The Driving Seat with a Lady Minicab Driver , livre ebook

Austin Macauley Publishers - Gladys Mapanda

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40 pages

English

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The author shares a journey of hope that women can do anything if they trusted themselves. Despite her age, the author ventured into the driving trade and made a job of it. As a woman in this men-dominated trade, she faced challenges from not only her male colleagues but male riders who thought she needed lessons in driving despite her experience in driving for many years. This book has other parts that will make you laugh as well as empathise with her as she faces challenges thrown in everyday during her rounds. Reading this book will give the insight to understand the Private Hire (Minicab) industry but also women out there to venture into this trade which gives you freedom to work around family life, authority to take control with who rides with you and feeling secure whilst doing it.

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Publié par	Austin Macauley Publishers
Date de parution	31 mars 2020
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9781528905336
Langue	English

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0175€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

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The Driving Seat with a Lady Minicab Driver
Gladys Mapanda
Austin Macauley Publishers
2020-03-31
The Driving Seat with a Lady Minicab Driver About the Author Dedication Copyright Information © Acknowledgment Chapter One Chapter Two My Accomplishments Experiences Chapter Three The Pick-Up Position Dilemma Riders Excited to Meet Female Drivers Chapter Four Be a Psychic Chapter Five Rating by Riders Chapter Six The Drunk and Sleeping Rider The Chuckers Chapter Seven Zero-Tolerance Policy Example: Chapter Eight Benefits of Driving for Uber Chapter Nine Pick-Up Points on Our Streets Chapter Ten Uber Court Case and its Effects on Drivers Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Chapter Thirteen Overall View Conclusion
About the Author
Gladys is a mother and grandmother who finds time in her busy schedule to help the women in the community as well as write. This is her first book and hope that she will continue to write. She is an entrepreneur as she works for herself in the UK and runs businesses in her native country where she supports the local community in the poorest part of the city by funding small projects for women to encourage sustainable living.
Dedication
I am dedicating this book to my riders, who encouraged me to put my experience in writing and make people laugh as well as encourage women to work as minicab drivers. My children who are always there for me. Friends and family members who encourage me to continue working every time I want to give up on my job.
Copyright Information ©
Gladys Mapanda (2020)
The right of Gladys Mapanda to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with section 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.
Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.
Austin Macauley is committed to publishing works of quality and integrity. In this spirit, we are proud to offer this book to our readers; however, the story, the experiences, and the words are the author’s alone.
A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.
ISBN 9781528903721 (Paperback)
ISBN 9781528905336 (ePub e-book)
www.austinmacauley.com
First Published (2020)
Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd
25 Canada Square
Canary Wharf
London
E14 5LQ
Acknowledgment
I would like to acknowledge my publishers who believed in what I had written and made my dream of being an author come true.
Chapter One
I joined Uber in April 2015 after a friend kept telling me glowing things about it. I was a bit sceptical at first when he told me about it. I could not believe what he was telling me. I always wanted to know what the catch was; since it was an American company, I didn’t think it would last. So, not wanting to leave the cab office I worked at—although I was beginning to get stressed and was not making any money—I stayed. But one day, I decided it would not hurt to try.
Oh boy, was as I in for a surprise of my life as Uber revolutionised minicabbing. I always say it’s the best thing that ever happened since sliced bread. Seeing the rising money and jobs and navigation that worked without fail was revolution enough.
I joined and got my iPhone from the Kings Cross office. I was so excited to try out all that my friend had told me about. I got in my car and on my way home to Ilford, I decided to try it. The instant I got online, a job came. Wow! It was so easy. It was a novelty to not talk to a controller who would give me work. Right away, I knew Uber was for me. The days of begging and flirting with controllers was going to be a thing of the past—days of being patronised and being called ‘darling’ or ‘love’, which I detested but had no choice except to tolerate it, unless I didn’t want jobs.
The Uber experience had started and it was going to take over my life. The excitement I felt was beyond explanation. It was like I drove on adrenalin. I did three jobs within a space of one hour and they kept coming, but I had to go home, as I had started working as a carer. The driving was not giving me enough money to live anymore. I knew I had done the right thing and only regretted why I never did it sooner.
Every day that I came back from doing a night shift, I would not sleep. I always showered and jumped into my car. It was always beckoning to come and go and make easy money. The excitement was just too much. Within three to four hours, I would be back home after making my 100. It was so easy and with no controller controlling—where you are or what you were doing—I felt on top of the world.
I never enjoyed driving until I started with Uber. You are in control of your life instead of controllers playing Russian roulette with your life. I can never count the number of times I went to raise hell in the office with fleet managers so that I could get good jobs. And it always worked, because after I had gone in to rant and rave that week, I would make a £1000. I always wondered why I never made something even closer when I didn’t complain. I felt I was never respected because I was a woman. I raised this issue with the manager that minicab companies were boys’ clubs and it always made sure they were well looked after. I am a hard worker and drive like a race driver, but still, no matter what jobs I cleared, I never made good money, but all this changed when I joined Uber.
Before Uber, I had to go to the bank to get small change because I never had change in my hands. That ended when I joined Uber. I loved it because I felt that I was a chauffeur who just picks and drops. What a relief at not having money in the car than inviting thieves to rob you.
I became my own boss. I learned there was no gender bias as the computer only recognises an available car. You make the money you want. You put your hours. Uber’s transparency in fare charging and dashboard display of earnings is the best thing ever. It leaves no doubt in your mind that you are not being played. Most of these minicabs charge the client a figure you don’t know and you are not even sure if you are sharing the proportion of 60/40.
I started enjoying driving. I felt so stress-free that I looked forward to going behind the wheel. And to top it all, I was respected as a partner. Controllers think you owe them, forgetting that without drivers and riders, they have nothing to control. They feel they are kings and you must be nice to them. Uber respects its partners. They know the importance of the triangle. Uber-Partner-Rider. This is a team and they respect that.
What cab office keeps in touch with its partners? Uber sends emails of updates and new information every week. They have competitions and promotions for partners. When I was new, there was one competition running at that time. In that, when you attained an overall five star with an acceptance of 100 and no cancellations, you were paid £500, and hey, I got it. I never got anything for free in my three years’ driving before Uber. This motivates drivers. Some partners made loads of money inviting friends to join. I made money, too, on this promotion. It’s like you go through refresher courses whilst not leaving the job for that. These promotions make you want to be the best in what you do.
The rating systems by riders keeps you on your toes. I have learnt to be patient as some riders do test your patience, but you learn to empathise with them, so you get a feel of where they are coming from.
I thought not having controllers to talk to when you had problems will be an issue, but I later found that with the technology Uber has, solutions are fast. They respond within minutes; sometimes even calling a controller when it’s busy would not get the same response. When Uber sends its emails, they address it in such a way that you feel it’s directed to you only. “Dear Gladys”, “Dear Peter” and so forth, not “Dear Driver” or “Driver no. 13456”. Uber’s workforce is big, but you know, you feel you are involved in the growth of the company since they send updates on all that’s going to affect the company and you.