The TRICICLO - a business for many Dominicans and especially Haitians

followmikecee (61)in #life • 6 years ago (edited)

Hola mis Steemians

Transporting and selling all kinds of goods with the tricycle - the TRICICLO - is a business that helps many people here in the Dominican Republic to earn money for their livelihood, family and living.

The business on the tricycle is mainly run by Haitians.

A large number of tricycle operators have only a very low level of education or, as Haitian immigrants, do not have the necessary documents to look for a job that is better paid.
The absolute simplicity of the Triciciclo is a characteristic of equipment and operators that ultimately provides some people with a profitable income.

The main areas of application of these tricycle dealers are the sale of coconuts, salads, fruits, platanos, the typical frio frio, various plants as well as the sale of sugar cane or orange juice, ice cream or simply the transport of various market goods.

You can find these tricycles mainly in the streets of the big cities of the country and on the markets, where they transport and deliver goods at short distances.

The big business with rental

"A word - a man" basic rule for many who are in the business of renting triciciclos.
But the best business is still done by the owner of a tricycle, who then rents it out to other people.
The tenant is therefore responsible for the tricycle, both in the event of theft or only in the event of damage. Instead of big formalities with contracts, you often only do business with people you know and who bring so-called guarantors (guarantors), who under certain circumstances are responsible for the tenant if he could not settle the damage.

Kiko, the tricycle dealer at our corner told me that he takes the papers/IDs as a pledge from the Haitian citizens to secure their return. Because without their passport they have a problem and so everyone would come back and settle his payment for the tricycle and for any damage.
And another owner of a rental station explains to me that there is no other commercial institution that creates so many jobs for illiterate people and people with few skills.

The purchase and rental of the "Triciciclos

Renting the Triciciclos is the only alternative for many if they don't have the money to buy a tricycle. The price of the tricycle can quickly exceed RD$9,000 - RD$10,000; in comparison, the daily rental costs are between RD$75 and RD$100, depending on the equipment of a tricycle rather cheap. The question is always:

Is it a simple transport vehicle?
or does it have a thermal device for the sale of ice cream?
Is it equipped to sell FRIO FRIO?
Does it have a display case for selling food?

All this determines the daily rental price.

The garages

Owners of tricycles who have no space at home or who live too far away from the place of use will find special garages to accommodate them. And so many people live from the rental of "guarded parking space". The places are then guarded in the evening up to and including the early morning and cost about 25 RD$ (50 Cent) per place.
In these garages of the Triciciclos there are also heaps of equipment to maintain the vehicles, to repair tires or to clean the tricycle. There are also mechanics who repair or paint the tricycle.

LOS MERCADOS are the main sources of income for the tricycles.

The wholesale markets are the places that have the most need for transportation of various goods. The tricycle riders act as carriers to the various smaller Colmados and other consumers. For a short distance a Triciciclista (as the riders are called) requires about 50 RD$ (1 Euro). A tricycle rider thus has an average of 15 deliveries per day, and most of them during a 6-day week.

The main advantage of these vehicles is:

low costs
flexible in use
and if not too heavy goods are transported, these vehicles are quite stable and safe and stable. The big disadvantage is rather that you often overlook these vehicles on the roads (no light at dusk or at night) and the low speed in traffic (many are even pushed).

In any case, after reading this report, you should realize that it is a tough job that these Triciclistas do all day long and maybe one or the other driver among you will be a bit more forgiving next time on holiday in traffic...