Friday February 12, 2016
By Tim Gordon
Office manager Dawood Ghedi stands outside PDX Yellow Cab offcies in southeast Portland.
PORTLAND, Ore. – There’s a new taxi cab company in Portland, owned and operated by drivers with years of local experience. The mostly Somali-born drivers formed PDX Yellow Cab. When city leaders allowed Uber to operate, competition increased, but it created an opportunity. The PDX Yellow Cab group got permits to operate when the city eliminated the limit on them.
So far PDX Yellow has 34 owner-operators. Company leaders said they have permits to accommodate growth to 100 cabs. The drivers used to drive for other companies, but said the cost to use their cars was about $600 a week, so it was hard to make a profit.“I used to work 12 to 14 hours, 7 days a week-- that’s how the life is because I have to pay the company. If I don’t pay the company I lose my spot,” said Dawood Ghedi.
Ghedi has been a cabbie in Portland for 15 years, always driving for other companies. He was a leader in securing the permits and starting the company, where he now works as the office manager.
“This is all drivers owned, contributing all together -- and we get our freedom” said Ghedi, with a broad grin on his face.
Mohamed Yalahow is also smiling. In his 30s with a wife and five children, Yalahow moved from Somalia to Portland 10 years ago. He has been a cabbie for six years. As a partner in PDX Yellow Cab, he is looking forward to making more money for his family, and seeing them more often.
“This morning I took my kids to school, I’m not worried about the time because I’ve got my own company my own car, my own—taxi,” said Yalahow, who added, “My dream has come true.”