Welcome to the second edition of our quarterly newsletter. I am thrilled to share some exciting updates with you, including survey results, renewed partnerships, and the launch of a new fleet.
First, a big thank you to everyone who applied for our Driver Advisory Committee. We had an incredible response, and all drivers who reached out have now been contacted. The first meeting is set for March, and I’m looking forward to working closely with the group to bring your feedback into our plans.
We also want to acknowledge the feedback you shared in our recent survey about the new discounted fleet. Many of you raised concerns, and we appreciate your honesty in helping shape our approach. We know demand has slowed since the fare increase, as highlighted in our January’s survey, and we’re committed to addressing the key points raised. We believe this initiative is a viable option to stimulate bookings, and we’ll be supporting drivers with multiple quests throughout March to help boost earnings while demand picks up. More details on this below.
INTRODUCING TAXI SAVER: MORE TRIPS, LESS WAITING
After careful consideration, we have decided to launch a new fleet called Taxi Saver, designed to help increase the number of jobs coming on the app by offering passengers a €3 discount on their fare. To make this work, drivers in the fleet won’t add the usual €3 booking fee.
We’ve listened to your feedback and made adjustments to support you:
LESS UNPAID WAITING TIME
The meter will now start after just 2 minutes instead of 5, adding between €1.41 and €2.34 per trip if the passenger is late.
NO PREBOOKS OR AIRPORT TRIPS
No prebooks or Dublin Airport trips will be included in this fleet.
OFF-PEAK HOURS ONLY
Available only during off-peak times to ensure it complements your existing earnings.
To make these jobs more attractive, we’ll be offering drivers regular bonuses. We ran a test this month with a similar discount and saw a 19% increase in passengers booking a trip - showing that this approach can help drive more business.
Drivers who participated in our survey and indicated they’re not interested will automatically be opted out from the launch.
Joining this new fleet is completely optional, and you’ll remain in your current fleets regardless. If you’d prefer not to be part of this new fleet, you can opt out [here]. And if you don’t want to decide right now—you can give it a try and if you find it’s not for you, you’ll be able to opt out at any time.
EV GRANT AND TESLA PARTNERSHIP
If you’ve been considering switching to an electric vehicle, now is the perfect time. The eSPSV Grant scheme is now open, funded by the Department of Transport and administered by NTA, and provides financial support for taxi drivers to make the switch. In order to check how much you could save on operating an EV you can download the TRACT EV app developed by Trinity College Dublin's School of Engineering. Powered by cutting-edge technology and backed by research, the TRACT EV app is designed to empower drivers to make informed choices about your transportation habits.
We’re also excited to announce the renewal of our partnership with Tesla, ensuring FREENOW partner drivers continue to benefit from exclusive discounts on selected Tesla models. Through this partnership, our driver-partners can save up to €5,400 off the list price of a Tesla vehicle. When combined with the eSPSV grant scheme, this can reduce the cost of switching to a new electric taxi by up to €35,700. This partnership offers a fantastic opportunity to lower running costs and upgrade to a premium electric vehicle.
To give you a feel for the cars, Tesla will be hosting exclusive test drive events for FREENOW driver partners. Don't miss this chance to experience Tesla vehicles firsthand. Register your interest by clicking the link below.
REGISTER INTEREST
NTA REVIEW OF THE AREA KNOWLEDGE TEST
I was recently invited to a meeting at the National Transport Authority (NTA) alongside other operators to discuss a review of the Area Knowledge module of the SPSV Driver Entry Test. This review was announced in the recent Programme for Government and has been long campaigned for by the “Taxis for Ireland Coalition”. As i’m sure many of you know, the Coalition (led by Uber and Bolt) are calling for a major deregulation of the taxi industry in order to achieve a 30% growth in drivers by 2027 - getting rid, or drastically reducing the difficulty, of the Area Knowledge module is a key aim for how the Coalition aims to achieve this.
The NTA had 3 meetings on this topic covering drivers, operators and passengers. I attended the operator meeting on behalf of FREENOW. We will actively participate in the NTA's review process and advocate for the interests of our drivers.
We at FREENOW fundamentally disagree with the position of the Coalition and believe that deregulation poses a serious threat to the livelihoods of existing taxi drivers. Here's why we oppose deregulation, and although we are in favour of modernising the Area Knowledge Test, are still supportive of it:
DRIVER INCOME
Increasing the number of drivers by 30% in less than two years will drastically reduce the number of fares available per driver, making it extremely difficult to earn a sustainable income.
PASSENGER SAFETY
The Area Knowledge Test ensures drivers have a fundamental understanding of their service area, contributing to passenger safety and efficient navigation. Weakening this requirement could compromise passenger experience and safety.
PROFESSIONALISM
The Area Knowledge Test demonstrates a commitment to professionalism and a deeper understanding of the taxi service. Removing or reducing this requirement undermines the value and expertise of professional taxi drivers.
SURVEY RESULTS
Thank you to everyone who participated in our recent driver survey! We were thrilled to receive nearly double the responses compared to our last survey, giving us valuable insights into your experiences and opinions. Here's a snapshot of what you shared:
TRENDS:
Satisfaction with FREENOW: Over 50% of drivers expressed satisfaction with the support FREENOW provides to the Irish Driver Community. We will continue to stand with our driver partners in opposition to de-regulation and campaign for the issues that matter most to you.
KEY INSIGHTS:
Strong Disagreement with License Increase: A resounding 70% of drivers disagree with the Taxi for Ireland coalition's proposal for a 30% increase in licenses.
Electric Vehicle Hesitation: 75% of drivers have expressed that they are not planning to switch to an electric vehicle, citing costs among other reasons. We aim to address this concern through our partnership with Tesla and sharing the financial benefits of making the switch.
Loyalty Scheme Understanding: We're pleased to see that 80% of drivers understand our loyalty scheme. We want to bring this number even higher, and make it work for all drivers.
NTA Fare Increase Impact: Over 34% of drivers felt that the NTA fare increase had a noticeable negative effect on demand.
We appreciate all the feedback you provided, and read each individual comment. We're carefully considering these insights as we plan for the future and are already actively working on improvements based on your input. Stay tuned for exciting updates!
