News

North Somerset Council scales back new taxi licensing rules over driver hardship fears

2 November 2023, 07:45

Tighter new rules for taxis in North Somerset have been scaled back after drivers warned they could force drivers out of business. A plan to ban any car from being used as a taxi once it was ten years old has now been dropped…

Darlington operators struggle to meet demand as driver numbers remain below 2020 levels

2 November 2023, 07:42

Operators in Darlington are struggling to fulfil jobs in the town due to a shortage of drivers. The number of taxi drivers in Darlington has not recovered since the Covid-19 pandemic, and there are around 100 fewer drivers in the town than there were…

Shortlists announced for the 2023 Professional Driver QSi Awards

17 October 2023, 10:21

Professional Driver is proud to announce our shortlists for the 2023 QSi Awards. The awards celebrate their 10th anniversary this year, and the exceptional entry this year reflects the high regard in which the awards are held within the taxi, chauffeur and private hire…

Rental giant Sixt invests in Blacklane to drive growth into North American markets

27 September 2023, 22:25

German car rental giant Sixt has announced a major investment in chauffeur app Blacklane, which will extend Blacklane’s global reach. Blacklane and Sixt will work jointly on expanding their footprint in international markets, initially with a special focus on North America, the most important…

Veezu targeted for tribunal ruling on worker status for its 12,500 drivers

25 September 2023, 08:00

Veezu, the UK’s largest private hire operator, is the latest company to be targeted with legal action over the employment status of its drivers. A case is being brought by law firm Leigh Day on behalf of some Veezu drivers, in a bid to…

Glasgow private hire drivers win battle to raise vehicle age limit to 10 years

25 September 2023, 08:00

Private hire drivers in Glasgow have won their battle with the City Council to keep their cars on the road for longer. They will now be able to use a car for up to 10 years rather than seven, providing it meets health and…

Bolt launches ‘pet’ category to offer clarity to London pet owners

20 September 2023, 18:55

Ride-hailing operator Bolt has launched a dedicated Pet category in London, with a supplementary charge for passengers wishing to bring animals with them on their journeys. Deborah Meijer, Head of Operations for Bolt in London said: “The category implements a level of transparency which…

Be.EV to open 60 dedicated taxi and PHV charge points in Greater Manchester

20 September 2023, 18:54

Charge point operator Be.EV has announced it will install 60 rapid charging points across Greater Manchester exclusively dedicated to EV private hire and hackney vehicles licensed by one of the ten Greater Manchester Authorities. The initiative has been made funded through a £5.9 million…

Three Glasgow operators stripped of licenses after cars failed to meet LEZ requirements

18 September 2023, 16:10

Three Glasgow taxi operators have had their licenses revoked because their cars violated controversial low emissions zone regulations in the city, which came into force on June 1, 2023. The companies’ vehicles did not meet the standards, the Council said. At a City Council…

Newcastle Council approves black and white taxi revamp despite driver protests

18 September 2023, 16:08

Plans to rebrand Newcastle’s taxis into the black-and-white colours of Newcastle United Football Club have been approved by the city council, despite opposition from local drivers Newcastle’s fleet of almost 600 licensed hackney carriages will be required to be all black with distinctive white…