Become a Taxi Driver in Australia

On Sat, Apr 17, 2010 at 12:42 PM, sehmuz cacina <sehmuzcacina@gmail.com> wrote:

Metered Rate of

Want to become a taxi driver?

The taxi industry welcomes people who:

• like working with people from a wide range of backgrounds;
  
• have good English communication skills; and
  
• will provide a high level of service to all passengers.

The licensing and training requirements for becoming a taxi driver are as follows:

1. Apply for a T extension on your licence
2. Complete an aptitude test
3. Complete the Taxi Driver Training course
4. Sit the Taxi Driver Registration test
5. Receive your T extension and Taxi Driver ID Card

 

1. Apply for a T extension

You must have a T extension (previously called a "T endorsement") on your driver's licence to carry paying passengers in a taxi.

To be eligible you must:

• be at least 20 years of age;
• have held a unrestricted driver's licence for at least 1 year;
• be of good character;
• be mentally and physically fit to drive a motor vehicle for the purposes of carrying passengers for reward; and
• successfully complete the training course and test detailed below.

To apply for the T extension you will need to:

1. Complete an "MDL1 - T extension application form", which is only available at your local Licensing Centre (ph: 13 11 56). See Licensing current fee schedule.
2. Undergo a medical examination by your doctor; and
3. Pass a criminal/traffic check which the Licensing Centre will conduct.

Once the above have been successfully completed, you will receive a letter advising whether you can continue with your taxi driver training.

Please note: you must produce photographic identification at every step of your training.

2. Complete an aptitude test

You must successfully complete an aptitude test, conducted by the Department's approved psychologist. This test is designed to assess your suitability for operating a taxi and dealing with customers. Arrange your appointment by contacting either:

Recruitment Assessments and Training WA Telephone: (08) 9277 9730

Miraquin Pty Ltd Telephone: (08) 9349 2965 Miraquin website

You may go on to complete the next step after you receive a letter informing you that your have passed this test.

3. Complete the Taxi Driver Training Course

The training course for drivers in the Perth metropolitan area is based on the WA Taxi Driver Competency Standards.

Completion of these national road transport units means that new taxi drivers gain recognition for units completed if they move to other transport industries or to taxi industries interstate. Drivers can also complete additional units and build towards nationally recognised qualifications, for example, the Certificate I, II or III in Transport and Distribution (Road Transport).

The course is completed in 2 stages;

1. A self-paced learning package which contains essential information about Perth geography and being a part of the taxi industry. Download training and guidelines: major tourism destinations (pdf 123kb)
2. In-class training which covers all other aspects of operating a taxi, such as driving, driver conduct and customer service skills.

Once you have completed the course you will be issued a 'Statement of Attainment'.

The Taxi Driver Training Course can be completed with one of the following registered training providers:

Transport Forum WA	Transport & Communications Training Academy of WA
37-41 Cohn Street Carlisle WA 6101	7 Harvey Street Victoria Park 6101
Phone: (08) 9470 1245	Phone: (08) 9422 2288

4. Sit the Taxi Driver Registration Test

After you have completed your training, you will undergo an on-road test in a simulated taxi, conducted by the Department's driving assessors. This test is designed to confirm that you have all the essential skills necessary to meet the needs of taxi passengers. Through completing a series of practical tasks, you will demonstrate the skills you have learnt during your training.

Arrangements for your test will be made through your training provider.

5. Receive your T extension and Taxi Driver Identification Card

Once you have successfully completed your Registration Test, you will receive:

• notification of your T extension; and
• be sent a metropolitan taxi driver identification card.

You are then fully qualified to operate a taxi.

Please note: Once you have gained the 'T' extension on your licence, if do not renew your medical as stipulated in the conditions of gaining a T extension, it will automatically cancelled.

Driver Assessment will send out the medical, generally about the time the Drivers Licence is due, which is to be taken to your doctor.

• If a valid medical is received within three months of the due date, the extension can be restored.
• If the medical has not been received by the due date the F or T extension will expire and the person will have to re-apply for the extension and pay all relevant application fees.

