Mr. Ralston Smith, Managing Director, Transport Authority (2nd left) flanked by members of his team to include Mr. Michael Byrue – General Manager, Finance (left), Miss Taj-Marie Osbourne – Senior Legal Officer (centre), DSP Damion Jarrett of the St. Ann Police, and Mr. Lincoln Ogilvie, Managing Director of Orion Loss Adjustors as he addressed a stakeholder meeting to include Route Taxi Association leadership speaking about the new Transport Authority Advance Integrated Management System (TAAIMS).
Kingston, Jamaica - January 24, 2024: The licence renewal of all public passenger and commercial vehicles will now be done online through the new Transport Authority Advance Integrated Management System (TAAIMS) come February 1, 2024. The revelation of this electronic motor vehicle licensing process was made by Managing Director of the Transport Authority, Mr. Ralston Smith, at a meeting of the Route Taxi Associations recently.
Mr. Smith stated that this
system is intended to make the licensing application and renewal processes more
efficient; allowing for faster turnaround time, approval and delivery of road
licenses. “I am very optimistic of the process and every member of the
Transport Authority staff is engaged in behind-the-scenes activity to make the
licensing season a success,” the Managing Director stated.
He said that the Transport
Authority has been transitioning from the old Licensing Management Information System
(LMIS) to TAAIMS over the past two years and that it is now ready to electronically
process all PPV licences for the 2024-25 licensing period.
The Managing Director stated
that two years ago the Transport Authority made an investment in a suite of
[computerized] applications to revolutionize the way the Authority does
business, and that by last year it was ready to support commercial carrier
applications electronically. He further posited that public transport cannot be
ordered today the same way it was ordered 10 years ago. Therefore we must
embrace technology as part of the solution. He stressed that change is one of nature’s
most inexhaustible laws. Therefore, it is a process that we must embrace in
order to grow and develop.
He emphasized that with this
new approach, the Transport Authority/ Associations are giving stakeholders a
sense of importance and autonomy.
“Public passenger vehicle
licensees not part of a taxi association can be facilitated entirely on-line,
once all payments are made with a visa debit or credit card,” it was explained.
The new Transport Authority
Advance Integrated Management System (TAAIMS) is designed in an integrated
manner with the Tax Office, insurance companies and police.
Once the applicant’s motor
vehicle documents are current, the on-line application can be completed
allowing for the applicant to only make contact with the Transport Authority to
collect their motor vehicle sticker.
Mr. Ralston Smith, Managing Director, Transport Authority speaking about the new Transport Authority, Advance Integrated Management System (TAAIMS) at a stakeholder meeting to include Route Taxi Association leadership.
Mr. Ralston Smith further charged
that the Transport Authority, as a regulator must seek to innovate, evolve and
change and that as Taxi Associations, they too have that inescapable
responsibility to change.
The 2024-25 PPV motor vehicle
licensing period commenced with the pre-cursory inspection on January 2. Applications
for all other public passenger and commercial carrier licensing commences February
1, 2024.
The Transport
Authority is urging all their licensees to renew their road licences early and
avoid prosecution come April 1, 2024.
Queries regarding
the road licence application process may be directed to the Transport Authority
via its toll-free number at 1-888-991-5687
or 876- 926 -8912.