I love rules. There are rules for everything in the world. Rules for eating, rules for dating, rules for driving and rules for sports. Everywhere we turn, there are rules. In my business there are many, many rules to follow. We must be TSA permitted in order to pick up clients at the airport. We must be city permitted in order to make pick ups in certain cities. Like I said. Rules for everything.
We have two airports and many, many private fbo's in my area. Having that many people traveling on business affords many opportunities for work. It is, however, illegal to set a reservation (book a ride) on site. This part of the job is one way we differ from the garden variety taxi company. In order for us to make a pick up at an airport, there must be an existing reservation and you must have the manifest in hand. This would not be an issue if we were only there for a few jobs a week. However, 90% of our business is prearranged travel from or to the airport.
The bane of my existence, therefore, is when I get approached by the ground transportation cops, asked for my badges and manifest, and generally harassed for what seems like an eternity. Sometimes with the client in my presence. Meanwhile, on the curb, sits an unlicensed, unpermitted, "Egyptian Limo" booking rides for $50 cash. Does he get accosted? Do they ask him for his manifest? Hell no. When he sees them coming, he just drives away. He is not stealing my business. He is making me and all the others like me look like fools for spending money and time in line on permits. Permits that he proves every day are useless.
Dear airports around the country. If you have no desire to enforce the permit rules, then do away with the permits themselves. I like to think that the people representing my beloved industry are decent and trustworthy. I am learning that something stinks in paradise. And it ain't the toilet.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Friday, August 21, 2009
Reversal of fortunes
Too many times in my line of work, we prejudge people. We see them as tippers or not, talkative or quiet, you get the idea. I know this practice is wrong on multiple levels. It is considered profiling by some and racist by others, depending on how you prejudge.
There was a rather large concert in my city recently. I was charged with taking a big family from out of town to the show and then back to their private plane. There were ten total passengers. Four were female and six were male. Eight were older and two were teenagers. After the plane landed and I got them into the car, one of them asked to be taken to a restaurant. Upon arrival, another man asked me "Is this a good place to eat?" To which I replied "I would assume so due to the location." (There are no bad eateries in that area.)
Dinner was over so on the the show. We arrived at the venue and I noticed the parking passes they had purchased were not valid for my vehicle type in the lot specified. They bought the wrong pass. I was forced to drop them off farther from the entrance than expected. I then had no place to park. (Concert goes on.)
The show ended and I got the phone call. "Where are you?" After much fussing and frustration, we met up on the street. In my efforts to get them into the car quickly, I left the main lanes and pulled into a blocked off lane. We were now stuck and at the mercy of other concert goers who just wanted to get home. Finally we were allowed to merge. I got them to the plane after a short ride and they left the car. My favorite question peeked out from the night. I told him yes. This was the reversal of fortunes. He pulled a couple of bills from his wallet and handed them to me. As not to look rude, I slipped them into my suit pocket and said "Thank you sir." "How was the show?" he said it was good and they boarded the plane. Driving out of the FBO, I pulled the two bills out of my pocket. There in my hand were two, beautiful, slightly used, one hundred dollar bills. That will teach me not to prejudge.
There was a rather large concert in my city recently. I was charged with taking a big family from out of town to the show and then back to their private plane. There were ten total passengers. Four were female and six were male. Eight were older and two were teenagers. After the plane landed and I got them into the car, one of them asked to be taken to a restaurant. Upon arrival, another man asked me "Is this a good place to eat?" To which I replied "I would assume so due to the location." (There are no bad eateries in that area.)
Dinner was over so on the the show. We arrived at the venue and I noticed the parking passes they had purchased were not valid for my vehicle type in the lot specified. They bought the wrong pass. I was forced to drop them off farther from the entrance than expected. I then had no place to park. (Concert goes on.)
