Cabberra 23 by Aerial Capital Group

ISSUE #23 SEPT 2014

CTIA THE BOTTOM OF THE CANBERRA GLOOM | PG. 04

EVENT OF THE MONTH FLORIADE | PG. 08

OUT & ABOUT SEPTEMBER | PG. 10

THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF AERIAL CAPITAL GROUP LTD

KING CABBIE’S TIPS DON’T LET YOUR TAXI BUSINESS DECLINE. GOOD BUSINESS PRACTICES AND ATTENTION TO DETAIL ARE THE CORE OF GOOD SERVICE COMMITMENT.

EARN EARN $600 + GST/ $600 + GST/ YEAR YEAR ENQUIRE ENQUIRE NOW:NOW: STEVE WIGHTMAN STEVE WIGHTMAN 02 9807 2644 02 9807 2644

$60

ROVA Taxi Media has been in operation for more than 12 years, supplying in excess of $2.2 million to owners and operators of taxis throughout Australia each year. EN ROVA Taxi Media has been in operation for more than 12 years, supplying in excess of $2.2 million to owners and operators of taxis throughout Australia each y

• • •

• ROVA fits & fully maintains struts, modules & panels. ROVA fits & fully maintains struts, modules & panels. • We fit a wide variety of cars. We fit a wide variety of cars. • On roads service means no inconvenience to you. On roads service means no inconvenience to you.

• • • • • •

Our modules and their content meet all Transport Regulations. Our modules and their content meet all Transport Regulations. Any broken or damaged units are repaired at our cost. Any broken or damaged units are repaired at our cost. We source all advertising for display. We source all advertising for display.

www.rova.net.au 02 9807 2644 info@rova.net.au

STE 0

WELCOME

FROM THE MD’S DESK

ISSUE #23 SEPTEMBER 2014 This month’s most interesting development was an appeal for help from a Taxi Operator who was seeking assistance to recover unpaid money from a bailed taxi driver. Without going into detail this was the common problem of money earned in the taxi not being split according to the bailee agreement, the driver taking 100% of the income. This relationship problem between the bailor (the taxi operator) and the bailee (taxi driver) is unfortunately becoming more common as the means of making payments in a taxi grows. In the past taking Cash was the biggest cause. Now with portable eftpos and phone app payments linking directly to a bailed taxi driver’s account the Bailor faces a significant challenge to getting paid for the driver’s use of the car. One way this has been addressed in other taxi markets is to use a fixed pay in model and abandon bailee /bailor arrangements. Feedback Aerial has received suggests that the fixed payin model is bad news for Taxi Operators because the Taxi Operator will loose more money and the average time on the road for the vehicle will decline. Aerial does not support the use of the fixed pay in model because it will lead to poorer taxi service performance (i.e. fewer cars on road particularly during the quieter periods). So is there an answer to help the Taxi Operator manage this problem by using the existing bailee – bailor model? Yes, Its been around for many years, its free to all Aerial Taxi Operators and it works where the Taxi Operator chooses to actively manage the relationship with drivers. Aerial’s Bailee/Bailor agreement in part G provides for the Bailor to offer the car to the Bailee upon condition that the Bailee agrees to use the equipment fitted to the taxi. This excludes third party equipment registered with the driver (i.e. mobile eftpos, smartphone apps etc.). The agreement also requires a driver deposit and timely reporting (shift record). In addition to the Bailee/Bailor agreement, every Aerial Taxi Operator has access to an MTData Web Client. The Web Client provides 24/7 tracking and monitoring of every taxi. The web client tracking system monitors every start/stop, meter-on and

all travel data, continuously for every taxi. All this requires is a commitment from the Bailor to use these tools to require the Bailee to fully comply. Other taxi jurisdictions have third party suppliers offering these driver monitoring services at high prices. They justify their price based on the amount of money they recover for the Taxi Operator. The typical offer is - make 30% on top of what it costs to use this service. Aerial offers this service, at no charge (i.e. Free as part of the base fee package) in the form of: • A Bailee – Bailor agreement prepared by solicitors based in the ACT; • Access to the MTData Web Client (24/7 GPS tracking and reporting on each car) for each Taxi Operator for every car; • Basic advice on how to interpret car and driver operating behavior;

FLEET NEWS

TRAINING ROOM

CTIA 04

MEET THE DRIVER

EVENTS 07

FLORIADE 08

• Simple reports on car performance and meter activation; • Advice on how to setup and manage a bailee/bailor agreement and assess driver performance.

