The lack of regulations regarding taxi drivers' working hours means that many of them spend several hours a day behind the wheel, exposing themselves to fatigue, loss of concentration and the risk of accidents.
While truck drivers have strict standards and tachographs checking their working hours, self-employed taxi drivers remain outside the system.
Is this freedom a privilege or rather a trap? How do long working hours affect earnings and safety? You can read all about it in our article.
Drivers' Working Time Act – does it apply to taxi drivers?
In Poland, the working time of professional drivers is regulated by the Act on Working Time of Drivers (Journal of Laws 2004 No. 92, item 879). These regulations cover drivers performing road transport , but taxi drivers who are self-employed in taxis are not covered by them.
This means that people who own vehicles and are self-employed can work almost without restrictions.
In practice, this leads to huge disparities. While truck and bus drivers have strictly defined working hours , taxi drivers can spend up to a dozen hours a day on the road.
Failure to comply with working hours may result in fatigue, decreased concentration and an increased risk of accidents.
Who monitors taxi drivers' working hours?
The Road Transport Inspection (ITD) is responsible for controlling the working time of professional drivers , but it focuses mainly on heavy transport – truck and bus drivers.
Taxi drivers are not covered by similar regulations, and ITD does not have the tools to enforce the regulations regarding their working hours .
A key control tool for heavy transport drivers is the tachograph , which records driving and rest times . In the case of taxis , there is no such requirement, which means that the actual working hours of taxi drivers are virtually impossible to verify.
Employment in a taxi corporation and the Labor Code
The situation is slightly different for taxi drivers employed full-time. In their case, the National Labor Inspectorate (PIP) exercises control, and the applicable standards result from the Labor Code .
Theoretically this means:
Maximum 8 hours of work per day (or more in the equivalent working time system),
Mandatory breaks,
Weekly working time not exceeding 40 hours , unless an overtime system is introduced.
However, in reality, the vast majority of taxi drivers are self-employed in the taxi business, which means that these regulations do not apply to them.
As a result, a serious legal loophole is created – the work of taxi drivers can last indefinitely, and state institutions do not have effective tools to monitor it.
Does the lack of regulation encourage flexibility or lead to exploitation? This is a question that every taxi driver must answer for themselves.
Flexibility of working hours in the profession of a taxi driver
Most taxi drivers in Poland are self-employed in the taxi business, which means that they decide on the number of working hours and the start and end times of their shift.
The lack of strict regulations causes many drivers to extend their working hours , especially on days of increased demand for journeys.
This applies particularly to so-called "berets" (freelancers not affiliated with corporations), but also to traditional taxi drivers.
While flexibility allows you to tailor your schedule to your individual needs, many taxi drivers fall into the overtime trap, especially as financial pressures mount.
Working in a taxi corporation – are working hours more regulated?
Employment in a taxi corporation may involve certain internal regulations, but this still does not mean strict control over taxi drivers' working hours .
Some companies require:
Minimum number of hours worked per week,
Availability during peak hours ,
Completing a specified number of courses per month.
Even under these conditions, drivers often work more than their standard hours, especially during periods of high demand such as weekends or holidays .
Taxi applications and driver working time management
The situation is slightly different in transportation apps such as Uber, Bolt or Free Now , where the work model depends on the employment system.
Yes, I know, theoretically applications do not allow for work beyond the norm. But since we all know that this is nonsense, let's get to the facts.
Some drivers work shifts, almost like a factory. Sometimes a 12/12 model is used – 12 hours on, 12 hours off , no days off.
Yes, you read that right – 12 hours a day, all week long . And that at a time when the media is discussing shortening the workweek to 4 days, 8 hours each.
However, much more common in Poland is the system of renting cars and providing the right to earn money based on an intermediary's license .
Companies with fleets of vehicles do not employ full-time drivers, but rent them cars with access to the application, which is a legal loophole .
Additionally, drivers:
They pay a company to rent a vehicle,
They give away part of their earnings in the form of commission,
They must cover the costs of fuel and vehicle operation themselves.
Sound familiar? It's a model similar to the one used by some cleaning companies, which charge employees for the rental of basic tools.
