Some Cold Hard Truths

[@ldargs8317]

Dean, this could only be good for the survival of the trade. You always articulate you’re points in a very clear positive manner, very refreshing.

[@WizAnn320]

As always thank you Leigh, Also getting feedback on your appearances in the videos from lots of women. As i hoped i think you are stimulating interest amongst other women to maybe start the knowledge.

[@ldargs8317]

@@WizAnn320 Thank you Dean, that’s really good to know.

[@mohamedsheikh5678]

Thank you Dean It looks like you are the only one who cares about this trade and I can see how passionate you are and the way you trying to encourage more people to study the Knowledge I hope you will succeed Many thanks

[@WizAnn320]

Thank you Mo, I really appreciate your support and input Best Wishes Dean

[@neilbartlett5898]

This video is bang on the money. Decision makers should take note and act urgently, well done dean for trying to highlight a genuine problem of new sign ups

[@WizAnn320]

Thank you Neil for your support

[@moalinrashid74]

Thanks 🙏 totally 💯 That exactly what happened to me I had 3 C 3 D and I got D redlined so gated. When I started watching you videos so inspiring now I am not giving up . Thanks 🙏 Dean

[@WizAnn320]

Amazing! Dont give up Moalin as i know you wont. This is such a hard thing to accept and i hope it changes soon. Best WIshes Dean

[@amiralikhan061]

Brilliant 👏. Please make detail video on what more changes you think.

[@WizAnn320]

Will do! Maybe relaese another by Monday

[@darnstewart]

That sounds about right, politicians got involved and it has all gone to sh1t.

[@WizAnn320]

Seems so

[@emre-ys2kc]

Totally agree with you Dean, in fact there are lots of factors causing less applications such as Covid Red Line system D&G cabbies Price of a cab Etc. The biggest factor is obviously the amount of time it takes to become a taxi driver. Its harder u work, quicker u finish. Thanks for the video Dean.

[@WizAnn320]

You are Welcome Emre and good luck for the future, I will point out that numbers have been declining year on year for the past 10 years so Covid although a current factor is not the cause of the deciline but does compound the problem

[@DIOS10]

Excellent again Mr W. And if anyone wants to know about Redline, wellllllll please come and see me. At least I’m keeping the Ma’am’s and Sirs in employment.

[@WizAnn320]

Sorry to hear that Diego if you ever need any help i am here. Best Wishes Dean

[@ehsansayed7918]

Hi You are right Dean if someone study properly 2 years and finishes the Blue books and point the examiners should test he or she according to the experience and knowing London very well not failing just by one question and I think they need to change the exam system otherwise in couple of years there wouldn't be any applicants to do the knowledge .

[@WizAnn320]

Thank Ehsan I agree

[@westhammassive]

Spot on again Dean

[@WizAnn320]

Thank you Mark

[@ryancruse4422]

As someone considering the Knowledge, the point of most concern to myself here is the bit where the Sir/Maam asks a question beyond anyone's ability to answer, at a critical juncture, presumably for no other reason than being averse to the cut of the poor chaps/chapeses jib. One thing being under the cosh(within an imperfect system), quite another being shat on from a great height.

[@WizAnn320]

Hi Ryan This is something that has happened many times. It is defended by examiners claiming they are the gate keepers to the standard. Things have changed for the worse is so many ways. Redlining is not normal and did not exist for so many cabbies nor did hesitation. And when these changes were introduced Cabbies went bananas as they always do claiming the knowledge is being Waterdown and made easy. Best Wishes Dean

[@freedom495]

Tfl need to get PH vehicle out of London as it once was. That would force people into studying in order to become cabbies. Now's just too easy: pay £750 every 3 years, rent a car from Ottocars and the like, have a satnav, start working.

