From Left: David Do, former NYC Taxi and Limousine Commissioner; Richard Nader; Matt Daus, IATR President; and Hector Ricketts, President of the Commuter Van Association Of New York, Inc.

On May 3rd, former NYC TLC Commissioner David Do was a featured guest on the "No Excuses with Fernando Mateo" show, where he discussed a wide range of topics. Commissioner Do outlined his leadership in navigating significant industry challenges, financial difficulties experienced by drivers, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. He also emphasized advancements made under his tenure, notably the transformation of New York City's TLC-licensed fleet into the most environmentally friendly in the United States.

During the interview, Commissioner Do noted that, during his administration, the TLC issued 10,000 vehicle licenses exclusively for electric vehicles, 90% of which were allocated to individual drivers. This initiative enabled more drivers to operate their own independent businesses rather than lease vehicles, thus improving their income and financial stability.

Commissioner Do further addressed progress in fleet accessibility, reporting that, for the first time in history, the yellow taxi fleet reached 50% accessibility, fulfilling a long-standing city objective.

Additional topics included the cost of new vehicles, auto insurance expenses, impacts on affordability, driver financial well-being, and strategies to enhance safety and security for drivers, passengers, and all individuals who live, work, or visit New York City.

Listen to the full interview here

Image: The Scotsman

A third of Uber drivers surveyed by GMB Scotland are ready to quit after rising fuel costs and lower fares hit weekly earnings, the union has warned.

GMB Scotland, which represents drivers using the ride-hailing app, said members are facing higher pump prices linked to the Iran war while fare levels have stayed the same or fallen. The union said some drivers are taking home up to £750 a week less than a year ago.

The union surveyed 80 Uber drivers and found one in three said they were struggling to continue working. Almost all respondents said rising fuel costs had damaged their income, with 37 percent saying the impact had been significant.

Fuel spending has also risen sharply, according to the union. A year ago, 48 percent of surveyed drivers spent more than £100 a week on fuel. That figure now stands at 83 percent, while 19 percent said they spend more than £200 a week.

The pressure is forcing longer working hours. GMB Scotland said 65 percent of drivers are working more than they did a year ago to cover extra costs, with one in five working more than 60 hours a week.

One driver told the union they were “down £150 per day” from their normal wage and were struggling to justify staying on the road because of cheaper journeys and higher fuel costs. Another said staying at home could sometimes be cheaper than working.

Source: Taxipoint

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Officials Detail NJ World Cup Plan Centered on Public Transit

Already the most scrutinized piece of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the New York/New Jersey region, transportation took center stage at the Meadowlands Chamber‘s “Eggs & Issues: Transportation and Mobility” event May 1 in Lyndhurst. Officials and industry leaders detailed a tightly controlled, transit-first plan while acknowledging the challenges it presents for fans and businesses alike.

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Economist: Another Transportation Collapse Brewing in Florida

Florida may be headed into a transportation crisis with the failure of an airline and possibly the state's passenger train service. First Florida-based low-cost Spirit Airlines ceased operations, and now, the state's private passenger train service, Brightline, reports it may be headed into bankruptcy because it can't service its debts. UCF economist Sean Snaith says Spirit Airlines' collapse and Brightline's inability to service its debt makes this is a challenging time for Florida's tourism industry.

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The L.A. Olympics Are in Two Years, Perhaps Too Soon for Much 21st Century Transportation

The L.A. Olympics are in two years, perhaps too soon for much 21st century transportation

The L.A. 2028 Olympics are billed as the largest peacetime gathering in history. Moving everybody between the venues and other parts of the city will be a major task, and the city’s Dept. of Transportation and the LA28 committee are both hard at work on the problem. LA is known as a car city rather than a transit one, but they also have handled other big events, including the 1984 Olympics, last year’s World Series and soon, their part of this year’s World Cup.

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As Ottawa Promises Major Investments in N.W.T., Hay River Pitches Itself As Transportation Hub

With the federal government promising major investments in northern infrastructure, the town of Hay River, N.W.T., wants to ensure it's included in talks before decisions are made.

