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Part-time SMRT cabbies infuriated with S$0.40/hr cleaning surcharge

SINGAPORE – Some part-time drivers under SMRT’s Taxi Share scheme were up in arms on Thursday (Feb 1) after the operator imposed a cleaning surcharge of 40 cents an hour on their rentals.

Some part-time drivers under SMRT’s Taxi Share scheme were up in arms on Thursday (Feb 1) after the operator imposed a cleaning surcharge of 40 cents an hour on their rentals. TODAY file photo

Some part-time drivers under SMRT’s Taxi Share scheme were up in arms on Thursday (Feb 1) after the operator imposed a cleaning surcharge of 40 cents an hour on their rentals. TODAY file photo

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SINGAPORE – Some part-time drivers under SMRT’s Taxi Share scheme were up in arms on Thursday (Feb 1) after the operator imposed a cleaning surcharge of 40 cents an hour on their rentals.

Drivers on the taxi sharing platform were informed of the additional charge via text message. The message read: “With effect from 1 Feb, you may visit any of our appointed cleaning kiosks (located at 30 Esso stations) to have your taxi cleaned up. The cleaning fee of $0.40/hr is included in all Taxi Share bookings.”

In response to queries, SMRT Taxis general manager Shaun Lee said the operator has noted the feedback from the drivers. Nevertheless, he added: "For a nominal sum, taxis will be cleaned for drivers that have made bookings under the Taxi Share scheme. This is part of our overall efforts to provide the next driver with a taxi that is in the best condition to serve our commuters.” Mr Lee did say whether the cabbies are given the choice to opt-out of the scheme.

A number of drivers were furious that the operator had slapped the surcharge, saying that it raised rental costs, especially for those who rented the vehicles for more than a day.

One driver who only wanted to be known as Mr Desmond, said: “Those who make bookings of more than 10 hours will now have to pay an additional S$4, and at the end of the shift they have to waste time going to the kiosk to have their taxi cleaned.”

He added that the extra cost and time spent cleaning the vehicle might turn him away from renting from the Taxi Share scheme. The 42-year-old, who has been on the platform for about four months, said: “This is a taxi-sharing (scheme), not a hirer scheme… We came over because of its flexibility. An hour spent going to the kiosk and cleaning the vehicle could possibly mean one less passenger.”

SMRT’s Taxi Share scheme, the only such model here which started in January last year, allows those with a taxi driving vocational licence to rent vehicles in three-hour blocks. They can pick up and return the taxi at a location that is convenient to them. Unlike regular rentals, hirers do not have to find a relief driver to cover the cost of a rented vehicle if they do not commit full-time. Hourly rental costs between S$6.80 and S$12.80, with prices currently pegged at S$5.80 to S$7.80 due to an on-going promotion.

Other irate drivers took to social media to complain, as they posted screenshots of their booking fees, which included the additional surcharge, on a Taxi Share Facebook group.

One driver who booked an SMRT cab for a day was charged S$9.60 in cleaning fees. In his post, he said that this was more expensive as a car wash usually costs him S$4.

There were some who questioned the rationale of having a cab cleaned multiple times a day, assuming that each driver takes the vehicle for a wash at the end of the booking.

One user, Mr John Ang said: “It’s not productive if we have three hirers for a day for the car, that would mean they all queue to wash it three times in a day. What a waste and if the taxi is clean, why wash three times a day instead of being productive and fetch more customers.”

However, there were a handful of drivers who thought that the move was reasonable.

SMRT cabby Rani Krishnasamy, 52, who is on the hirer scheme, said that S$0.40 cents an hour is a reasonable price to pay as most drivers on the scheme only rent the vehicles for a short period.

She added: “If one rents the car for four hours, it will be equivalent to paying two dollars to clean the cab, which is still reasonable and cheaper than most car washes. Ultimately, it is a step in being more considerate to the next driver, as this might help to maintain the cleanliness of a shared fleet of taxis.”

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