subject: Why Do Taxi Drivers Charge A Fuel Surcharge? [print this page] Taxi services often charge a fuel surcharge no matter where you're catching a ride. The need to charge fuel surcharges has risen with the ever increasing cost of gas. In recent years, gas prices have been at their highest and with the high cost of fuel, taxi companies have had to pass these additional costs on to the consumer to remain profitable. This has led to the implementation of fuel surcharges for most cab companies around the country. Without this surcharge, most cab companies would be forced out of business.
Due to the current state of the economy, here and abroad, the way that fuel surcharges are applied has been changed. Recently, there were negotiations amongst cab companies throughout the Chicago area. They decided to retract the fuel surcharge policy that had been implemented because gas prices had dropped significantly. This drop in the price of gas was due to the cost of oil plummeting, an indication that the global economy is suffering. However, other costs related to taxi cabs have remained high. This has proved to be a challenging position to be in for taxi drivers as they still need a way to stay profitable.
As with any business, specific charges will be passed on to consumers where supply and demand fluctuate. Fuel surcharges are no exception. Taxi cab companies may be forced to leverage fuel surcharges in the future should the price of oil surge upward. This causes a struggle between offering value to the consumer and making a profit. In addition to fuel, the cabs themselves require maintenance and these costs could also be passed to the people that rely on cabs for transportation.
When estimating your costs for cab usage, you should pay attention to the cost of fuel. This could increase the amount you need to budget for transportation costs. Paying for taxi services is a necessity of doing in business in most cases. Without them, you'll have difficulty in getting around and getting to the meeting on time. Unfortunately, during times of inflationary costs in fuel, you may be paying more for their services. This rise in cost is not an unreasonable move on the part of the cab companies, but simply a way to stay in business. As the economy continues to re-invent itself, we may see other fees be adjusted to keep pace. As a result, don't be surprised if the next time you ride in a taxi that you have to pay more than you expected.
