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fairfare · Senior Guru

Being a taxi driver

Poolman II · A Forum Mentor

hmm .... i am lucky , after so many years , still in one piece .

Purpleocean · New Member

is that really bad? kill my thought to become a driver to earn a living now. Anyone keen to share the new experience for just become a driver, thanks.

taxiuncle · Senior Guru

is not an easy job like you see we are.
some came n left within aweek.
some stay for life.

you must get into it personally to reallyknow the bitter, sweet and sour. wink

Poolman II · A Forum Mentor

Don't worry ! Be Happy !

fairfare · Senior Guru

want to be a TD?...you need AC for it...you want to try try just to earn some $$...very fast drop out

AC...dat's Attitude & Commitment smile

Regit · A Forum Supporter

I'm still equally new but i do admit life as a cabby is tough. I'm currently a weekend driver and admired those full time driver. Every jobs have their fair share of happy moment and woes. Just look at me, it's total tranformation from a middle level management executive during the week days to a cabby in the weekend. Life is always not equal some are better but there are worst around, ultimately we are here for a purpose. I do encountered many unpleasant pax which i had previously share with many here. Only being cabby i do realise that some human had split personnality froma tame deer to a hypocrite monster. The reason why we face their nonsense is bcos of the lost in authority power due to job thatdoes not earn much respect and the encounter with pax will not be repeated. It all boils down to the quality of cabby, if the basic qualification to enter this trade is at least a diploma, the public view on cabby will be different. But off course this is not possible...public knows that tom, dick and harry also can be there so what so great about this profession. Sorry if i hit the nail on your head....Everbody must have a reason to be here be it thelast job making end meets or moonlight job (like me) or holiday job (Like the Phd cabby)....this is definately not a glamorous job that many dream off.

fairfare · Senior Guru

bro regit

being in a corporate world & driving a cab are two different worlds...

the former need to report to your intermediate boss & answerable to any short comings or you'll be at the bottom of the bell curve...where as the latter i dun have to report to anyone. I stop & lim kopi anytime i want & start work any time i want i.e. i'm my own boss

ok no doubt in corporate world one may earn more...but the saying goes 'the more you earn the more you spend' right...not to mention the taxes you hv to folk out...and nowadays climbing a corporate ladder has become more difficult especially when a fallen talent goes on top of you

we have many learned bros here (not that phD hor) who gave up the corporate world to be TD...we drive with respect & paxs will show their respect too...act like ah beng & paxs will treat you as such

lastly...if you still have a job that's good...you need that cpf...driving a cab is an honest job & quality comes with having a right mentality both on the road & towards paxs smile

donsan · A Forum Mentor

Guess I am among one of the fortunate uncles.....
Retire to drive a taxi....rather than..
Drive a taxi to retire. wink

-- Edited by donsan on Wednesday 2nd of September 2009 05:23:53 AM

Poolman II · A Forum Mentor

Regit wrote:

I'm still equally new but i do admit life as a cabby is tough. I'm currently a weekend driver and admired those full time driver. Every jobs have their fair share of happy moment and woes. Just look at me, it's total tranformation from a middle level management executive during the week days to a cabby in the weekend. Life is always not equal some are better but there are worst around, ultimately we are here for a purpose. I do encountered many unpleasant pax which i had previously share with many here. Only being cabby i do realise that some human had split personnality froma tame deer to a hypocrite monster. The reason why we face their nonsense is bcos of the lost in authority power due to job thatdoes not earn much respect and the encounter with pax will not be repeated. It all boils down to the quality of cabby, if the basic qualification to enter this trade is at least a diploma, the public view on cabby will be different. But off course this is not possible...public knows that tom, dick and harry also can be there so what so great about this profession. Sorry if i hit the nail on your head....Everbody must have a reason to be here be it thelast job making end meets or moonlight job (like me) or holiday job (Like the Phd cabby)....this is definately not a glamorous job that many dream off.

Don%27t-Worry-Be-Happy-by-The-Hit-Co-_BgJQzgl3AlYx_full.jpg

Poolman II · A Forum Mentor

My taxi course LTA instructor Albert ever told us , even a Professor or any PhD , oso sometime cannot be a very good driver .

I am always happy , cos i respect the job of a taxi driver .

I never felt inferior of being a taxi driver ....

