International Association of Transportation Regulators
Multi-Modal Mobility Innovation For All!

Who We Are

The International Association of Transportation Regulators (IATR) is a non-profit, professional association of government transportation officials. Founded in 1989, the IATR is primarily an educational organization that shares information and best practices among a wide variety of government agencies that license, regulate and/or contract with for-hire ground transportation services. These regulated industries include: taxicabs; micro-transit; micro-mobility; buses & motor coaches; black cars & limousines; paratransit & non-emergency medical transport; and Transportation Network Companies (TNCs). 

2023 Conference Announced!

The IATR’s 36th Annual Conference will be held in Scottsdale, Arizona, a welcoming environment and regulatory paradigm for mobility technology innovation and experimentation.

The dry heat of the desert will warm our attendees’ minds, to facilitate the exploration of new approaches to planning for, deploying, and regulating mobility technology solutions.

This future forward conference will focus primarily on automation and electrification – two areas of rapid advancement. Autonomous vehicles (AVs) are already picking-up passengers in Arizona and elsewhere, while electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure is being built everywhere with both innovations providing backbone and muscle for our future transportation ecosystem.

IATR's Modernizing Taxi Regulations: An Innovative Governance Framework for the Future

The International Association of Transportation Regulators (“IATR”) has pioneered providing model regulations for the rapidly-evolving for-hire ground transportation sector. Taxis have been at the forefront of transportation regulation for more than a century, but the last decade has witnessed an influx of new players, namely app-based, on-demand transportation services. Providers of these apps are generally referred to by regulators as Transportation Network Companies (“TNCs”), private hire vehicles (“PHVs”), for-hire vehicles (“FHVs”), point-to-point transportation, or peer-to-peer networks. Whatever you call it, this technology has permanently altered the for-hire transportation regulatory landscape.

After more than a decade of operations in varying forms around the globe, it is clear that TNCs are a part of the for-hire transportation framework. In almost all of the U.S., TNCs have been operating under a regulatory framework designed for their unique operations. It is a “selfregulation” model of sorts, where TNCs are required to follow the established regulations pertaining to insurance coverage, driver and vehicle qualifications and standards, and operating requirements.

In recent years, TNCs have forged partnerships with taxi operators around the world, promoting the model that the demand for ridesourcing and the supply of taxis can benefit both parties, while improving mobility options in cities. However, there is a long way to go on this new mobility marriage. In many markets, these new partnerships face regulatory challenges, and mutually-beneficial policy strategies can be difficult to navigate at the local level.

In most places, taxis continue to be governed by regulations that are not aligned with modern-day consumer expectations for travel. To remedy that, this IATR project brings together regulators, academics, experts, and industry stakeholders to survey the regulatory landscape to make recommendations for improved regulatory conditions. The goal of this project is twofold: 

1. Identify precedents and regulatory best practices that shape positive outcomes for both TNCs and taxis while expanding mobility options for riders; and

2. Coordinate a master plan for normalizing and modernizing TNC and taxi regulations to be more adaptable to market changes and innovation. The IATR explored specific challenges and issues with taxi regulations, including the following: 

Market Entry Restrictions

Market access criteria, limits on the number of vehicles and/or operators, and regulation of the rental and lease market for licensed vehicles.

Driver Standards & Licensing

Driver eligibility, training requirements, the driver permitting/licensing process, background checks, and drug tests.

Fare Control

Taximeters and taximeter specifications, “soft” meters (e.g., digital, GPS based); up-front fares, metered fares, dynamic pricing, and surge pricing.

Vehicle Quality and Safety Standards

Vehicle inspections, equipment approvals and minimum requirements, vehicle age and mileage restrictions, and color schemes.

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