| The hack license may interest you if you have | | | | that of a traditional horse, because the |
| you recently moved to New York City and are | | | | right legs or left legs moved in tandem |
| you looking for work. If you want to, perhaps | | | | instead of the traditional cross gait of a |
| you would like to get your own license and | | | | trot. This was much more comfortable for |
| become a taxi driver. | | | | ladies who rode sidesaddle since it was much |
| | | | less jarring. And the term might have come |
| What is that, you say? Well, the hack license | | | | from a borough in London called Hackney. By |
| is what you will need to get when you want to | | | | the way, in the UK, motorized hackney cabs |
| drive a yellow medallion taxicab in the city. | | | | are black instead of yellow as is |
| This can be valuable if you are someone who | | | | traditionally true in the US. |
| needs steady work in the city. | | | | |
| | | | In fact, the yellow medallion taxis have a |
| How are you going to get this license in New | | | | tradition dating back to the 1930's. Indeed, |
| York City? Well, you will need to go through | | | | they are one of the lasting enterprises of |
| a bit of paperwork, take required classes and | | | | New York City. Just in the last decade, over |
| study so that you can learn the highways, | | | | 1,000 new medallions have been auctioned off |
| bridges and tunnels and various landmarks of | | | | by the city. Recently, a taxi medallion cost |
| the city. If you can do this, then it is most | | | | its new owner more than $600,000. By |
| likely that you will be eligible for the New | | | | contrast, these went for less than $200,000 |
| York City hack license. | | | | in 2001. The winners are either driving now |
| | | | or they have sold their licenses at a profit |
| Once you have it, you will need to get ready | | | | to present medallion owners. |
| to go to work. And this type of job is not | | | | |
| for slackers or somebody who does not have a | | | | In New York City, however, the hack license |
| lot of energy. You will probably work long | | | | to be a taxi driver is issued by the Taxi and |
| hours, at least 12 on a shift. If this is | | | | Limousine Commission. This allows you to hack |
| you, then perhaps this is the perfect job for | | | | or drive a yellow cab. Indeed, having this |
| you. Go ahead and apply for your New York | | | | license can be worth a lot to you. |
| City hack license. Indeed, many taxi drivers | | | | |
| can bring in upwards of $400 a shift with | | | | If you have the hack license, you are one of |
| take-home pay of more than $200 a shift after | | | | the select drivers who can pick up hails, or |
| expenses. | | | | people with their hand raised, on the streets |
| | | | of New York City. You also will accept hails |
| Now that we have got that cleared up, let us | | | | anywhere within the five boroughs of the city |
| take a look at the definition of the word | | | | itself. In addition, during your first eight |
| hack. What is it and what does it mean? Of | | | | hours of the shift, you will take passengers |
| course, this term can be a derogatory term, | | | | to the adjoining counties of Westchester or |
| but historically, when someone is described | | | | Nassau or the Newark, New Jersey |
| as a hack, that means it is someone who is | | | | international airport. |
| willing to work hard and will put in the time | | | | |
| to do so. | | | | Do you think you would like to become a hack |
| | | | for New York City? If you do, you can find |
| It is possible that its origin came from the | | | | out more about getting your own hack license |
| French word haquenee. This word was used for | | | | by contacting the Master Cabbie Taxicab |
| a horse whose gait was much smoother than | | | | Academy in New York City. |