Being a PHV driver or td, is not an easy job as some people make it out to be.
That's why for so many years this was considered 'the job of last resort'.
To provide avenues for those with lower educational backgrounds to earn money and for those who lose their jobs, to at least have this to fall back on.
Yes, the 'majapahit era' as I call it, tds earned a lot compared to the contemporaries, those delivery commercial drivers etc.
But the hidden costs people never see, just, oh wow tds earning like 6k a month.
They don't see the long hours needed for such a figure. The back pains, time away from family. A very bad job health wise in the long run. Just sitting down for hours on end. No medisave, no leave, mc 'boh pakai,' And the need to be alert 100% of the time. To paraphrase Muhammad Ali, this is a very dangerous job' to get tired. You're in big trouble. 1 accident and all your income is just wasted. In other jobs, you make a mistake, nobody gets hurt or injured. You doze off, nobody cares (except the boss)
But of course it's not all bad and tough. But you really must set goals, save and set aside for the rainy days that will surely catch up with you. My former td hirer, actually bought his flat in Bishan solely on his td income. Fully paid too.
Now of course is gig economy. I'm not saying cannot do or totally tough.
But you really have to plan, have a system, learn from mistakes (preferably not your own). You must know how to react, how to maximise like my 'Kumar Incentives.' You just become a 'rubbish bin,' take every fecking job, in the end, you're the loser. You won't realise this until later on. You must have knowledge of areas, timings and the kind of passengers you ferry. You have to make cherry picking an art and how to maintain your ratings/cancellations. And you must save.
Of course this is not always possible, if you have a family to provide and your spouse doesn't work and everyone depends on you. As was my case for a number of years when the kids growing.
Then later when I switched, still had to work for daughter's uni fees. Wife also worked to ease the burden.
It's a job that can feed your family, pay the bills and for other stuff, this is very achievable.
But to get rich or hope to live a luxurious lifestyle as some clowns on FB (even here) are prone to do, this is a fallacy. Of course it may happen a few times or a short period but it's not sustainable. That's what they fail to see.
There is no golden rainbow and how 'lucky maybe hardworking' you are, this job is not a golden goose that keeps laying golden eggs.