Text a Taxi St Petersburg FL at Discount Taxi

Please Include your address or name of the place where you need to be picked up and time of pick up. 
To Text 4 Taxi you can also use phone number 727-490-9164

St Petersburg Discount Taxi Company Hits Hi Tech Home Run

– A breakthrough development in the taxi cab business is taking the St. Petersburg Florida area by storm! An innovative, forward thinking entrepreneur down there has come up with a unique combination of traditional taxi service and high tech dispatching; it is called Text4Taxi and its advantages are many:

·       With this new service, there are none of the pitfalls of traditional over-the-phone dispatching.

·       There are never any annoying, time wasting busy signals.

·        There is never any need to worry about miscommunication or misunderstood directions due to spotty cell phone reception and garbled voice messages.

·        No crabby, impolite dispatchers answering the phone sounding grouchy and tired and talking to you as if they were angry with you, or sounding like they are doing you a favor by sending you a cab.

·       When special, detailed instructions for pickup, or complicated, hard to follow directions are part of the scenario, Text4Taxi really shines. There is no comparing the exact, precise details that can be obtained via text communication and the haphazard, hit-or-miss nature of verbal order taking.

·       Text4Taxi also provides the perfect method for positive verification and communication directly between the driver and the customer…"I am on my way, I should be there within 5 minutes" or "I am in front of the club in white Toyota Prius". Neither traditional phone dispatching, nor even the newly arrived taxi dispatching applications developed for smart phone users can achieve this level of accuracy and post contact verifiability.

·       Another tremendous advantage of texting vs. verbal contact is the ability can request a cab in noisy locations like concerts, sporting events or busy nightclubs without fear of your message being unintelligible or misunderstood. Additionally, Text4Taxi is also great when you need to be low key and unobtrusive such as when attending church, the symphony, at weddings and funerals. No need to whisper furtively into the phone while hoping no one hears you or notices you, and no more interrupting the proceedings and rudely exiting the room to call a cab. Text4Taxi eliminates the need for all of that.

·       Since texting provides a built in written record of all the details of the communication between driver and customer, there is never a problem for either party relying on faulty human memory to store vital information about who, when and where the taxi is going to show up.

Text4Taxi is also superior in many respects to its high tech counterpart taxi dispatching apps in that it provides a level of detail and ability for future ride booking that many apps are incapable of providing. Text4Taxi also allows the customer to pose detailed inquiries such as “how much would cost to get from downtown St Pete to south Tampa?”

Yes, there can be no argument that this clever taxi company’s ownership has hit a home run with their Text 4 Taxi concept. It is a winning combination of technology and outstanding customer service. Cab companies around the world are sure to follow suit and adopt this innovative new dispatching process.

UBER BANNED IN TAMPA BAY

  Hopefully, this will force Uber to comply with all the Tampa Bay taxi regulations like getting commercial insurance for all cars, pay city taxes, DO REAL Background checks for drivers, do regular inspections on cars, stop lying to drivers about possible income, stop lying to customers about "tip is included policy", stop lowering rates on a whim with disregard for drivers livelihood, etc.

Hillsborough decides uber just like cabs


"TAMPA — Uber has lost a battle Wednesday in its fight for open competition on streets as Hillsborough County's Public Transportation Commission decides that the ride-sharing company is a taxi company and faces the same regulations as other such firms.

The hearing was a continuing appeal process of five tickets inspectors wrote to Uber drivers for two violations: operating a for-hire service without a proper permit, and allowing or causing drivers to operate a public for-hire vehicle without the proper driver's license, according to the Tampa Bay Times........"


>>> Please Read More


University of Tampa Bans Uber and Lyft because of students safety concerns.

and please watch this:

Uber,- Insurance and Integrity Problems

Uber is up to it's old tricks again, advertising 'facts' that are not even close to being 100% factual. In this case Uber claims that they perform background checks that exceed the checks performed by conventional taxi companies, and they also  claim to have 1 million dollar per incident liability insurance. A recent NBC investigative report from a San Francisco TV station exposes the fallacy of these claims.

  It turns out that when you ride in an Uber car, you are typically not covered at all, neither by the drivers personal insurance nor by any insurance whatsoever from Uber. If you incur any injury while riding, or crashing, in an Uber car, you or your family will be stuck paying the entire medical bill yourself. This type of expense, potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars, could of course bankrupt even a well to do person. 

The insurance that private drivers carry does not cover the car, or the driver, if the car is being used professionally to provide transportation for hire. This kind of coverage requires commercial insurance, the type required by law in conventional taxi's and limo services. This commercial insurance is
significantly more costly than standard personal coverage, and to purchase this kind of insurance would render the driving of an Uber car economically unfeasible.