OUT & ABOUT

Where an Operator has significant concerns Aerial can assist by preparing a monitoring program to address specific issues in the Bailee/Bailor agreement. This additional service attracts an additional service fee.

SPRINT GAS

COMMENDABLE DRIVERS

I support King Cabbie’s advice – Don’t let your taxi business decline. Talk to Aerial’s Fleet staff today about how you can monitor your money flow in the car. One last thing for this month – Aerial has a list of taxi operators who are looking to lease a taxi plate at current market rates. There are over 90 names on this list. So based on this level of interest there appears to be a common view that things are picking up. There appears to be a good supply of drivers, along with good attendance in the driver training school. More information on leases can be obtained from Aerial’s Fleet staff.

MARK BRAMSTON Managing Director Aerial Capital Group

For any enquiries regarding the CabBerra magazine, please give us a call on 02 6126 1696 or email us at marketing@ aerialcapitalgroup.com.au

NEWS

02 - CABBERRA TWENTY THREE

NEWS THE HARD TIMES, THE GOOD TIMES AND THE NO-JOB TIMES With winter behind us and the blooming tulips lining our city parks we welcome the beginning of spring. Along with warmer temperatures and beautiful flowers this time of year generally brings a spike in the amount of people catching taxis as well. Aerial hopes this is the case again this year for all operators and drivers. This month the fleet department wants to talk about what it means to be a taxi driver, the hard times, the good times and the no-job times. It has become increasingly noticeable to those who frequent ranks regularly that the idea of all taxi drivers being on the same team is becoming a notion of the past. This is at a time when we hear more than ever from drivers that “no one understands what we go through.” So at a time when some drivers are reporting that no one understands their situation we would have thought that the people who do understand how hard driving taxis is, are the other people parked out on the ranks. That is the fellow driver who you may have never met, the guy leaning against his taxi on the front of the rank inhaling the last drag of his cigarette, the bloke at the back of the rank doing the crossword. At the end of the day no one understands

the role of a Taxi Driver like another Taxi Driver. The best memories I have of driving taxis is not the nights when I made $200.00 over my target or getting a fare to Sydney. It’s the bonds and friendships I made with my fellow drivers out there on the ranks.

meter totals no matter how hard you try. A friendship you might make on a rank with a fellow driver can last a lifetime.

Over the past month the Fleet Department has seen a steady increase in the amount of drivers making complaints against each other. We have also had complaints from customers regarding drivers fighting with Those who knew me from my driving each other at pick up points. All drivers days will tell you I wasted far too much know how frustrating it is to turn up to a time standing on the casino rank talking booking only to end up with a no-job. So to fellow drivers. There was a group of us we encourage all drivers to think about that would often frequent the casino rank how taking a fare possibly allocated to from about 11pm every night till 3am. On another taxi will impact the driver that has Friday’s and Saturday’s we would be joined that booking. by many other taxis but on the quieter nights it was often the same drivers time Communication with the base when and time again. The group was made picking up at major hotels and offices is up of drivers from so many different also important. If you have a passenger backgrounds and personalities. approach you and you don’t have an allocated hiring at that address, check We would get out of our taxis and talk with the Base that it is OK to take the about our fares, our customers, our passenger. This could prevent a fellow no-jobs, the base and the daily news as driver having to drive 5-10 minutes across we waited for customers to come out an area to have a no-job. That’s it for this of the casino. I still to this day miss the edition of Fleet News, stay safe and we will comradery that we had in those times. see you on a rank sometime soon. Taxi driving can be so much more than just the meter total at the end of the shift. We know its work and that in modern society JASON SHIELDS you cannot survive without earning a living but remember that the lottery that is taxi driving will always give you good and bad

A THANK YOU NOTE TO OUR TRAINING OFFICER Dear Michael, Thanks a lot for your extra help in applying for a taxi licence, especially your help in arranging the earlier practical test. I will always be grateful for your wonderful driving instruction and training and how easy you are to get along with. I really enjoyed your 2 day training. I wanted to mention here as a feedback that the training was well organised and intensive to go through. Your instruction had depth and quality in it. It was also easy to understand. The most remarkable experience I received was the road rules and road signs to apply in actual driving situations. Your reminder instruction was a big help to clarify my underlying gaps and misinterpretations on road rules and signs. I can still feel your genuine and warm hearted instructions. You are a wonderful driving instructor and I wish you further advancement in your career. Thanking you, A Recent Student FACEBOOK.COM/AERIALCG

