While preparing to tighten the conditions for transporters and taxi drivers, they warn: the services will be more expensive

Dalius Rudokas, head of the Association of Couriers and Drivers, has been working as a carrier for 8 years, and so far most of the passengers’ feedback about him is positive.

“Out of 500 reviews, 498 ended up with a 5-star rating,” he shared.

But not only beautiful stories are heard in public. People often complain that it is impossible to talk to drivers, that they work illegally, don’t pay taxes or even harass passengers.

“I myself have driven from the airport at night and worriedly looked to see if I was wearing my seatbelt properly, because the driver, a foreign driver, asked all kinds of questions,” said Minister of Transport Marius Skuodis.

In order to make passengers feel safer and the taxi and taxi market to be more transparent, the authorities have decided to tighten these activities. The Ministry of Transport has prepared amendments, and the Seimas is inclined to approve them.

“We aim for every driver, when transporting passengers, to meet the requirements of the European Union in order to have the rights of the European standard”, M. Skuodis named the goals.

As of the new year, couriers and taxi drivers could only work with a European Union, Ukrainian, United Kingdom or Swiss driver’s license. A third party document would no longer be suitable.

“It is really very difficult to check the authenticity of these certificates, because we have countries like India or others, where there are no common registers and there is a visual check,” said Genius Lukošius, director of the Lithuanian Transport Safety Administration.

The procedure for issuing licenses was also tightened. Now, a foreign driver receives permission to transport passengers before his own inspection takes place.

“A person carries passengers, although he does not even have a permit to live in Lithuania. Then the Migration Department together with the police catch them on the streets. The horse will now be placed before the cart, as it should be. First of all, after submitting an application, it is found out whether it meets all the conditions, whether it has all the documents and permits, and only then the license is issued”, said Member of the Seimas (LSDP) Gintautas Paluckas.

“The Transport Safety Administration will definitely have new functions and will be able to ensure stricter control,” said M. Skuodis.

Last year, the Lithuanian Transport Safety Administration issued more than 7,000 permits to transporters, but after violations collected by the police and municipalities, the licenses were suspended only for units.

“We take measures, warn and then stop. If the violations are not eliminated, we will cancel such permits”, asserted G. Lukošius.

It is true that transporters warn that after such amendments, suspended or not issued permits may increase, which is both good and bad news for passengers.

“If the number of drivers decreases, the prices may be slightly adjusted towards the increase, but let’s remember that safety will also increase,” said D. Rudokas.

Drivers see other offers that can empty their wallets. Obligations for technical inspection and insurance arise.

“I was checking how much non-commercial would cost. Now it costs, in my case, about 200 euros more per year. Of course, there is an amount, but if you work a lot, it won’t have a significant impact,” said D. Rudokas.

Some members of the Seimas are convinced that after the adoption of the proposed decisions, the shadow on the transporter market will not decrease, because the problem is not being solved from that side.

“Now it turns out that the drivers, mostly foreigners, get that money, disappear from our country and don’t pay taxes. I would be in favor of the fact that, if we solve this problem, it should be solved to the end”, pointed out Seimas member (LVŽS) Valius Ėuolas.

The Seimas promises to make the final decision this week.

You can watch the entire report on the LNK portal: