Taxi drivers switch companies

Several taxis in Saskatoon are changing their stripes.

After an attempt to merge two of Saskatoon’s cab companies failed, several cab owners affiliated with Saskatoon Radio Cab have joined The United Group. The switch took effect on Feb. 1.

“A larger fleet is able to be more efficient and more productive as well as provide better service,” said Troy Larmer, general manager of The United Group.

“With more cabs on a fleet being dispatched by one entity, you’re going to have less wait times and better service.”

In December, United had proposed a merger with Radio Cab and then made an offer to purchase the smaller company. Radio Cab is a co-operative and the owners held an informal vote that turned down both options, Radio Cab general manager Ron Eby said. At the time, United had 81 regular cabs in its fleet while Radio had 32.

“We lost 13 (cabs), but we also took two from United,” Eby said.

“We’ve been monitoring the situation, but our wait times and everything are excellent. Radio Cab is the oldest company in Saskatoon. We’ve been here for 62 years and we’ll be here for another 62 years, as long as there is gas available.”

Neither Larmer nor Eby would say how much, if any, money was paid as an incentive to switch from Radio to United. But they said everything was above board.

“Cab operators run their own business. They are their own business owners and each company is essentially a brokerage for the dispatching and for the operators of those vehicles. They’re still running a cab,” Larmer said.

Saskatoon has a third cab company. Comfort Cabs runs about 50 taxis.

The number of cabs in the city doesn’t change with the move of vehicles from Radio to United. The City of Saskatoon regulates the number of cab licences.