Saskatoon taxi company struggling to stay afloat amidst pandemic

It’s been a tough past couple weeks for the riide taxi service in Saskatoon.

Two weeks ago, the business was still running at full capacity with their main concern being the need to increase their cleaning protocols.

Now, business has been cut by nearly 70 per cent.

“Things have changed quite dramatically since then. About three-quarters of our fleet is parked just because there isn’t enough business for them,” said riide president, Scott Suppes.

“That’s a pretty major change for us that has led to us laying off about three-quarters of our staff as well. We are down to the bare minimum to keep the doors open at this point. So it’s not good, I’m hoping we survive.”

Suppes says in a meeting last week the question was brought up if the company should close its doors completely or try the reduced workforce that they have now.

“At this point (it) seems to be holding its own. We seem to have enough cars that are gaining enough income to maintain things at this level,” he said.

“I just don’t know what’s in the future.”

In the meantime, they are upping their safety procedures once again by installing plastic shields that keep the front and back seats protected. Suppes says this measure is well worth the $100 approximate cost to install and the drivers seem to be on board with it.

“Most of them were already wearing some PPE (personal protective equipment). They had masks and gloves and of course, we’ve got the hand sanitizer and the disinfectant as well and it’s just that one extra step that gives them extra comfort,” he said.

“It just gives them a much better feeling that they are protected and it’s not a really onerous thing for us to do.”

Suppes hopes that when this is all over and things go back to normal that people recognize that their drivers continued to provide their service throughout the crisis and that people will help support the company and bring back the workers who had to get laid-off.

“We as a local company have worked through the crisis and kept driving passengers. I’m hoping that when things do get better they recognize that and bring the rest of our fleet back online,” he said.

“Because that’s the scary part. I’m not sure how quick we’ll see these other guys come back. And you know most of these guys are self-employed so there is very little support for them.”