Should you have any further enquiries please do not hesitate to contact Passenger Services

Fare

The meter is required to be engaged or "hired" when a taxicab is occupied by anyone in addition to the driver

Standard City Rate (Rate Code 1)
$2.50 upon entry
$0.40 for each additional unit

The unit fare is:

• one-fifth of a mile, when the taxicab is traveling at 6 miles an hour or more; or
• 60 seconds when not in motion or traveling at less than 12 miles per hour.
• The taximeter shall combine fractional measures of distance and time in accruing a unit of fare. Any combination of distance or time shall be computed by the taximeter in accordance with the National Bureau of Standards.
• The fare shall include pre-assessment of the unit currently being accrued; the amount due may therefore include a full unit charge for a final, fractional unit.
• Night surcharge of $.50 after 8:00 PM & before 6:00 AM
• Peak hour Weekday Surcharge of $1.00 Monday - Friday after 4:00 PM & before 8:00 PM
• New York State Tax Surcharge of $.50 per ride.

Flat Fare from John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport:

For trips between (to and from) Manhattan and JFK International Airport,  the flat fare is $45.00 plus any tolls using Rate Code 2 on the meter.  A NY State Tax Surcharge of $.50 will be added to each trip.

If passengers request multiple stops, the flat rate of $45.00 will be collected at the first stop in either Manhattan or JFK International Airport, and the meter will be activated at Rate Code 1 (standard city rate) for the remainder of the trip. The metered fare should be collected at the last stop, from the last passenger.

All trips between JFK International Airport and New York City destinations other than Manhattan will use that standard metered rate.

Sample Fares from JFK International Airport to destinations other than Manhattan

(These are estimated fares. Actual fares vary depending on traffic, weather and other unforeseen conditions. Tolls are in addition to metered fares and are not shown.)

Between Terminals ............... $4 - $12

To the Bronx

Co-op City ......................... $39 - $44
The Hub (149th & 3rd) ..........$38 - $42
Riverdale .............................$48 - $53

To Brooklyn

Downtown ...........................$33 - $38
Coney Island .......................$35 - $38

To Queens

Shea Stadium ........................$22 - $25
Main Street (Kew Gardens).......$20 - $24

To Staten Island

New Dorp Lane .................... $52 - $55
Victory Boulevard .................$51 - $55

To LaGuardia Airport .......................$24 - $28
To Newark Airport ...........................$69 - $75 + $15 surcharge

Tolls
On all trips within New York City, any bridge and tunnel tolls to the destination shall be paid by the passenger, who shall be informed before the start of the trip.

On all trips within New York City, return tolls shall not be charged except for trips over the Cross Bay Veterans, Marine Parkway-Gil Hodges Memorial, and Verrazano Narrows Bridges.

On trips beyond  New York City, all necessary tolls to and from the destination shall be paid by the passenger.

Trips Beyond the City
For a trip beyond the limits of New York City, except Westchester or Nassau Counties, or Newark Airport, the fare shall be a flat rate (a flat rate is a definite amount fixed between the driver and the passenger at the start of the trip).  This flat rate shall be negotiated prior to the trip and entered into the meter via the technology enhancements or TPEP system (when available) using Rate Code 5.

For a trip to the Westchester or Nassau County the fare shall be:

the amount shown on the taximeter which is calculated at the standard city rate within New York City and at twice the metered rate for the portion of the trip in Westchester or Nassau County.  and all necessary tolls to and from the destination shall be paid by the passenger.

If the taxicab is equipped with the T-PEP system, the metered fare is calculated automatically by switching to Rate Code 4 when crossing outside the city limits.

For a trip to Newark Airport the fare is:

the amount shown on the taximeter using Rate Code 3 which includes a surcharge of $15.00; and all necessary tolls to and from the destination shall be paid by the passenger.


Any continuous trip where the point of origin and the destination are both within the limits of the City of New York shall not be considered a trip beyond the City limits, even though the shortest and most direct route requires traveling outside such limits but within contiguous counties. For such a trip the meter must be kept in the recording position throughout.

Group Rides
Group ride fare from York Avenue -

Notwithstanding the rate of fare set forth in Metered Rate of Fare , the fare for trips made pursuant to a group riding plan from York Avenue shall be as follows for each passenger:

To the Financial District - $6.00 per passenger (In addition, there may be such fee for dispatch services)

Persons with Disabilities
A recently-passed rule now requires that drivers not engage the taximeter until a disabled passenger has been settled in, and the ride is about to commence. Drivers are required to assist disabled passengers.

Luggage
There shall be no charge for  luggage or belongings transported in the interior of the taxicab, or for use of the taxicab's trunk.