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Home My WebLink AboutIR 8108 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No.- re, 0 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council February 17, 1.998 X Subject: Annual Reports of the Taxicab Companies 1873 Attached are the 1997 annual reports from Yellow Checker Cab Company of D/FW and Checker Cab Company of Dallas. Beginning in 1998 the taxicab companies will file their reports on a quarterly basis. These reports will be forwarded to the members of the City Council. The complaints reported are written complaints received by the taxicab company. In August procedures were implemented to record and track complaints received by the City. Since August, the City has received a total of six complaints. In four of the complaints the taxicab company was determined not to be at fault; corrective measures have been taken in the other two situations. City staff will continue to monitor the level of taxicab complaints and report the results to the City Council. Bob Terrell City Manager I Sell xn ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH,TEXAS -�-+. VL / ...•v..Y ♦vvv -+. ...✓.. ....✓ . ..A....^.. va IJJJY`TJV CAVLL. � y .r •w .✓r.Au YELLOW CAB COW P U Sox 1510 - Fort Worth,Texas 76101 817/534--7777 - Metro: 817/654-2541 Fax: $17/535-7450 January 29,1.998 Mt D=M Reed Public Utilities Supervisor City of Pon Worth 1000 T'hrockmotton Fort Worth,Texas 76102 RE:Annual Report Dear 1,1r.Reed: s , Cr 1 iy�w I a f P - woumw,mmm,,,W,......,...... mo, „woo,. ✓ xauw�uiwwu This letter and some related materials is provided to you and the Fort Worth City Council to provide an overview of the activity in the taxicab industry in Fat'Worth last year. Beginning in 1999,%V will be providing quarterly reports to you andthe Governmental Relations Committee tb we can all keep a timely eye on the industry. In December of 1996 we installed acrd turned on a computerized dispatch system which features t"way digital and voice communications as well as Global Positioning Satellite Tacking to assist us in dispatching the cbsest taxi as well as be able to provide assista ric a if a driver has a probietm While many problems were involved with Implementation of this system,we feel it is now successful and that it is now superior to the old voice dispatch system. Following is a list of accomplishments and events that occurred in 1997. *Completed a full year of computerized dispatching *Irrtplemnetrted a dedicated driver training program.with a 6111 time T"rainibgIftmagear and arm in car Driver Trainer. *Worked with Meacham Eaternatiand Airport,Mesa Aidimies and the Texas Motor Speedway personnel to develop bodcab stands and service plans to meet developing needs. *Met with Hnceltl bvA and Convention'&Visitors Bureau Sales Mxt%, ems to discuss their needs and concerns. Bach has been provided a phone list to reach a manager or owner 24 hoursa-clay if a problem occurs. *Established a temporrasy taidcab stand in front of the White Mepltaat Saloon and across from the Stockyards Hotel during the construction period on North Main St. The gaits were so successful that the local businesses have requested the City mark the space permanently as a no peaking/taxicab stand. *During Pioneer nays,due to construction on North Main,we worked out a plan to shuttle passengers from the Exchange Street area to Rodeo Drive using large golf carta. This allowed the taxis to quo up new Billy Bobs and out of the way of most trafft. The North Side Police peracauual were extremely helpful and called an us several times to help persons who should not drive themselves home. Repritless of construction,um have spoken with some of the Noah Side business people and will provide similar service for events in the future. *The last of the 1997 new cabs have been added and the 1998 cars and vans began anivirig in December. Due to rail shipment delays,we still have 1999 Dodge Tntrepid's coming in. The Intrepid can and conversion vans are very distinctive and provides Fort Worth with a very modem and versatile fleet *Yellow Cab of Dalla&Tort Worth,Inc. was featured in an article of the Los Angeles Times,and