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16 Operational Taxi Data

This reference sheet provides guidance to taxi operators on including statistical operational data in applications to add more taxis to their fleets. It explains that the data should summarize trends, include multi-year numbers to show patterns, and sample source data. It also introduces three sample spreadsheet templates for reporting trip volumes, vehicles in use, and wait times that could support such an application. A fictional example is provided of a company using the spreadsheets to analyze its wheelchair-accessible taxi service data for a request to add more accessible vehicles.

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201 views8 pages

16 Operational Taxi Data

This reference sheet provides guidance to taxi operators on including statistical operational data in applications to add more taxis to their fleets. It explains that the data should summarize trends, include multi-year numbers to show patterns, and sample source data. It also introduces three sample spreadsheet templates for reporting trip volumes, vehicles in use, and wait times that could support such an application. A fictional example is provided of a company using the spreadsheets to analyze its wheelchair-accessible taxi service data for a request to add more accessible vehicles.

Uploaded by

Dragonzombie0099
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Reference Sheet 16

Operational Taxi Data


Who is this Reference Sheet for?
If you are applying for additional taxis, you should first refer to Application Guide 3: I want
to add taxis to my fleet. The Application Guide describes the different types of materials
that you may submit with your application.
This Reference Sheet is focussed on statistical data about your taxi operation. It offers
more guidance on the subject than Application Guide 3. Although it may assist any
applicant who seeks additional taxis, it was mainly written for applicants with computer
dispatch systems, and for companies in larger communities (e.g. with a population of
60,000 or more).
This Reference Sheet is also a companion guide for a set of three sample spreadsheet
reports that the Board created with Microsoft Excel. These reports are optional and
available for use to summarize statistical data for your taxi operation. The three sample
reports are:

Spreadsheet A: Trip Volumes

Spreadsheet B: Vehicles-on-Shift

Spreadsheet C: Wait Times

The Reference Sheet is written for individuals who have some experience with spreadsheet
software. It explains how the Board spreadsheets were designed and where to input your
data. It also explains how you can use any one of the spreadsheets to summarize data for
all of your taxi fleet and services, or for a portion of the fleet for specified shifts. That is,
you may use the same spreadsheet to make more than one report.

PT Board RS 16

Operational Taxi Data

March 2014

Page 1

A. Using Taxi Operating Data in Your Application


When you apply for additional taxis, the Board expects that the larger taxi companies will
include statistical data that shows recent trends in your taxi operation. When you apply,
consider the following guidelines for deciding what type of data to include in your
application:
1. Summarize & Explain Your Data. The data does not speak for itself. Data on its
ownand words on their owncan be unconvincing. Convert raw data into a
summary that shows service levels and trends. Also, include a written description that
explains what is happening.
You should not assume that the Board will know the rationale or all the assumptions
behind your application. It is important to define basic terms, identify the sources of
your data and information (e.g. model of dispatch system), and state assumptions that
shape your estimates, projections and analysis. If you apply for 2 additional taxis,
explain as best you can how the data supports 2 additional taxis.
Excerpt from a Board decision
In general, the panel was not impressed with the methods that either company used to determine the
number of accessible vehicles required. There was very little analysis of company records, statistics or other
indicia of need. Both companies reported that certain information was not available due to its data
retention practices. If a company applies to the Board for more vehicles, then it is incumbent on the
company to keep relevant data to present to the Board. These two applicants are significant companies in
an established market and they should approach the application process in a more professional manner. In
future applications, applicants should provide concrete analyses, with greater precision, to support requests
for additional accessible vehicles. Numbers require some foundation and methodology or logical
reasoning to demonstrate how they were arrived at.

2. Back Up Your Rationale. You should make sure that you have historical data that
backs up your rationale for seeking more taxis.
3. Show the Big Picture Summarize data for your full fleet even if you are applying to
expand part of your fleet (e.g. wheelchair accessible taxis) or part of your service (e.g. a
contract for postal carriers). This gives the Board contextual information about
changes in your overall business that may be needed to understand changes in part of
your taxi operation.

PT Board RS 16

Operational Taxi Data

March 2014

Page 2

4. Use Multi-Year Data Data is more meaningful when it can show year-over-year
trends. Applicants should make every attempt to have a system in place so monthly
averages can be accessed for at least two years. Data for three or even four years can
enhance an application. If your dispatch system does not store taxi data for more
than 3, 6 or 12 months, start archiving monthly data and reports on a regular
basis.
5. Include Samples of Your Source Data and Reports. While the Board expects
applicants to summarize data in report form, it also wants to know where the data
comes from and how it was collected. To do this, include samples of your raw data (e.g.
for a day) and intermediate reports that summarize your raw data (e.g. for a month).
Ideally, you will provide examples with data that links from the source to intermediate
reports to the multi-year summary reports (e.g. the Boards sample spreadsheets). You
should not send the Board all your raw data and intermediate reports. However, you
should keep all your data as the Board may ask to see some or all of it.

B. Spreadsheet Options
The three sample spreadsheets are introduced with images of the data input cells.
Spreadsheet A: Trip Volumes
Figure 1: Input Cells for Spreadsheet A (hypothetical data)

Use Spreadsheet A to report monthly and annual trip volumes. If your statistics exclude
some types of trips (e.g. flag trips, airport trips, non-metered trips), describe the statistics
that are not provided. You should also include an explanation in your application package.

