Yellow Cab Green Cab For-Hire Vehicle Paratransit and Commuter Van Authority

High-Volume For-Hire Services

On August 14, 2018, Mayor de Blasio signed Local Law 149 of 2018, creating a new license category for TLC-licensed FHV bases that dispatch more than 10,000 trips per day, referred to as High-Volume For-Hire Services (HVFHS). TLC adopted HVFHS rules (PDF) to regulate these two-year licenses, which are required in addition to existing TLC licenses for for-hire vehicle bases.

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Steps to get a HVFHS license

Submit a list of bases through which the HVFHS will dispatch trips
Pay the licensing fee
Submit a business plan, which includes the business’s past and anticipated vehicle count, trip volume, service areas, and compliance with the TLC’s accessibility requirements
Submit an analysis of the impact of the business on traffic congestion, local transportation, and noise
Provide a description of all deductions it proposes to charge for-hire vehicle owners or drivers as well as estimates of gross hourly earnings of drivers
Provide detailed trip and revenue data on an ongoing basis

Apply for a license

For guidance on using Taxi Zones in Application Appendix data submission, find maps and tables in Trip Record Data.

The initial HVFHS license application period has begun. All applicable businesses must file a HVFHS license application by April 17, 2019.

To make an appointment to file your application visit Licensing and Standards Appointment Scheduling - Schedule Your Own Appointment. Once you have submitted your application, schedule a fingerprinting appointment. Read Identogo - Fingerprint Request (PDF).

Data submission requirements

High-Volume For-Hire Services (HVFHS) are required to regularly submit data to TLC via TLC-hosted SFTP. For-Hire Services are required to submit 5-10 different files. For each file, the HVFHS should submit all records for all constituent FHV bases. Do not submit different files for each FHV base. Data submissions by For-Hire Services also fulfill the data submission requirements for the For-Hire Service’s constituent FHV bases.

Download HVFHS Data Specifications (xls)

Submission frequency and naming convention for each file are as follows:

File	Required For	Frequency	Naming Convention
Trips	All HVFHS licensees	biweekly (deliver by Thursday following second week	HV0000_trip_YYYYMMDD_YYYYMMDD.csv
Requests	HVFHS licensees which are also Accessible Vehicle Dispatchers	monthly (deliver by first Thursday after 1st of the month)	HV0000_request_YYYYMMDD_YYYYMMDD.csv
Shared Rides	HVFHS licensees that provide shared rides	biweekly (deliver by Thursday following second week)	HV0000_shared_YYYYMMDD_YYYYMMDD.csv
Hourly	HVFHS licensees that pay drivers hourly	biweekly (deliver by Thursday following second week	HV0000_hourly_YYYYMMDD_YYYYMMDD.csv
Driver Payments	All HVFHS licensees	biweekly (deliver by Thursday following second week)	HV0000_pay_YYYYMMDD_YYYYMMDD.csv
Corrective Payments	HVFHS licensees making corrective driver payments in compliance with driver pay rules	biweekly (deliver by Thursday following second week)	HV0000_policypay_YYYYMMDD_YYYYMMDD.csv
Sessions	All HVFHS licensees	biweekly (deliver by Thursday following second week)	HV0000_session_YYYYMMDD_YYYYMMDD.csv
Breadcrumbs	All HVFHS licensees	biweekly (deliver by Thursday following second week)	HV0000_breadcrumb_YYYYMMDD_YYYYMMDD.csv
Congestion	All HVFHS licensees	biweekly (deliver by Thursday following second week)	HV0000_congestion_YYYYMMDD_YYYYMMDD.csv
Drivers	All HVFHS licensees	monthly (deliver by first Thursday after 1st of the month)	HV0000_driver_YYYYMMDD_YYYYMMDD.csv

Frequently Asked Questions

Which companies are required to apply for a HVFHS license?

Businesses that currently dispatch or plan to dispatch more than 10,000 FHV trips in New York City per day under a single brand, trade, or operating name via FHV bases must apply for the High-Volume For-Hire Service license.

Is this new license class optional?

This license is required for all companies that meet the eligibility standards in the approved rules, read Notice of Public Hearing and Opportunity to Comment on Proposed Rules (PDF) and the related local law read Local Law of The City of New York 2018 No. 149 (PDF).

What is the period of licensure?

The HVFHS license is valid for two years from approval.

Does an HVFHS license replace an existing base license? Can the HVFHS license be used in lieu of a base license to dispatch trips?

No. The local law does not remove existing base requirements or change current dispatch requirements. All vehicles dispatched using the HVFHS software must be affiliated to a TLC-licensed base or they cannot be dispatched. The HVFHS license is required for all businesses who meet the standards set in the law for the number of dispatches done per day. If a HVFHS licensee also owns or operates a base then they are required to maintain their base license in good standing, as well, to continue dispatching TLC-licensed vehicles.

It is a violation of TLC rules to dispatch any trip other than through a TLC-licensed FHV base. This rule applies to all HVFHS licensees.

What kinds of information will TLC require companies to produce to obtain the license?

The general outline of the requirements can be found in the Local Law of The City of New York 2018 No. 149 (PDF) and Notice of Public Hearing and Opportunity to Comment on Proposed Rules (PDF).

TLC will ask for each applicant’s business plan, an analysis of their environmental and transit impacts on the city, a mitigation plan for negative impacts, and additional data related to fares, driver income, and other aspects of operation.

The TLC application will contain more specifics for each of these components. When the application is available, it will appear on the TLC website with application deadlines provided. TLC will also directly contact businesses that we believe will need to apply for the new HVFHS license.

How much does the license application cost?

The license application costs $380,000 for a two-year license for each High-Volume For-Hire Service application. This fee will not be refunded if the Commission denies the application.

What is the process for HVFHS license renewal?

License renewals take place every two years. A renewing applicant must file a completed application for renewal at least 60 days before the expiration date of the license.

Are there any additional trip record requirements for this license?

Yes. The required trip record information can be found in the approved rules Notice of Public Hearing and Opportunity to Comment on Proposed Rules (PDF).

Specifications for HVFHS data submission will be posted on the TLC website – both on the HVFHS license webpage and FHV Trip Record Submission – before December 31, 2018. TLC will provide outreach to applicable businesses to ensure the new requirements are understood.

Related Information:

Approved HVFHS Rules - Notice of Public Hearing and Opportunity to Comment on Proposed Rules (PDF). If you have any questions about this application, send your written questions to TLC External Affairs at tlcexternalaffairs@tlc.nyc.gov. Any questions sent to TLC will receive written responses and be posted in the FAQ on this page.