If anyone felt inferior of being a taxi driver , it's very hard for him to go on driving .

bluenuts · Veteran Guru

Respect is earn, not by the academic achievement.
Bro Regit, ppl may look otherwise if all Taxiuncle got a diploma, but then again, can u be sure of that?
I got pax (both local n foreign) who think they big "Fxxx" yelling at me accusing me for taking the wrong route when they don't even know how to go.
I got pax (both local n foreign too) who actually are somebody, speak in a polite manner, giving clear instruction, and always end the sentence with a "please" or "thank you".
If one know how to respect a fellow human being, one will respect who u are n wat u do.
If one dono how to respect a fellow human being, no matter who u are n wat u do, he/she will still show no respect, cos they are just someone lacky who don't give a Turd about them.
Like what Bro Poolman said, "Don't worry, be happy".
Got time join us for kopi!!

-- Edited by bluenuts on Wednesday 2nd of September 2009 08:04:42 AM

lazybone · A Forum Mentor

Poolie,

Ur instructor 9 yrs ago is Albert.
My MDT instructor also Albert, he drove a Merc cab.
Teach us lot of tricks. Always use the phrase "xiao liao".
He also told us the same things.
Same Albert?"

Regit · A Forum Supporter

I'm a failure in this trade bcos till now i still cannot lift up my head high. I'm still living in my hermit kingdom where nobody knows what i'm doing except family members. Even i caution my kids not to spill the bean infront of relatives about my moonlighting job. Pl's don't ask me to give up...this is just the negative side of me.
If those who know what i'm doing they will get a shock and it will be another talking point. Off course not like the phd doctor where he shake the whole nation....ha!ha. Anyway i still around after so many unpleasant encounters.

-- Edited by Regit on Wednesday 2nd of September 2009 06:38:36 PM

tiny168 · Guru

Lighten up guys.....

Here's a timely reminder that things are not that bad.

101 benefits of a taxi driver
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

001. Go geylang and everybody think that i send pax there

002. i luv the feeling of being label " King of the Road "

003. other motorist thinks my father own the road !

004. can suka suka stop,

005. can suka suka wind down window and ask for directions...

006. can pig up seow long nui, viet pho, minah, blonde, half cup, trans, drunks or stoned!

007. feel like James Bond~
tailing another vehicle when pax commanded " Follow that car !"

008. wash car got di$count ....

009. the fare$ i c0llected make up for the lo$es on all my other deppreciated cars,

010. free parking in taxi koisk,

011. free lunch packet when new hotel soft launch, airport openning...

012. lower corporate mobile plan subscription$

013. Get paid holiday when somebody else langgah your cab.

014. Can drive to where others cannot go.....like F-1 hotels.

015. Get close and personal with celebrities & VVip's

016. No need to waste time travel to n fro from work

017. if urgent & need fast relieve jz drive to commonwealth ave west

018. I will never be late for work

019. wake up anytime i want

020. go back anytime i wish to

021. take 1 hr break with no fear - im the boss

022. collect tips enough for lunch

023. if car behind force you out of 1st lane jam break

024. Playing 24 rounds of mahjong is chicken feed, compare to the hour plying the road ! !

025. Taxi driver do not fall sick,
cos we are already sick the moment we enter the trade ! woe !

026. Taxi drivers are fair,
we dont discriminate whether u r local or FT,
we hate it just the same when it's a short fare after queing like 4ever in the airport/ferry terminal/Clark Quay

027. Diesel taxi can throw thick black smog and blind the fast n furious ah beng car

028. Go into Changi Cargo dun hv to change pass..

029. Go to workshop 'kpkb' n dun hv to pay a single cent to get the veh repair n somemore got downtime$ to claim.

030. wife don't mind us picking up girls.

031. pick up girls and get paid for it too.

032. Go Sentosa jalan jalan no need to pay,

033. Mandai Zoo also FOC (just show your VL at the entrance,not the ticketing counter and sign on the book)

034. Night Safari also FOC (same as above)

035. Jurong Bird park also FOC (same as above)

036. Get to know different character of passenger...

037. free perfume smell

038. friendly message from control to " drive safely " when approaching hotspot.

039. our bruthers here give real time Kangtao on when n where 2 Pig n Go

040. can call Moshi2 to jump start flat battery

041. go to ulu ulu place which you would not want to travel there by yourself
( eg. Kranji memorial, SAF Yatch club, Outward Bound... ) and getting paid for it.

042. go to crowded festive place, enjoying the lights and sound,
and getting laid ---oops--paid.

