London Black Cabs Still Rolling Along

There are many taxi services in London but the most recognized of them are the London Black Cabs. London Black Cabs are traditional taxis that are licensed with the London Carriage office. London Black Cabs are the only cabs that can legally ply for your business. Please use great care when being hailed by a cab driver. If it is not a London Black Cab, it could be any unscrupulous person.

London Black Cabs are very recognizable. While they are no longer all black, they still retain that square yet rounded shape that is associated with the London Cabs of old. If you are not familiar with the traditional London Cabs, watch any old movie that involves London and you will see many.

London Black Cabs boast the ability to carry five passengers plus luggage. They also still maintain that all of their cabs have the ability to turn on a dime. This means that they have a twenty-five foot turning radius and can turn around on almost any London street. Black Cabs are supposed to come with child safety seats and all can accommodate wheelchairs.

There are over 25,000 licensed taxi cab drivers in London. Obtaining a license in London is a difficult task. There is an in-depth, complex "knowledge of London" test that you must pass before you will be licensed, however, it is worth it as all London Cab drivers are self employed and therefore set their own hours. This is unique for a taxi-oriented city.

The London Carriage Office is currently running a campaign to recruit Taxi Drivers. Applicants must be 21 years or older to apply and the Carriage Office would like to see more women applying this year. At the moment, only around 6% of drivers are women. There is a rigorous application process with criminal and credit checks that must be passed along with the knowledge test making it a difficult process.

After you have passed the tests and become a licensed driver, you have to procure a vehicle that meets the Carriage Office Standards. You also have to have the vehicle inspected and obtain a taxi vehicle license. The vehicle has to be inspected and a new vehicle license purchased every 12 months. You will need to buy a taxi meter and receipt printer before you are ready to roll out onto the streets of London.

There are also a great many private hire companies in London. It is just as difficult to become a private hire driver. In fact, in some cases, it is more difficult. Most private hire companies take great care in hiring private drivers. Companies like Leading Route Cars who specialise in Heathrow taxis have an extensive driver screening process that is second to none in its thoroughness. Becoming a Leading Route driver is both a challenge and a privilege as only a few who apply actually succeed. They hand pick only the best, most professional drivers with the finest skill sets.

Finally, there is no other private hire company in the world that can offer the customer service satisfaction that Leading Route Cars offers. Safety is their number one goal and they make sure that everyone who utilizes their services is 100% satisfied and strive to meet all of their customer's needs with courtesy and professionalism. Booking with Leading Route Cars is easy, quick, and affordable. Simply visit their website at www.LeadingRouteCars.com and a professional booking agent will meet any transportation need that you have, worry, and hassle free.

Aside from great customer satisfaction, some of the quality services they provide are Airport transfers, Business and Executive trips, Hotel and Seaport transfers, Weddings, Station pick-ups, and Courier and Parcel service, just to name a few. If you visit London, no matter what your mode of transportation, you are in good hands, so sit back and enjoy the ride.