TAXI LEASING PILOT

I. ATTENTION OWNERS AND AGENTS: All owners and agents that lease taxicabs on a daily or weekly basis may now sign up to test increased flexibility in leasing arrangements with drivers. To learn more about the Taxicab Leasing Pilot, including how to promote your pilot leasing models, refer to section II below.

ATTENTION DRIVERS: Drivers interested in learning about the new, flexible leasing opportunities offered by participating lessors should scroll down for a current participant and the leases it offers.

II. Driver outreach has revealed that some have stopped operating taxicabs as a result of the inflexible leases currently offered by lessors running a “5-to-5” operation. TLC estimates this lack of service during the evening rush hours causes drivers to lose over 12,000 potential fares each weekday.

By participating in the Taxicab Leasing Pilot, owners and agents can offer the attractive shifts their drivers demand, such as uninterrupted shifts during the high demand evening rush hours, shorter shifts, and low risk leases.

TLC will promote the leasing models each participant offers on this webpage (http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/html/industry/lease_pilot.shtml), providing participants a unique opportunity to reach interested drivers.

Participants may choose to offer the following leases:

1. Standard Leases: lease agreements governed by TLC lease caps;
   
   
2. Fare Share Leases: low risk lease agreements where the participant withholds at the end of the shift a percentage of a driver's farebox revenue as payment for the lease;
   
   
3. Participant Leases: leases governed by a leasing model designed by each Participant with specific lease times and rates and approved by TLC; or
   
   
4. Any combination of the above.
   

II. Owners or agents who lease taxicabs on a daily or weekly basis may apply to participate in the Taxicab Leasing Pilot by completing and submitting the following materials:

• Pilot Application;
  
  
• List of all medallions owned and operated by Owner or Agent (use this spreadsheet link to complete); and
  
  
• OPTIONAL: If interested in offering Participant Leasing Model, the Participant Leasing Model spreadsheet (see next page).
  
  
• Send the application and materials to research@tlc.nyc.gov.
  

Have questions? Call 212-676-1157 to learn more about the pilot.

III. Owners and Agents: For those participants who would like to offer Fare Share Leases:

• Inform TLC first. TLC will update your information on this webpage; and
  
  
• Include relevant lease information on all Fare Share Leases and driver receipts.
  

IV. Owners and Agents: For those participants who would like to offer Participant Leases:

• Submit a proposed leasing model with specified maximum lease charges and shift times for TLC approval;
  
  
• After TLC approval, post the relevant lease information at the participant's place of business for at least 7 business days. TLC will update your information on this webpage; and
  
  
• Include relevant lease information on all Participant Leases and driver receipts.
  Total aggregate maximum lease charges. The sum of all maximum lease charges listed in a Participant's lease model cannot exceed the sum of all lease caps listed in TLC's lease cap rules.
  
  
• Daily lease models, standard vehicles: aggregate maximum lease charges cannot exceed $1587.
  
  
• Daily lease models, hybrid vehicles: aggregate maximum lease charges cannot exceed $1629.
  
  
• Weekly lease models, standard vehicles: aggregate maximum lease charges cannot exceed $1367.
  
  
• Weekly lease models, hybrid vehicles: aggregate maximum lease charges cannot exceed $1403.
  

Current Pilot Participants:

Name	Contact Information	Leasing Model(s)
NYC Taxi Group	Telephone: 718-253-3501 Smartphone App: Lacus Driver Address: 876 McDonald Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11218	Fare Share

 

 

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August 28, 2017

Yellow Taxi Drivers Can Now Lease on Commission:

The TLC's Fair Share Pilot Announces First Participant

Yellow taxi drivers that lease cabs participating in the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission's (TLC) Fair Share Pilot can now work on commission rather than beginning a shift by paying a full lease payment.

New York City Taxi Group is the first garage to join TLC's pilot and offer this popular leasing arrangement, and is doing so using the latest technology. The app Lacus Driver lets drivers lease on commission, check their earnings, find an available taxi, and get on the road in a tap.

"Yellow taxi drivers now have more options. They don't have to start their day 'in the hole.' Drivers will pay for the lease as they earn instead of regardless of whether or not they earn," said TLC Commissioner and Chair Meera Joshi. "And we are very excited that an innovative garage is providing this opportunity for yellow taxi drivers."

New York City Taxi Group, a Brooklyn based fleet that manages over 260 medallions, has begun to offer fair share commission leases to drivers. The maximum commission charged is 35%. Through the app, drivers receive the following benefits:

• Keyless entry allows drivers to locate and lease a car by phone without having to travel to a garage. When drivers finish their shift, they can simply park the car where they are, or near their home.
  
  
• Drivers choose the hours they want to work.
  
  
• Drivers can monitor their earnings and have them deposited directly onto their personal accounts.
  

Through the Fair Share Pilot, driver Aziz Nizomov leases a taxicab on commission and no longer needs to worry about paying a lease at the beginning of his shift.

"Our mission is to change the way taxi drivers and fleet operators work, by technologically systemizing their daily activities and giving more freedom to drivers," said New York City Taxi Group owner Aleksey Medvedovskiy.

"We believe the flexible pricing pilot (35%) can play a significant role in providing an option of choosing their own work schedule and controlling their earnings."

Aziz Nizomov, 26, is a taxi driver and a student at Kingsborough Community College in Brooklyn. Before joining the Fair Share Pilot, he had a commute of more than one hour each way to the garage, and would then wait about two hours on average for an available taxicab. He now parks a taxicab near his home at the end of the shift saving him time and stress.

With his participation in the pilot, Mr. Nizomov no longer needs to worry about paying up front for his lease. "I can work for as little as two to three hours and still make money," he said, "and it allows me to balance both driving professionally and my academic schedule." Prior to the pilot, he said, he would drive five to six hours before covering the lease cost.

"This is fair for me, the garage, and everyone. I love it," said Mr. Nizomov. "It's very flexible. It really fits my schedule. I am saving more, and it is very affordable. There is no more stress."

Imran Ali, 35, a full time taxi driver from Brooklyn, is also leasing a taxicab on commission. "I can work four, five, six hours. If there's an emergency, I can go home. It is much more flexible and more convenient," said Mr. Ali. "I am really enjoying it."

To learn more about the Taxicab Leasing Pilot, medallion owners and agents can visit this section of the TLC website: http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/html/industry/lease_pilot.shtml.