Taxi Drivers, Ride-Hailing Drivers, and Chauffeurs

Summary

What Taxi Drivers, Ride-Hailing Drivers, and Chauffeurs Do About this section

Ride-hailing drivers use smartphone apps to connect with customers.

Taxi drivers, ride-hailing drivers, and chauffeurs drive people to and from the places they need to go, such as homes, workplaces, airports, and shopping centers. They must be familiar with city streets and locations to take passengers to their destinations.

Duties

Taxi drivers, ride-hailing drivers, and chauffeurs typically do the following:

• Drive taxicabs, limousines, company cars, or privately owned vehicles to transport passengers
• Pick up passengers and listen to where they want to go
• Help passengers load and unload their luggage
• Obey all traffic laws
• Check the car for problems and do basic maintenance
• Keep the inside and outside of their car clean
• Operate wheelchair lifts when needed
• Keep a record of miles traveled

Taxi drivers, ride-hailing drivers, and chauffeurs must stay alert and watch the conditions of the road. They have to take precautions to ensure their passengers’ safety, especially in heavy traffic or bad weather. Taxi drivers and chauffeurs must also follow vehicle-for-hire or livery regulations, such as where they can pick up passengers and how much they can charge.

Good drivers are familiar with the streets in the areas they serve. They choose the most efficient routes, considering the traffic at that time of day. They know where the most often sought destinations are, such as airports, train stations, convention centers, hotels, and other points of interest. They also know where to find fire and police stations and hospitals in case of an emergency.

The following are examples of types of taxi drivers, ride-hailing drivers, and chauffeurs:

Taxi drivers, also called cabdrivers or cabbies, use a meter to calculate the fare when a passenger requests a destination. Many customers request a cab by calling a central dispatcher who then tells the taxi driver the pickup location. Some drivers pick up passengers waiting in lines at cabstands or in the taxi line at airports, train stations, and hotels. Cabbies drive around the streets looking for passengers in some large cities.

Ride-hailing drivers pick up passengers who seek service through a smartphone app. The fare rate can fluctuate depending on demand; however, passengers are notified if the current fare rate is higher than usual. Passengers pay for rides through a credit card linked to the app. Drivers use their own private vehicles and set their own hours.

Chauffeurs take passengers on prearranged trips. They drive limousines, vans, or private cars. They may work for hire for single trips, or they may work for a person, a private business, or for a government agency. Customer service is important for chauffeurs, especially luxury vehicle drivers. Some do the duties of executive assistants, acting as driver, secretary, and itinerary planner. Other chauffeurs drive large vans between airports or train stations and hotels.

Paratransit drivers transport people with special needs, such as the elderly or those with disabilities. They drive specially equipped vehicles designed to help people with various needs in nonemergency situations. For example, their vehicles may be equipped with wheelchair lifts, and the driver helps a passenger with boarding.

Work Environment About this section

Taxi drivers often travel in heavy traffic.

Taxi drivers, ride-hailing drivers, and chauffeurs held about 305,100 jobs in 2016. The largest employers of taxi drivers, ride-hailing drivers, and chauffeurs were as follows:

Self-employed workers includes those classified as independent contractors.

Some drivers contract with a dispatch company that refers passengers and allows the driver to use their service facilities for a fee. Drivers who do not own their taxicab may lease a dispatch company’s car as part of the fee. Drivers usually pay for their own expenses such as fuel.

Driving for long periods, especially in heavy traffic, can be stressful for these workers. In addition, they often have to pick up heavy luggage and packages.

Injuries and Illnesses

Taxi drivers, ride-hailing drivers, and chauffeurs sometimes get injured on the job. Most injuries result from traffic accidents.

Work Schedules

Work hours for taxi drivers, ride-hailing drivers, and chauffeurs vary. Some work part time. Evening and weekend work is common. Some drivers work late at night or early in the morning.

Taxi and ride-hailing drivers work with little or no supervision, and their work schedules are flexible. They can take breaks for a meal or rest whenever they do not have a passenger.

Chauffeurs' work schedules are much more structured. They work hours based on client needs. Some chauffeurs must be ready to drive their clients at a moment’s notice, so they remain on call throughout the day.

How to Become a Taxi Driver, Ride-Hailing Driver, or Chauffeur About this section

Chauffeurs are trained on the job.

Most taxi drivers, ride-hailing drivers, and chauffeurs go through a brief training period. Many states and local municipalities require taxi drivers and chauffeurs to get a taxi or limousine license. Clean driving records and background checks are sometimes required. There are usually no formal education requirements, although many drivers have a high school diploma or equivalent.

Education

There are usually no formal education requirements, although many taxi drivers, ride-hailing drivers, and chauffeurs have a high school diploma or equivalent.

