The Introduction of Large Fleets and Big Changes

As the 1920's blended into the 1930's, these few hundred taxis grew into large fleets that were owned by major corporations, some even by the car companies such as Ford and General Motors. But the biggest kid on the block was the Checkered Cab Manufacturing Company, who had the easily recognized yellow and black cabs that everyone would soon recognize. This company became one of the largest and most successful during the early the first decades of the twentieth century. Its distinctive vehicles were an early trademark that would grow into the later yellow cab icon.

The introduction of large fleets and corporations led to big problems as the labor force grew. The drivers could be guilty of charging unfair prices to customers, and then labor issues began to surface. Attempts to unionize were common, even with such groups as the Teamsters, but this was met with great resistance by the large fleet owners. With the Great Depression, the problems in the taxi cab industry doubled as drivers fought at times in desperation to get a fare from a rider. Cabbies joined together in a huge strike to protest low pay along with poor driving conditions. This 1934 strike took over the huge expanse of Times Square, and the drivers did win some concessions.

The drivers themselves, who suffered and fought through these early years of large fleet ownership, were drawn from the mass of immigrants that flooded into New York harbor yearly for a new life in America. These were a mix of Irish, German, Italian and many others who found work with companies like Checker. Their conditions improved when regulations were finally passed, such as the 1937 Haas Act. This act limited the number of cabs through the use of licenses and the medallion attached on the hood that showed the taxi was legal to carry passengers throughout the city. This increased quality control, but also handed a lot of power to a small lot of company owners.

These large fleets were not always honest in their dealings, even going so far to play online games as to bribe government officials at all levels and to fight unionization tooth and nail. This sadly meant that conditions for cabbies did not improve much over the decades, and that control still rested mainly with the few. Things were beginning to change, though, as corruption was brought to the surface and the need for stricter regulations was seen. This led to laws that made things safer, conditions better, and the work less hazardous.