Taxis as Couriers – Have a Cab Deliver your Important Packages

Have you ever been stuck in the office and need a document delivered ASAP?  Call a taxi. Have you ever needed to get a package to a friend across town but did not have the time or a car? Call a taxi. Have you ever needed an important package delivered on a national holiday but delivery services were closed? Call a taxi. Did you know that you can hire a taxi to deliver an important package across town, or even across the state?  Continue to read the article below to find out more about these services!

 Check these taxi companies that offer courier services:

ASAP Taxi: http://asaptaxi.net/rates.html
Checker Transportation Group: http://www.thecheckergroup.com/courier/index.php
Green Cab: http://www.greencabcompany.net/courier-services.html
Yellow Cab: http://www.yellowcabofmemphis.com/features/courier-services

The logistics services offered by international giants such as FedEx, UPS, and DHL are known and utilized often by businesses and individuals alike.  However, it is often overlooked or even unknown that the common taxis seen around our cities are involved in the courier industry.  Many general taxi companies also offer package delivery services that can be utilized in the same way one would call to request a personal taxi ride.   Whether it is the delivery of a large package a few towns away or one envelope the next block over, taxis can prove to be an advantageous option for courier services.

The customer must call the taxi company to request or schedule a package pickup; this is often available 24 hours a day and 365 days a year with larger taxi companies.  Additionally, in some cases the request can be made via the company’s website.  After this, the package is picked up directly from the site requested and delivered straight to the desired recipient.  Specific instructions, directions, and requests can accompany the package, as the sender is able to communicate directly with the taxi driver: the deliverer.

The cost of a courier service like this is determined differently than the average delivery service.  Since it is such a customized business transaction, various factors are taken into account, depending on the situation.  The price determinants generally involve: a mileage rate, time required, staff required, and vehicle required.  This being said, there are a number of different options offered from taxi companies to fully meet the requests of the customers.

The first option involves package type and size.  The object being delivered can vary from an envelope to a mattress.  Therefore, a different vehicle as well as additional staff would be required for larger heavier packages, thus increasing the price, whereas the delivery of an envelope/standard package would require no additional accommodations.  If the package must be transported a substantial distance, time required might be taken into account when calculating the final price.  However, most often, the price is determined using a set per mile rate.

Taxi courier services have some key benefits that differentiate them from traditional delivery service competitors.  The availability of taxis provides a great advantage for those customers who require fast delivery services at odd hours or on holidays.  As mentioned earlier, many large taxi companies offer services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year mainly because people depend on taxis for transportation and companies cannot simply shut down as other businesses are able to.  Even large competitors like FedEx are closed and not delivering on certain holidays.

The personal aspect of taxis as couriers is appealing to consumers.  As a customer, one gets to directly interact with the deliverer: providing specific instructions and ensuring peace of mind.   This is ideal for an emergency or rush situation, where it is essential for the delivery process to be fast and flawless.  Also, the total convenience of this process is notable: the package goes directly from sender to recipient, with one middle man.  Bulky and awkward packages are accepted, time is taken into consideration, and payment is sorted out immediately; all together facilitating the delivery process as much as possible.

It must be noted, on the other hand, that the price of delivering packages using a taxi will be more expensive compared to the traditional, well-known delivery services like UPS and FedEx.  This is the main disadvantage for taxi couriers, but customers utilizing this service generally are centered on a speedy delivery and convenience, not price.

The courier services provided by common taxis are often unknown and under-utilized by consumers.  The availability, convenience, and level of intimacy throughout the business transaction can be truly beneficial to those consumers who require fast and efficient deliveries, whether for business or personal purposes.  The usefulness of taxis cannot be overlooked.

Find-a-Fare Friday – 4/27/2012

Answer this question correctly for a chance to WIN $25 to amazon.com!

How much would it cost to take a taxi from the landmark in picture a to the landmark in picture b?

(Picture a)

TO

(Picture b)

Hint: These two pictures are both POIs (Points of Interest) on TFF’s London Fare Calculator!

 

Please submit your answer below as a comment.

Submissions will only be accepted until Midnight EDT on 4/27/2012.

On how to play and for official rules, please click here.

Release of College Taxi Calculators

TaxiFareFinder is announcing the release of “College Taxi Calculators.”  This exciting new addition to the TaxiFareFinder website offers local taxi information and specialized fare estimates for college students, faculty, and members.  The initial launch consists of ten schools in the greater Boston area, including: Boston College, Bentley University, Boston University, Emerson College, Harvard University, MIT, Northeastern University, Suffolk University, Tufts University, and UMass Boston.

Each school calculator is carefully calibrated based on local taxi rates and actual taxi trips. For a customized experience, each page offers local taxi phone numbers as well as local flavors, such as school-specific point-of-interest (POI) listing of popular restaurants, bars, shopping areas, or transportation hubs.

TaxiFareFinder’s sophisticated algorithm calculates the taxi fare between two selected/specified locations and renders suggested routes, potential additional fees, and taxi company contact information.  This feature simplifies the process of traveling to and from popular destinations among college students, providing the information quickly and conveniently.

Key Benefits:

  • Simple, easily accessible way to calculate taxi fares
  • Encourages the use of taxis among college students
  • Increases awareness of how to take a taxi and what charges to expect

Additional Resources: 

TaxiFareFinder – College Calculator – Landing Page
Harvard University
Boston College
Boston University
Northeastern University
Bentley University
Emerson College
Massachusetts-Institute-of-Technology (MIT)
Suffolk University
Tufts University
University of Massachusetts – Boston

About TaxiFareFinder:

TaxiFareFinder provides a cab fare estimation tool that allows users to easily figure out how much a taxi ride will cost in various cities around the world.  Utilizing a unique, proprietary algorithm that takes into account a multitude of considerations, the calculator is able to carefully calibrate accurate fare estimations based on local taxi rates and actual prices.  Available both on the website and through a mobile phone application, the services provided have proven to be useful to travelers around the globe.  Not only does the feature deliver fare estimations, but it will provide the user with potential routes, contact information for taxi companies, and additional useful tips and warnings.  The TaxiFareFinder calculator currently supports over 170 cities and is steadily expanding to more cities both domestic and international.

Find-a-Fare Friday – 4/20/2012

Answer this question correctly for a chance to WIN $25 to amazon.com!

How much would it cost to take a taxi from the landmark in picture a to the landmark in picture b?

(Picture a)

TO

(Picture b)

Hint: These two pictures are both POIs (Points of Interest) on TFF’s San Francisco Fare Calculator!

 

Please submit your answer below as a comment.

Submissions will only be accepted until Midnight EDT on 4/20/2012.

On how to play and for official rules, please click here.