NEWS

CABBERRA TWENTY TWO - 03

TRAINING ROOM It Isn’t a Race

Hello All, This Issue I am going to re-visit the subject of attitude while driving. I have been told that the base have had quite a few complaints about aggressive taxi drivers of late. I know from working in the contact centre that this is not a new thing and that it is one of the complaints that I heard a lot. Personally it took me too long to figure out that driving aggressively did not get me anywhere faster, and it made my day quite stressful. The last thing you need if you are not having a good day and you are feeling aggressive is more stress. There is no reason for, or benefit in, losing your temper and being aggressive towards other road users. If you do get frustrated and aggressive you need to find ways of coping with it and calming yourself down. You are never going to change the fact

that there are other drivers on the road who don’t drive as well as you think you do. If I get stuck behind a slow driver, rather than getting angry and tailgating them, it is just as easy to take your foot off the gas for a second and sit back and give them some room. If someone cuts me off rather than losing my temper I do the same thing, take your foot off the gas and look the other way. Little things like remembering that we all make mistakes, and that it isn’t a race, can also help. I think that some taxi drivers drive aggressively without even realising it. Changing lanes frequently and without reason, driving too close to the car in front and driving faster than most other drivers can seem aggressive to other drivers. You should keep in mind that you are much more noticeable when driving a taxi

Aerial Capital Group is teaming up with Canberra Toyota to provide a range of Toyota products and services at very competitive prices! Canberra Toyota, have agreed to package the following products as special offers to Aerial’s Taxi Operators: • New (Gold Fleet discounts) and Used car sales, • Vehicle loan financing through Aerial (Operator Account deductions to approved purchasers); • Express Servicing of all Toyota vehicles – Fixed price to 500,000 Klms; • Maintenance and repair costs additional to routine service plan; • Tyres, fitting, balancing and safety checks; • Brakes – safety checks and repairs. An express maintenance-servicing timetable is available giving the operator minimal time off road. The above range of offers can be packaged as a “whole of life least cost ownership plan” to reduce the cost of owning and keeping a taxi on the road. All payments to Canberra Toyota can be made via the operator’s Aerial account. Operators interested in learning more about using the above arrangement with Canberra Toyota can talk to Aerial’s staff at the base.

CAPITAL GROUP LIMITED

than if you were in your own car, and it is too easy for other drivers to think “there goes another taxi driver driving badly”. Some driving that other people get away with in their own car, you can’t in a taxi where you have a sign on the roof and the phone number on the side that people can call to complain. The next time you are getting frustrated and you are about to start tailgating the car in front, flash your high beams, or toot your horn, please take a moment to recognise the frustration. Take a deep breath, look the other way for a moment and realise that it is not worth getting angry about. Take it easy everyone, and please remember it isn’t a race.

MICHAEL CLARE

CTIA

04 - CABBERRA TWENTY THREE

THE BOTTOM OF THE CANBERRA Are we there yet? If we talk about guarantees, the only guarantees a Canberra taxi driver or operator would be inclined to believe is that “times will be tough”. They have been tough since 2007, when after years of refusing to release extra taxi licences at the request of the CTIA, and allowing public confidence in the taxi industry to drop, the then Minister of TAMS began to issue an excessive number of taxis, at times, releasing new licences before (I believe) the previous batch had all been taken up; and thus establishing a revolving door era of taxis being surrendered and re-issued to those on a reserve list. Together with a continuing drop in airport arrivals, and the provision of relatively cheap long-term airport parking, airport taxi pick-ups dropped significantly. On top of this, after the Canberra FACEBOOK.COM/AERIALCG

Centenary celebrations provided some extra work to counter the downturn, the new Federal Government was elected promising to slash jobs in Canberra. A Canberra Times item of 5th August reported a poor outlook for retail trading in the ACT, the only Australian state or territory to show a negative trend in an ABS March report. Chris Faulks, chief executive of the Canberra Business Council, attributes part of the problem to the “18-monthlong” conversation about cuts to the public service. She did say however, that the ACT economy was strong and that retail would bounce back. What has happened to taxi work rates since the new government was elected? The short answer is “not a lot”. In the first six months of 2014, trip numbers are down on the same period for 2013 by about 29,000. The number of taxis in the Aerial fleets is down by an average of 16, and the trip numbers