As for Ubers claim regarding extremely thorough criminal background checks, it seems that Uber is not being totally honest with their claims in this area either. They are clearly not more exhaustive than those required for legitimate taxi companies, and there is some question as to whether Uber performs any criminal background checks at all. NBC reports that they found drivers with criminal histories not only in San Francisco, but also in LA and Chicago. These drivers, some of whom were still on probation, had past convictions that include burglary, assault, and drug trafficking charges.  NBC even went as far as to have undercover felons apply for employment, and Uber hired them without question.

 Given these facts, I would not want my wife, child, or other loved ones to ride in an uninsured car
with a convicted felon which may very well be the case with an Uber ride. I'll stick with the traditional taxi companies who are required, by law,  to have proper insurance and also required by law to conduct a thorough background check performed by an accredited agency.

Can You Make Money with Uber ?

picture by i.ytimg.com

Uber is not all it is Cracked up to be

If you are a professional driver who is considering a job driving with Uber, there are some things you need to know. Do not be fooled by their deceptive and sometimes downright dishonest, claims about the benefits of joining Uber.  Ads in most major cities are claiming incomes of $1000 per week, while in reality Uber drivers are earning less than half that amount even working 50-60 hrs. per week. The Uber concept is good for the consumer, great for Uber, and horrible for the driver.
In an article that appeared recently in Business Insider , the author interviewed several Uber drivers and they uniformly stated that they have never come close to earning what Uber ads claim, and that earnings have been steadily decreasing for some time now because  Uber has flooded the market in most major cities resulting in less than 50% occupancy for most  Uber drivers.  Not a single driver reported making anywhere near $1000 a week after subtracting gas cost and fees paid by the driver, and of course after Uber takes their 20% right off the top. Add to this the wear and tear on your vehicle and it turns out the driving for Uber pays significantly less than driving for a conventional cab company.

Uber also employs a bait and switch tactic when trying to attract new drivers;  In LA, for instance Ubert started out with a $2.50/mile rate that attracted many new drivers, since at $2.50/ mile the drivers could earn a living without working  a ridiculous number of hours. Once the needed drivers were hired, Uber dropped the rate to a measly $1.10 per mile, not enough to make a living no matter how many hours the driver works. The chart below shows how Uber empoloyed the same tactic in NJ:

NEW JERSEY:
Original Price          Summer 2014 Price              Fall 2014 Price
$2.25/mile                 $1.90/mile                    $1.64/mile
$0.30/minute               $0.20/minute                  $0.20/minute
$3.00 base                 $3.00 base                    $2.00
$7.00 minimum              $7.00 minimum                 $6.00 minimum

As this chart shows, Uber started out advertising reasonable rates that would provide a full time driver with a reasonable living, and within the space of a few months dropped the rates so that the same driver working the same hours would make 28% less; Thus a driver making $50,000/yr gross to begin with would make only $36,000/yr after the rates were lowered.

Another move by Uber to attract more business was to cut rates in major markets to well below -market levels, attracting new traffic (which Uber profits from) while forcing  drivers  to drive longer hours at the reduced fares to make the same amount of money.  Once again, Uber wins, the consumer wins, and the drivers lose.

It is also worth noting that Uber discourages tipping, and didn’t even include the tipping option in the app until very recently. That is because tipping doesn’t benefit Uber, and by not encouraging tipping the service appears more economical to the consumer.

Probably the best indicator of how Uber views their drivers is the fact that they try to convince their drivers that all of their sleight of hand concerning rates, fares, and commissions is actually in the driver’s best interests. Not only do they brazenly exploit the very drivers who have made them rich, but they treat them as if they are ignorant fools who will believe the wild claims that Uber has been making a standard component of their business model. Compare this shady way of doing things with the legal, moral, and business philosophy of the traditional cab company or limo service, and I think you will agree that there really is no comparison at all.

This is also true when it comes to vehicle maintenance and replacement costs since with the legal cab company the driver does not incur any repair or replacement bills like the Uber driver will encounter as his car ages rapidly from the grueling regimen a commercial car endures. The expense of having to purchase a replacement vehicle is enough to put most single car Uber drivers out of business, or at best deeply in the red for a considerable time.

After taking all of these  factors into consideration, it becomes clear that driving for Uber has absolutely no advantages over driving for a traditional, legal, cab company. The cab company’s rate ( currently around $2.40/mile in most urban markets) is not going to fluctuate wildly. This provides the driver with a stable income allowing them to make future financial plans with a reasonable amount of confidence that their incomes will remain stable moving forward. The cab company is unlikely to flood the market with excessive cars/drivers as has been the case with UBer in several locations. The bottom line is that Uber does not live up to it’s claims and there is more money and more security driving for a legitimate, legal cab company.

Request your local Uber drivers in Tampa, Miami, Orlando, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Sarasota, Jacksonville, Ocala, Naples, Gainesville, Tallahassee, Fort Lauderdale, Cape Coral  and ask how much money they really make......

Taxi Driver on Uber and Lyft / Opinion

"The commission’s executives are continuing to negotiate with the ride-sharing businesses over ways to help them operate legitimately, and many of the key issues, including more thorough background checks, commercial insurance, vehicle inspections and whether the commission can impose pre-determined rates on rides, have been worked out."

