Business passengers are keen to get back to normal. Last year’s trepidation has faded. In its place, a new quiet confidence. There is a push back against the virus. The fear it once commanded has gone and in its place is a willingness to ‘get on with things’.
An increase in demand is good. We need it to restore profit. The heavy losses of the pandemic really took their toll. There is though, one small issue! There is a chauffeur shortage. Like many companies, the team we had before Covid, left the industry. They found alternative careers. This is reflective of so many people in the private hire industry, I doubt they will come back.
Many who were self-employed, have now found jobs with a regular wage, regular hours, holiday pay and a pension scheme. With a very low unemployment level in the UK and an increase in the national minimum wage, why would anyone wish to take the risk of self-employment in an uncertain industry? To compound this, the costs for a new chauffeur have gone up considerably.
Vehicle insurance for a newbie is still around £3,000 a year but purchasing a vehicle is around 50% more. Delivery of brand new vehicles are delayed too because of a microchip shortage. These are not the only barriers causing a chauffeur shortage. Getting licenced can take forever. Not only are there fewer council staff to process applications but police checks take longer too.
Some freelance drivers still exist. They are carefully picking and choosing their jobs though. For this reason, we are increasing their pay. We need to offer rewards which motivate. It is therefore, highly likely price increases will be a norm for the chauffeur industry. Unfortunately, it is the only way to maintain availability and ensure customers don’t suffer the chauffeur shortage too.