Taxi Fares To Be Raised As Living Cost Rises

[webfact]

Taxi fares to be raised as living cost rises

BANGKOK, 21 May 2013 (NNT) – The Transport Ministry is considering raising taxi fares, given the rising cost of living and cab rental rates.

Minister of Transport Mr. Chadchart Sittipunt has reportedly ordered the Department of Land Transport (DLT) to go over the taxi fare rates after receiving a flood of complaints from cab drivers that rental rates and the cost of living have gone up considerably, whereas the fares remain pegged at the same rate, causing difficulties for all cab drivers to make both ends meet.

However, the minister said whether the fare will be adjusted is based on 3 factors: the starting rate, the per-kilo rate, and the rate charged during traffic snarl.

At present, the rental rate for an NGV-fuelled taxi is 650 baht per shift, and 550 baht a shift for one running on LPG.

-- NNT 2013-05-21

[Neilly]

Minister of Transport Mr. Chadchart Sittipunt has reportedly ordered the Department of Land Transport (DLT) to go over the taxi fare rates after receiving a flood of complaints from cab drivers that rental rates and the cost of living have gone up considerably

With stories like this coming out continually it's going to bite someone in the a55 eventually

[sjjmmi]

Oh Really

[BookMan]

Wont affect Samui and Phuket

They are already about 2 decades ahead in fare rises

[RisqEM]

Here's an idea, now remember it's just an idea...why don't they try picking up customers and working instead trying to cherry pick everyone? Then they can make their $15 a day...

[hellodolly]

Here's an idea, now remember it's just an idea...why don't they try picking up customers and working instead trying to cherry pick everyone? Then they can make their $15 a day...

That dosen't even cover the cost for rental on the cab for a day.

I would think it would go up to keep up with the cost of living.

Is the Government guaranteeing the Taxi drivers 300 baht a day?

I am not talking about all the wrongs people say they suffer at the hands of the Taxi drivers. I am sure that is just a small minority. I am talking about the right of the drivers to earn a living.

[thaikahuna]

Here's an idea, now remember it's just an idea...why don't they try picking up customers and working instead trying to cherry pick everyone? Then they can make their $15 a day...

+1

[Thongkorn]

why not every thing else has gone up since the Government gave a cost of living rise to the workers. just don't tip anymore.

[Thai at Heart]

The flag rate has barely gone up for 20 years.

I think this is fair enough.

[JetsetBkk]

This news was a shock until I realised it wasn't in the Phuket forum.

[EyesWideOpen]

Not really sure what is going on, but the inflation rate under Yingluck has been staggering. As inflation always hurts poor people more than rich people, I am hoping that the bitter pill of inflation will not be forgotten by the poor people at the next election....

[Thai at Heart]

Not really sure what is going on, but the inflation rate under Yingluck has been staggering. As inflation always hurts poor people more than rich people, I am hoping that the bitter pill of inflation will not be forgotten by the poor people at the next election....

Just as well they don't cut interest rates and make it even worse then.

[Thongkorn]

What was the point oh giving a cost of living rise , then rising all the living essential.

[rubl]

Although the flat rate hasn't gone up for a while, there have been taxi rate increases regarding link between the 'wait time' and 'distance travelled' and the two Baht ticks.

July 2008 http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/198011-new-taxi-fares-take-effect-today/
March 2012, effective June? http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/540130-thai-taxi-meter-rates-set-to-increase-in-mid-april/

Edited May 21, 2013 by rubl

[MunterHunter]

The flag rate has barely gone up for 20 years.

I think this is fair enough.

The rate went up within the past 5 years.

I agree there should be a minimal increase in the fares though. Maybe 1b per 'tick' on the meter or a flat 5b on the start price, anything higher than this and you start to victimize those on low income.

[weescotsguy66]

Unemployment is almost nil so if you do not like the job you are doing, go do something else instead that gives you a decent salary, we all need less taxis on the road and more decent other forms of public transportation, like air con buses, most skytrains and underground.

We all know where the heart of Yinyuck support comes from and road transportation, so anything relating to roads network and away from the rail network will keep her support.

As I said if you are not making ends meet then go do another job like construction since this is in dire need of more workers or is it you just want to sit on your a*se and rip off the tourists and smear the good name of Thailand like Phuket is doing now!!!!

[rheinwiese]

The flag rate has barely gone up for 20 years.

I think this is fair enough.

The last taxi fare increase in BKK was in July 2008.

12% rise from the previous fare.

[GentlemanJim]

But the cost of living is not rising!!! Yingluck and her Ministers told us so. They even sent Ministers out to the market to buy vegetables off those little old women wearing red shirts...remember it was on television, and all the vegetables cost the same low price. The transport Ministry must have this all so wrong. Rising cost of living pffff ! Whatever next.

[richard_smith237]

Taxi fares have been fixed for many years. With a balanced view point it would seem that it's about time we saw an increase in taxi fares.

But, common sense should also dictate that a limit is applied to the numbers of taxi's on the streets.

I'm all for seeing the taxi drivers receive an increased income, I'm all for it being at a small increase in the cost to the consumer (me), but will this increase encourage more taxi drivers and thus create more traffic, more competition and thus spread the increase too thin, resulting in no tangible improvement in a taxi drivers income?