apparently syndicated in offiet cities,concerning technology and productivity. This article is honest about the problems with technology changes and-At have received several caW from around the country to ask about our dispatcb system and how to avoid the problems we had when we implemented it. While the industry and taxicab companies in Fort Worth were looked am closely in 1997,the result has been that we rose to each occasion and continue to look for new ways to serve the residents and visitors of Fort Worth While dealing with the difficulties of changing our dispatch system to CqMputers,we were not paying attention to other areas as-closely as we should have. Now that time has passed,we are working on growth and are working daily to meet the needs of the traveling,public. Si Y,4 im Richards . ..... .... fj I, A YELLOW CAB COCO P. U Box 1510 - Fort Worth,Texas 76101 817/534.7777 • Metro: 817/654.2541 - Fax; 817/535-7450 January 29, 1998 RE: City of Fort Worth Annual Taxicab Report 1. 'Average Taxicabs Operated]Daily 104 low 87 high 114 2_ Written Complaints Received: 6 3. Average Calls Dispatched Daily: 2197 9 4. Average Available Taxicabs Not Operated 4 S. Number of Damage/Injury Claims Filed: 21 6. Number of Claims Settled 15 7. Number of Lamuits Pending Agwns t Holder 3 *Note:Permits were increased from 100 to 114 in July 1997. Cabs and drivers were added but even with average numbers being higher during the soamd half of the year,the annual average was 104. The averW cabs operated daily since August 1,1997 has been 111. f tI 4 Three Year Taxicab Report Yellow Cab 1995 1996 1997 Ave . Taxis Operated Daily: 86 92 144 Low 72 79 87 High 93 .99 114 Written Complaints Received: 3 2 6 Ave . Calls Dispatched Daily: 1542 1813 2197 Ave . Available Taxis Not Opera 3 6 4 Number of Damage/Injury Claims 27 24 21 Number of Claims Settled: 6 9 15 No, of Lawsuits Pending : 2 1 3 Yellow Cab Fleet 1/28/98 : Year % 1998 11 10% 1997 44 39% 1996 32 289 �„ � 1995 18 16% 1994 9 7% 114 1009 l; /e. • December 1996,Yellow and Checker Cab Companies implemented a two-way digital computerized dispatch system. This was a.major technological change for the local taxicab industry. Software,the address database.GPS coordinates and personnel trraltting became moor problems and had to be dealt with • Yellow Cab requested an increase from 100 to 154 permits and Checker Cab requested an increase from 50 to 75 permits in Fort Worth to accommodate expected growth since OW were both at or near maximum utiUStiort. Due to a pending application for taxicab operating authority and no clear method for evaluation of how to determine the number of permits needed for Fort Worth,a discussion and commium evaluation was conducted. The recommendation was to require the existing companies to add taxicabs and drivers,however,under the current ordinance it had to be completed.in 30 days. Since it was unclear how many cabs and drivers were required to meet current demand,it was recommended that 14 additional permits be granted to Yellow Cab and 6 to Checker Cab for the interim while the Civvernmental Mations Committee study the ieme, • Staff provided the Committee with information and recornmandations were trade to the taxicab companies for improving servic 6s. A formal complaint process,new rase cards with a phone number to the City for customers were placed in each cab,and meetings with CVB and HotetlMotel personnel were implemented • A Staff report was presented and approved by the Committee and seat to CAunciL Included in this G recommendation and motion by Councilman Wentworth,was to proceed with the request for additional permits by the cab companies to allow for continued growth Ord not have them be restricted and unable to put more taxis in service as demand increases. This request is cturently pending • The remaining permits requested,36 for Yellow and 19 for Checker,will allow for growth over the next several months,provide permit space for 1998 cars being delivered and let the companies adjust for peak demand periods without having to return to Council for smother request, • Between improvements in the economy,cvnmterciat,residential and industrial growth as