Training

Most taxi and limousine companies provide their new drivers with a short period of on-the-job training. This training usually takes from 1 day to 2 weeks, depending on the company and the location. Some cities require training by law.

Training typically covers local traffic laws, driver safety, and the local street layout. Taxi drivers also get training in operating the taximeter and communications equipment. Limousine companies, with an emphasis on customer service, usually train their chauffeurs. Ride-hailing drivers receive little to no training beyond how to work the electronic hailing app so they can pick up customers. Paratransit drivers receive special training in how to handle wheelchair lifts and other mechanical devices.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

All taxi drivers, ride-hailing drivers, and chauffeurs must have a regular automobile driver’s license. States and local municipalities set other requirements; many require taxi drivers and chauffeurs to get a taxi or limousine license. This normally requires passing a background check, drug test and a written exam about regulations and local geography.

Regulations for ride-hailing drivers vary by state and city. Check with your local area for more information.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration requires limousine drivers who transport 16 or more passengers (including the driver) to hold a commercial driver’s license (CDL) with a passenger (P) endorsement. Drivers must pass knowledge and driving skills tests to receive a CDL.

Advancement

Some taxi drivers start their own cab service by purchasing a taxi rather than leasing one through a dispatch company. For chauffeurs, advancement usually takes the form of driving more important clients and different types of cars.

Important Qualities

Customer-service skills. Taxi drivers, ride-hailing drivers, and chauffeurs regularly interact with their customers and have to represent their company positively and ensure passenger satisfaction with their ride. Because passengers rate ride-hailing drivers after each trip, excellent customer-service skills can lead to a favorable review.

Dependability. Customers rely on taxi drivers, ride-hailing drivers, and chauffeurs to pick them up on time and quickly transport them to their destination.

Hand–eye coordination. Taxi drivers, ride-hailing drivers, and chauffeurs must watch their surroundings and avoid obstacles and other hazards while driving a vehicle.

Initiative. Taxi drivers, ride-hailing drivers, and chauffeurs usually work with little or no supervision, so they must self-motivate and take the initiative to earn a living.

Patience. Drivers must be calm and composed when driving through heavy traffic and congestion or dealing with rude passengers.

Visual ability. Taxi drivers, ride-hailing drivers, and chauffeurs must be able to pass a state-issued vision test to hold a driver’s license.

Pay About this section

The median annual wage for taxi drivers, ride-hailing drivers, and chauffeurs was $25,980 in May 2018. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $19,240, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $40,360.

In May 2018, the median annual wages for taxi drivers, ride-hailing drivers, and chauffeurs in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

These wage data include money earned from tips. Taxi drivers and chauffeurs who provide good customer service are more likely to receive higher tips on each fare.

Work hours for taxi drivers, ride-hailing drivers, and chauffeurs vary. Some work part time. Evening and weekend work is common. Some drivers work late at night or early in the morning.

Taxi and ride-hailing drivers work with little or no supervision, and their work schedules are flexible. They can take breaks for a meal or rest whenever they do not have a passenger.

Chauffeurs' work schedules are much more structured. They work hours based on client needs. Some chauffeurs stay on call throughout the day, and must be ready to drive clients at a moment’s notice.

Job Outlook About this section

Overall employment of taxi drivers, ride-hailing drivers, and chauffeurs is projected to grow 5 percent from 2016 to 2026, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

The growing demand for ride-hailing services, which use electronic hailing through smartphone apps, should increase job growth. Specifically, employment of self-employed workers in this occupation is projected to grow 40 percent from 2016 to 2026. Ride-hailing companies classify drivers as independent contractors, not wage and salary workers. Employment of wage and salary workers in this occupation is projected to decline 15 percent from 2016 to 2026.

Taxis and ride-hailing services generally operate in urban areas and complement public transit systems because people who regularly take a train or bus are more likely to use a taxi or ride-hailing service. Therefore, increasing demand for taxis and ride-hailing services should mostly occur in larger metropolitan areas.

Job Prospects

Job prospects for ride-hailing drivers should be excellent. The occupation does not require any formal education and has low barriers to entry. Applicants who can pass a background check and have a clean driving record should have no problem contracting with a ride-hailing company. 

State & Area Data About this section

Occupational Employment Statistics (OES)

The Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area.

• Taxi drivers and chauffeurs

Projections Central

Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved.

CareerOneStop

CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.

Contacts for More Information About this section

For more information about taxi drivers, chauffeurs, and paratransit drivers, visit

Taxicab, Limousine, and Paratransit Association

For more information about limousine drivers, visit

National Limousine Association

For more information about ride-hailing drivers, visit

The Ride Share Guy

For more information about commercial licensing, visit

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

O*NET

Taxi Drivers and Chauffeurs