Another point - with an increase in the fares, would the vehicle owners see fit to increase the daily rental rates to the actual car / taxi?

The Bangkok taxi services is pretty good, even with all the dodgy drivers we are still spoilt in Bangkok. To maintain a valuable taxi service there may need to be some form of oversight protecting the drivers somewhat which may go someway towards preventing unscrupulous behaviour born out of desperation... Perhaps increasing the fare is a step in the right direction....

Edited May 21, 2013 by richard_smith237

[HarryMilton]

650 baht per shift for NGV cars and 550 per day for LPG? Thought NGV and LPG was just different terminology for the same thing?

[HarryMilton]

Here's an idea, now remember it's just an idea...why don't they try picking up customers and working instead trying to cherry pick everyone? Then they can make their $15 a day...

That dosen't even cover the cost for rental on the cab for a day.

I would think it would go up to keep up with the cost of living.

Is the Government guaranteeing the Taxi drivers 300 baht a day?

I am not talking about all the wrongs people say they suffer at the hands of the Taxi drivers. I am sure that is just a small minority. I am talking about the right of the drivers to earn a living.

Taxi drivers are self-employed aren't they? Why, and how, would the government guarantee their wages over other self-employed people?

[richard_smith237]

Here's an idea, now remember it's just an idea...why don't they try picking up customers and working instead trying to cherry pick everyone? Then they can make their $15 a day...

That dosen't even cover the cost for rental on the cab for a day.

I would think it would go up to keep up with the cost of living.

Is the Government guaranteeing the Taxi drivers 300 baht a day?

I am not talking about all the wrongs people say they suffer at the hands of the Taxi drivers. I am sure that is just a small minority. I am talking about the right of the drivers to earn a living.

Taxi drivers are self-employed aren't they? Why, and how, would the government guarantee their wages over other self-employed people?

I'd suggest that the answer is not as black and white as your questions suggests. While many Taxi driver's are self employed they are not quite in the same bracket as a self employed noodle seller, 'mom&pop' shop, factory owner etc... Taxi's have a greater impact on the 'operation' of a city, they provide a necessary service one which if without the City is negatively impacted.

[marcusd]

Unemployment is almost nil so if you do not like the job you are doing, go do something else instead that gives you a decent salary, we all need less taxis on the road and more decent other forms of public transportation, like air con buses, most skytrains and underground.

We all know where the heart of Yinyuck support comes from and road transportation, so anything relating to roads network and away from the rail network will keep her support.

As I said if you are not making ends meet then go do another job like construction since this is in dire need of more workers or is it you just want to sit on your a*se and rip off the tourists and smear the good name of Thailand like Phuket is doing now!!!!

Well I tell all my Ozzie friends AVOID PHUKET. Cleaner and better beaches in Queensland on the reef and NOW... THE SAME PRICE. Phuket is as expensive as going to Paris now. Watch this space next year.. Tourism will be cheap charlie chinese. big numbers.. Low money spend.

And taxis are a part of the rip off

[lemoncake]

The flag rate has barely gone up for 20 years.

I think this is fair enough.

The rate went up within the past 5 years.

I agree there should be a minimal increase in the fares though. Maybe 1b per 'tick' on the meter or a flat 5b on the start price, anything higher than this and you start to victimize those on low income.

The ones on low income, do not usually use taxi's

[LuckyLew]

Here's an idea, now remember it's just an idea...why don't they try picking up customers and working instead trying to cherry pick everyone? Then they can make their $15 a day...

You have some nerve ... asking a taxi driver to take passengers where they want to go ..

You are dreaming

[Katipo]

Here's an idea, now remember it's just an idea...why don't they try picking up customers and working instead trying to cherry pick everyone? Then they can make their $15 a day...

With exceptions, I think the above mainly refers to those who hang around the tourist/farang areas. Outside my condo in Soi 11, taxi drivers sit in their cabs with engine & air-con running, playing on their smartphones while they wait for the next set of Arabs to rip-off. Obviously these poor drivers are suffering.

[54321]

The ammount of taxis clogging up the streets suggests to me its quite a profitable proffesion and any increase in fares will increase the number of taxis clogging up the roads and blocking lanes, I think Bangkok needs less taxis

[ratcatcher]

650 baht per shift for NGV cars and 550 per day for LPG? Thought NGV and LPG was just different terminology for the same thing?

NGV = Natural Gas vehicle, also known as CNG = Compressed Natural Gas. Usually sold by PTT.

LPG = Liquefied Petroleum Gas or in some countries as Propane. More easily available in Thailand at private fill stations.

Also used in Thailand as a cooking gas.

There are others on this board far more qualified to describe why one is more expensive than the other and requires different handling and storage tanks.

Edited May 21, 2013 by ratcatcher

[soi41]

Not really sure what is going on, but the inflation rate under Yingluck has been staggering. As inflation always hurts poor people more than rich people, I am hoping that the bitter pill of inflation will not be forgotten by the poor people at the next election....

Not that I am a big fan of the PM, but let's get the facts straight. Inflation (consumer prices) in Thailand 2012 was 3.8%, amongst the lowest in SE-Asia. And better than the UK @ 4.5%!

[BrianCR]

What was the point oh giving a cost of living rise , then rising all the living essential.

Happens the world over mate and, always has!