per car per day are up by 0.06. The surrendered licences facilitated a rise of 1 trip per day per car. So we do not need them back for a while, especially since performance statistics for July showed that service delivery is phenomenal. Figures for the past three years indicate that trip numbers are virtually the same for each half of the year, so barring a catastrophic change in business activity, job numbers per taxi should remain about the same for the remainder of 2014. Not good, but not worse. Practically every day the Canberra Times headlines possibilities of more public service redundancies, but there is little talk of actual jobs lost. No doubt jobs are going, but they were going under the previous government too. It’s the “conversation” that seems to be causing the gloom. It is interesting to note that since the reserve list for surrendered taxi licences passed its use-by date,

CTIA

CABBERRA TWENTY THREE - 05

F GLOOM the number of potential lessees of perpetual licences has risen considerably; so it seems that some associated with the taxi industry think we may have reached the bottom of the current cycle. I know that there are still operators who are considering returning their leased licences to the government, and this may be the only sensible course if a person is in an impossible position. On the other hand there may be some dim light at the end of the tunnel, may being the operative word. A few things to consider. • The surrender of taxi licences has caused a slight rise in the number of job per day for those remaining. • The Canberra Business Council believes the ACT economy is strong and will rebound. • Over the past few years, airport arrivals have dropped by at least 10%. Any reversal of this trend will have a positive effect on the taxi industry. International flights to Canberra may

commence sometime next year. • A severe drop in work for the taxi industry and others followed the federal elections in 1996, but the following turnaround saw a sustained growth in work. • Service delivery is phenomenal, by far the best it has ever been. • Over fifty vehicles have been replaced this year, so the fleet is looking good. • The public are happy. As far as the CTIA knows, there are virtually no complaints to the Department about service. • When the surrendered licences are re-issued, the CTIA has been assured they will be issued under different conditions than those issued between 2007 and 2013, and will require a more considered commitment from operators. This should prevent a flood of new licences. • The CTIA will do its utmost to ensure that licences are released in an orderly fashion that considers the needs of taxi passengers and taxi drivers and operators.

So, have we reached the bottom yet? It is hard to say. Even in good times the taxi driver lives on hope, so hope is nothing new in our industry; and those who have survived the past few years have experienced the worst times the Canberra taxi industry has endured during its 58 year history, and may be entitled to hope that things can only improve. Let’s all hope so.

FACEBOOK.COM/AERIALCG

06 - CABBERRA TWENTY THREE

Navdeep Singh Meet the Driver section is proudly sponsored by Waves Carwash. The interviewee receives up to $102 worth of carwash services.

How many years of experience as a taxi driver? I started driving in 2008 while looking for a job, driving for one of Aerial’s current operators. I gained interest in the business slowly and never turned back. Now I have a fair few taxis that I am operating across 3 fleets in Aerial. I am operating Canberra Elite and Silver Service taxis and have just recently ventured into the Canberra Hire Car business. However, I did start as a driver and did it for 4 years working mainly 12 hour Saturday shifts before going into full-time. For the last two years, I have only been an operator. Why did you move from Sydney? I moved from Sydney after completing my Masters Degree in IT hoping to land a job in the public sector in 2004. I went back to my hometown to get married, and ever since I have always been in Canberra. Family is important to me and they are all here. In Sydney, I only have some friends and go up there for short visits. Canberra is great to me, not only because I have my family here, but I thoroughly enjoy the cold weather. It is a treat. It is also a great place to raise a family, Canberra offers a good education system and more.

10CT

Why did you choose a job as a taxi driver? I love talking to people, I always get older customer and never get cranky. They also love to tip so I must say that I have had mostly good experiences as a driver and have always been lucky. I was always happy to get a job even if it was a small one. Being a taxi driver would also mean that you do not have a boss – as you are very much reliant on your hard work and how much you’re willing to put in to reap the benefits. I find that very attractive as do some other drivers too. How to make the work environment better? Trying to eliminate frustrations is the key. If you are more invested in your job, it will only make it easier. My trick is to listen and get into conversations with the customers. They usually would have something to share, so I would just go along with it, be it about sports, the weather or politics. Always keep it positive and avoid conflict of opinions, better to just agree with them than to get into a sticky situation. From a driver’s perspective, I do understand that they present legitimate excuses. And some of their daily frustrations don’t always come from

6 Oct 2014

customers but from other factors too. I think if everyone from the top management down to the drivers work together – it will create a better environment to produce great outcomes. Everyone deserves to be treated well, and I think that could solve many issues. I also think providing more incentives to the drivers could motivate them even more and bridging the gap between the management and drivers. A gathering every now and then could produce longterm rewarding results.