reflected in the local unemployment fiV>res ar►d building permit applications,the taxicab industry is beginning to turn the corner and come ba&to the overall demand we once had Calls are increasing and while recruiting drivers is more diffioult,the quality and income opportunities,are better. • Market demand drives supply and in Fort Worth we have the newest,cleanest,technologically advanced and responsible taxicab fleets in the rnettoplex,Texas and the Country. � p �F U V �, uCrfi �- SATURDAY,DECEMBER Y!, 1997 y' COPYRI&I T1991/MiCTIMESMIRRaRCOMPANY/cct%IIOPAGES Technoloov May. Not Drive. Na- tion's- Prof . �tivit Y, but It Can,Hahi a i axi e Growth ti Say every day 'at large and small vestment firm, argues that Y businesses all",over the country, stepped=up productivity growth Is Statistics do not fully using not only computers) but also - one of the few credibie explana- other high-ttechnology:equipment Lions for the U.S. economy's ex- reftect'business gains, like including lasers and biotedhnology, ', tended period-of high growth'and improvements at Yellow It is one"of:the parddoxes of ' tow inflation. today's econorgy;that this torrent ' Yardeni believes that the im- Cab,However,skeptics say . of .technology 1i'oot .'fueling a ' proved productivity has led to a evidence is lacking, sustained Increase in the nation's "new economy" that will enable productivity•�the atttput pc`r work . the United States to enjoy contin- hour, of ,the;'average .,American • ued economic growth and low in- By ART PINE worker. ` tlatlan well into the 21st century.. - TiME5 STAPF,WRITER The issue to important because "It really ,Is the' Gotdllbeks i i"'1 AALI,AS—Is 'America's eco- rising worker`productivity Is what economjr;"Yarden!said—as In,not, D l nomlc'pioductivity finally re- ultimately lifts the'standard of , too hot,hot too cold, bounding after years of relative living of till Americans, - stagnation? For one perspective, Until 1913,U,S,productivity had j f Yardeni is correct,the benefits just call a Yellow Cab the next time been growing at a robust 2.6% to j could be enormous. Even 3% a.year,raising living standards you're here, � � percentage�,-'polnt ;rise"'in, annual ' Chances are that the'supervlsor sharply and helping, in general, to,:, productivity;*,proponents 'argue; ; r/0 " can tell .Instantly'Which of.the . keep .inflation "low,-. Since then,.%,could add�10 much to the natio'n's company'a 450 taus is nearest however, productivity growth has • economy:,tf at'the'extra tax'rev- averaged a disappointing I%—and you--•2nd available—and can send enue would 4rovlde full .Soc1a1', even less since the mid-1980x. it Immediately.If there Is no cab In plot productivity,h�i5 spurted in � Security :benefits for.the;baby your area, the next closest one is boom generation, dispatched automatically. , the last six mbnths',rising at a 2.4% Others, however, are skeptical Yellow Cab Is guiding its taxis annual rate last spring and 4.1%in about such assertions. Barry P. with the same technology that the the sitrrlmer quarter. Analysts are Bosworth, an economist at the Defense Department developed to sharply divided .over•whether . Brookings Institution think tank, these are aberrations or the start of provide navigation systems for its a trend argues that despite the gains of the missile's and aircrafts the satellite- last two quarters, the longer-term based global positioning system, Even the 'Federal Reserve is i statistics"don't support any notion A GPS set in every cab continu- split over the Issue, In minutes'of ! that we have evidence of improv- its November theeang,which were ` ally tracks each taxi's location and ing productivity, transmits it to the dispatcher,who ! Fed's blle egriter this titonth,'the The past few quarters'Improve- can follow it on a monitor. The Fed's policy-setting Federal Open . p q system automatically searches for Market Committee cited the recent • ment°In the statistics "are-typical y Increase in praductivity.growth as ; of what happens at this stage of the nearest taxi that Is available . one reason ,(Tong with the eco- any expansion, when output is and even calculated st likely tare, nomic turmal1 In Asia) that 1t'did i rising rapidly and business is try- ` based on estimated distance. not raise Interest rates.But several . [ng• to hold its hiring down, -. The system is a boon not only to : members of the panel ravete clearly i Boaw'orth contends. "We've heard customera.