TheCab using GPS dispatching

[melorama]

I called the good folks at TheCab today to arrange a pickup, and the automated voice system mentioned that they were in the middle of upgrading thier system to GPS, and apologized for any delays and whatnot.

When my taxi arrived, I noticed the driver had a spiffy LCD screen which was obviously one of the GPS units, and he said that the company is switching to an "all digital dispatch", which supposedly means that thier system will only dispatch a driver who is closest to the the person who has arranged a pickup. Not too shabby.

Now, if they could integrate thier GPS system with Google's new "Ride Finder (http://labs.google.com/ridefinder) " feature, that would rock the proverbial casbah!

[Serenity]

Melorama..

If you are going to that
picnic on April 2, I suggest
you talk to my hubby when he
or we come in, because
he drives for the TheCab,
& he would know more about that
stuff & probably more stories
he can tell you about the
experience of being a cab driver. ;)

Let me tell ya, I have listened
to them all. Some or most
of the once I heard from him
are pretty funny!. :D

maybe I should write a book,
yah yah, that's it. That's an idea. LOL. :p

Well, over all, he likes that new computer.
He doesn't have to listen to all that
chatter off of the radio any more.

From what I heard, a few other drivers don't
like it, because they are not use to
that computer & still would rather
have the radio. :rolleyes:

What ever floats their boat.

Aloha.

[craigwatanabe]

The onboard GPS systems can be great however for the driver it's like having a Supervisor sitting right in the passenger seat. These systems not only tell where the driver is, but it also tells the dispatcher where the cab's been and how fast it was travelling from points A to B as well as how long the cab sat in one location and if the cab driver turned off the car's engine.

It's like Big Brother or Big Boss keeping an eye on the workers.

[Eric]

I don't know about cabs with GPS, but I rode with a friend who has one of those new personal GPS navigation systems (http://store.palmone.com/sm-palm-palmone-zire-72-gps-navigation-pak--pi-1889283.html), and it was very cool. Now, if they'd only make one that bounced a heads-up display off of your windshield to overlay the scenery outside... :D

[Serenity]

The onboard GPS systems can be great however for the driver it's like having a Supervisor sitting right in the passenger seat. These systems not only tell where the driver is, but it also tells the dispatcher where the cab's been and how fast it was travelling from points A to B as well as how long the cab sat in one location and if the cab driver turned off the car's engine.

It's like Big Brother or Big Boss keeping an eye on the workers.

Yeah, that may be true, but as far as how it may be inconvenient to the drivers
("Big Brother or Big Boss keeping an eye on their workers"),
It may be good in some way, because, there has been other drivers that has taken advantage of their pay & the older system itself, that I feel that it is a good idea towards to those who have cheated before within the cab company.Plus, with the new GPS computer(s) in their vehicle(s), that gives them the advantage from the other independent cab drivers, to where their passengers can't be taken away from those independent drivers via the the radio. So now, all of the independent cab drivers can't listen in on the radio to steal other companies passengers, & all they hear are squelches & beeps . :D Muaha ha ha ha!. :D

[Miulang]

The first thing that came to my mind was that it would increase safety for the drivers and any passengers. If (heaven forfend) the cab was hijacked, the cab company would be able to track where the car was at all times, so the cops would have an easier time possibly apprehending the carjacker before s/he is able to do mortal harm to the cab driver (it happens a couple of times a year up here). Conversely, it might make potential car jackers think twice about robbing a cab that had GPS.

Miulang

[Serenity]

The first thing that came to my mind was that it would increase safety for the drivers and any passengers. If (heaven forfend) the cab was hijacked, the cab company would be able to track where the car was at all times, so the cops would have an easier time possibly apprehending the carjacker before s/he is able to do mortal harm to the cab driver (it happens a couple of times a year up here). Conversely, it might make potential car jackers think twice about robbing a cab that had GPS.

Miulang

Well said!. :)

I couldn't have said that any better.

Plus, It also helps to have their cell phone by their side
(for those emergency calls.). ;)

Thanks. :cool:

Aloha.