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Montreal-Area Transit Fares Set to Rise 3% Starting July 1

Public transit fares across the Greater Montreal Area will increase by an average of three per cent beginning July 1, under a new fare schedule announced by the Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain. The agency says the increase meets the minimum threshold set out in its funding agreement, while aiming to balance affordability for riders with the long-term sustainability of the network.

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Ottawa's Push for Air Passenger Rights Reform

The Transport Minister says fines for airlines who repeatedly violate air passenger protections will go up to $1 million, and consultations will start on rewriting passenger protections. But advocates say they've heard all this before.

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The Energy Crisis Offers Europe Two Levers to Accelerate Transition to Zero-Emission Road Transport

The current instability in the Middle East and the volatility in global energy markets strengthen the case for accelerating the move away from fossil fuels in road transport. It also reinforces the need for a technology-neutral policy framework that makes zero-emission road transport the most attractive and economically viable option for consumers and businesses.

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Santander and Uber Establish Up to €1 Billion Financing Platform to Support European Fleet Growth

Banco Santander, S.A. (SAN SM) and Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: Uber) today announced they have entered into an agreement to support Uber’s top fleet operators’ growth across Europe. The program has been tailored towards the financing needs of professional fleet operators. By facilitating access to flexible and agile funding, Uber and Santander seek to foster fleet investment and support Uber’s long-term growth strategy in Europe.

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Dynamic Pricing: TUC Report Warns Algorithmically Set Pay Is Driving Private Hire and Courier Workers into Poverty and Ill Health

Platform operators including Uber and Deliveroo are deploying algorithmic wage-setting systems that have materially reduced take-home pay for private hire drivers and food delivery riders across the United Kingdom, according to a report published by the Trades Union Congress. The research, which includes testimony from 11 platform workers and draws on a 2025 University of Oxford study analysing 1.5 million Uber trips made between 2016 and 2024, argues that so-called dynamic pay constitutes a new and harmful wage-setting regime that warrants urgent government action.

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Major Relief Announced for Bike Taxi Riders amid Rising Petrol Prices in Sindh

The Sindh government has announced major financial relief for bike taxi riders, aiming to support low-income workers and reduce economic pressure on daily earners. Under the new policy, the Sindh Sales Tax (SST) on net fares earned by bike taxi riders has been reduced from 5 percent to 2 percent.

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Taxi Feud: CATA, CODETA Make Peace Breakthrough but Warn of Higher Fares

Taxi fare increases are looming for commuters across Cape Town, with taxi associations confirming that a hike is now almost certain following a landmark peace meeting between rival groups Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (CATA) and Congress of Democratic Taxi Associations (CODETA). The meeting, held at the Nyanga terminus on Monday, brought together leadership from both associations in a bid to end years of violent conflict that has claimed lives and disrupted transport for thousands of commuters.

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As Costs Drop, Hydrogen Energy Options Are Being Grasped Globally

Following South Africa’s Northam Platinum reporting earlier this year that thousands of hydrogen-powered trucks are doing the rounds in China, France’s Lhyfe added on Monday, May 4, that by the end of 2025, China had already built the world's largest hydrogen vehicle systems, with nearly 40,000 fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) and 574 refuelling stations. Moreover, China's new hydrogen programme sets a target of 100,000 FCEVs by 2030.

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Former DMV Commissioner Mark J.F. Schroeder, IATR President Matt Daus, and Steve Gordon at the Opening Ceremonies of the 2026 New York International Auto Show

Last week, the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles underwent a leadership transition, marking a true changing of the guard while the agency continues to go through a time where its computerized systems and how they work with drivers and automotive dealerships go through a major modernization.