Neither Uber nor Lyft want to communicate with PTC, why?
because 3-6 months from now, when they are going to be forced to accept conditions imposed on them by court, they also will be forced to raise the rates to compensate drivers for extra expenses like commercial insurance, city license, hack license, car inspections, etc.
............but,.......... by then , their market share in local personal transportation field will be substantially higher, build on $1.20 a mile rides they advertise now.
Needless to say, when they are going to rise rates, they also  will be blaming "bad" PTC for that, making uber look like "Robin Hood" company FORCED TO COMPLY WITH EVIL GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS.
............a cinderella, fighting "corrupted taxi cartels"........?   

picture by TBO.com

"Fight-between-hillsborough-and-ride-sharing-services-goes-up-a-notch

By Keith Morelli | TBO.com

TAMPA — The simmering feud between the agency that regulates cab and limousine services in Hillsborough County and a handful of upstart ride-sharing companies escalated Thursday when a Lyft driver refused to take a plea on a misdemeanor of driving a taxi without a license and demanded a jury trial.

Farhad Kazemi, 42, rejected a misdemeanor intervention program that could have resulted in a dismissal of the charges and said he wanted his case heard by a jury. Hillsborough County Judge Lawrence Lefler set a trial date of Oct. 20.

Another Lyft driver, Darrell Rogers, was scheduled to appear in court Thursday on similar charges but failed to appear. Lefler issued a warrant for his arrest.

The two are the first of nearly two dozen cases made by local transportation inspectors over the past two weeks that now are wending their way through county court. The court cases began after the Public Transportation Commission, which has been locked in a dispute with Uber and Lyft over what level of regulation the ride-sharing services should be subject to, set up an operation to cite the drivers.

“I guess it was a sting,” Public Transportation Commission Executive Director Kyle Cockream said of the operation that netted Kazemi and other ride-sharing drivers. “That’s the closest thing to describe it.”............"

>>>Read More

Uber Lies and Uber BS email

This email was accepted from one of Tampa uber drivers and in our opinion it is worth publishing
 by Independent  Uber's Driver Blog.

"Email from Uber to Uber drivers,  filled with Lies and Uber BS.........
.....hey!!!, if I was making any money with uber and able to pay my bills,  I wouldn't be complaining about some Uber's "cheerleading" , but I don't make any money with them, so, I AM REALLY PISSED OFF,

a  FORMER UBER DRIVER in Tampa Bay

p.s...........is anybody out there  willing to dig in in this pile of uber crap and share uber experience?
PLEASE GO AHEAD, this blog is YOURS



"TAMPA
PARTNER WEEKLY
Hey Karl,

We are seeing demand go off-the-charts in Tampa. We've even seen many drivers working weekend nights making literally HUNDREDS of dollars due to surge pricing! Each unfulfilled request is money being left on the table.  That's why this weekend, we brought back Hourly Guarantees, see below for details!

WEEKEND HOURLY GUARANTEES
To satisfy this sky-high demand, we're making our partners a SPECIAL HOURLY GUARANTEE!!  This weekend you can make at least $150 in Gross Fares for being on the road during peak demand times!

Guarantee Details:

$15 per hour Friday and Saturday night if you are logged-on during one of these shifts:
1:00am to 3:00am (Guarantee of Gross $30 in total fares)
12:00am to 3:00am (Guarantee of Gross $45 in total fares)
11:00pm to 3:00am (Guarantee of Gross $60 in total fares)
10:00pm to 3:00am (Guarantee of Gross $75 in total fares)
We will guarantee you the hourly guarantee in average gross fares over the time period indicated. So you will get either: the gross fares you earn or the gross $15/hour over the sessions less commission– whichever is HIGHER!

To qualify you must:

- Accept 80% of requests for the entire duration you are online during the guarantee period
- Complete at least 1 trip per hour for the duration of time you are on the road during the guarantee period
- Must be logged in and ready to accept requests for at least 90% of the period
- Be located near Downtown or St. Pete
- OPT-IN to the Hourly Guarantee HERE

The top-up guarantee will show up on your next pay statement! Please let me know if you have any questions.
GENERAL SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
Both lanes of the Park Boulevard Bridge will be closed starting on September 29 for repairs.  It is expected to remain closed for the entire month of October.  Drivers will have to take the Indian Rocks Causeway or the Tom Stuart Causeway instead.
EVENTS OF THE WEEK
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 AND FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26

What: Luke Bryan Concert
Where: Mid Florida Credit Union Amphitheatre (4802 N US Highway 301)
Drop Off: 6-7:30pm
Pick up: 10-11:30pm
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27

What: SeptemBEERfest
Where: Southern Brewing & Winemaking (4500 N Nebraska Ave)
Drop Off: 4-6pm
Pick up: 7-9pm
HOTSPOTS
ST. PETE'S IS HEATING UP!

