Cab driver conversation !!

[ruddstud]

So I took a taxi on Saturday night and got in the usual conversation, where you from, how long have you been here, etc..

The conversation somehow shifted to him bragging about how much money cab drivers make in Calgary.... Excuse me i said ! I was under the impression that they were never making enough money and that they were always on the verge of going on pogge!

Here are a few things that he said...
- cab drivers that he knows make from $60,000 - $90,00 PER YEAR
- after you tip them, and leave the cab, they usually laugh at you!!
- EVERY CAB DRIVER IN CGY ONLY CLAIM THE MINIMUM SALARY POSSIBLE (HE SAID HE CLAIMS $26,000 PER YEAR FOR THE LAST 8 YEARS)
- He told me that he made $88,000 last year. $62,000 of that was tax free.
- he said he enjoys "screwing the Canadian government" out of the extra income tax because they screw "his people" once they come here because they dont recognize their schooling/degrees.
- he said that all cabbies that he knows laugh at "US", because we pay taxes on all income and that "they" have found a way to beat the system

Am I the only one that thought they were poor cab drivers and that they needed tips etc.. to survive!!
BTW, I never tipped him and laughed as i left his cab....!

[corporatejay]

Originally Posted by ruddstud

So I took a taxi on Saturday night and got in the usual conversation, where you from, how long have you been here, etc..

The conversation somehow shifted to him bragging about how much money cab drivers make in Calgary.... Excuse me i said ! I was under the impression that they were never making enough money and that they were always on the verge of going on pogge!

Here are a few things that he said...
- cab drivers that he knows make from $60,000 - $90,00 PER YEAR
- after you tip them, and leave the cab, they usually laugh at you!!
- EVERY CAB DRIVER IN CGY ONLY CLAIM THE MINIMUM SALARY POSSIBLE (HE SAID HE CLAIMS $26,000 PER YEAR FOR THE LAST 8 YEARS)
- He told me that he made $88,000 last year. $62,000 of that was tax free.
- he said he enjoys "screwing the Canadian government" out of the extra income tax because they screw "his people" once they come here because they dont recognize their schooling/degrees.
- he said that all cabbies that he knows laugh at "US", because we pay taxes on all income and that "they" have found a way to beat the system

Am I the only one that thought they were poor cab drivers and that they needed tips etc.. to survive!!

I think the guy is full of ####.

[malcolmk14]

I am dropping out of school to become a cabbie.

[ruddstud]

I thought that too but he made some valid points.

Most cabbies rent the car for $400 per week and DO NOT report their earnings to anyone! Cash goes into their pocket. Ther get paid cash for their VISA charges.

Also stated that to make $200 a day (cash) is EASY!!!

$200 a day x 6 days = $4800 tax free a month!

[getbak]

No wonder they're constantly getting punched.

[malcolmk14]

$200/day * 6 days a week = $1,200 a week.

minus 400 a week for rental of the car = $800 a week.

$800 * 48 weeks a year of work (say they take 4 weeks off)

$38,400.

[ruddstud]

sorry, he said that the $200 PER DAY average was AFTER paying cash to the owner of the car of $400 / week.

[ruddstud]

Originally Posted by malcolmk14

$200/day * 6 days a week = $1,200 a week.

minus 400 a week for rental of the car = $800 a week.

$800 * 48 weeks a year of work (say they take 4 weeks off)

$38,400.

??? Minus 400 a week for rental of the car = $800 a week ?????? HUH

[malcolmk14]

Assuming a 48-week work year, in order to make his claim of $88,000 he would have had to make $107,200 in revenue minus $19,200 in car rental expenses ($400 per week).

So say he works 6 days a week. He would have to charge $372.22 in fares every day. I don't know what an average fare is but that's probably somewhere in the range of 20 fares a day.

I don't know, could be possible... but I highly doubt it. And as for not reporting income, if Revenue Canada ever found out he would be deported, so it's a risky lifestyle.

[malcolmk14]

Originally Posted by ruddstud

??? Minus 400 a week for rental of the car = $800 a week ?????? HUH

You were not clear that the $200 per day is after the car rental fee.

[The Yen Man]

Originally Posted by ruddstud

I thought that too but he made some valid points.

Most cabbies rent the car for $400 per week and DO NOT report their earnings to anyone! Cash goes into their pocket. Ther get paid cash for their VISA charges.

Also stated that to make $200 a day (cash) is EASY!!!

$200 a day x 6 days = $4800 tax free a month!

This assumes the guy works 6 days a week (probably 10-12 hours per day) straight throughout the whole year without any vacation. It still only amounts to $57,600 max. Plus don't you have to factor in things like gas, maintenance, etc?

[malcolmk14]

I did not even consider gas, good point. Even at a conservative estimate of a half-tank per day that's $6500 a year in gas, so that puts his required fares up to $113,700 per year or $394.79 per day.

[4X4]

Yeah, I can't imagine taht driving taxi is that lucrative. Are you sure the guy wasn't just one of those greasy, chest hair laden, gold chain wearing blowhards that love to brag about how much money they make and the "porche" at home in the garage?

[Locke]

I'd be skeptical man, sounds too good to be true, and the fact is, he is clearly one of those guys who is tight lipped about everything, so this secret would certainly never get out.

[ruddstud]

Originally Posted by malcolmk14

Assuming a 48-week work year, in order to make his claim of $88,000 he would have had to make $107,200 in revenue minus $19,200 in car rental expenses ($400 per week).

So say he works 6 days a week. He would have to charge $372.22 in fares every day. I don't know what an average fare is but that's probably somewhere in the range of 20 fares a day.

I don't know, could be possible... but I highly doubt it. And as for not reporting income, if Revenue Canada ever found out he would be deported, so it's a risky lifestyle.

Most do 12 hour shifts......

[Hemi-Cuda]

the original posts looks like one of those annoying spam emails or facebooks status updates that ask you to "pass on to everyone you know!!1"

plus i can't take any thread seriously that has unnecessary exclamation points in the title

[ruddstud]

I am just upset that they cheat us by not paying their taxes. I dont care about not claiming tips, but their wages should be taxed just like the rest of us.

[ruddstud]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

the original posts looks like one of those annoying spam emails or facebooks status updates that ask you to "pass on to everyone you know!!1"

plus i can't take any thread seriously that has unnecessary exclamation points in the title

you must be a cab driver

[TurnedTheCorner]

Report him to US Homeland Security and see how Gitmo impacts his sense of humor.

[malcolmk14]

Originally Posted by ruddstud

Most do 12 hour shifts......

Well if he works 72-hour weeks for 48 or 49 weeks of the year, then yeah, $88,000 isn't really THAT much of a reward. You could make $60,000+ at Tim Hortons working those hours.