Top 8 lucrative routes for taxi drivers

For a taxi driver, a key survival skill is knowing where to find customers. As far as possible, a driver should know the routes at his or her fingertips. Hence, in this 6th instalment of Taxi Talks, I would like to share with you the top eight sweet spots (lucrative routes). They are:

#1: Changi Airport
Changi Airport is the world’s 7th busiest airport for international passenger traffic with 51 million passengers moving in and out of the airport via its three terminals. It is served by over 100 airlines with about 6,300 weekly scheduled flights to some 220 cities in 60 countries. Hence, the terminals at Changi Airport are one of the busiest and most popular for taxi drivers.

Here’s the “profile” of each terminal:

T1 – mostly international flights by airlines like Qantas, China Airways, Delta, Thai Airways and budget airlines like AirAsia, JetStar and Lion Air.
T2 – regional airlines like Singapore Airlines, with the inclusion of budget airlines like Scoot, Tiger Airways and Cebu Pacific Air.
T3 – mostly international airlines such as Singapore Airlines, Jet Airways and United.

The demand for taxis is high – 24x7 for all 365 days of the year. On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, you’ll see long queues of taxis at most terminals. The waiting time for a passenger can be as short as five minutes or as long as 90 minutes.

What are the factors that entice taxi drivers to queue at the airport? Firstly, drivers can earn a surcharge of $3 for all journeys starting from the airport. On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, this surcharge is $5 from 5pm to midnight. The typical fare for a single journey is usually higher. They range from $13.00 to $60++ (from Changi Airport to Pasir Ris and to Jurong West respectively). The fare is, of course, subjected to the type of taxis, traffic condition and weather.

For limousine taxis, typical charges for airport transfers are between $55 and $65, depending on the type of vehicle. “Airport transfer” means that a driver will be waiting at the airport arrival area with a flip pad showing the names of passenger(s) and flight number. Upon arrival, the driver will bring the passenger(s) to his cab, load up their luggage and drive them to the correct destination.

In a typical day, taxi drives earn an average of $20 per hour (inclusive of petrol and rental). Based on this, it is indeed worthwhile for a driver to queue at the airport for a fare. At the same time, they can take a break and catch up with fellow cabbies.

#2: Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) and Marina Bay Sands (MBS)
The opening of the Integrated Resorts (IRs) in 2010 has created substantial employment for both locals and foreigners, and generated millions of tourism dollars. It has also benefited the taxi industry as well.

Here is the breakdown of extra surcharges a driver stand to earn if her or she picks up passengers at the IRs:

At RWS – The taxi surcharge is $3 regardless of time or day. Similar surcharges of $3 are applicable at RWS hotels. The presence of Universal Studios, which is popular with families, has also further enhanced the demand for taxis at RWS.

At MBS – The taxi surcharge of $3 is applicable between 5pm and midnight on weekdays and on weekends, it follows the fee that’s charged within the CBD boundaries.

#3: Key tourist attractions
Popular tourist attractions not only attract visitors but also taxi drivers looking for better returns. At the 165m-tall Singapore Flyer, the world’s largest, drivers picking up fares between 5pm and midnight can earn an extra $3 (CBD surcharge).

At nearby Gardens by the Bay, drivers can earn a surcharge of $3 form any passenger who starts his or her journey there.

Although journeys from the ever-popular Singapore Zoo/Night Safari/River Safari do not attract a surcharge, drivers still queue for a fare at these attractions because of the high potential of getting single fares of more than $20. This occurs when passengers ask to be driven to downtown hotels or shopping centres.

Other attractions with good fares include the Science Centre, Chinatown, Little India and the Singapore Botanical Gardens.

#4: Central Business District
One of the premier locations for many taxi drivers, the CBD is generally demarcated by Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) gantries. A surcharge of $3 is applicable for trips starting within the CBD during the 5pm to midnight slot daily. From 6pm to midnight, there’s also a 25 per cent fare loading. The potential for good returns is high, despite the various ERP charges. Be smart and save by learning the ERP schedule.

Many key hotels (Ritz-Carlton, Mandarin Oriental, Amara Hotel, M Hotel and others), shopping malls (Marina Square, Raffles City, Millenia Walk and others), offices and hospitals are located within the larger CBD area. This contributes to the passenger pool.

#5: Orchard Road
Our renowned Orchard Road – stretching from Tanglin Mall to Plaza Singapura – is a shopping paradise. Malls and buildings in the area, like Wisma Atria, Takashimaya, Tangs and Lucky Plaza, have undergone many transformations and renovations. All these are done to keep the strip fresh and attractive to both locals and tourists. One must head to Orchard Road during the Great Singapore Sale, which is usually held between May and July, to really feel its buzz.

You will see many taxis of different shapes, sizes and colours plying this lucrative area, which contains some areas that attract a surcharge of $3 (areas bounded by ERP gantries) and 25 per cent fare loading.

#6: Tier 2 spots
Other areas outside the CBD area where taxis are often seen queuing for passengers are usually the “sure got customers” areas. These include hotels on the perimeter of the CBD such as Furama Riverfront, River View, Grand Copthorne and others.

Some offices (UE Square for example) and shopping malls (such as Tiong Bahru Plaza and Great World City) also belong to this category.

#7: Suburbs
Further away from hustle and bustle of the city, heartland areas and malls (for instance, Ang Mo Kio Hub, Jurong Point and Tampines Mall) are ideal places to pick up passengers, especially towards the end of a driver’s shift. Drivers can pick up a few fares to nearby places before heading home.

#8: Miscellaneous
Here are three other great places to pick up fares:

Woodlands Check Point – This area does not attract any surcharge but one can see long queues of taxis waiting for passengers. Drivers in the queuing taxis would normally prefer to have passengers who go beyond Woodlands, e.g. to the city.

Marina Bay Cruise Centre – This is an iconic, dedicated two-berth cruise facility built to accommodate the largest sea-faring cruisers. Upon the arrival of mega cruise ships, in-vehicle taxi terminals would be updated and drivers who are near the Marina South area can zoom over to pick up passengers. There is a surcharge of $5 during certain periods.

Ferry Terminal at Marina Bay South – Usually, passengers who embark and disembark from the vessels here are people working on Bukom. There is a surcharge of $5 during certain periods.

Besides these lucrative routes and spots above, taxi drivers can enhance their earnings by having regular customers and some corporate accounts.

Similarly, hourly bookings – either from individual customers or corporate ones – will garner a good return for a taxi driver. With a minimum booking of two hours, hourly booking rates can range from $35 to $45. So, minimum booking charges shall be $70 for off-peak hours and $90 for peak hours (exclusive of ERP charges). Hence, these extra services can really make a driver’s day!

So, if you can’t get a cab, you know the reason why. But, now, you’ll also know where to find us – good luck!