The chauffeur-driven car rental service is something that has notably gained momentum, especially in the new Millennium. It represents an alternative mode of transportation to the traditional public ones, relying on luxury cars and the figure of the chauffeur playing a crucial role. These two elements are key in imparting to this service a tone of class and elegance, making anyone feel like a VIP or public figure for a day. Of course, given the caliber of the transportation in question, it comes with high costs, making it not accessible to everyone. However, in this focus, we wish to concentrate our attention on another issue related to the NCC: that is, the law decree 2023 pertaining to this work category.
Provisions of the Omnibus Decree
As anticipated in the introduction, a new law decree has been approved regarding the chauffeur-driven car rental service and taxis. These are two occupations, quite similar in many respects, effectively belonging to the same category—that of alternative, non-traditional, or public transportation. Thus, both NCC and taxi services have undergone modifications due to this latest Omnibus decree. It has touched on several topics, including, for example, the tourism sector, and not only, bringing some changes also to the world regarding the aforementioned types of transportation. Furthermore, this decree seeks to provide a remedy also to the price increases related to the above-mentioned services. Precisely in this regard, chauffeur-driven car rentals and taxis, increasingly in demand for traveling across the territory, come into play.
Details of the Decree for NCC and Taxis
Delving into the details of the Omnibus Decree 2023 related to NCC and taxis, the implemented changes are significant. They aim at reducing service costs and the accumulation of licenses for workers—two factors that meet the ever-growing need of the population to avail themselves of such alternative means of transportation. The text of the decree, still not finalized (and thus subject to possible ongoing revisions), implies a 20% increase in the recruitment of operators in the NCC and taxi sector for municipalities with higher demand, like Rome. Hence, those having local airports, stations, subways, and points that require substantial movements to connect to the city centers. This offers an opportunity for those practicing this profession to apply for participation in competitive tenders of municipalities that meet the mentioned requirements.
License Restrictions Imposed by the Decree
Just as the decree in question has increased the potentials of the integrated transport service of NCC and taxis, it also imposes certain constraints at the same time, particularly related to licenses. They, first and foremost, must respect the maximum accumulation limit for the operators. Moreover, the new authorizations will not have a duration exceeding 12 months—a deadline that, however, can be extended up to a maximum of 24 months. The operators, thanks to the accumulation of licenses, can then decide to purchase new vehicles for the taxi or NCC service, “albeit with the due differences,” to be assigned to third parties with the proper license. A concession that must still comply with all the laws, starting from those on environmental impact and sustainability. For instance, in this case, the vehicle must be hybrid or fully electric. This is to promote the protection of the ecosystem, highly sought after in various municipalities and regions of our country for general alignment. Of course, electric or hybrid cars have a higher cost, which could discourage many from investing. But the government has also thought of this by providing specific bonuses and incentives for those interested.
The Battle of Trade Unions for NCC and Taxi Licenses
The Omnibus decree, with its amendments, especially concerning licenses and their possible cumulability, has sparked a revolt of the category trade unions. Representatives from various municipal entities throughout the country have expressed a strong will to remove this aspect, fearing a possible sale to third parties of the licenses with a consequent depreciation of the same. A practice too often abused, which has effectively led to a devaluation of the obtained authorizations. What has frequently occurred, in fact, is the development of an actual trade in licenses where the low-cost buyers were almost always multinational companies or private individuals. A practice that has thrown the category in question into panic, increasingly fearful of investing in a sought-after service and profession but with negative repercussions. In addition to this, another deplorable situation was linked to those who, accumulating licenses, employed third-party taxi drivers or chauffeurs to whom they assigned the cars, but who ultimately turned into employees and not self-employed. So, as always, the need has broken the rule, and above all, acting illegally or circumventing the rule has become an unpleasant habit. A modus operandi of exclusive economic interest, which has impoverished a professional world in constant growth.
Supplementary Shifts and Double Steering in the 2023 Decree
Lastly, let’s see what the supplementary shifts and double steering mentioned in the new decree of August 7, 2023, approved by the government entail. For taxis, for example, the same vehicle can be used at the end of the shift by another operator, an aspect that enhances the capacities and potentials of the mentioned transport service. Similarly, the NCC also benefits from this change, allowing more than one driver to use the same vehicle—a second driver that increases the service hours of the alternative means. Like the 20% increase in licenses, therefore, the decree has also positively modified the characterization of a pivotal element in the transport sector in this case. Changes that streamline bureaucracy and elevate the level of satisfaction of the needs of this service by the ever-growing population.
