Impact of a Mandated Training Program on New Taxicab Drivers in New York City

摘要

4369 surveys were completed by applicants for a hack license enrolled in the New York Taxi Drivers Institute (NYTDI) which offered a 20 hour training program that was mandated for all incoming taxi drivers in New York City in January, 1984. 73 percent of the sample population were born in 82 countries other than the United States, and the students were conversant in 72 languages other than English. A majority of the students (67%) ranged in age from 25 to 40 years of age. They were relatively well educated with 47 percent reportedly completing two or more years of college. The majority of the applicants planned to work full time for fleet or minifleet operations after receiving their licenses. Pre- and post-program focus groups held at both NYTDI sites revealed three major areas of concern: the negative image of the industry; the lack of an advocate for drivers who were perceived to be subject to unreasonable demands by the public, the regulatory agencies, and the media; and personal security. Post-program students gave the NYTDI a positive rating due in no small part to the excellent teaching by the faculty (former taxi drivers or current industry staff) of the well conceived curriculum targeted to the New York area. Fleet managers attending a focus group session identified two changes of major consequence for the industry: the shift from a commission to a leasing arrangement with drivers and the change in composition of the work force. Both drivers and managers identified the poor image of the industry as a major problem. The NYTDI was established to help new applicants, the majority of whom were not native born Americans, deal effectively with the demands of taxi driving in New York City and to provide passengers with a better level of service.