Taxi bosses say a cabbie crisis which saw forced city firms to cancel trips is finally starting to ease.
Increasing costs and a driver shortage meant companies had to be selective over which jobs they took last year, but now companies say costs have begun to fall.
Despite the improvements, taxi firms still face stiff competition from delivery apps such Deliveroo and Uber Eats for new drivers, with those opting for food services facing less regulation and lower costs.
Previously companies reported that drivers had taken up other jobs temporarily during the Covid lockdowns and then decided the lifestyle of fewer working hours was more manageable for them as a long-term option.
READ MORE: Statue returns to city centre as £3.2m revamp remains on schedule
Bosses say new cabbies are forced to fork out thousands before they have even hit the road on licences, training and a car, with the cheapest vehicle on the market currently costing about £42,000.
Adam Allenden at Tan Cars, which is based in Wymondham, said fuel costs were slowly decreasing but the driver issue was still a sticking point for the business.
READ MORE: Seance cafe summons the spectre of parking problems as road bosses object to plans
He said: "Thankfully the fuel thing is eventually sorting itself out, last year we had that massive spike but now things are getting back to normal.
"But to be honest we're still struggling for drivers, we're stuck with what we've got.
"The cost to get started is a massive barrier, if you do food or parcel delivery you don't have half of that, you can pretty much start straight away.
"It's a shame really."
READ MORE: City folk rally to save Wensum Lodge amid ‘incredibly short-sighted’ closure plans
But controller Steve Douglas at Goldstar Taxis in Whiffler Road said his company was bucking the trend in hiring drivers.
He said: "We seem to have solved the driver issue here, but the overheads are not improving that much.
"We're finding things are still expensive but thankfully we are in a position where we can take jobs on without worry."
It is thought a Norwich City Council backlog in approving taxi licence applications has started to clear, giving companies a better chance at acquiring new staff.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here