PT Board RS 16

Operational Taxi Data

March 2014

Page 3

Spreadsheet B: Vehicles on Shift


Figure 2: Input Cells for Spreadsheet B (hypothetical data)

Use Spreadsheet B to report monthly average numbers of vehicles that booked on and
provided transportation. A vehicle may be counted as on shift whether it is operating for
all or part of a shift.
Spreadsheet C: Wait Times
Figure 3: Input Cells for Spreadsheet C (hypothetical data)

Figure 3 shows the green-shaded cells for inputting annual wait times.

C. Using the Spreadsheets


The Board created three one-page spreadsheets. Before you start inputting data, here are
some basic things you should know.
Basic Report Information Rows 3 through 8 of each spreadsheet provide green cells for
you to provide information that describes your report. Overtype your companys legal
name (and trade name) on row 3. Note the date you created the report in row 6. Identify
the standard shift times for your operation (e.g. 0:400 to 16:00 for the day shift). Figure 4
illustrates this portion of the spreadsheet.

PT Board RS 16

Operational Taxi Data

March 2014

Page 4

Figure 4: Report Information Example from Spreadsheet A

Colour Codes Green cells indicate fields where you may input data. Blue cells indicate
fields with text or formulae that you should not change. If you change a blue cell, you can
create errors.
Drop Down Menus. Row 4 of each spreadsheet has two drop-down lists. See Figure 5. The
play triangle points to the cells with the drop down lists. The first drop-down lets you
specify all or part of your fleet or services. The second drop-down lets you specify all shifts
(i.e. 24/7) or a particular shift that you want to focus on. Both drop-downs include a user
defined option. If you choose this option, describe your report and data in the Notes
section.
The drop down menus enable you to use the same spreadsheet for different purposes. For
example, spreadsheet A can be used to report all taxicabs on shift as well as all wheelchair
accessible taxicabs on shift.

PT Board RS 16

Operational Taxi Data

March 2014

Page 5

Figure 5: Drop Down Menu Example

Notes Section Rows 10 and 11 give you a place to add notes about your report. The
following list provides examples of the type of information you may include in the notes
section:

Additional details for understanding the reported data

Disclose or explain missing data, exclusions, anomalies or errors

State important assumptions or definitions for proper data interpretation

Text entered in the notes section will wraparound if the length of text exceeds the width of
the report. That is, some text will drop down to a second line. However, this text will not
be visible unless you increase the height of the row.
Dummy Data (-1) Some numeric cells are pre-filled with a negative number (e.g. -1) to
show that dummy data has been used. Overwrite all dummy data when inputting your
actual data. When there are green cells for which you are not reporting any data, delete the
dummy data to create a blank cell. If you do not delete the dummy data, errors will appear
in the averages or totals that are calculated automatically by the spreadsheet.
Your Data Depending on which spreadsheet you use, you will be inputting data for a
month or a year. To get this data, you may need to create an intermediate report that
calculates averages or totals from your raw data so it can be used in one of the sample

PT Board RS 16

Operational Taxi Data

March 2014

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summary reports. As noted previously, intermediate reports and raw data should be
retained as backup.

D. Application Example
Cab company XYZ Taxi Ltd. operates a fleet of 25 vehicles. Of these, 2 are wheelchair
accessible taxis (WATs). The company thinks it needs to add 5 WATs to its fleet to meet the
current need. The company refers to Application Guide 3 when preparing the application.
The company has access to multiple years of data, although some data is not available for
2010. The General Manager is familiar with Excel and she decides to summarize her
companys operational statistics with the Boards sample spreadsheets. With the help of
Application Guide 3 and this Reference Sheet, she develops a list of reports she will create.
Figure 6 shows the list.
Figure 6: A Fictional List of Spreadsheet Reports of spreadsheets that may be submitted

Data
Reported
2012

A
Trip
Volumes

B
Vehicles
on Shift

C
Wait
Times

A
Trip
Volumes

B
Vehicles
on Shift

C
Wait
Times

All 25 Taxis

All 25 Taxis

All 25 Taxis

2 WATs only

2 WATs only

2 WATs only

2011

2010

Not available

Not available

The General Manager updates written application materials by noting why 2010 data was
available for some reports but not the vehicles on shift report.
Tip:

If data is not available for a current application, now is the time to make sure

data will be available the next time it is needed. If your dispatch system does not
store data for multiple years, create monthly or annual reports while the data is
available (and archive the data in a way that it can be used later).

PT Board RS 16

Operational Taxi Data

March 2014

Page 7

E. Feedback
If there is something you want the Board to know about your application, make sure you
include it with your application materials.
What if I find a spreadsheet error?
Please let Board staff know so we can correct it. If you are not sure if something is an error,
consider getting a second opinion from an Excel user in your organization. To report an
error, call PT Board staff at 250-953-3777 or send an email to [email protected].
Can I suggest improvements?
Yes. We are making spreadsheets available for the first time. We hope they are useful and
we are interested in suggestions for improving them in the future.

F. More Information
Application Materials

Apply for Additional Taxis

PT Board RS 16

Operational Taxi Data

March 2014

Page 8

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