Updated May 5, 2022
In-Person Info Session On The CDL Grant Application Process: DFHV is inviting taxi drivers to apply for a grant that will allow you to enroll in a DFHV-sponsored training program to get a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). Please register and attend the in-person Info Session at DFHV on May 13, 2022, at 2 PM where DFHV staff will help you fill out the application to get a CDL.
Please bring the following documents to the session:
- Your Face ID
- Clean Hands Certificate
Some key requirements in order to apply include:
- You must have an active Face ID and live in DC or have a business address in DC.
- You must pass a DOT physical
- You must commit to drive a school bus for SchoolConnect for 6 months
If you cannot attend the info session, you can still apply with these materials:
Application Form
Attachments
Applications are due June 1.
Registration is required for the Info Session. Please contact Amanuel Gebregiyorgis to register at 202-770-6007 or amanuel.gebregiyorgis@dc.gov
Session will be held in person at DFHV: 2235 Shannon Pl SE, DFHV Hearing Room, 2nd Floor
Advisory: Masks Required in Taxis and Ride-Hailing Ride Vehicles: The Department of For Hire Vehicles (DFHV) reminds passengers and drivers that masks are still required while driving or riding in taxis or ride-hailing company vehicles. Local rules supersede individual company policies. See DFHV notice here.
Introducing ConnectorCard: The ConnectorCard program is an income-based cost-share program funded by the Department of Aging and Community Living (DACL) and managed by Yellow Cab Co. of DC Inc. The program operates through a Visa branded debit card which you will be able to use for a variety of ground transportation services. The card cannot be used for air travel and any other goods or services. Learn more about this program by checking out our website connector-card.com.
Pay Online With Credit Card: Instead of paying for their weekly dues online with an ACH debit from a single account, drivers now have the option to pay with the debit or credit card of their choice every time. Visit this link for access to this new payment portal.
LA OKs Seismic Shift in Taxi Regulations, Looking to Level Playing Field: In Los Angeles, it looks like that call has finally been heard. In February, the Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously to rewrite its taxi regulations, updating its permitting system for the first time since the 1990s. These new regulations, some seven years in the making, aim to level the playing field on the road.
Bill Rouse, president of LA Yellow Cab, called the move “earth-shaking,” as it eliminates the franchise system that city cabs have existed under “since at least the 1940s.” Read more here.
Notice of Emergency Rulemaking: Fuel Surcharge: Staring 12:01 AM on March 16, 2022, there will be a fuel surcharge of one dollar ($1.00) for each taxicab trip. This action is necessary to offset the impact of a significant rise in gasoline prices, which have increased in the District by approximately $0.80 per gallon in the past month, and gasoline prices in the metropolitan area have been at the highest levels in a decade. The fuel surcharge shall remain in effect until July 13, 2022, unless superseded or terminated by a subsequent rulemaking. Read the Notice of Emergency Rulemaking.
Indoor Mask Update: On March 1st, 2022, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that mask will still be required on public transit, taxis and ride-share vehicles (passengers and drivers). Other mandates include;
- DC Government offices that serve the public (such as DMV and DCRA)
- Schools
- Day care facilities
- Libraries
- Health care facilities
- Congregate settings like nursing homes and dorms
Masks will no longer be required in the following indoor settings;
- Restaurants and bars
- Sports and entertainment arenas
- Gyms, recreation centers and athletic facilities
- Houses of worship
- Grocery stores and other retailers
District Using $636,000 Through Federal Grant, Local Funds to Support Wheelchair-Accessible Taxis for Residents: The DFHV announces it will receive a $508,800 Federal Enhanced Mobility Grant, which along with $127,200 in local funds will be used to incentivize taxi drivers to serve residents who need wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs) in the District’s Transport DC program for persons with disabilities and older adults. Read more here.
Project WEAVE: Workforce for the Era of Automated Vehicles (WEAVE) is a research team based in Michigan State University and Clemson University, sponsored by the National Science Foundation. They are
recruiting taxi drivers, dispatchers, and managers to take part in a virtual focus group to talk about how self-driving vehicles may affect your industry. The virtual focus group will last roughly 1-2 hours and you will receive a $50 Amazon gift certificate afterwards as a thank you for your time. The focus group time is flexible and depends on participants’ preferences. The participation is completely voluntary and confidential. See the attached document for further information on the project. If any of your colleagues in the management team is interested in our focus group, they can directly contact me via this email: wangsic4@msu.edu.
Taxicab Age Requirement Extension: The DFHV has extended is Taxicab Age Requirement for all 2011 vehicles. One consequence of COVID-19 has been vehicle shortages and supply chain issues that are preventing the purchase of new vehicles. In order to temporarily alleviate this issue, the Department will allow taxicabs that exceed ten (10) model years, but otherwise comply with all other requirements, to continue operating for the first half of 2022. The Department shall not require any taxicab, which is otherwise authorized to be in service, to be removed from service solely for lack of compliance with the maximum vehicle age requirement under 31 DCMR § 609.3 until July 31, 2022.
No need to file for this extension. Your file will automatically be updated and access to your meter will be restored on January 12, 2022. However, if there are other issues with your account, you may need to resolve them before your access is restored. Please contact Client Services by email at dfhv.clientservices@dc.gov or calling (202) 645-7300.
Read further on this extension here.
DFHV Online Services: Please take advantage of DFHV online services including the Online Business Portal to submit License Applications, One Stop Vehicle Registrations, and Vehicle Case Management. Online services save you time and allow you to access services from the safety of your home. And if you need further assistance you may call (202) 645-7300 or use the chat feature on the website. Visit the Online Business Portal
The Transportation Alliance ‘Media Watch’: With TTA’s ‘Media Watch’, a source that compiles the most relevant articles in transportation news, drivers will be able to stay up to date on the latest happenings in the industry. View news articles updated daily here.
Taxicab ADA Brochure Frequently Asked Questions on Taxi PDF version: This brochure outlines in question and answer format taxicab companies’ responsibilities under the ADA and is geared toward managers and owners.