In addition to Downtown Tampa and Clearwater, we are seeing more requests than ever in St. Petersburg. Head to these locations to find rides!

As always, weekend evenings from 6pm-3am are the busiest, but we are expecting high demand all throughout the weekend. Below, you'll find a map of where we're seeing the most requests!

USE YOUR OWN iPHONE
Many of you have told us that you would rather use Uber on your personal iPhone instead of a separate device.  To qualify, you must:

- Have an iPhone 4S, 5, 5C, 5S, or 6
- Have iOS 7 or 8 (to check go to Settings > General > About > Version)
- Have a data plan that allows you to use at least 2GB/month of data for Uber
- Use any major phone carrier (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint)

If you are interested in seeing if you qualify, CLICK HERE and fill out the required information.  If you do qualify, we will automatically send you a return envelope so you can return the Uber iPhone.
SURGE PRICING
Surge Pricing is in Effect!

During high demand times, fares can be as high as 3 times the normal rate! Surge pricing rewards you for staying logged online during high demand times by earning higher fares on each trip you take (check out this video for more info). Check your Driver App to see if surge pricing is in effect and where it's surging!
REFERRALS

Referring a friend, family member, or colleague to Uber Tampa will get you both $100!  THAT'S RIGHT, you AND the referred partner get paid!

This incentive will be paid as soon as the referred partner completes 20 trips. The person being referred MUST sign up for Uber using the link sent to their email from the BLUE BUTTON seen above.

PLEASE NOTE: If you do not see the Blue Button on your App, press the 'Home Button' on your iPhone and then reopen the Uber Driver App.

The incentive will be in effect for LIMITED TIME ONLY. Take advantage while it lasts!...."

24/7 DIScount Taxi Cab Service in St Petersburg, Florida

  Please CLICK BELOW TO CALL 4 DISCOUNT TAXI 24/7 FROM YOUR MOBILE  PHONE, OR Please DIAL THE Phone NUMBER 727-490-5100

OR Pre-Book your Taxi cab Online with Diacount Taxi Reservation form.

"Discount Taxi is a division of AL's Taxi Inc. of St Petersburg, FL- We pride ourselves in being the best Taxi service in Saint Petersburg, if not in all of Pinellas County...Our very low rates are a reflection of  the tough competition in the St Petersburg transportation market these days. This competitive environment is also part of what motivates us to provide our customer with high quality service and courteous, professional drivers. Our commitment to these practices is even more important to us now than ever before.

ALL OUR TAXIS ARE FULLY INSURED AND LICENSED FOR YOUR SAFETY.
All of our Drivers have undergone extensive background checks with State authorities as well as with the FBI. These background investigations   include finger printing , screenings for felonies, DUI's, violent crimes, drug testing. Each of our drivers has also been determined by the local PD to be safe taxi drivers before issuing  them a Taxi Driver Hack License with a picture.
All our taximeters are approved by the State of Florida and our taxi rates have been acknowledged and approved by City of St Petersburg......."

For more information,  please visit our website at:

>> Discount Taxi Cab service in St Petersburg, FL

 We service these areas within Pinellas County:
St Petersburg, Downtown Saint Pete, Shore Acres, Gandy, Pinellas Park, Kenneth City, Gulfport, South Pasadena FL, Treasure Island, Tierra Verde, Madeira Beach, Bay Pines, Disston Heights, Seminole, Redington Shores, Indian Shores, Indian Rocks Beach, South Largo, Feather Sound and zip codes in St Petersburg, FL

 33703, 33707, 33708. 33710, 33712, 33705, 33711, 33713, 33716, 33701, 33702, 33714, 33704, 33705, 33706, 33709, 33781, 33782, 33777, 33772, 33776   Discount Taxi Metered Rates and Airport Taxi flat rates. $2.00 FIRST 1/7 MILE OR FRACTION THEREOF $0.30 FOR EACH ADDITIONAL 1/7 Mile OR FRACTION THEREOF = $2.10 a Mile $0.30 For Each 36 Seconds Waiting Time or Slow Traffic = 0.50 Cents a Minute  

2015 Discount Taxi Intercity Taxi flat rates, example fares, costs and rates :

Saint Petersburg to Tampa Airport $30-$45
St Petersburg to South Tampa $30-$45
St Petersburg to Downtown Tampa $45-$60
St Petersburg to North Tampa  $55-$75
St Petersburg   to Sarasota  $85-$120
                     to Orlando  $175-$210
                    to Naples, FL $275
                    to Miami Airport $495
                    to Ocala $225
                    to Jacksonville $435
                    to Tallahassee, FL $475
                    to Orlando Airport $195
                    to Ft Myers       $210
St Pete Beach to Tampa Airport   $45
St Pete Beach to Orlando Airport $185
St Pete Beach to Amtrak Tampa  $55
St Pete Beach to Busch Gardens, Tampa  $70
St Pete Beach to Port of Tampa  $60
Treasure Island to HardRock Casino in Tampa $65
St Petersburg to Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Tampa $50-$70
Sarasota to Hard Rock Casino in Tampa $105-$125 (trip must be pre-paid with CC)

