This is what the desk of the main dispatcher looks like. The monitor at the right shows all of the locations of the people who are wanting a cab in the county. The dispatcher assigns cabs to those locations. Not a easy job. He will give the driver two cross-streets, when the driver get there he calls channel 2, this person will give the driver the actual address and any information that he may need. Sometimes where they are going but not always. You can see why it is important to give all of the proper information when you call and ask for a cab. I took this when I went to visit "shoe" who is perhaps one of best dispatchers who has ever worked for United Cab. They are all pretty good. Each has his or her own way of doing things.
I usually tired to take two weeks off a year. I would go for a week and visit my aunt and uncle who live in Kentucky. Five years ago I came got back to Tampa, turned my rental car in and went to pick up my cab (157). I stop at save-a-lot to get something for dinner. I cook my own meals. As I was getting out of my cab I noticed 4 cuban type people, 3 men and a girl looking at me and the cab. I went in the store and when I came out they were still there. One guy came up to me and in very, very broken English conveyed to me that they needed to go to Miami. Ha, yeah right. But he plulled out a pocket full of money, I saw two one hundred dollar bills for sure, I told them to get in. On the way I asked him why not take the bus? All he said was no, no. Then I knew illegal's. Hell I didn't care if they came from the moon. They actual went to a address on Sistrunk St. in Ft. Liquerdale, err, Lauderdale. That street is not a very nice place to be and it was getting rather dark. I knew the area as I used to work there in 1984. But the fare was worth it 490, which is all they had. Those lucky ones come now and then but I can count them all on one hand.
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