People don't want to work long shifts or irregular hours.
Booking a taxi driver for New Year's Eve can already be problematic. Just like in the hospitality industry, taxi companies are also struggling with a shortage of staff and they can no longer have all taxis drive. Despite finding a taxi can still be problematic, taxi companies are already with the number of trips ordered for the parties that are only 10 to 15 percent of the bookings compared to the period before corona. But both in Flanders and in the Netherlands, the sector itself has also ensured that reservations lag behind on public holidays.
fewer bookings
According to Marc Vrancken van Taxi V-Cab in Zonhoven there is a tendency in the Netherlands to give employees of taxi companies the opportunity to celebrate New Year's Eve with family and friends. That's why some taxi companies don't run out of taxis at all on New Year's Eve. It will not be driven again until the morning of January 1.
Many companies do not take reservations on those holidays and work purely on customer demand at peak times. Taking reservations in advance costs the taxi driver turnover. He must ensure that he is at the door of the customer at a certain time. Too many arrival and waiting times, which is not desirable when there is a great shortage of taxi drivers. Other companies close their doors and make the holidays available to their drivers who can then spend the celebrations with the family.
In addition, the expensive life of consumers does not really cooperate and undoubtedly also plays a role and the reservations that are not forthcoming. “The energy crisis also means that people prefer to take it easy and don't want to spend too much money on New Year's Eve, expensive taxis and parties. You can also just stay at home,” says Vrancken at the radio makers of VRT Radio 2 Limburg.
"Less demand for rides. Some taxi drivers will naturally be at home and now, maybe after years, they also have the chance to celebrate New Year's Eve with family and friends. And that may be a good thing for them, but of course not for their company "
At the Dutch Sneleentaxi they make it easy for the traveler and the driver to find each other and mean something to each other, even during the holidays. Sneleentaxi was founded in 2015 and has grown into a leading player in the taxi market in a few years. Now offers fastataxi a broad solution for transport throughout the Netherlands
"At Sneleentaxi we don't experience this at all. We receive plenty of bookings for New Year's Eve from all over the country and these are all accepted by drivers affiliated with us. However, the rates are slightly higher than usual."
matter of supply and demand
It used to be clear when you called a taxi company in a city what you paid for a ride. But since the 2020 taxi reform, there are no certainties anymore. The taxi driver can now determine his own price, so that the same ride can cost from 96 to 220 Euro. Now the feeling prevails that they are taking advantage of vulnerable people who see the taxi as the only way to get around during the holidays.
"With the 2020 taxi reform, the Flemish government has introduced the 'Uber system' to the entire taxi sector: free prices in a market that is constantly changing."
From Antwerp to Ghent is exactly the same distance as from Ghent to Antwerp. Yet an Antwerp taxi company charges 220 euros for that ride, and a Ghent taxi company only 95 euros. You can guess why one taxi company is more than twice as expensive as the other. That free market principle does mean that as a customer you sometimes pay more than before.
not interested
The profession is no longer so attractive to young people. Many new drivers are no longer joining and in Flanders, strict demands on the profession have ensured that many have permanently left the sector. Requirements such as a recognized taxi driver's diploma, a medical certificate, an extract from the criminal record model 596.1-27 (in the Netherlands a Certificate of Good Conduct), debt certificate FPS Finance, debt certificate Social Security (also if you have just started and have no staff) and proof of language skills Dutch B1.
Many colleges of mayors and aldermen check for moral guarantees, professional competence and solvency. Most requirements are considered normal in the Netherlands, but they prevent Flemish and especially foreign taxi drivers from getting behind the wheel. A job as a taxi driver has also become less attractive. People don't want to work long shifts or irregular hours. All a result of the scarcity of personnel in all sectors, which means that people can be selective about filling in the working hours.
