SINGAPORE: Active taxi drivers will only need to pay half of the Taxi Driver's Vocational Licence (TDVL) fees from January 2014.
When they renew their licences, the drivers will undergo a shorter TDVL refresher course.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) gave this update in response to suggestions from the National Taxi Association (NTA) on taxi availability.
LTA said it had fine-tuned the taxi availability (TA) standards in the second year of its implementation to minimise empty cruising of taxis during shoulder peak periods.
The TA requirement for the shoulder peak periods of 6am to 7am, and 11pm to 12 midnight has been adjusted from 75 per cent to 60 per cent.
According to LTA, there is lower taxi demand and shorter waiting times at taxi stands during the shoulder peak periods.
LTA is working with NTA and taxi companies on a mediation scheme to provide a channel for taxi drivers to settle disputes amicably with one another and with their taxi companies.
Since the TA standards were implemented on 1 January 2013, LTA said more taxis have been on the roads in the first nine months of the year, compared to the same period in 2012.
Last year, the total taxi fleet on the roads during peak periods was 82.6 per cent. This year, it was 84.8 per cent.
LTA said it shares NTA's view that taxi companies should not pass down financial penalties that they incur to taxi drivers, and taxi companies should help and incentivise their drivers to achieve the service and availability standards.
LTA stressed that although it will raise TA standards from 1 January 2014, the first-year TA standards will be used as the basis for financial penalties in 2014.
This will allow taxi companies additional time to adjust to the higher second-year TA standards.
LTA noted that most taxi companies are currently able to pass the first-year standards, and so should not incur any TA penalties.
On the suggestion to exclude certain taxis from the TA computation, LTA said flexibility has already been exercised.
Taxi companies can apply to LTA for an exemption of niche or premium taxi services from the TA computation.
Active taxi drivers will only need to pay half of the Taxi Driver's Vocational Licence (TDVL) fees from January 2014.
how do they know if u are an active driver when u take TDVL?
whats the benchmark for an active driver?
refund u 50% if u are an active driver?
I think is talking about TD who got TDVL already.....
Not newbies.....
What I think is, they should just wave away the renewal fee at all and conduct refresher course foc regularly.....
We are service provider mah.....
Currently attending refresher course cannot claim down time, Lj la, somemore got to pay money to attend.....
How to make TD happy like that and provide good service?.....knn
How to define active cab drivers? Those who drive everyday? Once a week?
Half licence fee = Half fark measure.
Objective to encourage more relief drivers or discourage those who get licence but never drive cab for even one day?
Should be must clock minimum 500 cab driving hrs per year. If not, licence revoke and must take TDVL course all over again. Exceptions apply on case by case basis e.g. Illness, overseas job postings etc.
Arbo never drive cab, but take licence for fark? This is a vocational licence, not a O level cert. Take licence already, must put to good use. Taxi rules, fares, roads change everyday. If not driving cab regularly, how to be updated? Once in 6 years Taxi Refresher Course? Fark lah..Wayang.
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I like it....
a lot of people have the TDVL but never even drive before a taxi!i think these people take the test just for fun!they have no intention to drive a taxi!i hope those who have passed the license for more than 2 yrs,should have the license forfeited!