* Please feel free to negotiate above prices and you might be able to save another 5 to 10%
off your final estimate, if we are not too busy.
* We also gladly take our customers from any place in south Pinellas County to cities listed below:
Brandon, Palmetto, Ellenton.Bradenton, Bradenton Beach, Venice, North Port, Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, Englewood, Cape Coral, Bonita Springs, Lehigh Acres, Arcadia, Myakka City, Sebring, Parrish, Ruskin, Apollo Beach, Riverview, Winter Haven, Lake Wales, Palm Harbor, Tarpon Springs, Holiday, New Port Richey, Hudson, Spring Hill, Crystal River, Seffner, Inverness, Dade City, Zephyrhills, Lakeland, Plant City, Wesley Chapel, Brandon, Kissimmee, Titusville, Cocoa, Melbourne, Palm Bay, Vero Beach, Fort Pierce, Port St Lucie, Palm Beach Gardens, West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Pompano Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Hialeah and many more within State of Florida.
* For intercity / long distance rates, please call our dispatch center for an estimate at : 727-490-5100
or if you are not in the hurry, you can request estimate via our online booking and reservation system at:


Discount Taxi To Tampa Airport, Booking and Reservations Online

Three Large suitcases Packed in a trunk of "tiny" Toyota Prius Taxi are ready to be taken with 3 passengers to Tampa Airport

For your convenience at Discount Taxi. we gladly accept all major credit / debit cards.

When ordering a taxi cab, please let dispatcher know about your intention of paying with credit card, 

We don't charge any fees on credit card transactions.

We service listed below hotels in Downtown area of St Petersburg, FL 
Hollander Hotel - 421 4th Ave. N,  St Petersburg, FL 33701                                                  Hollander Hotel
Hampton Inn & Suites / Downtown - 80 Beach Dr. NE, St Petersburg, FL 33701                                                               Hampton INN
Ponce De Leon Hotel - 95 Central Ave., St Petersburg, FL 33701                                                 Ponce De Leon Hotel

We also proudly serve :

Derby Lane Poker Room and Greyhound Race Track since 1925

• at 10490 Gandy Blvd N, St Petersburg, FL 33702

picture by http://commons.wikimedia.org/

picture by derbylane.com 1950

A "Winning Tradition" at Derby Lane - Click Here

Why would I visit Saint Petersburg ? dream vacation

By Angela Doherty 
If  you are like me and looking to escape the rain, winter, or find a white sand beach to stretch out on, your search might quite naturally lead you to the warm climes of Florida, the Sunshine State. I was looking for a sunny, warm slice of heaven, with a great mix of outdoor recreation, culture, dining and shopping and I think I have found it in St. Petersburg. Here’s what I've found out about this great city.

With on average 361 sunshine days per year, St. Petersburg is not called “The Sunshine City” for nothing. Situated on the west side of Tampa Bay, a trip to St Pete could not be complete without a day on the beach. And with over 240 miles of shoreline including a number of keys, islands, bayous and some of the best beaches in the country (including Fort De Soto beach, twice ranked number one in the country in 2005 and 2008) you are spoiled for choice in St. Pete.   I think a day on the beach, lazing under the palms or swimming in the crystal waters of the Gulf of Mexico on the beaches of Treasure Island is the first order of business for any visitor to the city. However, if it is action you are after, diving, snorkeling, fishing and canoeing are just some of the choices available to you in, on and around the waters of the city.

When you are sick of the beaches, it’s time to head across town and Beach Dr and the waterfront where you can find amazing dining, overlooking the marina and the gorgeous Tampa Bay. I think I’ll start with drinks at the famous Fresco’s and head down Central Ave and the surrounding streets to find some great food, live music and dance spots to enjoy the long, hot nights of St. Pete. The city is also home to over 2 dozen art galleries, and if you time your visit right, on the second Saturday of each month, the Downtown Arts Association hosts a Gallery Walk around a number of downtown galleries and studios. St. Pete also plays host to a series of festivals and cultural celebrations all year round, for everyone from the foodies at the “A Taste of Pinellas” festival in May, to the Tampa Bay Blues Festival in April and every March, downtown is transformed into an Indy Car track for the Honda Grad Prix! And of course, if you are looking for sport, Tropicana field, home of the Tampa Bay Rays, is also within easy reach of downtown.

Shopping in St. Pete, like the rest of the city’s activities, is also all about choice. Check out the Saturday Morning Market, down by the Marina, for fresh local produce and goods. Or, if you are looking for something a little more up market, the BayWalk shopping complex is located downtown, along with a host of artisan shops and studios.

