The Land Transport Regulatory Commission launched a field inspection campaign on 14 October to verify compliance with fares, vehicle licensing, and driver permits across Jordan. Inspectors are checking requirements for smart transport applications to ensure adherence to established regulations. Mohammad Abu Tayeh, operations manager at Petra Ride, stated, "The company supports inspection campaigns aimed at regulating the market, describing them as beneficial to licensed companies and drivers and helpful in addressing unlicensed activity." This initiative targets operators providing services within the sector to enforce legal standards. Authorities intend to confirm that all drivers and vehicles operating via platforms like Uber, Careem, Jeeny, Petra Ride, Gojo, Taxi F, and CAB maintain valid credentials. Compliance checks will continue as part of the broader regulatory effort.
New Operational Standards Enforced
The 2025 Passenger Transport Regulation through Smart Applications No. 74 mandates that smart application tariffs equal the standard taxi fare plus 20%. These updated legal requirements also define strict vehicle eligibility. Every vehicle used for transport through these platforms must have an operational age of no more than seven years from its year of manufacture.
Driver eligibility criteria remain equally specific under the new regulatory framework. Service providers must be no older than 65 to operate within the sector. Additionally, all drivers are required to have held a valid driving license for at least three years. These conditions apply to all operators working through the various platforms to ensure consistent professional standards across the industry in Jordan.
Financial Penalties for Noncompliance
Companies face specific financial penalties for failing to maintain regulatory standards. Ten violations within one week regarding vehicle licensing or driver permits will result in a JD5,000 deduction from a company's JD100,000 guarantee. If a firm records more than 20 violations in a single week concerning these permits or licenses, authorities will deduct JD10,000 from the same guarantee. Additionally, any single violation involving the approved fare structure triggers a JD50,000 deduction from the company's JD100,000 guarantee. Yousef Abu Odeh, an app-based driver and advocate for drivers' rights, stated: "The new measures expand responsibility to companies and the extent to which they register drivers who meet the required conditions, rather than focusing solely on individual drivers."
