Federal Council wants modern rules for professional passenger transportation
The Federal Council wants to simplify professional passenger transportation by car. It should now be possible to record working and rest times using an app. In addition, the permit required for professional drivers and the increased medical requirements will no longer apply in future.
Anyone wishing to transport people professionally by car (e.g. cab) requires a permit for professional passenger transport (BPT permit) and must meet increased minimum medical requirements. The vehicles must also be equipped with a tachograph. This is used to check working, driving and rest times.
The Federal Council wants to simplify and modernize these regulations. In doing so, it is also fulfilling several motions referred by Parliament (16.3066 Nantermod «Taxi, Uber and other driving services. For fair competition»; 16.3068 Derder «Adaptation of the Road Traffic Act to the new services» and 17.3924 Nantermod «Driver's license. Same vehicles, same roads, same license»).
Changes to permits and tachographs
Specifically, the Federal Council proposes the following adjustments:
- Professional drivers no longer require a BPT permit if they transport passengers (elimination of the additional theoretical and practical driving test).
- The same medical requirements apply as for driving license category B (no additional medical requirements).
- Working and rest times can also be recorded using an app. This means that the vehicles used no longer require a tachograph.
Lowering barriers for passenger transportation
With these amendments, the Federal Council wants to adapt professional passenger transport to today's circumstances, make use of the opportunities offered by digitalization and dispense with obligations that are no longer necessary. In order to ensure road safety, the Federal Council is maintaining the working, driving and rest periods for professional drivers.
The consultation on the planned changes will last until April 3, 2026.
Source: ASTRA
