Bertho Eckhardt, chairman of Royal Dutch Transport (KNV), recently raised the increasing problems in the Dutch taxi sector in an interview at BNR Zakendoen.
This sector is under great pressure due to various challenges, including making public transport more sustainable, the persistent staff shortages in healthcare transport, and the lack of a new collective labor agreement for taxi drivers. KNV plays a crucial role in representing the interests of companies in commercial passenger transport, including taxis, healthcare transport and public transport.
Eckhardt, who will soon make way for his successor Fred Teeven after ten years as chairman, explained the interview the various problems facing the sector. One of the most urgent issues concerns student transport, where the start of the school year is often accompanied by chaos. “It regularly happens that hundreds of children are not correctly registered by parents at the start of the school year, causing them to fall outside the transport system,” said Eckhardt.
new contracts
He emphasized that this problem is partly caused by the complex procurement procedures of municipalities, which often conclude new contracts with different transporters every year. This constant change of carriers causes a lot of unrest and logistical problems, especially because new drivers often have to get used to the children and the routes again.
However, the problem is broader than just student transport. The challenges are also great in healthcare transport. Here, KNV advocates more efficient bundling of tenders, so that drivers are no longer forced to stand idle for hours after dropping off students while another carrier takes over the WMO transport (Social Support Act).
Eckhardt stated that by merging these tenders, a major step can be taken in addressing personnel shortages in the sector. “By offering drivers full-fledged contracts and combining different transport assignments, we can both improve efficiency and make the work more attractive,” says Eckhardt.
Together they agree: “There are simply too many taxis on the road, especially in metropolitan areas such as Amsterdam, where the nuisance from driving around is enormous."
Another major problem is the outdated legislation and regulations surrounding the taxi industry. The Passenger Transport Act 2000, which is already 24 years old, does not take into account the rise of digital platforms such as Uber, which has created an imbalance between traditional taxis and platform-related taxi services. This leads to an oversupply of taxis in cities, which not only causes congestion but also marginal operations where drivers have to work long hours to cover their costs.
licensing
A possible solution, according to Eckhardt, lies in revising licensing and limiting the number of taxis in densely populated areas. This would not only reduce inconvenience, but also make competition fairer and improve the quality of services. He also points out the need to harmonize the legislation surrounding digital and traditional taxi services, so that a single enforcement framework is created that applies to all parties.
Regarding the future of public transport, Eckhardt emphasized that the government should not only look at the Dutch Railways (NS) when providing subsidies, but at the entire public transport sector. “Due to the corona pandemic, traveler numbers have fallen sharply and although they are recovering somewhat, they are still far from pre-pandemic levels. It is important that the government takes the entire public transport into account when providing financial support and not just the NS,” says Eckhardt.
sustainability
Making the sector more sustainable is another important point of attention. Although significant steps are being taken in the electrification of taxis and buses, the transition to electric vehicles in wheelchair transport and the coach sector is still problematic. Heavier vehicles require larger battery packs, which means that drivers must obtain an additional driver's license. Eckhardt calls for exception arrangements for these drivers, similar to the arrangements made for parcel deliverers.
Eckhardt himself looks back on his time at KNV with satisfaction, but indicates that it is now time for a new challenge.
With his retirement, a decade in which Eckhardt tried to steer the mobility sector in the Netherlands on the right track is approaching. His successor, Fred Teeven, a former state secretary and bus driver, will have to fill Eckhardt's big shoes.
dilemmas
During the interview Bertho Eckhardt was confronted with several tantalizing dilemmas that underlined his positions as chairman of KNV. The first dilemma concerned the financing of public transport, where Eckhardt had to choose between specific support for the NS or a broader approach in which the entire public transport sector would be financially supported. He clearly chose the second option, emphasizing that it is important that all players in the public transport sector, not just the NS, benefit from government support.
The second dilemma revolved around his succession by Fred Teeven as the new chairman of KNV. Eckhardt expressed his confidence in Teeven, despite the major challenges ahead, and indicated that the future of KNV would be in good hands with Teeven. These dilemmas reflect the complexity of the issues KNV faces, and the need for a thoughtful and balanced approach to decision-making.