Now where to stay… Well. Let’s be honest, there are so many choices from the 5-star resorts of Clearwater and downtown to the hostels and camping grounds at Fort De Soto Park, there is something for every budget. And one of the best things about St Pete is that it is compact, making travel around it easy either through the public system, or by cab, where your friendly cabbie can suggest more things for you to do in the Sunshine City. I’m looking forward to my trip to St. Petersburg, time to stop dreaming about it!

Tampa Bay Taxi Business History / part "Tampa"

How taxi companies Yellow Cab, United rose to dominance in Hillsborough

TAMPA — In 1967, the manager of the only cab company in town told the Tampa Taxicab Commission his drivers made about $112 per week. Adjusted for inflation, that's $742 in today's dollars.

Taxi drivers were employees then, with health insurance, vacations and bonuses, city records show. But in 1975, the Yellow Cab Co. jumped on a national trend and made its drivers independent contractors. The agreement cost cabbies their benefits but let them keep whatever they made.

At the time, Yellow Cab manager Nick Cambas told the Tampa Times: "This should be the answer to those squawking about the little man not having a chance to make it in business."

Thirty-six years later, the little man still awaits his chance.

Drivers today say the system leaves them poor and at risk. Their predicament is compounded by a lack of choices: Two companies control 87 percent of the county's permits..............

>>> Read More

Glory Days in Tampa Bay taxi / limo industry

Super Bowl Gives Florida Operators Big Boost

TAMPA, Fla. — Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa had the potential to be a true shot in the arm for limousine operators and transportation companies in the Tampa and Orlando metro markets.

But as the big game approached, events began to vanish. Playboy and Sports Illustrated canceled their annual parties while many corporate events were scaled down. The economic downturn was extending its reach to America’s favorite pastime.

So with all of the festivities now over, how exactly did the event turn out for operators?

Marcos Lopez, owner of Tampa-based Embassy Limousines and Sedan Service, said the Super Bowl was an overwhelming success. Lopez normally runs 19 vehicles in his fleet. He supplemented it with six additional rented SUVs and brought in 13 additional vehicles from out of town affiliates (Ft. Lauderdale and Orlando).

“We went after the corporate business early and got a good portion of our business months before the event,” explained Lopez. “The Super Bowl hasn’t been a stretch limousine event in the past couple of years. Stretch limousines were the last thing for us to book. The corporate.......>>>

>>> Please Read more

Free listings of transportation / Taxi jobs in Tampa Bay

If you are an owner of taxi company or one taxi cab and you are looking for reliable driver or dispatcher please place your listing on this blog for free.
All you need to do is fill the form below to list your taxi / dispatcher job
Please allow us 24 hrs to process your request

Picture by TampaBay.com

>>> Click here To list Your Taxi / Dispatching Job

>>>Taxi Driver Jobs, Cape Coral / Ft. Myers, FL

Taxi Rates to Miami Airport, Information

How much is a cab fare to Miami Airport ?

Lets assume that passenger wants to get from point A somewhere in Miami Metropolitan Area to Miami Airport by taxicab.

The cost of cab ride might vary greatly depending on certain conditions like traffic, time of the day, weather, Taxi company providing him/her with service and their rates, experience of a Taxi Driver (if he knows what he is doing), if Taxi company taking passenger to airport offers flat rates, etc.


Below are examples of taxi fares to Miami Airport from certain points in Miami
Metropolitan area:


from Pembroke Pines $50 - $68
from Cooper City $55 - $72
from Fort Lauderdale Airport $55 - $68
from Hallandale Beach $45 - $60
from Hollywood $48 - $60

from Port of Miami $24 - $35

from Pompano Beach $88 - $106

Examples of Taxi rates to Miami airport (MIA) from some cities in South Florida

from St Petersburg, FL  $495
from Tampa      $545
from Clearwater       $535
from Sarasota   $450
from Spring Hill  $595
from Palm Harbor $545
from Cape Coral   $325
from Port Charlotte $375
from Ft Myers  $335

St Petersburg, FL, Best Restaurants by Taxi Drivers

Florida's Best Restaurants recommended by local cab drivers for other taxi drivers and their customers, - feel free to list your favorite restaurant if you are a taxi driver, -please list full name and address of particular restaurant and menu items you like the most.
Hey, you never know, - may be your next cab fare asks you if you know any good Italian restaurants in Downtown Saint Pete, Tampa or Orlando, this information alone could be worth 100% tip on the top of your cab fare and repeated customer, who might be going next day to Miami airport........:)
You just NEVER KNOW....

If you in Saint Petersburg area and need a cab ride, please call

727-490-5100

Advertising Taxi Business in Florida.

Cost of Advertising to Sustain and Expand a Taxi Business in Florida USA

By JC

Miami, Tampa, and Orlando - the State of Florida has no small amount of big cities filled with interesting and engaging attractions.  Engaging attractions means tourists who come from across the globe to sample the sights and sounds.  Long distance travel means the convenience of your own vehicle won't be at hand.  All of this translates to a market for reliable and convenient travel options which, ends up creating a fertile spawning ground for any taxi company.  With the constant and steady flow of travelers, the state of Florida has enough of a market for even a fledgling company to get a solid start.

