USA Career Guide- Taxi Drivers and Chauffeurs

Taxi drivers and limousines services are the backbone of commuting in small towns or in a big city; they are also called cab divers. They ferry passengers to and from their homes, workplaces, and recreational pursuits such as dining, entertainment, etc.
Taxi drivers and chauffeurs can work in different schedules -full-time, part-time, night, evening, and weekend work as per their convenience.  Job opportunities are good because replacement needs are high (many people work in these jobs for short periods and there is independence of working usually unsupervised which is liked by many people.

Taxi drivers, also called cabbies, generally use a meter to determine the fare when a passenger requests a destination.

Chauffeurs take passengers on prearranged trips. They operate limousines, vans, or private cars.

Paratransit drivers transport people with special needs, such as the elderly or those with disabilities.

Role of Taxi Drivers and Chauffeurs

     Check their car for problems and do basic maintenance
     Keep both the inside and outside of their car clean
     Refuel their car when necessary
     Pick up passengers and listen to where they want to go
     Operate wheelchair lifts when needed
     Help passengers when loading and unloading their luggage
     Drive to the passengers' destination
     Follow all traffic laws
     Collect fares, including allowed extra charges
     Give a receipt if the passenger wants one
     Keep a record of miles traveled

Skills of Taxi Drivers and Chauffeurs

Basic math skills: Taxi drivers count cash when a customer pays a fare and have to be able to make change quickly.

Customer-service skills: Taxi drivers and chauffer should be able to get along with many different types of people so they should make sure passengers are satisfied with their ride.

Dependability: Customers rely on taxi drivers and chauffeurs to pick them up at the agreed-upon time so they get to their destinations when they need to be there.

Hand-eye coordination: Taxi drivers and chauffeurs have to be able to observe their surroundings while operating a vehicle.

Patience: When driving through heavy traffic congestion or dealing with rude passengers, drivers must be calm and composed.

Visual ability: To hold a drivers license, taxi drivers and chauffeurs must be able to pass a state-issued vision test.

Work Schedules

Work hours for taxi drivers and chauffeurs vary. About 16 percent worked part time in 2010 and another 14 percent had variable schedules. Evening and weekend work is common. Some drivers work very late at night or early in the morning.
Taxi drivers’ work with a little supervision and their work schedules are flexible. They can break for a meal or rest whenever they do not have a passenger.
Chauffeurs' work schedules are much more structured. The hours they work are based on the needs of their clients. Some chauffeurs are on call while they are not at work.

Some reported job titles:

Chauffeur, Van Driver, Shuttle Driver, Taxi Driver, Driver, Limo Driver, Limousine Driver (Limo Driver), Cab Driver, Patient Transportation Driver, Taxi Cab Driver

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