But back to driver fatigue – this system actually forces long working hours . Many emigrants live in their cars because they can’t afford to pay for a car rental unless they’re working non-stop.
They often drive almost 24 hours a day , sleeping only when the app is not assigning them rides.
The lack of working time regulations in transport applications leads to extreme working conditions that deviate from safety standards. The impact of working time on the safety and health of drivers
Taxi Driver Fatigue – The Dangers of Long Working Hours
Now we will discuss two key topics: how dangerous chronic fatigue is and what it should look like in an ideal world.
And I'm not writing this as a theoretician – I'm writing this as a driver who has spent thousands of hours behind the wheel.
I currently drive mainly intercity routes, but I used to work in heavy transport – and that was back in the days of magnets and throwing discs out the window . I know what it's like to drive 48 hours without sleep , because I've done that kind of marathon more than once in my life.
Now you may ask: “So why are you moralizing to me?” You see, I am writing this article because it hurts me that the system forces drivers to work extreme hours .
If honest, full-time work allowed you to earn a decent living , there would be no need to do such marathons. But the reality is different - if you want to earn money, you have to push .
I want to warn you about this. I have years of experience behind me. My body has become somewhat accustomed to it, my hands and feet work automatically, I know how to react in critical situations.
But even with my experience , the body has its limits . Sooner or later, everyone will cross them.
Overdoing it with your work hours is not much different than driving under the influence . You may think I'm exaggerating, but think about it:
Fatigue slows your reaction time , just like alcohol.
Micronaps – your body can cut you off for a second or two, and at 90 km/h that's a few dozen meters in the dark.
Lack of control over your own body – when your body gives up, even the greatest experience will not help.
How many times have you seen photos on the internet of cars stuck in a wall on an empty road?
How many times have you heard this dry message on the news:
👉 "For unexplained reasons, he drove into the opposite lane."
I don't need to read statistics to know how often these "unexplained causes" are simply falling asleep at the wheel .
Mandatory breaks and their importance for safety
Strict rules apply to heavy transport:
✅ Maximum 4.5 hours of driving , then a 45-minute break .
✅ No more than 9 hours of driving per day .
✅ 11 hours of rest per day.
Now look at taxi drivers and app drivers. Zero regulation . You can push for 12, 14, 16 hours – and no one will tell you anything.
Lack of rest is a direct path to tragedy . If you think that this does not apply to you, that you are young and you can handle it – think again. Fatigue gets to everyone , and when it catches up with you, it may be too late.
That's why it should be like in heavy transport - mandatory breaks, maximum working time, regulations that will not allow people to drive until they drop.
Only that... it doesn't pay off . Not for those who make money on it.
Do longer working hours always mean higher earnings?
Working Beyond the Standard – Is This the Right Path?
I don't want to judge anyone here. Everyone has their own situation, their own reasons for working so much . But it's worth calling a spade a spade - many people today are simply forced into slave labor . And yes, this is slavery in white gloves .
Of course, someone might say: "You can always change jobs." After all, Poland is not Dubai, no one will take your passport away for not working 1,000 hours a month. Well, yes... but does everyone really have such freedom of choice?
Let's leave philosophy aside and focus on specifics. Regardless of the situation - let's learn to count. We live in times when unemployment is practically non-existent , so it's worth realistically assessing whether a taxi is really worth it.
Counting working hours (hourly rate) – is a taxi calculated?
I encourage anyone who drives a taxi or ride-hailing app to start keeping accurate records of their hours and earnings .
A simple Excel spreadsheet or a regular notebook is enough. Why? Because many drivers don't even realize that they earn less than the minimum wage per hour, pulling this business like Sisyphus with his boulder.
And now we come to the key question: is it possible to earn a decent living as a taxi driver, working reasonable hours? And if not, is it possible to earn more in another profession, in a similar amount of time and with less effort?
Let's consider this scenario:
🛒 Biedronka, Lidl, warehouse, production – salary at the level of PLN 4,000–5,000 net plus paid overtime.
🚖 Taxi - you may earn the same, but at the cost of 60-80 hours of work per week , no vacation, no guarantee of a steady income.
