked with over the years: Julie, Sue, Catherine, Jane and Rachel.
Julie has worked as a driver for 32 years; Sue originally started in the office and worked for 15 years then became a driver for ten years; Catherine, who is currently an operator, started driving when she was 20 (which John says gave him an insurance headache!) and 28 years later now works in the office; Jane who at 17 went into the office then became a driver and is now back in office aged 53. Rachel who works with Mi Taxi Service works the evenings at weekends.
WHY SUCH LOYALTY?
John says looking after all his drivers and caring for them is the secret to longevity. As a licensed driver since he was 18, John understands the challenges they face first hand. These ladies and their loyalty have been the basis of his success. He says the trade is marmite, loved or hated by both drivers and the public. He thinks the way drivers feel about their role can be due to customer appreciation and the role the operator plays in supporting the drivers. It is a customer facing, lone working role so John encourages his drivers to dress smartly (despite legislation for the self-employed, John’s drivers CHOOSE to wear a uniform, not required, to present a professional persona), communicate well and report incidences to him. John will support his drivers with the council and secular authority issues. John supports the Females in the Fleet Charter as it is the crux of what he already does.
Julie still finds when working on a Saturday night that the public are surprised to see a female driver and often ask if ‘being a taxi driver is a suitable role for a female?’ According to John, Julie once received what he believes is the biggest tip he has heard of; £550! Julie could not believe it, so much so that she deposited it in the office in case the passenger claimed it or said it was a mistake. It turns out it was a genuine gift of gratitude and after six months of leaving it with the office Julie gratefully accepted!
Sue, who John describes as ‘dog mad’ is the company’s vet and dog run driver – requested and allocated work where being a dog lover is an advantage. John remembers a funny dog story: one Christmas a few years back a passenger tipped a driver and gave an extra tip for the driver to buy his dog a meal. The driver was perplexed and the passenger pointed out a dog was asleep in the
JANUARY 2023 PHTM
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80
