Depot taxi service in business, shuttles personnel to NHB, Depot destinations

8 Aug 2003 | Cpl. Alisha R. Fitzgerald Marine Corps Training and Education Command

Depot Motor Transport reinstated its Depot taxi service in March.

According to Depot Order P11240.3J, the taxi service has always been a part of Motor Transport's workload, but due to lack of operators to man the service, it was involuntarily discontinued.

The taxi service is dependent on driver availability. Since the service hasn't been operable, most were unaware that it was even available.

"Some people didn't even know the service existed," said Capt. Dawn Rosenblad, Motor T officer in charge. "Those that did know about it have since been misinformed that it's no longer in operation."

The taxi service is offered free of charge and operates seven days a week from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. Destinations may include anywhere aboard the Depot and Naval Hospital Beaufort.

Civilian operators are tasked with manning the service and wait for calls to come through to the Motor T dispatcher. One of the Motor T seven-passenger vans will be used as the taxi.

Since being implemented in March, no one has used the service to date, though Motor T personnel feel it will go over well once the word gets out.

"If a drill instructor is out there at Weapons with a platoon and some recruits need to get back to mainside to take care of something, it could be useful," said Gunnery Sgt. Anthony Alexander, Motor Transport Chief and staff NCO in charge.

Permanent personnel who don't own their own vehicles and live in the barracks can also use the service to get to places aboard the Depot they may have had trouble getting to before.

A trip to the Marine Corps Community Services-South Carolina Triangle Exchange or the Commissary would normally involve walking or relying on a friend or fellow Marine to drive them. The taxi service eliminates the hassle ofthese everyday trips and allows getting necessary foodor hygiene items easier. 

The service is also helpful in that it allows Motor T to dispatch fewer vehicles for uses that may only entail a quick trip  to a Depot destination, according to Staff Sgt. Robert Page, Motor T operations chief.

For more information, or to use the service, call 228-2222.

Marine Corps Training and Education Command