LTRC halts haphazard suspension of app drivers’ licences

AMMAN — The Land and Transport Regulatory Commission (LTRC) on Sunday issued a decision that prevents ride-hailing application companies from suspending a driver's permit without filing a request specifying the reasons for revocation, according to an informed source. 

Originally, ride-hailing application drivers were allowed to work for only one company, but later on the LTRC allowed the drivers to apply for the permits under their own names, allowing them to work with more than one registered company at a time.

Drivers have complained that some companies "threaten to revoke their permits" if they work with other companies, Samir Akaileh, a member of the Ride-Hailing Application Drivers' Dialogue Committee told The Jordan Times on Sunday over the phone.

"When one company revokes the permit, the driver cannot work with any other company, and this leaves drivers unprotected," Akaileh said.

He added that drivers pay JD400 to the LTRC, which is responsible for issuing permits. This is why, he stated, the commission, not the companies, should have authority over revoking permits as well.

Akaileh said that with the LTRC's decision on Sunday, the cancellation  and renewal of such permits have been placed under the commission’s jurisdiction, and “no company has the right” to perform either action without submitting relevant applications to the LTRC. 

The Jordan Times was able to obtain a copy of the official letter containing and confirming the new regulations on renewing and cancelling permits, but was unable to reach officials at the commission for comment.