Mr. Cab Driver
I have started a new position in my company and it requires me to travel even more than before, if that’s possible. Today after leaving the airport in Minneapolis, I couldn’t get the 
Lenny Kravitz’s song Mr. Cab Driver out of my head, and as I got into the awaiting cab, I knew what my blog today was going to be about…Cab Driving!
As I observed my driver, I was making mental notes about what I thought it would take to be a cab driver today vs. 10 years ago when there weren’t TOM TOMs or GPSs in the dash. Back then you really had to know the streets and the town where you were driving. Nowadays I never get into a cab without the address and the phone number of the place I am going. Gone are the days of saying, “Take me to The Grand Hotel Kempinski” (which is where I am today). No way – I had to give the address and then he punched it into the GPS wrong, so we still got lost…
Anyway, as I was sitting there being patient as my meter was running, I noticed a comment form in the back seat pocket and in it was listed “TAXI DRIVER REQUIREMENTS”, so I thought I would list what was on the card and then we can add our own requirements to the list:
TAXI DRIVER REQUIREMENTS (as listed on MSP International Airport Taxi Passenger Information & Comment Form)
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Drivers must be clean, courteous and professional. Taxis should be clean, neat, comfortable and in good working order (heater or air conditioning work properly and provided upon request).
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Drivers must take the most direct route to your destination. You may assist with verbal directions.
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Drivers should not activate the meter until you enter the taxi.
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Drivers should load and unload luggage.
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Driver’s identification card must be posted near the dashboard in clearly visible location.
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Drivers must present a receipt to each customer including the company name, taxicab number, company telephone number, access fee charge and final metered amount.
So, I thought we could come up with some additional requirements - here's a start:
- Taxi should not smell like breakfast, lunch, dinner or incense.
- Drivers should not talk on the phone while escorting passengers – even if it is on a wireless hands free head set.
- Drivers should not be mad and talk smack when you are going to pay with your credit card – if their cab advertises that they accept credit cards, then they should!
- Drivers should not decorate the cab. The only photos or symbols should be the ones noted above in #5.
- Driver’s should not drive erratically or have road rage (I thought I was going to lose my life a couple times in Chi-town and NYC).
What other pet peeves do you have when riding in a cab or rules you think we should add to the cab driver comment card?
Comments
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If all cab drivers knows how to follow all the listed requirements, we can always enjoy a safe and more comfortable travel. In addition to all the things that you have mentioned, drivers should be courteous and polite. As what other people say, customers are always. In that kind of job, they really should master how to control their temper. And of course, they must understand and master road and traffic rules and must always the consider of the safety of their passengers.