Yvonne van Schouten is waiting for a taxi van with her son Jelle in Heeswijk-Dinther at ten past eight in the morning. She has two sons, aged 15 and 16, with disabilities, who therefore go to special education in Veghel. She can keep an eye on whether the taxi is on time via an app, but lately that has rarely been the case.
Like many other companies, Van Driel taxi company is struggling with a major staff shortage, reports Dtv News† Because the company provides special school transport throughout the region, many children are regularly late for school.
Lessons in jeopardy
“The vans are regularly late,” says Yvonne, “because the taxi drivers often have a ride in advance.” The boys have to be at school at ten past eight, but sometimes they don’t get there until 9.30.” She therefore sometimes picks up her children herself, but as a result she is late for work again.
“Every child needs a number of lessons per year and they don’t get that in this way. Moreover, they get out of sync because they leave the van too late or too early. I hear from some parents that their children are already seven hours in the van, while they have to be at school at a quarter to nine.”
Van Driel’s drivers can take five to eight children on a bus per trip. There are enough vans, but too few drivers. As a result, not all children can be taken away at the same time.
Second round
Driver Mans van de Laar explains: “If you have enough people, you can run the journeys on time and also ask the parents if there are any special requirements. Now you have to take the children to school as soon as possible, because you still have have to drive a second round”
Van de Laar himself also finds it annoying. “They are children with so-called backpacks, they need regularity and structure and we can’t always offer them that at the moment.” To fill in the gaps, Van Driel has now also engaged the office staff to drive trips. According to the driver, better conditions and a higher minimum wage would also help.
The subject has already been discussed in the Maashorst city council. Driver Van de Laar: “Municipalities want as many trips as possible for as little money as possible. But the requirements are becoming stricter and the company must also invest in electric cars.”