Cab Company Offers Earth-Friendly Rides

Brad Audrain learned the hard way that Northwest Arkansas needed more taxis.

While a law student at the University of Arkansas, Audrain called for a cab after an evening on Fayetteville’s Dickson Street. He was told it would be a two-hour wait.

But his ride never showed.

Audrain ended up walking home, and was mugged on the way.

After graduating from the UA School of Law in 2010, Audrain spent a year working for a local attorney. But Audrain realized law wasn’t really his calling, and when the attorney moved away, Audrain saw a chance to make a fresh start.

A conversation with a friend led to the idea of starting a business, and Audrain knew there was a market for another taxi service in the area. He also knew it needed to be a different kind of cab company, with environmentally friendly, affordable service; clean, smoke-free cabs; and friendly, professional drivers.

“I really wanted to differentiate this company from the competition,” Audrain said. “Not just get you somewhere as fast as possible, but also make it an enjoyable experience.”

With his investor partners — Sarah Sparks Diebold and Matt Powell — he leased an office on the ground floor of The Dickson in November, and opened the Green Cab Co. for business on New Year’s Eve.

Business was slow the first few months. Audrain started with two dispatchers and four drivers — himself included.

But as word about the company has spread, business has picked up considerably.

He’s now up to five dispatchers, both full and part time. And with students returning for the fall semester and football season looming, Audrain’s about to hire a 10th driver, with possibly more to come.

Green Cab’s fleet of five brand new, late-model Toyota Prius hybrids not only appeals to environmentally conscious riders, Audrain said, but it also means reduced gasoline expenses for drivers.

The cabs are equipped with GPS tracking devices, which Audrain said provide faster dispatch service and direct drivers to the most efficient routes to their destinations.

The company operates round the clock, and serves both Benton and Washington counties. The Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport is a frequent destination, Audrain said.

“We are not only here to ‘Keep Fayetteville Funky,’” he said. “We also intend on creating a successful business that can be modeled in markets similar to Northwest Arkansas.”