LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Ride options including Uber, Lyft, Zoox and Waymo have expanded on the Las Vegas Strip alongside traditional yellow taxis.
State data shows taxi trips across Las Vegas dropped nearly 4% this August compared to last year.
At Yellow Cab, that number hasn’t slowed the company down.
Driver says growth in ride options hasn’t hurt business
Charlotte Smith has been a driver in Las Vegas for more than two decades and now works with Yellow Cab.
“Oh my god, the growth is massive,” Smith said.
Asked if she is ever worried about the competition, Smith said, “For some reason, I’m not.”
“I believe the type of care we can give to a customer, such as greeting them when they arrive, our knowledge on where to dine, where the shows are. They want to know about the scenic areas,” Smith said.
Asked what would make Yellow Cab stand out when Uber and Lyft drivers could provide similar service, Smith pointed to safety procedures.
“One of the things I believe makes us stand out is the safer option is from the point of a driver coming in for the trip sheet to keys, they are faced with a supervisor to determine they are ready to drive. Also, the driver has to do a vehicle inspection every day,” Smith said.
Daily inspections and training required
Daily inspection is the start of the process. Training is extensive, and drivers have to go through 36 hours of training and an FBI background check.
Drivers don’t go out on the roads right away. They have to take a four-hour course behind a simulator first.
The simulator tests reflexes and response time.
Katie Cleaves oversees that training as training supervisor.
“Putting them through different challenges before they get on the road, that way we know when they get behind the wheel of that car that they are going to be transporting those passengers not only safely but also focused on what other people are doing on the road to avoid complications,” Cleaves said.
Even with advanced technology from competitors, the company says it will always try to find a way to keep up.
Industry-wide, numbers show some cab companies struggling this year.
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