Did you ever get in a limo or taxi and have the driver ask you for directions to your destination?
Makes you wonder … who’s paying whom? Especially if you have never been to the venue, airport or address before!
Where are we???
Imagine…you arrive at the airport late at night, your company has arranged for a limo service to take you to your hotel. It is one where you have never stayed before. You are tired, it has been a long day – and your driver needs to pull up Google Maps or GPS to get you to your destination? Or, your bridal party heads off to that fabulous destination for the wedding of your dreams! But your driver has no clue where to find that section of the beach! You think, ‘well that’s not acceptable in terms of service!’ And we agree with you…that is definitely not good service. We don’t want our drivers to EVER be unprepared or uncertain of destinations when they pick up our valued clients.
Here to There?
If you have ever had the fortunate experience of travelling to London, you would have experienced the pleasure of hopping into one of the City’s famous black taxis to take you to Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square or perhaps Buckingham Palace to see the Changing of the Guard. Did you know that limo and taxi drivers in London can’t even get licensed without passing what is ‘affectionately’ called “The Knowledge of London”?
The Knowledge is the course required by all London cabbies. They have to memorize every street, every location, every venue and every route to every location before they can get licensed to take on passengers. Even in the age of the GPS, this continues to be a requirement. This long-standing, time-honored tradition allows passengers to have confidence they will arrive at their destination by way of the shortest, safest and most economical way possible. It is also something that the licensed professional drivers feel gives them the edge over some of the ride-share companies.
The preparation and testing process was so grueling, that in 1979, a British comedy-drama television play was produced, actually at the request of an American who had lived in London and was fascinated by the whole concept. The production, simply entitled “The Knowledge” won multiple awards, not the least of which recognized Sir Nigel Hawthorne for his brilliant portrayal of the sadistic examiner from the Public Carriage Office.
The Bottom Line?
We at Blue Ribbon Transportation hold our drivers to the highest standards. Maybe we don’t make them take grueling tests or subject them to sadistic examiners, but each and every one of our drivers know their routes before they pick up their passengers, our valued clients. Short of unforeseeable road blockages, caused by weather or accidents, we require them to know the best, fastest and safest route to that spot on the beach, that airport terminal, that restaurant or that golf course. That is OUR ‘Knowledge,” so YOU will never be asked “So, how do I get there?”