[@WizAnn320]

Hi Luca There has always been Minicabs it’s no different to the Illegal mini cabs of years ago. Just the way that you summon the cab has changed. I think we have rode the storm of the of the Private Hire Apps. But now need to balance things. Being a black can driver is better than being a PHV Driver, we just need to even the value out as you say. The simplicity of being PHV needs to be balanced against the knowledge, so that the value of doing the knowledge compared to being a PHV is worthwhile Best Wishes Dean

[@freedom495]

@@WizAnn320 thanks for the reply Dean, I should have explained myself better, in the sense that I believe that allowing apps such as the usual suspects electronically ply for hire, created a situation where virtually every other car in London is a PH. I believe PH should be regulated better. They should always go back to their street office and then be dispatched from that location. Moreover the amount of PH needs to be capped and also the amount of PH per business needs to be capped. This would make it somehow less appealing choosing the "easier route" into the trade, and would push people to wanting to become a pro. All this, along with the changes you suggest about the scoring system. Btw, enjoying life as a cabbie, I am 😀 And to the people reading this convo, do the knowledge! It's the best job in the world, actually, it's not even a job, it's a pleasure!

[@WizAnn320]

​@@freedom495 Thank you Luca I fully understand what you’re saying. I do think that PHV drivers are now realising that their dream is to be a black cab driver.

[@ProlificPlayer]

Alright guys, heres the deal. Your all too scared to talk about earning because you know that phv drivers earn way more after expenses. A ph driver can take home 1k in 2.5 days thur fri sat and thats in about 20-25hr depending on demand. Who wants to go hunting for jobs this day and age when the job can come to you? Knowledge is a waste of time when you can cruise round in a merc in comfort and cream 2k plus a week. Sorry lads, times have changed. I debated doing the knowledge years ago and glad i never, cabbies always seem pissed off and this is clearly why. Cash is gone

[@BrucefromLondon]

Not true at all the apps are creaming so much commission now it has become a race to the bottom for private hire.@@ProlificPlayer

[@johnhuckle6460]

I’m a London cabbie of 13 years . Great video dean . I have to say it’s still a fantastic job but with numbers dropping with drivers we lose the power to fight and we’ve seen this with road schemes . Drivers also need to stand up and fight and protest as nothing in this job is guaranteed. To Water down the knowledge for a time for it to build up would be a great idea . Every industry has to do U turns

[@WizAnn320]

Thank you John, Try not to say "Water Down" as it implies a reduction in standard. None of the proposed changes will reduce our standard they will however remove unecessary hurdles and lower the stress and finacial burden involved. Best Wishes Dean

[@johnhuckle6460]

Water down agree . Bad terminology.

[@craigablitt7352]

It’s insane - an industry that has faced some of the stiffest challenges in its history over the past5/6 years hasn’t done anything to adapt and combat the competition….this is 2022, not 1992.

[@WizAnn320]

Thank you for your input Craig,

[@johnosborneakavirgil7490]

Hopefully now COVID has disappeared numbers will begin to rise again. The demand for us is growing again from the public so we need cabbies 👍

[@WizAnn320]

FIngers crossed John, but we should not sit back and hope we should be pro active to generate the interest.

[@bells1969]

Dean I do agree with you red lines remove some examiners can call a run with a timed road restriction and because it’s at the time that their appearances they get penalised but a lot of cab drivers will automatically say I did it this way so should they what they don’t realise is they could soon be out of a job as well the outlay seems small at the beginning but the price of a taxi is extortionate and 25 years on will still only have 2 taxis to choose from but like you say all them meetings at City Hall produced nothing when it was run by the PCO it was fine but like you know when TfL took over they had a plan and started to change things slowly but look where we are now I hate to say this and I’m not trying to be negative but I would not tell anyone to do the knowledge and if their knowledge does collapse our badges will not be worth a toss I’m more than willing to have my license fee put up but I’m afraid we just don’t have a trada org that is strong enough they’re too busy bickering against each other let’s hope things can change but I’m not very optimistic all the best Dean

[@WizAnn320]

Hi Paul I am very optimistic, I try not to speak about the taxi side of things. I prefer to focus on the knowledge aspect and hope the trade organisations can help the taxi side of things. I do believe we need only one trade org. The fractions do not help things at all. You are right about the selfish point of view of some cabbies “I did the redline system, why shouldn’t they”. It is such a poor and nonsensical argument. Try to be positive, I am sure changes are going to happen. I am fairly confident that the future of the trade will find a good place. Best Wishes Dean

[@bells1969]

Thanks Dean You have produced some good knowledge examiners out of your school let’s hope things can move forward

[@richardrichardw9520]

Well said Dean

[@WizAnn320]

Thank you Richard

[@2aardvarks]

If they won't listen to you Dean, with your experience, I'm afraid The Knowledge and our trade is lost. I received my Green Badge a few months before you, and have seen the trade slowly decline these past 25 years.

