Taxi Drivers, Shuttle Drivers, and Chauffeurs

Summary

What Taxi Drivers, Shuttle Drivers, and Chauffeurs Do About this section

Taxi drivers charge a fare to transport people to and from the places they need to go.

Taxi drivers (including ride-hailing drivers), shuttle drivers, and chauffeurs drive people to and from the places they need to go, such as homes, workplaces, airports, and shopping centers.

Duties

Taxi drivers, shuttle drivers, and chauffeurs typically do the following:

• Drive taxicabs, vans, limousines, or other motor vehicles to transport passengers
• Pick up passengers and listen to where they want to go
• Help passengers load and unload their luggage, packages, or other belongings
• Check the vehicle for problems and do basic maintenance
• Keep the inside and outside of the vehicle clean
• Operate wheelchair lifts when needed
• Collect fare, if applicable, at passengers’ destinations
• Keep a record of miles traveled

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

Drivers are usually familiar with the streets in the areas they serve. They often use Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation to choose efficient routes. They may know on their own how to reach popular destinations, such as airports, train stations, convention centers, hotels, and other points of interest, as well as how to find fire and police stations and hospitals in case of an emergency.

Taxi drivers (including ride-hailing drivers) are summoned to pick up passengers and drive them, for a fare, to a destination stated by the passenger. Taxi drivers—also called cabdrivers or cabbies—typically get requests via a central dispatcher; ride-hailing drivers get requests through a smartphone app. In addition, taxi drivers may pick up passengers who wait at designated sites, such as train stations or hotels, or who signal their need for a ride from public places, such as sidewalks. While taxi drivers use a meter to calculate the fare, ride-hailing drivers charge a fare that is typically specified in the app.

Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs take passengers on planned trips. Shuttle drivers often drive large vans between airports or train stations and hotels or other destinations. Chauffeurs drive limousines, vans, or private vehicles and are hired to transport clients either for single trips or on a regular basis. Some chauffeurs have the duties of executive assistants, acting as driver, secretary, and itinerary planner.

Work Environment About this section

Ride-hailing drivers may face stress or anxiety while driving through bad weather or heavy traffic conditions.

Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs held about 222,300 jobs in 2023. The largest employers of shuttle drivers and chauffeurs were as follows:

Taxi drivers held about 171,100 jobs in 2023. The largest employers of taxi drivers were as follows:

Taxi drivers, shuttle drivers, and chauffeurs held about 318,000 jobs in 2021. The largest employers of taxi drivers, shuttle drivers, and chauffeurs were as follows:

Self-employed workers includes those classified as independent contractors. Many taxi drivers, shuttle drivers, and chauffeurs typically work with little or no supervision.

Some taxi drivers own the cab they drive; others lease it from a dispatch company. Regardless of whether they own or lease their vehicle, taxi drivers may contract with a dispatch company to use its passenger-referral service or facilities for a fee. Ride-hailing drivers typically operate their own vehicles. Taxi drivers and ride-hailing drivers usually pay expenses, such as fuel and maintenance, on their vehicle.

Driving through heavy traffic or bad weather may be stressful. Drivers may have to pick up heavy luggage and packages, so they must use proper lifting technique to prevent strain or injury. Most of the injuries they incur result from traffic accidents.

Work Schedules

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

Taxi and ride-hailing drivers’ work schedules are often flexible.

Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs' work schedules usually are more structured. They may have a set schedule, or they may work hours based on client needs. Some chauffeurs are on call throughout the day and must be ready to drive clients at a moment’s notice.

How to Become a Taxi Driver, Shuttle Driver, or Chauffeur About this section

Taxi drivers, shuttle drivers, and chauffeurs regularly interact with their passengers and should be courteous and helpful.

Taxi drivers, shuttle drivers, and chauffeurs typically have no formal educational requirements, although many drivers have a high school diploma or equivalent. They typically get brief on-the-job training. They also may need a special driver’s license, such as a taxi or limousine license. Clean driving records and background checks are sometimes required.

Education

Taxi drivers, shuttle drivers, and chauffeurs typically do not need formal educational credentials to enter the occupation. For drivers who are not self-employed, however, companies may prefer to hire drivers who have a high school diploma or postsecondary education.

Training

Companies that hire taxi drivers, shuttle drivers, and chauffeurs typically provide 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 the training, which typically covers local traffic laws, driver safety, and street layout. Taxi drivers also get training in operating the taximeter and communications equipment.

Ride-hailing drivers typically receive little to no on-the-job training beyond how to work the electronic hailing app so that they can pick up passengers.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

All taxi drivers, shuttle drivers, and chauffeurs must have a driver’s license. States and local municipalities set other requirements; check with your state or local agency for more information.

Taxi drivers and chauffeurs may need a taxi or limousine license. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration requires drivers who transport 16 or more passengers (including the driver) to hold a commercial driver’s license (CDL) with a passenger (P) endorsement. Licensure normally requires passing a background check, drug test, driving skills test, and written exam about regulations and local geography.

Regulations for ride-hailing drivers vary by state and city.

Advancement

Some taxi drivers start their own cab service by purchasing a taxi rather than leasing one through a dispatch company. Chauffeurs may advance with increased responsibilities or experiences, such as driving high-profile clients or different types of cars.

Important Qualities

Customer-service skills. Taxi drivers, shuttle drivers, and chauffeurs regularly interact with their passengers and should be courteous and helpful. For ride-hailing drivers, excellent customer-service skills may lead to favorable ratings from passengers.

Dependability. Passengers rely on these drivers to pick them up on time and safely transport them to their destination.

Hand–eye coordination. Drivers must watch their surroundings and avoid obstacles and other hazards while operating a vehicle.

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

Visual ability. Drivers 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 shuttle drivers and chauffeurs was $35,240 in May 2023. 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 $25,750, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $49,920.

The median annual wage for taxi drivers was $34,680 in May 2023. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $27,040, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $40,630.

In May 2023, the median annual wages for shuttle drivers and chauffeurs in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

In May 2023, the median annual wages for taxi drivers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

These wage data include money earned from tips. Taxi drivers, shuttle drivers, and chauffeurs who provide good customer service are most likely to receive good tips from their passengers.

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

Taxi drivers’ work schedules are often flexible.

Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs' work schedules usually are more structured. They may have a set schedule, or they may work hours based on client needs. Some chauffeurs are 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, shuttle drivers, and chauffeurs is projected to grow 11 percent from 2023 to 2033, much faster than the average for all occupations.

About 52,100 openings for taxi drivers, shuttle drivers, and chauffeurs are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Employment

Strong employment growth is expected as people continue to rely on these drivers for their transportation needs.

Employment of taxi drivers (which includes ride-hailing drivers) may be concentrated in metropolitan areas. Much of the projected job growth stems from a greater demand for ride-hailing drivers, who typically work as independent contractors.

Demand for shuttle drivers and chauffeurs will be driven by an increasing population of older adults who need nonemergency healthcare transportation and by people with disabilities who require paratransit services. These workers also will be needed to meet the continued demand for special events transportation, tours, and business and luxury travel.

State & Area Data About this section

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)

The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 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 OEWS data maps for employment and wages by state and area.

• Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
• Taxi drivers

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.org. 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 and chauffeurs, visit

The Transportation Alliance (TA)

For more information about limousine drivers, visit

National Limousine Association (NLA)

For more information about ride-hailing drivers, visit

The Ride Share Guy

For more information about commercial licensing, visit

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)

CareerOneStop

For a career video on taxi drivers, shuttle drivers, and chauffeurs, visit

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