Random LTL Rants (all are welcomed)

Hes just mad he does food service...

 

Those caprices were all falling apart and rattly like the MTA's RTS II buses, and patchworks of junkyard plastic; beige or black bumpers were common. Earlier chevies were better, the square ones were what they used and held onto until they were undriveable (try finding one of those used with less than a million miles). Checkers were huge in back but also old by then, so there was dirt tucked in all the corners and bare paint on fixtures and they rattled and had odd sounding door closes. But if you had a bunch of people to share a cab they were perfect. Crown Vics lasted but not forever, never heard any driver complain about them, or their Lincoln cousins.

That police light I dunno about, but one time I jumped in a crosstown cab that wasn't occupied, only to find out it was an undercover car. We all had a laugh and I got out.

 

The Checkers had two little jump seats in the back correct?
I had a 1994 Impala SS, I could certainly see all the plastic and interior pieces breaking off and going to pot pretty quickly. In heavy everyday application. This picture if I had to guess was taken circa 1997 that cabs probably a 1993 Chevy Caprice and it looks like heck.

 

Well is everyone ready for winter? My truck is covered in road salt already, but that aside I have the block heater plugged in and I have, fuel tanks filled up and I poured in some washer fluid which I haven't done in a while, but I thought it was getting low and it was, drank almost the entire gallon of washer fluid.

Got my new starter motor, truck starts like a jet engine this morning a crank and a half cold start and I was off and running, had an older trailer too, which was fine, however the refer unit was one of the first generation Thermo King Spectrums, it wasn't a Thermo King Super II which is what our older trailers typically are.

 

I believe that's correct, been a while. At least one ump seat in most of them, facing the rear. Watching a Checker unload was sometims like seeing one of those clown car gags.

In a way, that's the slack the Lincoln stretch limos took up, and where they arose from. If I was in a group we'd get one of those and split it for less than a hack would cost and we could ride together. Those we had to call for, no street hailing. Although in certain less patrolled neighborhoods street hailing of livery cars did happen. If there were any to hail. Usually if I caught one they were coming or going from their garage in a cheaper/tougher neighborhood. And they would go places a hack wouldn't, so if I wanted to catch a show 'uptown' I'd do livery, and I'd also have one at the door for the ride home when I was ready. 'fact, one of the companies was called "Uptown".

 

One of our trucks is stuck in a massive snow covered lot right now at 7pm on Friday night in the middle of a snow storm. I'm headed out right now to go try and help him. Drivers hanging out at the bar that is the customer. I guess the truck can't make it up the hill and the truck is doing nothing but jack knifing, this is winter time.

I told the guy park in the street if you have to, but do not pull into a lot you can't get out of, sometimes you have to walk further and work a tad harder to save time...

 

^^^ OMG.... look at the FARES on that ole' cab. Yeah, def 90's or earlier, LoL>!

 

Back then the tunnels were $4, up from 3.50. :^)

 

Believe it or not, retired cop cars from a lot of agencies in California became taxi cabs in California. When they were to worn out to repair, they were shipped to Mexicali, where they became, (guess what,) COP CARS AGAIN. Then when they were done with them, they were used as taxis down there....

See above.

There are a number of "codes" that are used by different cab companies in different cities. I've seen everything from floor transmitter switches, to different types of lights, or different configuration of "lights out," ie entire right side, or entire left side.
They also use certain codes on the radios, to confirm an emergency. And I'll tell you what, you think that cops respond fast to a "officer needs help" call, you should see the cabbies respond to a call that another driver is in trouble. Kind of warms the ####les of your heart.

It's been so many years ago, that I'm sure they are doing something different today, but Denver Yellow Cab, used the "one side of car all lights are out." If another cab spotted one driving that way, they'd get the cab number and call dispatch. (These radios you could only communicate from car to dispatch, or dispatch to car. There was no car to car capability.)
Anyway, they'd let dispatch know, and then dispatch would call (such and such a number,) check your lights. (Sometimes a switch would get thrown by accident.) If there was an emergency, (hold up, kidnap, or a serious problem passenger,) the cabbie would respond "Roger." At that point, dispatch would advice other cabs of cab number and location. THEN they'd call the cops. Any other response that Roger, would not bring help.

I got sent to the Jolly Roger bar for a fair one night. Dispatch sent me there, and I replied "Roger,") OOOOOPS. I then came back with NO, I DIDN'T MEAN THAT, I MEAN I'M HEADED TO THE JOLLY ROGER....
I heard about that for several weeks afterward.....