Consumer Services

Taxicabs and Towers Implement Fuel Surcharges

The Miami-Dade Consumer Services Department wants consumers to be aware of fuel surcharges in place for certain transportation-related services. In June, the Board of County Commissioners approved legislation to allow fuel surcharges for taxicab fares and non-consent tows, which are those that do not require the prior consent of the vehicle owner or driver. The measures were designed to help taxicab and tow businesses offset the cost of high fuel prices and minimize the financial hardship these businesses are experiencing.

Taxicabs have a new rate schedule that calls for a fuel surcharge of one dollar when the price of regular unleaded gasoline remains at an average of $3.50 a gallon for three consecutive weeks. Surcharges in increments of $0.50 kick in for every $0.50 increase in gas prices thereafter. In other words, when the average gas price is $4.00, the surcharge will be $1.50, and when gas is $4.50, the surcharge will be $2.00, and so forth. The average weekly price of gas is based on data gathered by the Energy Information Administration (EIA), a branch of the U.S. Department of Energy.

Avg. Price Per Gallon	Fuel Surcharge Rates
$ 3.50	$ 1.00
$ 4.00	$ 1.50
$ 4.50	$ 2.00
$ 5.00	$ 2.50
$ 5.50	$ 3.00

Notice of the fuel surcharge is posted in every taxicab. Drivers add the surcharge using an "extra" button on the taximeter. On flat fare trips where the taximeter is not used, and on a small number of meters that do not have an "extra" button, drivers manually add the surcharge to the fare.

Because tow operators also struggle with the price of gas -- many of whom primarily consume diesel fuel, the most expensive gas currently on the market -- they may impose fuel surcharges for non-consent tows. Such tows are performed at the request of private property owners, police agencies and others, except where municipalities have established different maximum rates for their jurisdictions. Towing companies that choose to implement the surcharge will be required to itemize the charge on all manifests and trip sheets, and post the surcharge with their rate schedule.

The fuel surcharge is a separate addition to the County's maximum towing rates. These rates are determined by the gross weight of the vehicle being towed, which in turn determines the size of the tow truck required. Most consumer vehicles are categorized as Class "A," which has a maximum rate set at $101.00. All the rates are posted on the Miami-Dade Consumer Services Department website
http://www.miamidade.gov/csd/Licensing/Business/towing.asp.

The Miami-Dade Consumer Services Department licenses and regulates taxicabs and towers among other businesses. It also investigates and mediates consumer complaints, enforces the County's consumer protection laws and business regulations. For more information about these laws and other services, log on to www.miamidade.gov/csd or call the Consumer Mediation Center at 305-375-3677. Back to Top Page Last Edited: Thu Jul 21, 2011 3:45:43 PM