[@WizAnn320]

Hi David I think we can still make a difference. My fear is that no change occurs and it leads to a total change. You no longer have the knowledge but rather a financial system and a waiting list or highest bidder auction system. This will make some individuals with connections very wealthy. And would lead to maybe garages owning badges and leasing them to people like other major cities. When we did the knowledge it was not a perfect system but it was free and you stayed on a level until they thought you were good enough to be passed down to the next stage. These aspects were removed so they could get rid of the time wasters, which I am sure you would have known a few at the time like I did. But that idea is now the very thing that is destroying us. If we changed just three things it would save the knowledge. Get rid of the fees Get rid of redlining Get rid of the Hesitation rule.

[@2aardvarks]

The Hesitation Rule, that's new to me. We seem to have had it easy, even with Mr Ormes' exacting standards. I'm hoping to post about changes to The Knowledge on my blog next month. Thanks for you opinions.

[@WizAnn320]

@@2aardvarks I look forward to reading it David. My next video on Tuesday explains the hesitation rule. You may be quite shocked how it works

[@alexcarter66]

Totally agree

[@WizAnn320]

Thank you Bass Face

[@petardoh]

Are they doing or planning to do something about redlining?

[@WizAnn320]

I do think Redlining will change most certainly. I am campaigning for it to be discontinued but hope for even small change that will allow the examiners more discretion. It will change I feel that’s for sure.

[@M1keWrites]

Do you speak to the other knowledge schools? What do they say on this issue?

[@WizAnn320]

In all honesty there are no schools left, Ourselves and Knolwedge Point have downsized. We do talk. There are no other knowledge schools. 25 years ago there were 10 schools in London.

[@harrydino7500]

Numbers only decreased due to covid, once this covid is over we will start to gain students in time, I disagree with the redline system, this is what separates us from the best and we are known all around the world to be the worlds best. I do agree we need to do more to push students to study, tfl ain’t doing a good job promoting the kol

[@WizAnn320]

Hi Harry, The numbers have decreased year on year for the past 10 years, Covid has only made matters worse. Before Covid the applications were very low. With covid considered the decline in applicants has actually slowed by percentage, so cannot really be considered as a big part of the problem. Also I think you may have passed out under the red line system and this may be why you think it should stay. Once you complete the first 80 runs of the bluebook you have already separated yourself from all of the worlds taxi drivers we do not need redlining to make us better. Also any taxi driver who passed out 17 years ago was not subject to redlining. And lastly understand why redlining was introduced, it was not to raise our standard it was to reduce timewasters Best Wishes Dean

[@harrydino7500]

@@WizAnn320 I feel tfl could do a hell of a lot more to promote the kol, mainly youngsters and those on dead end jobs who don’t have a future. The money is decent so no reason to dumb down the standards, hopefully onwards and upwards once this covid is over 🤞

[@johnpage1922]

@@WizAnn320 hi Dean, I passed out 17 years ago redlining was definitely happening when I was on appearances. Can you elaborate on the comment you made about getting a guaranteed d on some appearances? What's the reasoning behind that?

[@WizAnn320]

​@@johnpage1922 Hi John The examiner knows that the set of points or questions they are about to ask will be out of reach for pretty much everyone. They know on these occasions that the likelihood of someone scoring is very slim

[@johnpage1922]

@@WizAnn320 but why would they do that? I can sort of understand it when the kol was oversubscribed but not with the low numbers now.

[@parkerj11]

Great video, Dean. How do you suggest we as cabbie’s and students promote the trade? I’m all for supporting the Knowledge and making sure it bounces back. Best regards, Jamie

[@WizAnn320]

Hi Jamie Thank you for the support, I think we need to make changes to give the appearance of getting easier. We need to get rid of redlining and get rid of the deducted marks for hesitation. If we can also get rid of the signing on fees that would be the trifactor. None of these changes would diminish our standard at all but would entice people to start the knowledge once again. Another thing for cab drivers to do is stop being negative and to promote or say good things about the job itself. If you can’t say good things then say nothing or leave the trade. So be positive when you speak to people, tell them what’s good about the job. Best Wishes Dean