NEWS

CABBERRA TWENTY THREE - 07

EVENT

DATE AND TIME

LOCATION

Icehouse

03/09/2014

ACTSmart Business Sustainability Expo

04/09/2014

Mozart’s The Magic Flute afterDARK Scavenger Hunt Tours Canberra Raiders vs Eels Tina Arena - Reset Watershed: Lake Burley Griffin 1964 -2014 Father's Day at Gold Creek

04/09/2014 to 06/09/2014 06/09/2014 to 01/11/2014 06/09/2014 06/09/2014 06/09/2014 to 23/11/2014 07/09/2014

Mohona performing at the High Court

07/09/2014

Southern Cross Club Woden ACTSmart Business Sustainability Expo Canberra Theatre Australian National Botanic Gardens GIO Stadium Llewellyn Hall Canberra Museum and Gallery Gold Creek Village High Court of Australia, Public Hall, Level 2

Rolling Thunder Vietnam: Songs that defined a generation Dora’s Pirate Adventure Impro Act: In- Person- 8 Joseph and Jones Racing Race Day Floriade Gunning Fireworks Festival 2014 Rocky Trail Shimano MTB Grand Prix Round 5 The Tuliptop Gardens Festival Centenary Trail Blaze Queen - It's A Kinda Magic Diesel Lit Up: The Singles Tour 89-14 Lifeline Canberra Spring Bookfair

07/09/2014

Canberra Theatre

08/09/2014 11/09/2014 to 20/09/2014 12/09/2014 13/09/2014 tp 12/10/2014 13/09/2014 13/09/2014 13/09/2014 12/10/2014 14/09/2014 14/09/2014 19/09/2014 19/09/2014

Canberra Theatre Centre The Street Theatre Thoroughbred Park Commonwealth Park Gunning Showground Stromlo Forest Park The Tuliptop Gardens Stromlo Forest Park Canberra Theatre The Street Theatre Exhibition Park in Canberra The Playhouse, Canberra Theatre Centre Australian National Botanic Gardens National Dinosaur Museum Stromlo Forest Park The Street Theatre The Street Theatre University House Old Bus Depot Markets High Court of Australia, Public Hall, Level 2 Albert Hall Commonwealth Park Canberra Theatre Thoroughbred Park

Vintage Diamond - The Ultimate Neil Diamond Show

19/09/2014

Breakfast with the Birds National Dinosaur Museum School Holiday Tours RedAss NSW/ACT Downhill State Round The Idea Of North: Limelight The Idea Of North: Stagecraft Workshop HRSA National Radio/Phono Fest Old Bus Depot Markets - Green Savvy Sunday The Gospel Folk Choir: Raise your voice, raise your spirit ASOC Spring Exhibition 2014 Floriade Nightfest The Gruffalo ACTTAB Tony Campbell Memorial Cup

20/09/2014 to 12/10/2014 20/09/2014 to 13/10/2014 20/09/2014 to 21/09/2014 20/09/2014 20/09/2014 21/09/2014 21/09/2014 21/09/2014 24/09/2014 to 28/09/2014 24/09/2014 to 28/09/2014 25/09/2014 to 27/09/2014 26/09/2014

FACEBOOK.COM/AERIALCG

08 - CABBERRA TWENTY TWO

Image credit: Visit Canberra

TAXI & HIRE CAR NOTICE The following information is in regards to the changed traffic conditions that will come into effect for Floriade 2014.

from 6.30pm to 10:30pm each night from Wednesday 24 to Sunday 28 September 2014.

Event Dates Times From Saturday 13 September to Sunday 12 October, over a million bulbs and annuals will bloom on cue in Commonwealth Park, Canberra as EventsACT presents Floriade. Entry to the event is free. The event is open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, Weekends and Public Holidays 9am to 5:30pm. Last entry permitted 30-minutes prior to closing. 2014 will again see Floriade NightFest being held which will take place

Commonwealth Park Closure The Floriade site at Commonwealth Park, including the Regatta Point car park, will be closed to the public from 7am Monday 18 August 2014 as preparations are made for Floriade 2014. During the set-up and pulldown of the event, this site becomes a construction zone and is closed to the public. The fence will come down and the park re-opens to the public from 9am Monday 27 October 2014.

