Avoid Driving Fatigue (originally printed Dec. 2004)
10 ways to stay awake and alert - not to mention profitable.
By: Dan Van Hecke, Master Chauffeur
You know the feeling: Your eyes are starting to get glazed over and your hands are getting numb; driving gets more tedious, rather than an opportunity to make more money.
Aside from the routine drain of driving, there are other stress-induced factors that you can control and use for your benefit. To turn it around, try the following suggestions:
1. Be prepared the night (or day) before: top of the gas; have your maps, guides or other papers prepared; have your clothes and other personal effects ready. If these things are not done, the strain of second-guessing yourself when you start will carry into the day.
2. Get sufficient rest: If you worked late to catch a convention or more business, the last part of that is today's money, so just move your sleep time forward.
3. Start off by walking completely around your cab to check for low tires, intact body and glass and if it needs to be cleaned off or washed. Recently cleaned cabs attract street pickups quicker. This will give you a minimum trip more per day. Total walk-around time is under ten seconds.
4. Start off with a positive attitude that you will do very well today. Develop your own personal affirmation that you are proud to be a cabdriver, no matter what other titles are used. It is how you do what you do that sets you apart. Being fatigued takes all that way. Cheerfulness makes you a better cabdriver.
5. Learn to take breaks of 15-20 minutes every three hours or so, no matter how good business is at that time. Use a well-lit location at a restaurant, coffee shop or even a Kinko's that has parking. Do something different - reading, writing, eating - to get your mind and focus off “the grind.” Don't worry, you will make up that seemingly lost 20 minutes with more business.
6. Develop a working plan for each time segment of one to three hours for any area you are working (in your head is okay). Too much confusion about what to do next will fray your nerves - like having your foot on the gas and brakes at the same time. Ideally, if the customer goes to an airport, then making money shows that some of your ideas are working.
7. If you are driving a 24/7 cab, focus on booking your week's overhead first, seal it in a bank/Cash Station envelope, and then the rest of the week is all yours to keep, except for gas and taxes.
8. Develop a habit of quitting work when you reach a certain amount of time or a certain amount of money, whichever comes first.
9. Talk to other drivers as to what they do, keeping a focus on what is positive and what has worked for them, not just the usual “moaning and whining.” You are collecting ideas to develop your own personal strategy.
10. Finally, stay aware that you are larger than your job. Plan for at least one day, two days or at least 2-3 hours each day to have time off (with no guilt) for your health, family and sanity.
