It's every freelancer's nightmare: the silent telephone. You are behind the wheel, the hours are ticking by, but not the meter. In a profession where profitability is sometimes determined by a few pounds, These «gaps» in the day (usually between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.) are a source of stress.
However, trying to fill these gaps at any cost, without a strategy, can be costly. Between the legal risk of poaching and the real cost of active waiting, managing slow periods is what distinguishes the simple driver from the true business leader.
In a nutshell
Slow periods should not be endured.
- On the map legal, Please note: parking near stations without a reservation is illegal touting.
- On the map economic, Running empty to seek demand kills your margin.
- The winning strategy is based on three pillars: digital visibility (Google listing optimised without mentioning «Taxi»), the active management (administrative, exchange via WAY-Partner), and the business development (B2B prospecting by appointment).
The Trap of Active Waiting: Legal and Economic Risks
Before discussing solutions, we must deconstruct a common but dangerous reflex: going to «find» the customer where they are supposed to be.
The Red Line: Marauding and Back to the Garage
Unlike taxis, private hire vehicles are not allowed to cruise for customers. The Transport Code is strict: without a valid prior booking (order form), you are not allowed to drive around looking for customers or park on public roads (in front of a station or airport, for example) while waiting for the app to ring. The «return to garage» rule applies: after a fare, if you do not have a subsequent booking, you must return to your company's premises or park off the road (private/underground car park). The risk? One year's imprisonment, a €15,000 fine and impoundment of the vehicle. Don't mess around with this.
The impossible economic equation
From a purely financial point of view, «turning» to be well positioned is absurd. Even with the recent sectoral agreements of 2023 introducing a minimum hourly guarantee (often conditional on actual activity time rather than waiting time), the cost per kilometre of a vehicle running empty eats into your margin. Between fuel, wear and tear, and fatigue, it is often more profitable to come to a complete halt (in an authorised location) rather than burning cash in the hope of a £10 fare.
Offensive Strategy: Securing Upstream Activity
Since you cannot go out and find customers on the street, they must come to you digitally, or you must have secured them in advance.
Google Business Profile: Beware of the «Taxi» trap»
Your Google listing is your best weapon for attracting local customers who are planning their journeys. But a common mistake can cost you dearly: Never select the category «Taxi» or «Taxi rank».». This is a misleading commercial practice that is heavily penalised by the DGCCRF. Only use categories such as:
- Private driver
- Transport service
- Car hire agency
Extra tip: In your listing attributes, tick «Appointment required». This signals to customers (and authorities) that you comply with the legal framework for advance bookings.
B2B Canvassing: Get out of the car
Off-peak hours (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) are office hours. This is the ideal time to park your vehicle (legally) and go prospecting. Hotels, corporate concierge services, event agencies: these partners need reliable drivers. Be careful, however, as the aim is not to solicit customers in the lobby (which is prohibited), but to offer your services for future bookings. Introduce yourself as a logistics partner, leave your business cards, and sign partnership agreements.
The strength of the network: The exchange market
Isolation is the weakness of the self-employed. If you don't have any jobs, others may have too many. Management tools such as WAY-Partner include exchange exchanges (via WAY-Corp or GNET). This allows you to pick up jobs subcontracted by other drivers or Grande Remise companies. It's a great way to fill your schedule without relying solely on the algorithms of the industry giants.
Defensive Strategy: Turning Administration into an Asset
If the doldrums persist, change hats. Don't be a driver, be a manager.
Compliance and peace of mind
Police checks (Boers) are frequent on parked VTCs. If you are stopped while waiting, your best defence is transparency. With an application like WAY-Partner, you can show your identity immediately on your smartphone:
- Your order form for the next race (to justify your presence).
- All your up-to-date documents (insurance, business card, Kbis, MOT) stored in the app's digital safe. This proves your professionalism and often defuses tense situations.
Financial management
Use this quiet time to :
- Draw up quotations for prospective customers.
- Check your profitability using the margin calculator: is the €20 fare offered by an app really profitable once your actual costs have been deducted?
- Follow up your unpaid invoices.
The Human Factor: Safety
Finally, let's not forget the IGAS report, which points to the «excessive accident rate» among VTCs due to fatigue. The desire to make the most of every minute is understandable, but dangerous. If there's no demand, go home or take a real rest. Alertness is your primary working tool. An accident caused by drowsiness will cost you much more than an afternoon without driving.
Managing slack periods is not about «waiting for better». It's about arbitrating intelligently between business development (for tomorrow), rigorous management (for today) and compliance with the law (for always). By moving away from the marauding approach (physical or digital) towards that of the service company, you will no longer be subjected to time: you will invest it.
Glossary
Here are some useful terms to know and understand:
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Marauding : The act of driving or parking on the public highway in search of unreserved customers. This is a Taxi monopoly. Marauding is an offence for VTCs.
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Advance booking : Legal obligation for a VTC to prove that an order has been placed before picking up the customer and moving the vehicle.
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Back to the garage : Once the journey has been completed, the VTC must return to the operator's premises or to an off-street car park, unless another reservation has been made in advance.
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Order form : A document (physical or digital) that must be carried in the vehicle, giving details of the journey booked. It must be presented to the police in the event of an inspection.
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Google Business Profile (GBP) : Google business card. Be careful never to use the «Taxi» category for a VTC.
