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You could make a hustle with taxicabs, but you would definitely be competing with a million non-citizens. You will rarely see an american driving a cab in ny for whatever reason. I guess immigrants are paid less to work more. You know how it is. I don't get why you would want to work 7 days a week tho. That's like working yourself to death, then your clothes will be all dirty too.
most cabbies are pakistanis and bangladeshis with a few blacks from various countries in africa sprinkled in for good measure. from my experience, most of them try to take you the long route and over charge you. you should NOT think you will make so much driving a yellow cab...HOWEVER, if you want to drive around escorts (both male or female), you can make better money. usually girls are looking for a black TLC from a company, especially an SUV that they can use with their clients while you "go take a ciggie break somewhere."
i knew a cabbie who was once a high school friend. he drove a yellow cab and told me wild stories such as having sex with his passengers, finding money and laptops which he resold, and of course sleeping in a van that he owns to beat paying rent. he quit the job a few years back because he could not handle 12-16 hours shifts anymore due to physical reasons and just being tired. from when i saw him last, he had decided to take up a career in "pharmaceuticals."
Pay being a cabbie in NYC is not that great. The tipping is so-so, not great, and then you gotta pay for the cab, the gas. It's not easy. The best tip earning jobs in NYC are in the high end restaurant sector or a doorman type of gig if you can get it.
IIRC tipping has taken a nose dive for at least yellow cabs in the City when ATM/credit card payment systems were installed. Passengers simply "swipe" and pay the fare but not anything extra.
IIRC tipping has taken a nose dive for at least yellow cabs in the City when ATM/credit card payment systems were installed. Passengers simply "swipe" and pay the fare but not anything extra.
I would rather walk than not tip some hard working stiff.
I drove a yellow cab for several years. There are pros and cons to it.
It is great as a short term way of getting quick cash. You are not going to make 200-300$ every night. Maybe Friday and Saturday nights. Weekday nights it is more like $100-$150 per night. That is working a $12 hour shift.
It is good because you are your own boss and can work whenever you feel like it but you don't get paid if you don't work. It is kind of lonely and monotonous and most people don't engage in conversation with you they either talk to their friends or stare into their phone.
Your back, neck and hands will be sore after a shift. If you drive the night shift you have to deal with annoying and obnoxious drunks. If you drive day shift you will be sitting in bumper to bumper traffic for most of your shift.
Good luck though!
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