In our latest edition of Fleet Beat, I speak with Tom Shanks, CFO of Blueline Taxis. Blueline is a family run business established in 1958. Based in Newcastle, UK, they have been an iCabbi Customer since 2015.
Lots of ground covered in this session. From Blueline’s impressive growth from a 500 driver fleet to over 1,000 pre pandemic to the impact of COVID and then how the team adapted to its challenges and opportunities. In addition, Newcastle has led the way in vaccinations in the UK and Tom discusses how their fleet has been instrumental in helping people get to the vaccination centres. Furthermore, a pivot to deliveries also helped keep their drivers on the road. In turn, equally important, it created some long term new business relationships.
And the Future?
The future is covered. With Tom sharing his views on MAAS and the need for the Taxi industry and Blueline to become more Mobility focused, with a warning for all that the pace of transformation will be hampered by industry fragmentation, and a lack of investment, data and research. If you also believe that the recovery will be strong with an emphasis on local and national networks and an EV flavour, then this Fleet Beat is definitely worth watching.
Keep an ear out for his Chief Barketing Officer!