Smart's taxi service operator licence cannot be renewed

[Leepotism]

[h=1]LTA will not renew Smart's taxi service operator licence[/h]






Taxi firm Smart will not get its operator license renewed when it expires on Sept 30 this year, said the Land Transport Authority (LTA) on Thursday. This reduces the number of taxi companies in Singapore to six.







Taxi firm Smart will not get its operator license renewed when it expires on Sept 30 this year, said the Land Transport Authority (LTA) on Thursday. This reduces the number of taxi companies in Singapore to six.


The LTA noted that Smart had multiple failures in its service standards over the past two years, such as consistently failing to meet the call booking cater rate. It also failed other standards such as accident rate and first inspection passing rate.


In addition, the company failed to meet other regulations for its license to be renewed, including minimum fleet size. Its fleet shrunk from 701 in January last year to 268 last month, way below the minimum of 800.


Smart's 268 taxis account for about 1 per cent of the total taxi population in Singapore. LTA chief executive Chew Hock Yong said its closure should not affect commuters much. The LTA will facilitate the sale of Smart's eligible taxi licenses to other operators, and to assist its drivers in finding another company.

 

[Leepotism]

SINGAPORE: The National Taxi Association (NTA) said its main concern is the taxi drivers who will be affected by the Land Transport Authority's (LTA) decision not to renew Smart's taxi operator licence.

In a media statement, NTA's Adviser Mr Ang Hin Kee said these taxi drivers should not be left in the lurch and their interests will be looked after.

NTA hopes that Smart can fulfil its obligations to their taxi hirers.

Mr Ang said this means honouring all outstanding payments due to drivers like hiring agreement, contractual bonuses and incentives, accident excess liability repayment and road tax rebates.

He added that Smart should return all security deposit due to drivers, without deduction and prejudice from return of vehicles including early returns.

NTA has urged LTA to exercise its influence.

NTA said any licensing terms should ensure that resources are put in to assist taxi drivers whose livelihoods will be affected by this decision.

NTA has requested that LTA sets up a hotline for affected drivers to help address any issues.

Mr Ang said LTA is agreeable to NTA's suggestions and will be doing its best to look after taxi drivers who may be affected.

 

[lhlisanidiot]

Most likely the boss of the taxi company offended someone powerful, or the boss is a principled person and didn't want to carry balls (if this is the reason, I respect the boss).

This business is damn lucrative. A new taxi cost less than $100K, rent to taxi drivers at about $100 a day, they can recoup the cost in about 3 years.

 

[lianbeng]

lianbeng replies to thread: really SMART!