Affiliated providers
What is an affiliated provider?
An affiliated provider provides a taxi service under the brand of a Taxi Service Provider (TSP) who is authorised to provide taxi services by the Point to Point Transport Commissioner. An affiliated provider may obtain services such as security monitoring, branding (logo/livery), fares and the coordination of their Safety Management Systems from a TSP.
Many affiliated providers own and manage their own taxi licence and/or taxi, but they are not themselves authorised as a TSP, so they cannot provide taxi services except through an authorised TSP.
It is important to note, affiliated providers have safety obligations under the law.
The Commissioner’s Authorised Officers have noticed an increased number of affiliated providers who are unaware of their responsibilities and safety obligations under the law. It is important to be aware that, if you are an affiliated provider, you have a duty of care to ensure the health and safety of drivers, passengers and other people connected with your service.
Recently two affiliate providers were convicted and fined for breaching their primary duty of care and specified safety obligations under NSW point to point transport law. The affiliated providers had not ensured that a driver had been onboarded with their authorised service provider, and that the required checks on the driver’s criminal and driving history had been conducted.
What safety obligations does an affiliated provider have?
An affiliated provider must:
- ensure their driver/s have been onboarded by the TSP which they are affiliated with
- ensure that all driver checks have been conducted and the driver/s are eligible to driver passenger service vehicles
- implement and follow their TSP’s Safety Management System
- be aware of the safety standards in the point to point transport law which apply to affiliated providers
- follow the policies and procedures of the TSP which they are affiliated with
Want to know more about being an affiliated provider and their safety obligations?
Our Affiliated Providers fact sheet outlines information to help ensure affiliated providers are fulfilling their obligations. We also have a short course available online for Affiliated Providers – please visit the Learning Centre to access the course.