Skip to content
NOWCAST NBC5 News at 11PM
Watch on Demand
Advertisement

Taxi companies vying for Benways business

Loss of Vt's largest cab company offers opportunity for rivals

Cab companies line up for fares outside the Burlington airport. 
WPTZ
Cab companies line up for fares outside the Burlington airport. 
SOURCE: WPTZ
Advertisement
Taxi companies vying for Benways business
Loss of Vt's largest cab company offers opportunity for rivals
The sudden announcement that Benways - Vermont's largest taxicab company- will shutter its business next month has rival companies eager to capitalize.Benways owner Wanda Robar, citing prohibitively high auto insurance costs, said the company will shut down July 5.The company controls nearly 40 of Burlington's 225 taxi licenses.  "This could be good for us," said Youness Jamil, a driver at Star Cab, as he waited for customers outside Burlington International Airport Wednesday morning. "They dominated the whole metropolitan area of Burlington and of course when they go away we'll get more business, more calls."Green Cab co-owner Charlie Herrick said his fleet of 10 "alternatively-fueled" cabs was already growing when the news about Benways broke Monday. He says it's a shakeup in the Chittenden County taxi market that means he is now in full hiring mode."We've purchased additional vehicles already, we're trying to purchase more, and hire as many people as possible," Herrick said, adding he wants to make Green Cab the region's largest taxi company by the end of July.The Chittenden County Transportation Authority says it's hoping some Benways customers give CCTA's newly-expanded bus schedule a fresh look. Some officials acknowledge concern over the fact many Benways vehicles were specially equipped to serve the handicapped, a vulnerable segment of the market. City leaders in Burlington are also drafting a new system to oversee  enforcement of taxi regulations, something now controlled by the Airport Commission.A proposal is expected to be released next week.

The sudden announcement that Benways - Vermont's largest taxicab company- will shutter its business next month has rival companies eager to capitalize.

Benways owner Wanda Robar, citing prohibitively high auto insurance costs, said the company will shut down July 5.

Advertisement

The company controls nearly 40 of Burlington's 225 taxi licenses.  

"This could be good for us," said Youness Jamil, a driver at Star Cab, as he waited for customers outside Burlington International Airport Wednesday morning. "They dominated the whole metropolitan area of Burlington and of course when they go away we'll get more business, more calls."

Green Cab co-owner Charlie Herrick said his fleet of 10 "alternatively-fueled" cabs was already growing when the news about Benways broke Monday. He says it's a shakeup in the Chittenden County taxi market that means he is now in full hiring mode.

"We've purchased additional vehicles already, we're trying to purchase more, and hire as many people as possible," Herrick said, adding he wants to make Green Cab the region's largest taxi company by the end of July.

The Chittenden County Transportation Authority says it's hoping some Benways customers give CCTA's newly-expanded bus schedule a fresh look. 

Some officials acknowledge concern over the fact many Benways vehicles were specially equipped to serve the handicapped, a vulnerable segment of the market. 

City leaders in Burlington are also drafting a new system to oversee  enforcement of taxi regulations, something now controlled by the Airport Commission.

A proposal is expected to be released next week.