TAXI WARS: The Empire Strikes Back

Hi there,

I’m writing to you from T Dispatch, having just come from the taxi demonstration in Berlin today. We’re flying the flag for professional drivers across the globe, supporting fair rights and regulations in passenger transport. As well as being a software company that creates online tools for transport fleets, we’ve also recently created The Drivers’ Justice League - the voice for professional drivers worldwide.

Please see the below article and feel free to call us for more information.


TAXI WARS: The Empire Strikes Back
Drivers Across Europe Unite Against the Apps

Reporting from The Olympic Stadium, Berlin

11th June 2014: Thousands of taxi drivers turned out at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin today to protest against the influx of taxi booking and ride sharing apps that have flooded the global market.

Despite the wind, rain and humidity, thousands of angry drivers and fleet owners joined together to voice their objections to apps such as Uber and Wundercar. The queue of taxis stretched all the way to Tegel Airport - a clear sign of discontent. And that’s only for starters; further demonstrations took place today in London, Paris, Milan, Hamburg and across the world. Some are calling it ‘UBERGEDDON’. It was only a matter of time until this fast-moving market came to a halt.

With several car booking apps clearly breaching local regulations, drivers want the authorities to step up and enforce rules that were put in place to make passenger transport a safe and fair industry.

Bryony Cooper, CEO of T Dispatch, was at the demonstrations to show support for the local taxi drivers. T Dispatch is a software company offering fleet management systems for transport companies, primarily taxi and private hire. She commented,

“We’re completely for technological innovation, but not at the expense of the industry. These drivers and fleets need a voice. They want to be heard. There’s unrest all over the world, but so far it seems to be a losing battle. We want to give control back to the incumbents; putting professional fleets back in the driver seat.”

T Dispatch believes in this cause so strongly, they have founded ‘The Drivers’ Justice League’ - a worldwide organization for professional drivers. Until now, Taxi and Private Hire Associations have been local and fragmented; never before did they have a reason to unite as one. The DJL will offer a platform for the latest news, debates and solutions for drivers and fleets alike.

Bryony continued, “People love the user experience of booking apps, but they also want the same quality of service they’d expect from a licensed cab operator. Drivers should be fully insured, fully trained and compliant with industry standards.”

Taxi apps are no new phenomenon - Uber and myTaxi launched in 2010, closely followed by many others. Some are even run by existing taxi dispatchers. But only now is the battle coming to a head.

It’s unlikely that this war will die down anytime soon, so we’ll have to wait and see how this develops… will it be winner takes all, or each fleet for themselves?


About The Company

T Dispatch develops high-tech dispatch systems for taxi, limo and private hire fleets worldwide.  Founded in London 2012, the company’s international team is now based in Berlin with clients across 6 continents.
https://tdispatch.com/

If you’d like more information, require quotes for an article or have any comments regarding the press release attached, please get in touch using the contact details below.

Bryony Cooper
Founder & Director
bryony@tdispatch.com
+44 (0)20 3514 6767 (Office line)