Write an essay on a taxi driver job?
Answers
A taxi driver is a professional driver who transports passengers to their chosen destinations through the use of a taxi cab. By transporting their passengers, they earn a fare depending on the length of the taxi cab ride. If the driver is working for a company, they will be dispatched by the company to go and pick up passengers. They may also drive around for different hours of a shift to pick up waiting passengers for fares.
A taxi driver's shift may be very busy or slow, based on the area that the driver is working. How busy the shift is and how many fares the driver collects will determine the pay structure for each day.
Answer:
Taxi Driver Job Description
Friendly, well-groomed applicants with clean driving records are the most sought-after candidates for taxi driver positions. Candidates with schedule flexibility are preferred, as 12-hour shifts, night, holiday, and weekend work are often required. Flexibility to travel is a plus as well, as trips outside the city of employment are made occasionally. There are no formal education requirements for taxi drivers; however, the position does have minimum age requirements that vary from state to state. This age requirement ranges from 21 – 26. Drivers are also required to be licensed in the state in which he or she will be driving, and motor vehicle records are checked for violations. The preference is for applicants with a two to five-year period of no violations, based on the state of employment.
While the minimum age requirement and the clean driving record requirements may vary from state to state, the primary duties performed by taxi drivers are more uniform. These core duties include:
Operate Vehicle
Taxi drivers are responsible for utilizing a vehicle that is leased from the cab company to pick up passengers from a specified location and quickly and safely deliver them to their drop-off destination.
Load and Unload Passengers
They are expected to provide professional and courteous service to all passengers. As a part of this customer service, taxi drivers assist riders with their luggage, bags, grocery, etc. when they enter and exit the vehicle.
Maintain Vehicle
To ensure that passengers have a safe riding experience, drivers are responsible for performing routine checks on their vehicle such as measurement of fluid levels and tire inspection and reporting any problems.
Keep Records
Taxi drivers have to maintain accurate logs of mileage, travel time, fares, and work hours. This is important for payroll and tax purposes.
Clean Vehicles
A clean vehicle contributes to a more pleasant and comfortable riding experience for passengers. Taxi drivers help create this greater experience by washing the outside of the vehicle and cleaning and vacuuming the inside of the cab.
and Qualifications
Taxi drivers should enjoy driving and have a good knowledge of getting around in the city or cities in which they will be driving. Interpersonal skills and the ability to follow directions are also sought by employers. Other preferred skills/abilities employers look for:
Communication – Taxi drivers must be able to effectively interact verbally with dispatchers from whom they will receive passenger pick up instructions and with passengers from various levels of society who they are responsible for driving
Map Reading – Maps may be utilized to determine the most efficient way to get a passenger to his or her destination
Math – Basic math skills are required to count cash fares and give back accurate change and to calculate hours, mileage, and commissions
Problem Solving – Taxi drivers must be able to make quick decisions concerning route changes in the event of closed roads, construction, and/or heavy traffic and resolve passenger complaints
Driving Skills – The ability to maneuver the vehicle safely in high traffic and adverse weather conditions is necessary for passenger safety
Taxi Driver Education and Training
Education above the secondary level is not required for taxi drivers and for many companies, a high school diploma is not a requirement. On-the-job training is provided for most positions, with one to two years of driving experience preferred.
Taxi Driver Salary and Outlook
Taxi drivers are frequently paid daily. This pay is usually commission based according to the fare total. The average salary for drivers is $24,300. The lowest 10 percent earn an average of $18,250 and the highest earn a median salary of $38,500. One of the benefits for this position is a sign on bonus that ranges from $500 – $1,000. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the growth rate for this position will be average through 2026, with a rate of five percent.