This annual benchmark, commissioned by the Social Fund for Mobility, is traditionally announced at the end of October and sheds light on expected cost developments in the sector.
Panteia, an independent research agency, has calculated the NEA index for healthcare and taxi transport for the coming year on behalf of the Social Fund for Mobility. The figure is crucial because it indicates cost developments in this sector. For 2024, the index is 4,0%, driven by two important factors: a 4,0% increase in collective labor agreements and an expected increase in fuel costs. These developments will undoubtedly cause ripples in the mobility sector.
Panteia's methodology aims to provide reliable and consistent indicators. The consumer price index (CPI) from Statistics Netherlands, forecasts from the Central Planning Bureau and the Collective Labor Agreement for Healthcare Transport and Taxi form the basis for the calculations. Interestingly, factors such as traffic congestion or uncertain future costs were not included in the calculations. This means that the final costs can still fluctuate, depending on unpredictable elements.
Two main factors determine these figures: an increase in collective labor agreements by 4,0% as of January 1, 2024 and an expected increase in fuel costs, which brings the total cost development for 2024 to 5,3%. A correction of -1,3% will be applied for the year 2023 due to lower fuel costs, ultimately leading to the NEA index of 4,0% for 2024.
The calculations are based on data such as the Collective Labor Agreement for Healthcare Transport and Taxi and forecasts from the Central Planning Bureau, but they ignore possible future costs such as traffic congestion. Panteia has made a detailed overview of the average cost developments for taxi transport. However, these figures only provide an average picture and the actual costs per taxi company may vary.
transport contracts
The NEA index is gaining traction in transport contracts, as it provides clarity about cost developments for both carriers and clients. It enables better pricing without a premium for risks that are otherwise difficult to quantify.
Since 2010, the client for this research has been the Mobility Social Fund, which took over from KNV Taxi. Panteia uses reliable indicators such as the consumer price index (CPI) from Statistics Netherlands and estimates from the Central Planning Bureau to make both the subsequent calculation for the current year and the estimate for the coming year.
As illustrative as these figures are, they do not provide absolute certainty. Unforeseen cost fluctuations, such as fuel, can cause major deviations within a year. For example, an average taxi company active in healthcare transport with approximately 30 vehicles saw a difference of €65.000 in fuel costs between the estimate and reality. These corrections are included in the NEA index of the following year, but do not constitute retroactive compensation.
Social Fund Mobility
Social Fund Mobility has taken over the commissioning of this research from KNV Taxi since 2010. The Panteia report provides an overview of average cost developments, but it is important to note that these figures may vary per taxi company. A correction of -2023% will be applied for the year 1,3, largely due to lower fuel costs.