• James 1:. Richards, Yellow Cab's resident,says it has : skeptical. : ..;.: : these kinds of arguments before,.' p Etsentially,.;there .are two Whatever' the statistics show, business, transformed the way the firm does schools of thought about the'"pro the anecdotal.evidence of produc- business,enabling managers to'de• ductivityparadox". tivity gains is impressive by airy ploy cabs,more efficiently, saving 'The optimists,believe that the standard. . thousands of dollars.annually on statistics are hawed ana have not ' •Dell Computer Corp. nowr rou- labor and operating costs, and all : fully captured the recent gains in,' t[riely asks customers to place their but eliminating cheating by drivers "productivity,"much as the` con. orders over the Internet,eliminat- and dispatchers., sumer price index may be overesti- ing'the need to maintain'huge "I have to say I'm amazed my- .mating the Inflation rate, In the Inventarles,'sprawling WTyt7oi self,"Richards said. : last six months, they say, the and largea' IL Its'newe productivity numbers are finally is being built without he revolution at Yellow Cab is eatattfr►g up, storing excess stock,only one of thousohda of dra• .lid .Yardeni, chief economist for •Quad Graphics, a � t �matte efficiencies being achieved the Deutsche Morgan Grenfell In- ' ptjtp.iBg,_s„ornp @lxy. j►a Pleatr ter N ECONOMY: Productivity otatistxcs Beim Scruthu"Md robot-assisted stacking. ,storage are saving millions of dollars on else and slow. and retrieval systems that enable it •maintenance, operating costs and . Thanks to sophisticated software to use wider, faster presses and to replacement, Yet efficiencies such programs,. even companies with save money on postage by auto- :as these,he says; are not reflected worldwide reach can keep daily matically storing magazines by ZIP in the productivity figures, . . tabs on an array of operations. Code. nevi Strauss& Co, has installed Wal-Mart, for example, has de- •Russell Corp., a textile maker computer•con trolled lasers that veloped a computer software sys-- in Alexander City, Ala., has put in 'enable it to cut.and sew custom-fit tem that enables it #o download computer-controlled spinning and jeans for 'individual buyers •using : data from cash registers across the cutting equipment that has helped ',.measurements taken in.stores and . , country every Hight and use the it double production with the same 'transrhitted, electronically Ao the information,to replenish and dis- number of employeea and build- 'factory—a service.unimaginable tribute its.inven Wry—even notify- ings,,The•.systenl uses robots to, even a few years ago, ing suppllers when to step up their : help consolidate manual .op- 64 production lines. erations. The productivity is showing . ; Businesses have needed time to 'Those who contend that the J" ,everywhere but in the get used to such Innovations.Gerry numbers,",Cox asserted, Gustafson,a Rockford,Ill.,plastics economy is changing cite such .Frank Stafford,-a University of ! manufacturer,says his'firrim did'not examples, multiplied many times Michigan econamist,'4rgues that begin investing In the neiv high- over, as strong evidence that pro- productivity'gains.have been all , tech equipment until it was nearly ductivity must be improving dra- the greater because the statistics driven out of business by better- maticalty despite the sluggishness exaggerate the number of hours equipped competitors. reflected by the official statistics, worked, -: -• - ' ` "We'll never .become obsolete They cite a variety of factors Although statistics puggest that gam,"he vowed, that may have spurred productiv- •Americans are 'wot'lring longer For all the anecdotal evidence, icy in recent yearst Globalization.of hours than they.used to, time there are still plenty Of skeptics. the economy has prodded eompa. studies shoo+'that they upend a David A:Wyss, an economist at nies Into seeking