How Good Are the Crew Taxi Cos?

lrfogle · July 3, 2007, 12:36pm

A part of the daily operation of railroads is the necessity of “bussing” crews to trains or terminals by private carrier companies. It would be interesting to hear what companies are providing best/worse service, drivers. Would be interesting to hear as I have been driving for a certain shuttle service for a while and the opinions would help me to provide better service to a very valuable commodity, the train crew. Thanks

youngengineer · July 3, 2007, 1:13pm

Number one, if your tired tell someone, number 2 stay off the radio!

I hate getting into a taxi and asking the dirver how they are and they say, I’m fine, next thing 2 miles down the road their head is doing the bob and weave and we are headed towards oncoming traffic. Nothing worse than being in a cab after 12 hours on a train to have a taxi driver that isn’t rested!

And as far as the radio goes, minimal radio usage is best, writing a book while talking to me on the radio, is aggravating at best and down right dangerous, when you here, this is long haul so and so where do you want me to meet you im over here right now, is that a good, place, meanwhile your breakman is riding a shove back to a standing cut of cars!

I get along with most cab drivers but a few are very aggrevating, and some I have had to turn in for poor performance and they since have been let go, not everyone is a cab driver.

As far as who is best, the few ex-bnsf-clerks that drive in Kansas city and Denver where the best, all other taxi service is marginal at best and usually pretty poor.

Anonymous · July 3, 2007, 1:19pm

I can totally agree with the above post. To me the BNSF cab drivers, (I know they were not BNSF employees, but BNSF contracted them) those would be the best that I experienced. Some of the PTI drivers are really bad.

videomaker · July 3, 2007, 3:20pm

This is really something to hear something about cab,limo drivers on the forum ! I have been thinking of getting a p/t job with one of the carriers here in my area(2) ,but I seem to have a problem getting them on the ph…Ive tried to download their apps online but my computer will not let me download the pdf’s required in the appl. process for one co.I will not give names here but they drive white ford vans with their ph# on the back…Danny

May I ask who you work for?

Number one, if your tired tell someone, number 2 stay off the radio!

I hate getting into a taxi and asking the dirver how they are and they say, I’m fine, next thing 2 miles down the road their head is doing the bob and weave and we are headed towards oncoming traffic. Nothing worse than being in a cab after 12 hours on a train to have a taxi driver that isn’t rested!

And as far as the radio goes, minimal radio usage is best, writing a book while talking to me on the radio, is aggravating at best and down right dangerous, when you here, this is long haul so and so where do you want me to meet you im over here right now, is that a good, place, meanwhile your breakman is riding a shove back to a standing cut of cars!

I get along with most cab drivers but a few are very aggrevating, and some I have had to turn in for poor performance and they since have been let go, not everyone is a cab driver.

As far as who is best, the few ex-bnsf-clerks that drive in Kansas city and Denver where the best, all other taxi service is marginal at best and usually pretty poor.

route_rock · July 3, 2007, 3:54pm

Some are not bad but then same goes for Rails.I like the ones I have ridden with so far. Had a real great lady in Chicago take me from Blue up to the Hotel. Very polite, knew her way around.But have had some that took us on the senic route for whatever reason ( my thought was he couldnt drive the surface streets as that wasnt his Hood)but all in all havent had a bad ride ( well a really bad ride) yet.

If you become a driver like posted short and sweet on the radio,plus dont gush. If you do get a crew that wants to talk trains cool if not dont pry.Sometimes we just want to talk about that hot seat cover in the car next to us, how a certain team is doing or whatever.