Puget Sound taxicab operators are making strides to provide the best customer service in Seattle’s personal transportation industry.  170 drivers from Yellow Cab, Farwest Taxi, and Orange Cab attended a Taxicab Driver Hospitality Training on Tuesday, July 15 at the Teamsters Union hall in Tukwila.  

The training was offered by the Western Washington Taxicab Operators Association (WWTCOA) in partnership with Teamsters Local 117 and the Hospitality Management program at South Seattle College (SSC). 

"We are professional drivers who understand the importance of providing excellent service to our customers," said Parminder Cheema, a driver from Yellow Cab.

The course was taught by instructors in South Seattle College’s Hospitality Management program.  The goal of the training is to increase customer satisfaction, prioritize customer safety, develop relationships with institutional clients, and enhance professionalism of taxi service. Drivers who successfully complete the course will receive a certificate that they can display in their cabs.

A second training will be held on Thursday, July 17 at 10 A.M.  Additional trainings will be scheduled according to demand. The cost of the training to drivers is $60.

The WWTCOA is a membership association that “promotes fairness, justice, and transparency in Seattle's heavily-regulated taxi industry.”  The WWTCOA works closely with Teamsters Local 117 to ensure that taxis have the resources they need so that they can speak with a unified voice and build a better life for themselves and their families.

For more information, visit www.teamstertaxi.org.