Road Closures Regatta Place Canberra will be closed to public traffic for the duration of the event. There is a specific pick up and set down area near the Main Entry to Floriade. No parking is permitted in this area. Vehicles must move on, or park in the designated area. Traffic marshals will be on site during the event, so please assist them by following their instructions. Acton Park Car Parks On weekdays parking at Acton Park will remain in normal operation as a paid car park. Patrons will be required to park in the

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re here to look after you 8am to 11pm EVERY DAY! Shop 2, Jolimont Centre, 65 Northbourne Avenue. Canberra City Act 2600. Phone (02) 6161 1133 FACEBOOK.COM/AERIALCG

CABBERRA TWENTY THREE - 09

bays only; and signs are erected to enforce this condition. Infringement notices will be issued to patrons who fail to comply with this condition. The existing â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;three for freeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and pay parking areas at the Northern end of Acton Park will remain in operation to accommodate commuters and visitors to the bike hire and ferry terminal facilities.

Visitors to the National Capital Exhibition, The Deck & Canberra Business Events Centre During Floriade, the first parking bay adjacent to the NCE building remains open to visitors to the NCE, The Deck and the Canberra Business Events Centre. Traffic marshals will be briefed to ensure that visitors are permitted to enter and park in this bay.

On weekends and public holidays parking at Acton Park will remain in normal operation but parking will be free.

Taxi & Hire Car Directions A rank will be located near the Main Entry to Floriade at the Regatta Point car park. This taxi rank has Taxi Spot

10. Taxis and Hire Cars may stop to drop off and collect passengers in the allocated parking bays at Regatta Place car park, but to ease congestion, please note that there is no parking allowed in this area. Hire Cars may also set down and pick up in the designated area, but then must move on. Please see below a traffic map that highlights drop-off and pick-up locations and parking for buses, visitors and staff to the NCE, The Deck and the Business Events Centre.

FACEBOOK.COM/AERIALCG

EVENTS

10 - CABBERRA TWENTY THREE

AND

OUT ABOUT SEPTEMBER 2014

Khurram Awan @ The Airport

Brian, Rajbeer & Irfan @ The Airport

Ranjit @ The Airport

Jagjit @ The Airport

Paul @ The Airport

Saqib @ The Airport

Haq Nawaz @ The Airport

Ranbir Hunan@ The Airport

Mukesh Kumar @ The Airport

Tej @ The Airport

Michael and students @ The Base

Deepak & Balvinder @ Fleet Inspections

FACEBOOK.COM/AERIALCG

BECAUSE YOU DESERVE A BREAK

EVENTS

Make us your next stop. Enjoy coffee or tea of your choice & a muffin for $5

OFFER VALID FOR ALL TAXI DRIVERS YOU CAN FIND US AT SHOP 1/100 BARRIER STREET FYSHWICK

CANBERRA EMBRACES GREENER CABS SPRINT GAS & CAMRY HYBRID

We have all been looking for the perfect Taxi for some time. Each new model of existing taxi type is greeted with optimism - some we think great! Others are a disappointment. Toyota has now well and truly entered the mix. The service support has been around for a while, with every taxi manager having their favourite Toyota technician. The Aurion is a top seller in Brisbane, replacing the Silver Service Fairlane and the Hiace has been the number one Maxi Taxi for many years. In Canberra, the Toyota Hybrid is also becoming increasingly popular amongst taxi operators. This vehicle, running as a Taxi and converted with the Sprint Gas LPG system has been rolled out in Victoria with great success. The simple formula of a highly reliable LPG system, with very low daily running cost and low ongoing maintenance cost, coupled with a well-supported locally manufactured vehicle such as the Toyota Camry Hybrid has been readily accepted by many Taxi Fleet owners and managers. Combine these benefits with LPG refuelling infrastructure that can be brought to your depot by Australian Company Unigas and all the operating boxes are ticked.