After 7 years as DMV Commissioner, Mark J.F. Schroeder officially stepped down after a term defined by agency challenges and revitalization. As a former member of the NY State Assembly and Comptroller of the City of Buffalo, Schroeder was a consummate public servant when he joined the NY State DMV as Commissioner, bringing a common-sense approach to customer service, accountability, and efficiency to the agency. Schroeder led the agency during the COVID-19 pandemic, working to expand digital and flexible applications when in-person services were severely restricted. Through his leadership, licenses continued to be issued, renewed, or extended, and vehicle registration processes were handled through appointment systems on an as-needed basis. After offices reopened, he worked to ensure backlogs were addressed and that New York State residents received essential services. He also understood that the pandemic and the challenges it caused had to be the impetus to advancing a comprehensive technology upgrade to DMV’s core systems and expanding services that could be provided online. This work culminated in a major systems overhaul in early 2026, eliminating decades-old legacy systems and replacing them with singular systems meant to streamline operations, improve data management, and create a 21st-century agency.

Matt Daus, IATR President, said, “I want to congratulate Commissioner Schroeder on his outstanding service and leadership during a pivotal time for the New York State DMV. His tenure was defined by steady, pragmatic leadership through the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as a forward-looking commitment to modernizing the agency’s operations and improving the customer experience for millions of New Yorkers. From advancing critical technology upgrades to strengthening traffic safety enforcement and interagency collaboration, Commissioner Schroeder has left a strong and lasting legacy. We are pleased to welcome Acting Commissioner Jackstadt to this important role. Having already played a key part in the agency’s day-to-day operations and ongoing modernization efforts, he brings continuity and a clear vision for the future. We look forward to working closely with him as the DMV continues to evolve into a more efficient, innovative, and responsive 21st-century agency, and as it advances shared priorities around public safety, regulatory excellence, and service delivery for all New Yorkers.”

Under Schroeder’s leadership, the DMV also made significant changes to how the most reckless and dangerous drivers on our streets are penalized. In February 2026, for the first time, speed contests and illegal racing, aggravated unlicensed operation, and any alcohol- or drug-related conviction or incident were all assigned significant point values for license holders in New York State. Speeding in a construction zone is no longer assessed based on speed; instead, any violation now carries 8 points, and overtaking or passing a stopped school bus increased from 5 points to 8 points. In addition to these updated point values, the new regulations, shepherded by then-Commissioner Schroeder, extend the time frame in which the DMV can take administrative action against persistent violators from an 18-month lookback period to 24 months. As he said at the time, “These updated regulations will have no impact on drivers who follow the rules of the road, but they will have a big impact on dangerous drivers and repeat offenders whose poor choices always put other drivers, passengers, and pedestrians at risk. Our job is to make sure that New York’s roads are safe for everyone, and if someone chooses to be reckless and unsafe, they do not deserve to be behind the wheel, period.”

In his role as DMV Commissioner, Schroeder also served as Chair of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee and as the state’s official liaison to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, where he oversaw the development of the highway safety strategic plan, strengthened connections with the NYC Vision Zero Task Force, and championed initiatives with NASCAR driver Ross Chastain to promote youth seat belt use.

Christian Jackstadt, Acting Commissioner of the New York State DMV

On Friday, May 1, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that Christian Jackstadt was named Acting Commissioner of the DMV. Jackstadt, who became Executive Deputy Commissioner in March 2022, has overseen the agency’s day-to-day operations and has been instrumental in advancing its strategic goals. Under his guidance, the agency renewed its focus on customer service, improved its organizational culture, and successfully completed the first phase of the largest technology modernization project in DMV history.

“Christian Jackstadt has a terrific record of serving New Yorkers, both at the DMV and in prior roles in the executive chamber and at the Office of General Services,” Hochul said. “I know he will continue to strengthen the DMV and bring further improvement to its recent record of better customer services to the millions of New Yorkers who rely on it.”

Jackstadt said, “I am honored to step into this role as we thank Commissioner Schroeder for his excellent service to our state. I remain deeply committed to continuing to focus on Gov. Hochul’s priorities surrounding public safety, customer experience, and affordability, and I look forward to leading our employees and working with our partners across the state.”

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