Platform taxi drivers, in particular, are currently experiencing severe difficulties, claiming to have received too little support and advice during the corona crisis. A FNV survey of taxi drivers shows that 71% expect to stop working as a taxi driver next year. For platform taxi drivers, who mainly work for Uber, the percentage that expects to stop (76%) is higher than for self-employed taxi drivers who drive in front of a taxi center (68%).

The taxi market can be divided into two markets, the market for contract transport such as WMO and student transport and the market for street taxi transport. The street taxi market consists of the ordered transport market or order market (app / calling) and the boarding market, taxis at the stand or which can be stopped en route. Taxi drivers are often self-employed taxi entrepreneurs and can be active in various part-taxi markets at the same time. Many are active on a daily basis in both the ordering and boarding markets.

suspend the license plate

While the turnover has collapsed, the monthly fixed costs, such as the lease of the car, insurance, telephone subscription and taxi license, continue. During the worst period of the corona crisis, many taxi drivers temporarily suspended the license plate. Due to this suspension, fixed costs such as insurance could also be temporarily canceled. Now that the student transport is restarting, many of these drivers are not yet working because this addition to the daily street taxi activities is not enough to get the taxi out of the suspension.

The uncertain future in the taxi market forces them to leave the car suspended because it does not have a second suspension. Only 1% in the sector has taken out insurance against loss of income. In recent months, barely 10% of taxi drivers had a financial buffer. Regulations were the order of the day. 72% made use of a deferral arrangement with the car lease or financing companies.

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The government has offered support for 87% of the profession via the TOZO scheme. Of all the platform drivers up to 69%, they rely on the TOGS scheme but do not seem to meet the conditions of the EUR 4000 costs in three months. A new financial setback is still lurking there. The FNV held one investigation among taxi drivers who drive for a platform such as UberTaxi or who are self-employed. They have seen their income disappear and can only partly rely on government support. Almost three-quarters of taxi drivers no longer see a future in the taxi industry.

Also read: FNV happy with support, but Uber avoids responsibility

source: FNV
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