FREENOW, Ireland’s No.1 Taxi App, reports significant driver growth in the first half of 2024 which is supporting service levels across the country. The taxi app welcomed hundreds of new taxi drivers to its fleet, marking a 24% year-on-year increase compared to new drivers in H1 2023. This 2024 driver growth represents the largest H1 increase recorded by FREENOW since the onset of the covid pandemic.
According to FREENOW’s data, Dublin saw a 26% increase in new taxi drivers joining FREENOW in 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, Cork experienced a 31% rise, and Limerick saw an increase of 33%. Additionally, FREENOW recently strengthened its regional presence by partnering with Waterford Taxis, a phone operator based in Waterford and prior to that with the largest taxi fleet in Co. Kilkenny – Sevens Taxis. The growth of FREENOW’s driver partner fleet and its taxi company partnerships align with the taxi app’s ambition to continue expanding its service offering nationwide.
FREENOW’s latest Driver Pulse Survey* highlights some of the advantages of working in the taxi sector which drivers value most. 36% of drivers most appreciate the autonomy of being their own boss, 34% value the flexibility to choose their working hours and locations, and 17% enjoy the ability to take time off when needed. Separately, 26% of those surveyed believe that the social aspect of engaging with passengers is a great bonus of working in the taxi sector. Furthermore, 35% of drivers mentioned that they like the ability to scale their income based on the volume and timing of their work hours. Looking ahead, 29% believe that promoting the taxi profession to a new generation is crucial for safeguarding the sector’s viability, and the majority (80%) of drivers feel that the existing SPSV test is essential for maintaining high standards and professionalism within the industry.
In H1 2024, 72% of the new drivers completed FREENOW’s free training programme, The Manual, which helps aspiring drivers prepare for the National Transport Authority’s SPSV Driver Entry Test. In H1 2024, an average of 130 new candidates signed up for the training each week, reflecting interest amongst aspiring taxi drivers in joining the sector. This represents a 28% increase in new drivers joining via The Manual compared to the same period last year.
The growing number of drivers joining the FREENOW fleet is enhancing the service levels provided to passengers. New data highlights that the app has an average wait time of 17.5 seconds for ride acceptance and 3.5 minutes for driver arrival, reflecting the hard work of driver partners who are dedicated to providing a prompt and reliable service for passengers across the country.
Commenting on the achievements and future plans, Charlie Gleeson, General Manager for FREENOW Ireland, said:
“We’re pleased to see such significant growth in our driver numbers this year, marking a record high. This is an indication of positive interest in the taxi sector and the benefits that a career as a taxi driver presents.It’s also encouraging to see that our Manual training programme has proven to be a valuable asset, helping new drivers pass the SPSV entry test and successfully join the sector – strengthening our existing national fleet and supporting positive service levels for our passengers. At FREENOW we are committed to continued investment in driver training, driver incentives, and regional service expansion to support our new and existing drivers and keep passengers across Ireland moving.”
