A Better Model. A Better Service.

My last few blogs have discussed how the private hire industry works and how the drivers within it are engaged. DrivenByQ has a mix of employees who drive company owned vehicles and self-employed sub-contractors who have their own vehicles. The full-timers are mostly exclusive to DrivenByQ. The part-time drivers however might sub-contract to multiple companies and will also have some of their own clients who use their service.

At every stage of growth, DrivenByQ has depended on sub-contractors to help at times of peak demand. At the executive level however there is only a small pool of sub-contractors in our local area. Very few people can offer the same level of quality as ourselves. Rivals will even resort to using a taxi company when they are busy. This drastically reduces the quality of the vehicle used and means no plate exemption too.

At DrivenByQ, we believe that if a customer expects an executive car service, they should receive an executive car service. To ensure this happens, we use our sub-contractor network from across the region and upgrade the service from executive to VIP if needed. This often costs DrivenByQ more than we charge to a customer. On the flip side, it not only ensures quality is maintained but it gives passengers a pleasant surprise.

Some of the VIP vehicles will be the latest (long-wheelbase) Mercedes S Class. These cost over £70,000 when new and represent the pinnacle of a large, luxury car equipped to the highest standards. Features of these cars include double glazed windows, electric sun blinds, massaging seats, adaptive lumbar support, digital TV and ambient lighting. The L version (for long) even adds an extra six inches over the standard car. This gives generous legroom and the rear seats have an additional electric recline function.

It may seem overkill to send such high-end vehicles for DrivenByQ customers but it ensures the ongoing relationship with corporate customers is maintained. It also builds the relationships required for us to transition from our local market to a regional one. With over one-hundred airport transfers a week to and from Manchester International Airport, it seems only natural to make Manchester Airport the next focus.

Out With the Old, In With the New

This week we said goodbye to our oldest car. Namely the 2009 Mercedes E Class which proved to be a very reliable motor with some 291,000 miles on the clock when sold. As we said goodbye to this car, it was also an opportunity to say goodbye to Euro4 (European Emission Standards).

In 2017 we said goodbye to the last of the Euro3 vehicles being employed. This signalled our commitment to improving our green credentials and considering our clients’ CSR policies. Looking at specifications shows how engines have changed in the last few years.

Comparing our old 2009 E Class with the brand new 2018 E Class (purchased September) reveals the improvements: Power and performance has increased, efficiency has been enhanced (greatly) and most importantly emissions have reduced.

Mercedes E220	2009 CDI	2018 SE
BHP	170	194
0 – 60 mph	8.6	7.3
MPG	42	65
Gearbox	5 speed	9 speed
Co2 (g/km)	177	122
Engine size (cc)	2145	1950

This change is aided by modern materials and energy saving features like LED lights and new post combustion technology (which reduces harmful nitrogen oxide gases). There are more developments too including voice control, a 12” widescreen display, auto-braking and a five star Euro NCAP safety rating.

The Mercedes E Class

After receiving fantastic feedback from the passengers travelling in our 2018 Mercedes V Class, it seemed only natural to go back to the dealership and buy another Mercedes. This time we opted for a vehicle which could carry out the majority of our work - an executive saloon car for up to three passengers, offering comfort and style.

The choice boiled down to the Mercedes C Class, E Class or S Class. The C Class was too small to be classed as an executive vehicle and the S Class had a list price of over £70,000. While DrivenByQ does occasionally have work for such a vehicle, the majority of our bookings are for executive travel so it is more cost-effective to sub-contract the VIP trips.

The remaining choice of the Mercedes E Class was split between the SE or AMG model (with extra styling and bigger wheels). For the chauffeur driven experience, an SE offers a comfortable and relaxed environment and presents the more sensible choice. The E220d engine with a two litre displacement mated to a silky smooth (nine speed) automatic gearbox only enhances the luxury.

It is no slouch and is capable of regularly returning over 60mpg which is 50% more efficient than the vehicle it replaces. Rather than specifying a basic model, we requested the SE Premium with a three-year unlimited mileage warranty. The projected overall figures were surprisingly only £1,000 more than buying a three-year old car and working it for three years (including the repair bills).

I suppose some people might go with the three-year old option as it is a lower financial risk and not such a commitment. We saw this as a marketing opportunity though. After all, why would a passenger want to travel in a second-hand, three-year old vehicle when they could ride in a brand new Mercedes E Class? Not to mention all the latest features it offers and choice of sixty-four ambient lighting colours.

A Private Hire Vehicle

In my last blog (a little while ago) I wrote about a taxi or Hackney Carriage which could be hailed in the street and hired on a meter. The alternative is a private hire vehicle which cannot be hailed. This service is booked in advance through a licensed operator who keeps a list of all journeys (known as a run sheet). They have set prices or quote using their own system and they charge for dead mileage.

The vehicle is licenced under its local council. It is identified in line with council conditions too, which could be a plate to the front and rear (with windows stickers to the sides) or the operators name plastered all over the vehicle. In contrast, some councils stipulate a small plate on just the rear of the vehicle or even a single and discreet disk, mounted in the front screen.

The diversity comes from the way the law was formed and introduced. Known as the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, every council across the UK has its own interpretation of the conditions which govern the industry (depending on their location and environment). These conditions can vary from city to city and between rural locations too.

Crucially, the law was not carefully constructed by central government over a period of time. Instead it was lifted (in a rush) directly from the Plymouth City Council Act 1975 which was specific to a borough of England - and not necessarily the best fit for everywhere else. Over time, with advances in communication technology and the evolution of the Internet the law has become outdated.

To add to the diversity and confusion, a private hire vehicle can have up to eight passenger seats and it can often be any make and model the driver or operator prefers (subject to some licencing conditions of course). This means some vehicles are bought for their rock bottom prices and some, are bought for their level of quality and ability to perform.

The Executive Private Hire Taxi Limo Chauffeur Car Service UK

A business passenger plans a trip to the UK. They book flights and hotels through a travel management company. They decline a rental car. Instead they decide a car and driver service will be better. They will cross time-zones, drive on the wrong side of the road and need to send emails, so it makes sense.

Confusion arises however in employing the correct term to find the right service. A car and driver can take so many different descriptions and interpretations. An airport taxi service may not be appropriate for a business passenger. Neither may the cost of a full-on chauffeur service offering the latest Mercedes S Class or BMW 7 series.

Instead a business passenger might look for something else. Ideally they want a clean, comfortable, modern vehicle with plenty of space and a driver who has good local knowledge, solid reliability, polite manners and mature social skills. So what is this service actually called?

In the UK, the correct term (under licencing laws) is executive ‘private hire’. In the USA it is a limo service. In other parts of the world it is an executive car service. On the DrivenByQ business cards, we state ‘corporate chauffeur service’. Technically, it is not 100% correct but undeniably, it is recognised.