New York City cab drivers are not just the holders of a job, but als the bearers of a proud tradition and icons of a world-class city. Yet most of the drivers who steer the city's more than 13,000 licensed cabs are poorly compensated. According to "Taxi!: A Social History of the New York City Cabdriver" by Graham Russell Hodges, cab drivers make most of their money off tips, with many barely earning minimum wage. The bulk of their cab fare generally goes to the company that leases them their medallion, which is required to legally pick up passengers. Yet there are a number of ways that you can earn money more efficiently.
Instructions
1. Get your taxi driver license. The license for becoming a New York City taxi driver is issued by the city's Taxi and Limousine Commission. In addition to having a clean driving record, you will need to take the commission's test, as well as complete a defensive driving course and a course in taxi driving. Check with the commission for the complete procedure: its web page is listed in the Resources section.
2. Be fast. New York is a city that values speed. The faster you are, the bigger your tip will be. To be the most efficient driver, you should practice your driving and study the maps and traffic patterns of New York. This will give you a leg up during rush hour and when detours are implemented. The cab driver who doesn't know avoid Fifth Avenue at rush hour is the cab driver who's not going to get much of a tip.
3. Give out cards. One of the difficulties that you face as a cab driver is your lacl of repeat customers. In New York, most of your fares probably start with someone seeing your cab and hailing it. However, many drivers will also choose to give out cards with their name and phone number. That way, when a passenger needs to call a cab from an area where there aren't many around, such as parts of the outer boroughs, you can catch the fare.
4. Drive where others won't. Some New York City cab drivers will simply refuse to drive to certain neighborhoods, particularly at night, for fear of crime. Brownsville, the South Bronx and East Flatbush are all neighborhoods known for their high crime rates. However, if you're willing to take the risk and drop passengers off in dicey parts of the city, you stand to pull in more fares than your more cautious brethren.
5. Buy a medallion. In order to be driven as a taxi, a car must be equipped with a medallion from the city's Taxi and Limousine Commission. Periodically, the city will hold auctions in which new medallions are issued. The medallions will usually fetch several hundred thousand dollars. These medallions are unaffordable to nearly all taxi drivers, forcing them to lease them from private companies. However, some entrepreneurial drivers will save up or borrow the money to purchase one and go into business for themselves.
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