The problem comes in figuring out how a small company can get enough business to grow!  While a huge market can provide a business owner some awesome opportunities, it also makes it difficult to stand out from the crowd and gain the chance to expand.  This isn't a cheap industry; a new cab can easily cost $20,000 by itself and, a used one ends up being the same after factoring in repairs and maintenance.  Meters, insurance, cleaning, and permits can also add up quickly.  The state of Florida doesn't require a commercial license, though individual counties can have their own demands and fees.  Even if you've had some experience in the taxi cab business, it takes a lot of cash flow and delicate consideration to make sure your business not only takes root but flourishes.

Getting Your Name Out There

The best way to get the ball rolling is advertising, regardless of how small or large your business is it can only attract customers if people know about it.  No matter how you want to run your company, there are options of promoting that have a wide range of costs.  From the inexpensive to the extremely pricy, their effectiveness can vary greatly. It's more in how you use them than how much you spend.  Plenty of businesses in countless industries have lost large sums of money on poorly delivered advertising, while others have launched themselves into the spotlight on a shoestring budget.

The Internet

How people can and should advertise their services have changed drastically over the last few years and, this affects the taxi service industry just as much as it has affected everyone else.  The rise of the smart-phone has substantially diminished the power held by phone book advertisement.  If you're reading this hoping to find out why your ad in the yellow book isn't offering

Viva Gay in St Pete !!! Viva Taxi Business !!!

St. Pete Pride drawing gay tourists to Tampa Bay area

From Tampa Nay Times 

ST. PETERSBURG - With 100,000 people at last year's St. Pete Pride event, the Tampa Bay area is gaining a high profile among travelers expected to come this weekend for the state's biggest gay pride festival.

Organizers have added art shows and concerts leading up to Saturday's parade and street festival in St Petersburg's Grand Central District; adds aiming to lure tourists for the event suggest a vacation with beaches, museums and gay-friendly hotels, restaurants and bars.

Several elected officials, most notably Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, plan to participate in this year's festival, and community leaders are hopeful that gay pride events will take hold on both sides of the bay in coming years....

>>> Read More

Benefits of Being a Taxi Driver in Tampa Bay

By Danielle Antosz

People become taxi drivers for many different reasons. No one is born knowing they want to be a taxi driver, usually circumstances push them to the job. With that being said, there are a lot of perks of being a taxi driver, and most of us love what we do. The hours are long, and slow shifts are tedious, but there is a reason we do it year after year. If you are considering becoming a Tampa taxi driver, here are a few things you can look forward to.

Be your own Boss!
Starting a business is expensive – you have to pay for overhead, taxes, licenses, equipment, and product. If you are looking for an easy way to be your own boss, taxi driving is a great place to start!

Your employment situation can vary based upon how your company is set up, but most Tampa taxi drivers rent their car from a taxi company or they own their own car and pay for dispatches from a company. There is no boss leaning over your shoulder all shift, and once you cover your fees the rest of the profit is yours. Which means the harder you work, the more money you make. And, unlike other startup businesses, the startup costs are relatively low.

Every Day is Payday
Instead of waiting for payday, you get to take home cold, hard cash after every shift. No more extreme budgeting to make sure you can last to next payday. However,

The Effects of Taxi Driving on Your Health & How to Improve Your Health

by Danielle Antosz

Tampa Bay taxi drivers have a tough job. While sitting down and driving a car all day might not be as physically demanding as, say, a construction job, it can still wreak havoc on your health. What is even worse is that many taxi drivers do not have health insurance or paid sick days. If you drive a taxi it is up to you to cover your health costs - even if your poor health is caused by your job.

The Effects of Driving a Tampa Bay Taxi on your Health

The fact is Tampa taxi drivers often spend as many as 12 hours a day sitting down while working a high stress job. This type of lifestyle is terrible for your health. In fact, medical studies show that sitting down for most of the day increases the chance that you will die by over 50%. Add the stress of the job and a poor diet eaten on the run, taxi drivers are at a serious risk of heart attack or stroke. So what can you do to improve your health? You don’t need to overhaul your entire lifestyle – even just a few small changes to your day will make you happier and healthier.

Eat Better

The poor diet of many taxi drivers is only part of the problem, but is still very important. First, you need to eat less junk food. It is awfully convenient to drive through during a quick break, but try packing a light lunch a few times a week. Even a sandwich and a few chips are better than a greasy burger and salty fries. Also, try substituting water for soda or coffee. Water contains less calories and also helps flush toxins from your system.

Get Exercise!