The show ended and I got the phone call. "Where are you?" After much fussing and frustration, we met up on the street. In my efforts to get them into the car quickly, I left the main lanes and pulled into a blocked off lane. We were now stuck and at the mercy of other concert goers who just wanted to get home. Finally we were allowed to merge. I got them to the plane after a short ride and they left the car. My favorite question peeked out from the night. I told him yes. This was the reversal of fortunes. He pulled a couple of bills from his wallet and handed them to me. As not to look rude, I slipped them into my suit pocket and said "Thank you sir." "How was the show?" he said it was good and they boarded the plane. Driving out of the FBO, I pulled the two bills out of my pocket. There in my hand were two, beautiful, slightly used, one hundred dollar bills. That will teach me not to prejudge.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Is it really necessary?
I am constantly at the airport picking up strangers. It is the biggest part of the job. Unless you are a repeat client or a celebrity, I do not know you from Adam. It is nothing personal. I just do not know what every person in the world looks like. This brings me to the point of this blog.
As a professional chauffeur, I have the need to carry name signs. They typically bear the name of my passenger or their company. My sign, of course, is so they know who their ride is. Needless to say, the sign is essential to success.
I know that you all think I have a glamorous job. At least I think you do. The first question I get when my occupation is divulged is usually " Have you driven any famous people?" Yes I have, and no I will NOT tell you who. All that being said. You are not being slick when you walk in front of me, and from the corner of your eye, take a quick glance at the name on the sign. I do see you and you are not very sly. You fail at spying. Is it really necessary to see what famous person I am driving on any given day. I have gone so far as to put "no one you know" on a name sign and laugh at anyone that reads it. Your curiosity is predictable and sad all at the same time. STOP IT!
As a professional chauffeur, I have the need to carry name signs. They typically bear the name of my passenger or their company. My sign, of course, is so they know who their ride is. Needless to say, the sign is essential to success.
I know that you all think I have a glamorous job. At least I think you do. The first question I get when my occupation is divulged is usually " Have you driven any famous people?" Yes I have, and no I will NOT tell you who. All that being said. You are not being slick when you walk in front of me, and from the corner of your eye, take a quick glance at the name on the sign. I do see you and you are not very sly. You fail at spying. Is it really necessary to see what famous person I am driving on any given day. I have gone so far as to put "no one you know" on a name sign and laugh at anyone that reads it. Your curiosity is predictable and sad all at the same time. STOP IT!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
My favorite question
I do not know how many of you out there are chauffeurs like myself. Frankly, I do not care. The point of this particular blog is to address the question we all get and the clients somehow all know to ask. "Is the tip included?" AAAAARRRRGH!!!!! Legally, yes, the tip is included. IT IS CALLED MY PAY AND THE COMPANY PROVIDES IT TO ME AS A WAGE! If you are too cheap to reach into your fat pocket and pull out a $5 then do me a favor. Stop asking if the tip is included.
I have seen countless occasions where, at the hotel, the guy who loads the single suitcase is tipped a $10 or even a $5. After all, he did have to put the suitcase in a car trunk. I guess he deserves a small tip of sorts. But me, The guy who literally holds your precious life in my steering-wheel-clutching hands? I get the friggin shaft on the money train? How is this right? The doorman who literally barely lifted a finger gets tipped but the professional chauffeur who got you safely, and quickly to your destination, gets nothing but a stupid question. My fiance gets snippy with me for tipping the girl who delivers my order at Sonic. I tell her "Those who live on tips tip."
To the end now. A tip is not always deserved. Nor is it always expected. I know when have blown a tip and when I have earned one. We all do. If you do not wish to tip, then just walk away. Do not ask me "Is the tip included?"
I have seen countless occasions where, at the hotel, the guy who loads the single suitcase is tipped a $10 or even a $5. After all, he did have to put the suitcase in a car trunk. I guess he deserves a small tip of sorts. But me, The guy who literally holds your precious life in my steering-wheel-clutching hands? I get the friggin shaft on the money train? How is this right? The doorman who literally barely lifted a finger gets tipped but the professional chauffeur who got you safely, and quickly to your destination, gets nothing but a stupid question. My fiance gets snippy with me for tipping the girl who delivers my order at Sonic. I tell her "Those who live on tips tip."
To the end now. A tip is not always deserved. Nor is it always expected. I know when have blown a tip and when I have earned one. We all do. If you do not wish to tip, then just walk away. Do not ask me "Is the tip included?"
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