Brisbane taxi industry uncovered
An report on the Brisbane taxi industry investigated from the inside out and the findings might shock you.
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- New market: Ozecab wants to create a new industry
Three is a charm for ex cabbie
The third taxi company in operation in Brisbane insists it’s not here to compete with the existing companies, rather to create their own market.
Owner and founder and of Ozecab, John Busst, says his taxi alternative is exactly that, labeling it a metered limousine service.
Mr Busst, a former Black & White Business Class driver, said patrons who approached him about the state of the industry were screaming out for a better option. He began operating under the Ozecab banner in 2009.
Ozecab operates under a Limousine license in Queensland and are confident that they are establishing a duly needed third market.
“We have created a market up the middle,” Mr Busst said.
“The limousines are stopping people getting into their cars because of the cost and the taxis are stopping people getting into their cars purely because of the service levels they provide.
“We are not permitted to go to a taxi stand or operate from a hail so all of our work is pre-booked.
“However we are constantly out there so our work can be done as immediate.”
Mr Busst says it’s the standard of the fleet, the training of the drivers and the punctuality of the service that separates his business from the duopoly of taxi companies in Brisbane.
He explains the cars were arriving at a pick-up location at 4.25am for a 4.30am booking and the customers hadn’t got out of bed because they were accustomed to taxi’s being considerably late.
“For the first 10 weeks of being in operation we had to re-educate the market and show them that when you book with us we will be there at the time you designate,” he said.
“The Rogue X Cabbie” as he has become known, has substantial experience in the industry and had the appropriate knowledge to build his own company after he was fired from Black & White Cabs after running his own ad in a local newspaper advertising a “good old fashion Aussie service”.
Mr Busst experienced difficulty when starting the process of birthing Ozecab and claims that the government is the main player in a dysfunctional industry.
“It cost a considerable amount of money,” he said. “Anyone can apply for the license but when the government doesn’t want you to have something they make it nearly impossible for you to meet the criteria.”
He says none of the existing cab companies are required to meet the necessary standards that emerging companies have to adhere to.
“None of the cab companies now have to meet the standard they apply for new entrants,” he explains.
“If you came in 25 years ago you can survive on the old style equipment and there is no requirement for you to meet the new standard.”
Despite this, Ozecab plans to operate in the other states, starting with Sydney and Melbourne within the next three or four months.
Story by Richard Coombs