As humans we are not meant to be sedentary. Our bodies are designed to walk, hunt, and run. Sitting behind a steering wheel all day increases your stress level, causes heart problems, and results in weight gain. But, you don’t have to spend hours pumping iron at the gym. The Mayo Clinic says that a daily brisk walk can help you maintain a healthy weight, improve your mood, strengthen your bones, and help prevent heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure.

Take a Vacation

If you are a taxi driver, you know how stressful the job can be. And without paid vacation time, taking time off can be difficult. Think of it as an investment in your future – taking a few days off to relax (along with a few other lifestyle changes!) can result in better health for years to come.
Driving a taxi is not an easy job – drivers deal with long hours, high stress, and most drivers eat a poor diet. If you drive a taxi, it is important to take the time to take care of yourself. For your friends, and all those who love you.

Florida taxi drivers / writers wanted

Picture by wikimedia.org

Taxi driver stories wanted, - if you a cab driver or person who takes cabs often, write about it from your own experience.
Make $15 per story, each story must be 250 - 450 words long of ORIGINAL content,- have fun, tell the world what had happened in your taxicab or while you were in it as a passenger, get your text published on internet and make money while doing this.


>>> Go to Taxi Stories
We also need taxi drivers / article writers on daily life of cab driver, cab drivers opinions, places worth visiting in Florida, issues concerning taxi drivers in Florida, tips to other cab drivers on how to improve their lifestyles or how to reduce overhead cost of taxi driving business, etc
We are interested about anything related to taxi driving in Florida, either in Saint Pete, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Gainesville or Miami, just to name few major places.

Articles must be + 400 words long, it will be published with its own link, you will be credited with its creation and you will get paid between $15-25, depending on quality of writing and relevance of content.


We reserve the right to refuse to publish certain articles with inappropriate content and without pay.

Daily temptations of Saint Pete cab driver

By
Driver #888

It happened yesterday at Tampa Airport
Here I am, dropping off passenger at Southwest departure terminal, I am counting money and exchange last few words with my fare and out of nowhere comes to passenger side window this elderly guy dressed up like gangster from 1970 and with heavy Spanish accent asks "how much to Sarasota?"
I yelled back "about $140" and kept dealing with my passenger.
After I unloaded luggage of my fare and exchanged few polite thankyous, nicemeetingyous, have safe trip words I got that Spanish guy in to my face again asking "you said, to Sarasota $400?, how about $350?"
Obviously, when I yelled to him $140 he misunderstood that for $400..
My mind started to race,- here is the guy willing to pay more then double on the trip from Tampa Airport to Sarasota... it's almost like lottery jackpot for a cab driver, I was about to grab the guy with his carryon (that's all he had) and put him in my cab, but as all Saint Pete taxi drivers know, picking up anybody at Tampa airport is highly illegal without proper licence and only 3 companies are allowed to do that, and those are Yellow Cab of Tampa, United of Tampa and Super Shuttle + number of unmarked Limo operators with proper stickers,- Penalties for breaking this law, are heavy fines, impounded cab and possible imprisonment for 12-24 hours.
So here I am tempted to take this guy to Sarasota for $350 and at same time thinking, may be its some kind of sting operation by Tampa PD or Tampa Airport Authority to bust dishonest, out of town Taxi drivers who are dropping off at TIA and picking up flags.
I looked around and I saw that Tampa Airport Authority cop across the street, about 30 yards away looking in my direction and then I made my mind and said to my "elderly Spanish gangster from 1970's", I am sorry Sir, I am a cab from Saint Pete and I am not allowed to pickup at Tampa Airport and I would suggest you should go downstairs to arrivals level where all the local cabs are parked, btw. trip to Sarasota shouldn't cost you more than $150.
Then I got in my cab still excited by whole situation and drove up to that cop across the street whose presence prevented me from making some serious money that day and asked him .

Excuse me Sir, I have a question: There is that guy who wants to Sarasota, -am I allowed to pick him up and take him there?
Cops face looked puzzled, then after few seconds he replied :
".......to Sarasota?, only Super Shuttle is allowed to take passengers there"

Obviously, the cop was pretty much clueless about dynamics and laws at TPA, same like I was dumb for passing up on my opportunity to make money.

Taxi Companies in Florida, Customers, Reviews, Comments, Complaints

Taxi Companies in Florida, USA, Reviews, Customer Feedbacks, Comments, Opinions, Recommendations, Complaints,


Saint Petersburg, Tampa, Clearwater, Sarasota, Largo, Saint Pete Beach, Madeira Beach. Fort Myers, Coral Gables, Orlando, Miami, Key West, Jacksonville, Coral Springs, Fort Lauderdale, Gainesville, Hialeah, Hollywood, Homestead, Indian Rocks Beach, Jupiter, Kissimmee, Lakeland, Melbourne, Miami Beach, Miami Gardens, Miramar, Palmetto, Panama City, Pembroke Pines, Pensacola, Wellington, West Palm Beach, Weston, Winter Garden, Winter Haven, Winter Park, Gulfport, Ocala, Tallahassee, Naples