And here we come to the question: is it worth it? Instead of torturing yourself, wouldn't it be better to get a full-time job where you'll get:
Paid leave
Holidays under a pear tree
Multisport card
Maybe even fruit Thursdays . 😉
I'm not writing this to discourage people from driving a taxi - I'm in it myself and I want to achieve something in this business. But not everyone has that much energy and determination . Not everyone lives in a city where you can earn a decent living on passenger transport .
Sometimes it's worth putting your pride aside and, for your own health and peace of mind, going full- time . There, the problems with car leasing, taxes and ZUS are not yours - they're your boss's problem. And you just do your thing and have peace of mind .
The need to regulate drivers' working hours
Okay, since you made it this far… I guess you’re staying on this train called a taxi , huh? So let’s talk about the need to regulate this chaos.
And yes, I can already hear the voices:
👉 "This guy is a hypocrite!" - he develops a company, drives himself for several hours, and now suddenly calls for regulation.
But you see, I've changed my perspective a bit. Maybe because I'm older, maybe because I've seen a bit more in life. Or maybe it's just because I've arranged my life in such a way that I can work as much as I want, not as much as I have to.
And I recommend everyone to go in this direction – work for yourself, not for someone else , so that one day you will be the one deciding, and no one will be deciding for you.
Working time is not the driver's enemy
I remember the truck days. I worked in different systems, in different industries. There was a slack on tippers, because they often charged us for the completed wheels with the load. In distribution, working time was an obstacle , because you would rather finish faster and go home, and here you have to wait, because the tachograph counts .
But look at it from the side and think:
❓ If it weren't for regulations, wouldn't your boss (or your boss's boss) figure out that since you already work so much, you could do even more?
Because that's exactly what happens. I know of cases where a truck driver would get a call from a dispatcher in the middle of a break and say:
👉 "You have to be in Italy tomorrow and I don't care. Shield, magnet and off you go!"
So what, do you still think that working time is a tool to oppress drivers ?
Talk to drivers of vans up to 3.5 tons who drive around Europe without a tachograph. Anyone who has seen this is not laughing in a circus.
Working hours should be regulated for everyone
That is why I am sure: drivers' working time should be treated the same in each category.
🚖 Would car drivers lose out on this? In my opinion – no.
👉 9 hours of driving by passenger car is easily 900–1000 km on the highway or 300 km in the city .
Imagine how much productivity would increase if you had to use your working time optimally because it is about to end.
Besides, let's agree - just like in a truck , 9 hours is not always 9 hours of driving . In a taxi, it could be arranged so that breaks are not counted towards working time .
It is important to systematically force drivers to take daily and weekly breaks , and not have them camp out like homeless people at taxi ranks.
Because if we don't do this, we will continue to slaughter ourselves by our own will.
What prompted me to write this article?
Okay, now that you've made it this far, you deserve an explanation. Why did I write this article?
Firstly – because I can . Secondly – because someone had to let off steam eventually . I usually try to be more positive in my message, but this time there was no room for sugarcoating reality .
And thirdly – because the situation on the taxi market is not going in the right direction .
Deregulation or market drain?
As you probably know, our Prime Minister has invited business to co-create regulation. Or rather, to deregulate .
One of the leaders of this approach is to be Rafał Brzoska , president of InPost .
Some people laugh that every Donald wants to have his own Musk . But okay, jokes aside.
Is anything actually changing? Is there any real chance that things will improve for taxi drivers ? Honestly? I don't see it.
Who is really winning here?
What I see is a gradual draining of the market . And it's by the big players – people who know enough about taxis to be able to get in one.
They are not the ones who work 12-16 hours a day . They are not the ones who risk their health on the roads . They are not the ones who take trips at night so that the client can get home safely.
But it is they who decide what this market looks like.
And what has changed for the better for us, drivers ? Well, tell me honestly – what good things have we gotten recently?
Because I only see further ways to squeeze even more out of us, even cheaper .
And what now?
We are talking about the need to regulate the taxi market – because of rapes, because of drunk drivers, because of fatigue . Because of more and more pathologies that could be avoided.
Now think about this:
👉 How will all these deregulations and changes affect us – taxi drivers?
👉 Will someone finally think about drivers, or is it just about money for big companies again?
I leave you with this thought.
Because if we don’t start standing up for it, no one will do it for us .
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