Route Taxi's - Owner operator or part of a fleet?

[LLAP]

I have read a couple replies to prebooking tours questions that suggest waiting till you get to Negril to book as there are plenty of drivers who would hire out for a day. In this case I am considering a South Coast tour. YS, Black River, Pelican Bar or a combo of some variety of two of them.
So my question is do the route taxi drivers own the car and would they be a good place to start? Or would a regular taxi like you usually see hanging around at the different hotels be better?

Steve

[Accompong]

A brief history of Route Taxis as they are today. The Japanese sent used cars (mostly Toyotas) to Jamaica and took coffee and other products [as well as money] back to Japan. Of course they sold the coffee mostly to the US at astronomical prices and made out like a bandit on that.

These cars are referred to a "Deportee" vehicles. Private individuals purchased them and started to carry passengers so more extensive routes developed and the gov't and JUTA were quick to require a Red Plate and Insurance to be legal. After a while, people who owned one car made enough money to purchase another and then the leasing to drivers started to be popular. A driver will lease a car from the owner for a set amount per day. This requires the driver to beat the hell out of a vehicle to make the payment and turn a small profit per day for his/her work.

This means that Route Taxis and other Red Plated vehicles can be acquired for what is called "private tours". One method is to go from point A to point B in a regular Route Taxi who is assigned to that route and offer him enough money to take you without other passengers. They are regulated by size to number of passengers they can take so I just multiply a single fare price by (between 5 and 10 depending on a sedan or a small bus) and offer that as a starting point. Of course, you need to pay for BOTH ways.

A better way is to just offer a Red Plated driver an amount for a days rental. If you know a Tour Operator takes someone for a normal $100 US to Black River as an example....offer $75 US or something similar. Give yourself room to bargain on the final price.

Peace and Guidance.

[Rambo]

very few "things" or places fill up....so prebooking really isnt necessary.....one days notice or less you can get anywhere.......

and your not "tied" down to a rainy day, or plans change..................................

plans have a way of changing, you may be "done-in" from the day before and dont feel like going out and about..............

[Sweet_Dawta]

As a rule I pre-book my excursions with a trusted driver, due to the fact I have been ripped off or tried to be ripped off way too many times over the decades. I like to have things lined up and my ducks in a rown before leaving, not winging anything.

Hope this helps.

[rastagirl777]

Before all those Japanese cars hit the streets Latas were the car of choice for a route taxi. We used to say we were grabbing a "Lata" - now we say "we're grabbing a local".

[Rob]

Before all those Japanese cars hit the streets Latas were the car of choice for a route taxi. We used to say we were grabbing a "Lata" - now we say "we're grabbing a local".

The correct name for the old cars in Jamaica is Lada. Lada is a brand name of Russian made cars that were brought to the island during the Michael Manley administration. This was before the "deportees/Toyonda's" were brought to Jamaica in mass.

A sidenote to the name is that black grocery/store bags are often referred to as "Lada bags" by those who live here. We all used them to carry our purchases when we crowded in the next taxi... (grin)

[rastagirl777]

Just for the record...I mis-spelled it. Sorry.

Lada Bags...yeah, I'd always thought that's why they were called that - but then I'm hearing from several folks that no, that's NOT why they are called that. Now, I don't know for sure but someone said it's from the English term "Larder", and your groceries went into a "larder" bag. Just a theory. I like the car one better (grin)

The correct name for the old cars in Jamaica is Lada. Lada is a brand name of Russian made cars that were brought to the island during the Michael Manley administration. This was before the "deportees/Toyonda's" were brought to Jamaica in mass.

A sidenote to the name is that black grocery/store bags are often referred to as "Lada bags" by those who live here. We all used them to carry our purchases when we crowded in the next taxi... (grin)

[Rambo]

our first ride was in a Lada we picked up outside the fence at the airport, had no floor in the back were your feet go but two wooden boards across the opening on each side, drive shaft was still covered by remnants of the original floor.............very breezy ride

Guy turned out to be a "friend" for over 30 yrs...........

[cricketfan]

Ladas were also introduced into Canada in the early 80s. They are actually Fiats but were made in Russia. I had one, terrible car

[Rambo]

"I had one, terrible car "...........

compared to now yes, but it was built so most Jamaicans could keep 'em runnin with "spit n wire" so to say.............we spent many hours touring the cockpit country and most of the Island in 'em...........................