Taxi companies under pressure: Bureaucracy, driver shortage, and new competition

Member of the Bundestag Julia Klöckner visited the taxi company of Bodo Siegel in Roxheim (Verbandsgemeinde Rüdesheim, district of Bad Kreuznach) to learn about the current situation in the regional taxi industry. Together with the president of the Federal Association of Taxi and Rental Cars e.V. (BVTM), Herwig Kollar, they discussed the central challenges of the sector.

The family business Taxi Roxheim, founded in 2002, employs 18 staff and operates 15 vehicles. A particular focus is on the transportation of children with disabilities, patient transport, and the transportation of people with restricted mobility. As the only provider in the district, the company has vehicles for hospital wheelchairs.

Shortage of Skilled Workers and Social Incentives

According to owner Siegel, a central problem is the ongoing shortage of skilled workers. Finding qualified personnel is becoming increasingly difficult. A possible influencing factor might be the current citizen's income system, which, in the opinion of many companies, leads to low work incentives. Klöckner referred to the planned transition to the "New Basic Security," which is intended to counteract this.

High Bureaucratic Effort for Medical Transportation

Siegel also criticized the billing practices for medical transportation. The bureaucratic requirements are high, and billing with health insurance companies is time-consuming. Entrepreneurs often have to make advance payments for weeks. Moreover, the calculation of the personal contribution for passengers is often incomprehensible. Klöckner announced that she would relay the issue to specialist politicians in her faction.

Safety Requirements and Quality Standards 

Another topic was the qualification of driving personnel. Siegel called for binding minimum requirements and regular training, especially for trips in the area of school and patient transportation. Klöckner supported this approach and emphasized that quality standards and uniform training guidelines are necessary to ensure safety and professionalism in the taxi trade.

Raising Awareness in Road Traffic 

Particularly with school transport, problems regularly arise with impatient road users when boarding or alighting takes more time. To raise awareness for more consideration, Klöckner proposed a round table with special schools, disability assistance, and district administration.

Competitive Pressure from New Mobility Services 

The impact of digital platform providers like Uber was also discussed. Although competition in rural areas is still less than in major cities, changes in the mobility market are also noticeable here. To remain competitive, traditional taxi companies must adapt.