Route Taxi Fares

[Bnewb]

Reflecting on what you've asked, Living...

I'm thinking about the difference in North American and Jamaican taxi/bus prices...with the prices being much higher in NA of course.
The insurance etc is very similar in both NA & JA and in some aspects being much more in Jamaica (ie. cost of the vehicle).
I truly don't know how some of these taxi drivers survive in JA.

The red plate license fees (the only legal license to carry paying passengers) are astronomical for many of these drivers now...and many simply cannot afford to license their vehicles any more and have gone into other work...if work is to be found.
Truly frustrating!

[LivinInThe603]

Reflecting on what you've asked, Living...

I'm thinking about the difference in North American and Jamaican taxi/bus prices...with the prices being much higher in NA of course.
The insurance etc is very similar in both NA & JA and in some aspects being much more in Jamaica (ie. cost of the vehicle).
I truly don't know how some of these taxi drivers survive in JA.

The red plate license fees (the only legal license to carry paying passengers) are astronomical for many of these drivers now...and many simply cannot afford to license their vehicles any more and have gone into other work...if work is to be found.
Truly frustrating!

I wonder, then, how does the driver actually earn pay. Are drivers required to track and submit information on the number of fares they carry each shift? or do they pay a "boss" a certain percentage of fares collected? or do they keep the fares they collect and pay the required fees to maintain their cars and their licences?

My train of thought is like this.... maybe, given the financial challenges drivers face, using route taxis can actually assist/support the local economy.... ?