Every month, the Fleet Operations Department is furnished with statistical performance reports giving performance of drivers, cars and the Black & White Communication Centre in relation to job service levels, no jobs, short meters and lost contacts.

We then take action to address problem issues and assess drivers who, for many reasons, may not be maximising their earnings potential, both for themselves and their operators.

One of the areas of concern is the increasing number of drivers who perceive they are increasing their takings by setting their district facility to the airport. Our information strongly suggests that the reality will be a drop in takings for the following reasons:

- Reducing availability for radio work.

- Around 40% of radio bookings are made through IVR (regular customer) or destination ?as directed?. This work will NOT be offered to cars with districts set. Many of these jobs go to the airport.

- Around 25% of cars with airport district set actually receive an airport job. This means the rest drive empty to the airport. Even with a fast moving airport feeder, the time spent with the meter off, in most cases, will be close to an hour.

- The increase in commercial development in the vicinity of the airport has lifted the work coming from area 22. However, it has also increased the number of ?short? fares from the airport, a source of many complaints from passengers who have been landed with an angry driver.

- A significant level of radio work is received from Clayfield, Hamilton, Hendra and Nundah. It is common for customers in these suburbs to be inconvenienced because empty cabs are coming through the area heading for areas 40 and 41.

- In almost every case, airport jobs will be assigned first from holding work.

The Fleet Operations Department is well aware that there should be as few restrictions as possible imposed on our drivers. However, we are also bound to service our customers to the highest possible levels.

Consideration is being given to reduce the availability of district setting to the latter part of a shift. We are reluctant to impose this restriction, as it will also penalise the drivers who use it for legitimate reasons such as changeover, groups or personal appointments. However, drivers using it for the wrong reasons are impacting on our service levels and remedial action will be taken if the situation does not improve.

We take this opportunity to encourage discussion amongst our fleet ? Please contact Fleet Operations with your comments.?