FOR INCREASED FUEL SAVINGS CALL AERIAL CAPITAL GROUP TODAY 02 6126 1500

In Victoria, Sprintgas is supplying the technology, technical training and hotline backup to Taxi Companies such as Black Cabs, Ambassador Taxis, and many others to help them to make an easy transition away from the more traditional Ford Falcon. With experience, these fleet managers have found that after running these hybrid vehicles for some time now, the lack of breakdowns and the low cost of running and servicing have now made this choice of vehicle platform a â&#x20AC;&#x153;no brainerâ&#x20AC;?. The downside (if there is one), is that the demand has started to push up the price of second hand Camry hybrids and now vehicle wholesalers are having to look much further afield than normal for cars. In fact, cars of any and all colours are now being purchased wherever they are available and then shipped to Victoria for re-painting in Taxi livery. A great alternative is to see your local Toyota dealer and buy a new car for immediate conversion. Based on the success of these green car conversions and the savings of 30% of more to be found, Aerial Capital Group is now assisting operators in Canberra to make the transition to Sprint Gas' LPG conversions for Hybrid vehicles.

RUN YOUR CAMRY HYBRID ON LPG GREENER & CHEAPER 3-YEAR 200,000KM WARRANTY SAVE 30% OR MORE ON YOUR FUEL BILL

CAPITAL GROUP LIMITED

Until 6 October Free entry

nga.gov.au/motherwell Robert Motherwell Three figures 1989 (detail) National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, purchased with the assistance of the Orde Poynton Fund 2002 ÂŠ Dedalus Foundation, Inc./VAGA. Licensed by Viscopy, 2014

14 - CABBERRA TWENTY THREE

C MMEND Salim Shaikh Salim, here’s what your customer has said about you. “On the way back from Sydney we got stuck in a hail storm. Salim had excellent driving skills and handled the conditions perfectly and managed to make us feel very safe.” Well done in taking great care of your customers Salim.

Malkiat Singh Sarabjit The call centre would like to thank you for all your assistance on DVA jobs. You are an asset to the company.

Hardeep Singh Recently, another taxi’s alarm had gone off for a long period without the driver noticing it while he was back at his house having dinner. He also had incidentally left his mobile in the car. You went in to help the call centre staff and knocked on the door to advise the driver to pull his fuses. The call centre staff were extremely impressed with your efforts in assisting the radio room. Thank you so much.

FACEBOOK.COM/AERIALCG

CABBERRA TWENTY THREE - 15

ABLE DRIVERS Jatinder Pal Singh Here’s what your customer has said about you. ”We booked a taxi using the Book and Track web app. And it was such a delightful ride we had from Nicholls to New Acton. Not only that he knew the area very well, his customer service was top notch. Jatinder was friendly, courteous and polite. We couldn’t have asked for a better driver.”

Hassan Bajwa The department of education is a valuable customer to the Canberra Elite Fleet. Your continued hard work and reliability in carrying out these jobs is appreciated by the Call Centre who wanted to say thank you.

Shop 1/100 Barrier Street Fyshwick

FACEBOOK.COM/AERIALCG

OPEN 7 DAYS 10am - 6pm CANBERRA’S ONE-STOP RETAIL DESTINATION

Canberra’s only outlet centre is located in the heart of Fyshwick on the corner of Newcastle Street and Canberra Avenue.

STAMP

HERE

Subway Offer: Free meal deal! Receive 600ml Coke variety and two cookies with any sub purchased.

Genki Sushi Offer: 10% off everything, everyday!

Terms & Conditions

Not to be used in conjunction with VIP offers.

Only valid at Subway, Canberra Outlet Centre.

Only valid at Genki Sushi, Canberra Outlet Centre.

- VALID ONE TIME ONLY -

STAMP

HERE

The Coffee Club Offer: 10% off all purchases. Terms & Conditions Not to be used in conjunction with VIP offers or on public holidays or with any other offer. Only valid at The Coffee Club, Canberra Outlet Centre. - VALID ONE TIME ONLY -

facebook.com/canberraoutletcentre canberraoutletcentre.com.au

ENTERTAINMENT

CABBERRA TWENTY THREE - 17

Win $100 Canberra Centre Gift Card. Provide your passengers with exceptional customer service and stand a chance to win a gift card worth $100. Encourage your passengers to write to us at the base commending your great customer service to be in the running to win the Canberra Centre Commendable Driver of the Month. Only one selected driver will be chosen every month commencing September 2013.

$100

Canberra Centre Gift Card. FACEBOOK.COM/AERIALCG

We are here to help you work smarter. 3

4 9

9 7

6 2

7 8

Now you have time to spare. Visit www.fujixerox.com.au Xerox, Xerox and Design, as well as Fuji Xerox and Design [add any other trademarks that are used here] are registered trademarks or trademarks of Xerox Corporation in Japan and/or other countries and are used under license.