to reduce costs. greater ahare bf those hours—up to D David i Poor'o predicts Government deregulation has 'six each week—doing things not ! that the spurt of productivity• made firms' more efficient. related to t tt heir work—from mak. t Business investment has mush- ing personal phone c>�h hat h 'last spring and summer s to playing s will prove to be a fluke. I don't roomed, solitaire on computers, ' think this is the start of the New Finally,they point out that cur- Stafford's conclusion; "The pro- Economy,"he said. rent techniques for measuring pro- ductivity slowdown An the' mid- Larry Michel of the Economic ductivity are geared primarily to 1970s and mid-1980s was substan. policy Institute, a liberal research manufacturing, although the na- tially a measurement problem." group, is another defender of the tion now produces about $1.50 Allen Sinai, economist at Pri- productivity data. • • worth of services for every $1 mark llecision Economics, adds While productivity may have worth of manufactured goods, that productivity has not seemed to been undereatlmated, he says, the Service firms have been among reflect the effect of new technol. error is unlikely to be very large- the biggest beneficiaries 'of the ogy because it often takes years maybe the difference between efficiencies generated by the eom- before the'tleneflts of an invention growth of 1,1% a year and I%a a puter revolution. . cats be fully exploited. year—arid certainly will not sup- Johh T. Pearl & Associates, a For the first aeveral years after part assertions that the improve- Peorla,Ili.,insurance firm,has Just the Invention of the microproces- ment has led the country into a installed a computer'system that sor in 1971, he points out,comput- New Economy. has cut,the time it takes for its ere were used as little more than Daniel E.Siahel,a senlor econa- underwriters uw_process appliea- efficient calculators and•typewrit- mist for the Federal Reserve Lions from 45 days to less than 10. era, Board, is a•skeptic for a different Moreover,lapWp Computers en- Likewise,when Iaser.technology reason.,No matter how daziling the able field agents to provide instant was invented in'.the late'1880x, computer revolution may seem to rate quotes right in front'of paten- officials at-Bell Labs refused to ' . Americans fascinated with images tial customers, quickly fill out de- patent it because,they thought It on a monitor,he says,'ite effect on tailed application forms and check' . had no application in telecommuni- : . roduetivit has beeh overstated. on the status of applications. Cus- cations. Only after fiber optics Computer teehnolo y co•'na ti- tomers can even buy policies over .I came of.age dldlkil fully realize . Lutes only. %2 pl business:: o s1 ss invest the Internet the laser s potential mint in capital stack, Sichel says < W.Michael Cqx,chief economist Today, by contrast, imaginative and much of that Is simply t '`r at the Federal Reserve Bank of "-firms have coinbined' these and replace older 'computers, whic Dallas,points out that the govern- "other technologies in all kinds of become obsolete in atp rnnst no time �� f��i mint's productivity-measuring .: Productive ways, Here In Dallas,however, Xelto gauge improvements in thegquat quality � clabai nosltoninOta�eQna�rtd the noa ogy's�effect can Richards scarcely te ch ��1��°°�� of goods or services being pro global: g Y overestimated.Far fropt being just duced, which also adds to effi- prove efficiency in dredging lakes a gimmick, he says, the new sys-. and .rivers, The CPS guides ciency. g tear has aaIready sped up taxi re- Cox points out,for example,that dredges automatically, eliminating aponse times, 'saved money on automobiles are built so much bet- costly overlaps caused by convnn- operations and provided more ca- ter these days that business buyers tional surveying, which 18 impre-� pacity for growth. Drivers love it because-they no: longer have to scramble to learn" the best times and places to wait` for customeis'or to'defend them selves 'Against other'clrivers'who, may try to poach. In-cab monitor screens show every cabby,inhere the busiest parts of town,are,,. t also has .virtually-eliminated 1 the payola system that enabled dispatchers to play favorites by saving choice fares for those cab- �.,' :v * .::;r *. i 5 �.:� • bies who were willing to lip the ThE' eb-d�„ ttiA y Record. fi m a few dollars each month, These e picks.out the .Fro ' days, the computer p Qt 1 8 48 to 1979, U.