[@paddyobrien8950]

I think it’s naive to say the financial cost to TFL is off putting for students. The major cost is the bike and maintenance, the ever increasing insurance each year with high thefts of scooters in London, petrol and study materials. If you’re working full time and paying rent it’s a financial struggle to invest into something that isn’t a guaranteed income each week and no one wants to work 50-60 hour weeks just to make ends meat covering the cost of a cab. University fees are high but they are known to give maintenance grants out of £1000 per term to help the students out where as with the knowledge you get fuck all help. That’s the main reason people are dubious about going into the trade especially now with half of London roads closed off. It’s a persons choice whether they want to dedicate the time to it. I enjoyed studying the knowledge for 4 years but as a previous poster has stated, you can pay for your hgv course or a trade skill where you don’t have to sacrifice your life and still earn a decent living.

[@WizAnn320]

Hi Paddy Not sure that “Naïve” is the best word. Most of the costs you mention are actually different. A bike is a commodity with re sell value. It is also a great means of transport for everyday use. All products that the schools sell can be negated and you can make your own. You can also walk the knowledge as some people are doing currently and also do it on a bicycle. The other costs exist such as rent regardless if we do the knowledge or not. If the fees were taken away, it would encourage lots of minicab drivers to sign on to the knowledge and do it in their spare time. Just 5% of minicab drivers doing the knowledge would save it. Best Wishes Dean

[@NoNonsenseJohnson]

I find it astonishing people complain about knowledge numbers but no cabbie will give you an honest answer about earnings. What can be earned hourly daily weekly monthly yearly. No one is willing to divulge but expects people to jump into the KOL. Madness.

[@WizAnn320]

Hi I think you will find there are many who will tell you honestly, I worked 5 hours per day for 4 days in early December and took £1000 working 5 hours each of those 4 days. Expenses are normally around £80 per day. Hourly rate fluctuates greatly but could be given as an average. Working prime hours gives a higher hourley rate. Some cab drivers are not finacially astute and do not know how to get the best income out of the job. Others work hard and long hours and would averge somewhere around £25 to £50 per hour. I no longer rely on driving a cab for my income but can tell you all of my students who have passed out in recent years are very happy with their income. Best Wishes Dean

[@eddiefredgoose7695]

Probably realistic but an extremely negative video this

[@WizAnn320]

Thank you Eddie, The outlook i am afraid has become so serious that we really need to get something done to improve things. Since this video things have improved and more changes will happen soon. Best Wishes Dean

[@georgewalsh6112]

The problem I have here is you’re concerned for YOUR business. How does it benefit me and my business to fund knowledge students from my own pocket for them to come out and be an extra competitor to me? Also the knowledge system has consistently produced the best taxi drivers in the world why are we being forced to look inwards at ourselves, we literally set the standard. The main problem we have is our regulator has allowed 110k mini cab drivers to effectively do our job without the training via technology. Back UTAG and get the clear distinctions between the two tiers of our industry outlined once again and all of a sudden doing the knowledge is a viable attractive option once again. In terms of costs I was skint on the knowledge it made me work harder putting my last £5 into the bike etc I did the knowledge alone living 50 miles away from London I don’t want to hear nonsense that there’s too many barriers there isn’t.

[@WizAnn320]

Thanks for your input George. I think your view is nothing should change and the knowledge will survive. I do back UTAG, they do a great job. Making it about my business is a poor straw man argument and does nothing to address the issues other than saying i have an ulterior motive. You mention you don’t want any more cabbies. So it’s a bit of a conflicting idea you are giving. So my point of view is to save the Knowledge and yours is that its ok if it dies?

[@georgewalsh6112]

@@WizAnn320 I’ve not said I don’t want more taxi drivers I just want to know those coming through are jumping through the same hoops I did. It’s hard for a reason it’s not for the faint hearted never has been. The knowledge only discriminated against the lazy and your only looking out for the best interests of your knowledge school. It costs are too high to learn the knowledge how about you lower yours? £20/30 per book of points or runs is far too much doesn’t matter about the glossy presentation all the student needs is the series of roads a to b.

[@originalpickaxe]

Sorry George , you're a dinosaur , you've enjoyed the good times but the world has moved on , it's over , make the best of what's left and be happy for the dwindling newbies.