This month we caught up with Scott Dumigan – owner of Turner Cars in Ramsgate, Kent. Since starting his company back in 2011, Turner Cars has gone from strength to strength and is now the largest wheelchair accessible taxi and private hire operator in the county. Here Scott talks about Turner Cars’ beginnings, his fleet and which vehicles he thinks are best suited to the job.
People First – Wheelchair Accessible Fleet
Unlike many taxi company owners Scott didn’t start out life as a driver. The decision to start up his taxi firm was very much a personal one. Scott explains: “My wife and I were long time foster carers – we’ve actually since adopted two of the kids we looked after – and we’d become really quite frustrated with the lack of wheelchair accessible transport available in the area.
“So we bought two accessible vehicles – some five years ago now – and haven’t looked back since. We’ve now got over 50 cars on the fleet and around 60 drivers working at the company in total.
“Our philosophy since day one has always been to put the people we serve first. We want to be able to offer a first class service which, in turn, means having the right vehicles available to cater to all types of jobs.
“The first two cars we bought were converted Peugeot Experts which we sourced from Cab Direct. We’ve continued buying from them ever since. One of the best things about Cab Direct is the wide range of vehicles on offer. I really think they have a vehicle for every eventuality. Their price point is excellent too.
“Not only that, we’ve always received a very professional and personal service. Since buying those first two cars back in 2011, I’ve been dealing with the same salesman, Iain. I know when I call that he’ll go the extra mile to get me the vehicle I’m looking for at the right price.”
Turner Cars Preferred Cabs
Scott continues: “For wheelchair access, for me, the Peugeot Premier is the best value cab on the market. The versatility on offer is ideal for the taxi trade. The ramp in the back is really quick and easy to use when you need it. Then, when you don’t, it folds back into the vehicle floor giving you a five seat car with huge luggage capacity. It’s also really fuel efficient and drivers say it’s really spacious and comfortable too.
“We’ve also had some Volkswagen Kudos’ from Cab Direct over the years – they’re also very versatile and work well when you need a bit more room. The wheelchair ramp follows the same principle, folding back into the floor when not in use. The added benefit with Kudos is you don’t have to put the rear seats down to get the wheelchair passenger on board.”
Taxi Trade Exclusive Deals
Scott concludes: “It’s not just accessible transport, when it comes to standard cars and MPVs, the savings available from Cab Direct are phenomenal. We’ve got quite a few nine seat Ford Tourneo Customs which we’ve been really impressed with. And my most recent find is the Toyota Auris Touring which again represents fantastic value for money.
“We’ve saved thousands on vehicles with Cab Direct over the years. In short, it’s fair to say I’m a happy customer.”
For more information visit our wheelchair accessible taxi or standard car pages. Alternatively, call free on the number at the top of the page or email info@cabdirect.com.