�.producUvity,'as measured by_th`e"ouEput'.°'"` nearest available cab. It's incor- pefy' k hoof of.the'average,kmerican worker,'greW;at ruptible. ,,average of 2,8% a year,rafsingg living tahaaida and h'elping'to Another benefit:Gabbles can sig- keep inflation IoW°.Since then,'however,productivity growthbas nal the dispatcher quietly—with the " touch of a button—if they get into :averaged a disappointing l Jo:.But,,productivityhas spurted in he" an accident or a passenger pulls a t aiX months;fixing'at a'2.49'a annual rate last spring*ani�#',I%=" gun The dispatchers.suzntner quarter. do them. can t"x give-police the taxi's location.with- out " `,; '• :.'`a having to ask the driver.' `t` Annual growth In ."There's just no reason to have , - output per hour of to sit around idly anymore'waitifig `..3.0 all workers J for business to come my way","said z, Brad Elliott, a 24-year-old driver who Joined the company a year ago.'"Por myself, I love It. It's a great system to have in place." 1,0 Richards concedes that the eye- r.. Y. tem was so full of buga during its 0 1 '= first few months that the eornpany I nearly boxed it all up and sent'it _10` back to the manufacturer. < Drivers pushed !buttons,-willy- '7i a. 7s a ` e-s s .. 7 'ss ea i ' '1BS L.rfl.<tN hilly, overloading the 'emer'gency source:Burw m'LSW GiAC131ks jr,i zaiiiso. signal The system crashed repeat- ie.angelw'iim�r edly.Errors and gaps In-the data- base left the system so hobbled that the company once.*as unable to send a toad to a woman .who needed to get to a hospital. "We were certainly,unhappy for awhile,"Richards said, No more. Now he reports that driver turnover is down substan- tially, the firm is attracting appu- cants from other companies .and Yellow Cab.'is 'expanding 'Its business steadily'without1dding dozens of new employees,''; "I don't think we've'yet realized all the potential,"he said. w . G �Jrl.i�, .d�k M n�l� l e •--' +� \/f•v• / ♦,J au au•..a..u11 a.AU a • va••.• au�ACa V1 lJJJ/ -eJV ''""— a ONE ON CHECKER CAB P.O Box 1510 • Fort Worth,Texas 76101 817/654-2871 Fax: 817/535.7450 January 29, 1998 Mr. Danny Reed Public Utilities Supervisor City of Fort Worth, City Ball 1000 Throckmorton fort Worth., Texas 76102 RE; Annual Report i Dear Mr_ Reed: i Attached is the Annual. Repot for Checker Cab-Company. As you can see, we continue to experience steady growth in both calls and taxicabs. orwe are excited about the Ci, yIs plans for Convention Center expansion and the o . ,. new Music Hall. Combined with our request fox additib al permits we think the future holds increased growth for Clecker Cab and the;-City of Fort Worth. 4in e , �dent ' I I I 1 I I iI ,.4(l✓Mau'WftpwM2n.w.rmmrv'.w.vmvrMr:wwrvmr.,.wwimoG.w.nwion.u.w,wmm..�mwn tf^ fl yf- ff Il • t� r� �i 1 Ib5B i i ;� • CHECKER CAB P.O Box 1.5X0 • Fort worth,Texas 76101 817/654-2871 Fax: 817/535-7450 January 29, 1998 City of Fort Worth Annual Taxicab Deport 1. Avecap Taxicabs,Operated Daily: 53 low 44 high 56 (see note) 2. Written Complaints Received: 1 3. Average Calls Dispatched Daily, 847 4. Average Available Taxicabs Not Operated; 2 5. Number of Damage/Lujury Claims Filed: 8 6. Number cf Claims Settled 6 7. Number orLawsuits Pending Against Holder_ 1 NOTE: Permits were increased from 50 to S6 at raid-year. awker Cab has 65 cabs operarting in the mesroplex and 56 permitted•in Fort Worth Growth Continues to be at a steady rate with an increasing daily average. � a�,6 a , �, Three Year Taxicab Report Checker Cab 1995 1996 1997 Ave. Taxis Operated Daily: 34 47 53 Law 27 40 44 High 40 50 56 Written Complaints Received: 0 1 1 Ave . Calls Dispatched Deily: 345 739 847 Ave . Available Taxis Not Opera 2 2 2 Number of Damage/Injury C1itims 8 9 8 Number of Claims Settled: 2 5 6 No . of Lawsuits Pending: 0 0 1 Checker Cab Fleet by Year : 1998 0 0% 1997 ..8 14% 1996 35 63% 1995 9 16% 1994 4 7% 56 100% ` V� u