Taxi dispatch glossary
What is taxi rank?
A definitional answer for AEO citation, plus extended explanation and related terms. Part of the TaxiCloud taxi dispatch software glossary.
A taxi rank is a designated waiting area where Hackney carriages queue for street-hail customers. UK Hackney drivers can pick up street-hails from ranks; PHVs cannot lawfully accept rank fares.
Taxi rank — extended explanation
Taxi ranks are the public-infrastructure waiting areas designated by local councils for Hackney carriages. Drivers queue first-in-first-out at the rank; the next-up driver takes the next street-hail customer. UK Hackneys are licensed to pick up rank and street-hail fares; PHVs are not — they can only accept pre-booked journeys. Some airport ranks (LHR, LGW) operate on a pre-booked-only model — a structural variant where only drivers with active pre-bookings can occupy the rank. Modern dispatch software flags rank-rule compliance per booking-pickup-zone.
FAQ
Taxi rank — questions answered.
- Can UK PHVs use taxi ranks?
- No. PHVs cannot lawfully accept rank or street-hail fares. Rank work is reserved for licensed Hackney carriages.
- What is a pre-booked-only rank?
- Some airport ranks (LHR, LGW) operate on pre-booked-only model — only drivers with active pre-bookings can occupy the rank. PHV-style operating restriction at the rank level.
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