043. go to touristy place, taking in the sight. Paid.

044. changing shift, pax send you home. --ditto--

045. Driving in cool comfort when the sun is blazing hot outside,

046. Shelter from the rain when it's pouring cat n dog

047. you dont give a damn about getting a fare, when you decide to have a break

048. you can dig your nose in the cool comfort of your cab

049. you can clip your nail,

050. arrange the cri$p note orderly, sorting the old and used from new.. while in que,

051. your can burpsssssss loudly....

052. compliments from pax....are you sure you are a cabby ?

053. your pax passing you their contacts for networking

054. get to hear breaking news even before all hell break loose somedays later

055. untold secrets that surrounds your pax's lives....you hear only n not repeat.

056. wonderful platform to gather information from the various industries..better than reading newspaper or books

057. get to see beautiful bugalows n houses that you never knew existed

058. get to see many black n white houses..you never know existed n tucked away from your normal roads.

059. up close and personal free 'RA' show with good surround sound

060. can get good credit from Ah Long when you mention your profession and number plate ...

061. can take cover/rest or camp at airport with a tooth paste/brush and bath towel,
when you are a little behind in you payment,

062. can log into STC and brag ...

063. getting blessed by FT priest, missionaries, evangelist, thai/china/tibetian/ceylonese monk and hdb aunties...

064. some time they al$o want to fore tell your fortune too ...

065. Can have personal interviews with celebrities when they take your cab.Example Media**** radio DJ and artiste.

066.Can have a good chat with our Singapore Girls when they take your cab to the airport.

067. You drive into the Istana via the service entrance, know where is the command house and show pax where the politician lives,

068. you value your health more after fetching and sending more younger stroke patients,

069. you get free advise from doctors, lawyers, bankers, engineers, brokers, pimps, fishmonger, hawkers, whores etc...

070. Your vehicle have huge (wind)screen saver compare to white collar worker and in real time too...

071. you know the good time$ ( pay day ) and the lean time ( before the next pay day )

072. when the train breakdown, commuter will be crying... but not you. ...heh...heh...

073. We are professional driver$, same like F1 going for the money !!! only better
cos can carry passengers mah !

074. we pass the blame to the company/authority/government for high cost/fare...
when pax complained, and asked them for their valuable feedback ( bulls ) u think they really bothers?

075. what is paper work?

076. no office politic and back stabbing.

077. can or_tang up to 2 week's rent when need emergency cash : )

078. we apologize for missing a turn and make good on our fare,

079. Can make a audio compilation of wailing babies recorded inside the taxi click on audition link

080. After a few years of driving you'll become a 'Walking Street Directory'(Newbies will call to ask for direction,pte.car drivers will stop you for direction)

081. Sing aloud my favorite song when cruising with no pax on board....

082. Feel good when your service is appreciated.

083. Become police's eye when MDT shows " watch out for..........."

084. you count your blessings and thanks providence for another safe day home with your taking$, while some unfortunate soul may be struck in the jam, or a chain collision or worst, waiting for a amublance.

085. You have many paymasters, 99.999% of your pax paid in cash, net, credit and sometime in kindness too..

086. you are not affected when your (pax )boss goes bust,
there are always newer, younger, older or prettier bosses to help you bring the bacon home.

087. you can afford to sack those unreasonable bosses and you tell them to get out of your face. " customer is not always right! "

088. pax buys you snacks and drink on top of the fare.

089. you get angpow from nice auntie$ during New Years,

090. you help a expat with her newly purchased copier to her doorstep,
and she said you can have the old one, bundle w/ couple of ink cartidges...

091. sometime you went home with extra surprise stuff$ inside you trunk, on the back seat, under the seat and even the front pax seat ?

092. you pick up taxi lingo like ... " baja, aeroplane, OHB, round trip, cross country, PnG etc... "

093. No two days are the same, you welcome changes, and readied for challenges,

094. We are the Ambassador of Singapore, whether they like it or not.

095. We never have to bring work home.

096. Almost everyday is PAYDAY.

097. Get to know best place for night view/best place for discreet activities.

098. Breakfast, lunch or dinner at different corner of the island.

099. Poh kay seow to IRAS

100. u wear many hats, is game for sports and have foto to prove it ! ! biggrin.gif

101. U close this thread as it's deem too looong ......
and start another about the pro and cons of day or nite shift biggrin.gifbiggrin.gif