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Glossary

Passenger transport terminology, explained

Dispatch, transfers, hourly hire and charter services: practical passenger transport vocabulary, with local terms clearly identified by market.

Licensing and operating rules depend on the country, state or province and the type of service. Each regulatory term below identifies the territory concerned.

All terms, in alphabetical order

Each definition has its own address: you can point a colleague or a client directly to the term that interests you.

Running your services

  • Trip

    A passenger or group’s journey from pickup to destination, with any agreed intermediate stops.

  • Dispatch

    Assigning bookings to drivers and vehicles based on timing, availability and passenger requirements.

  • Transfer

    A service between two agreed locations, such as an airport and a hotel.

  • Hourly hire

    Booking a vehicle and driver for an agreed period. The quoted terms specify included time and any overtime charges.

  • Pickup

    The agreed place and time at which the driver meets the passenger to start the journey.

  • No-show

    A passenger who does not arrive for the agreed pickup. Any charge depends on the booking conditions.

  • Charter service

    A vehicle and driver booked for a group’s itinerary, rather than individual seats sold on a scheduled route.

  • Empty running

    Vehicle travel without passengers, for example to reach the next pickup. Also called deadheading.

Customers and billing

  • Quote

    A proposed price setting out the service, inclusions, possible additional charges and acceptance conditions.

  • Corporate account

    A business customer whose bookings and billing details are managed together.

  • Subcontracting

    Entrusting a service to another transport operator under agreed commercial terms and responsibilities.

  • Credit note

    A document reducing or cancelling a previously invoiced amount. Its tax treatment depends on local requirements.

Local terminology

Market-specific terms and links to the responsible public authorities.

  • Private hire vehicle (PHV)

    United Kingdom

    A vehicle used for pre-booked passenger journeys. The UK private hire framework differs from taxis that can accept street hails; licensing arrangements vary by jurisdiction.

    Official source · GOV.UK

  • Small public service vehicle (SPSV)

    Ireland

    The Irish licensing category covering taxis, hackneys and limousines.

    Official source · National Transport Authority

  • Point to point transport

    Australia · New South Wales

    In New South Wales, passenger services such as taxis, hire cars and rideshare, with the route and travel time chosen by the customer.

    Official source · Transport for NSW

  • Small passenger service (SPS)

    New Zealand

    New Zealand’s category for hire-or-reward services in vehicles carrying no more than 12 people, including the driver. It is distinct from Ireland’s SPSV category.

    Official source · NZ Transport Agency

  • Private hire operator licence

    United Kingdom · England and Wales

    Licence for the business accepting private hire bookings. It is separate from the driver and vehicle licences. England and Wales use this framework; Scotland and Northern Ireland have different procedures.

    Official source · GOV.UK

  • Private hire driver licence

    United Kingdom · England and Wales

    Professional licence for the person driving a private hire vehicle. It is distinct from the ordinary driving licence and from the licences for the vehicle and booking operator.

    Official source · GOV.UK

  • PSV operator’s licence

    United Kingdom · Great Britain

    Public service vehicle operating licence used for bus and coach services within its scope. The required licence depends on the vehicle and service; it is not interchangeable with a private hire operator licence.

    Official source · GOV.UK

  • SPSV vehicle licence

    Ireland

    Irish vehicle licence for a taxi, hackney or limousine, issued under the National Transport Authority’s framework. The category determines the type of service the vehicle can provide.

    Official source · National Transport Authority

  • SPSV driver licence

    Ireland

    Professional driver licence for driving an SPSV in Ireland, issued by An Garda Síochána. It is separate from both the ordinary driving licence and the SPSV vehicle licence.

    Official source · National Transport Authority

  • Booking service provider authorisation

    Australia · New South Wales

    Authorisation for a business arranging booked point to point passenger services in New South Wales. It concerns the service provider; driver and vehicle safety requirements remain separate.

    Official source · Point to Point Transport Commissioner

  • Small passenger service licence (SPSL)

    New Zealand

    Operator licence for New Zealand services using vehicles carrying up to 12 people, including the driver, for hire or reward. Drivers must hold this licence themselves or work under a licence holder.

    Official source · NZ Transport Agency

  • Passenger endorsement (P endorsement)

    New Zealand

    Endorsement on a New Zealand driving licence for passenger service driving, subject to applicable exemptions. It concerns the driver and does not replace the operator’s transport service licence.

    Official source · NZ Transport Agency

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