Taxi drivers offer an important service to the public. They take their passengers exactly where they want to go. They do not have to make fixed stops as subways and buses do. Taxicab drivers have different ways of getting their passengers. They may cruise around the city looking for someone on the street who s signaling them by hand or they may wait at locations where people often need rides. Railroad stations and airport terminals are two such places. Although taxi drivers are employed in all but the smallest cities, employment is concentrated in large metropolitan areas.
Some drivers get word of passengers or fares, as they are called by means of a two way radio system connecting the cab with a dispatcher. Dispatchers inform the drivers by radio where to pick up their passengers.
Other taxis wait at cab stands, which are often equipped with special phones for the use of cab drivers. The drivers wait at the stand to receive a call from the company telling them where to pick up a customer. Cab stands are often used by taxis that are not equipped with radios.
Cab drivers must keep daily records of the rides they give. They have to write down the time and place where they picked up each fare. In addition, they write down exactly where and when the passenger was dropped off. The amount of money charged for the ride must also be recorded.
Education and Training
There are no formal educational requirements for taxi drivers, but most cab companies prefer applicants with at least an eighth grade education. Ordinarily, applicants must be over 21 years of age, and they must be in good health and have good driving records.
In most cities cab drivers must obtain two licenses: a state issued chauffeur's license and a special taxicab operator's license. The special license is issued by the local police or safety department or by the Public Utilities Commission. It must be renewed every year.
Getting the Job
The best way to get a job is to visit a cab company and talk with the person in charge of employment. Newspaper want ads also list job openings.
Employment Outlook
Taxi drivers have limited chances for advancement. Once they have earned enough money, however, they may be able to buy and operate their own cabs. They may be promoted within the company to the rank of a dispatcher, claim agent, or road supervisor. This kind of promotion is not easy to get. There are relatively few supervisory positions to be filled in the taxi business.
The employment outlook is very good. Because the turnover is high among cab drivers, there are frequent openings. The number of jobs is expected to increase. With higher bus fares and the difficulty of finding parking spaces in urban areas, some people may take taxicabs more often.
Working Conditions
A taxi driver's work is the heaviest when people need rides namely, at rush hours and on holidays. So, cab drivers do not work regular 9:00 to 5:00 days. Instead, they may begin work early, around 6:00 in the morning, or they may work late at night. A taxi driver often works for 9 to 10 hours a day with some time for a break. A normal workweek is 5 or 6 days long.
The job allows for some independence. Cab drivers often spend the day out on their own, and it is often up to them to find their own fares. Because business is usually best when the weather is bad and during rush hours, the driver's nerves must be steady. Expert driving is important too.
Earnings and Benefits
Few cab companies guarantee a minimum salary. Ordinarily, drivers earn a percentage of their total fares, usually from 40 to 50 percent. The harder they work, the higher their earnings are. Drivers also receive tips, which average a little more than 15 percent of each fare. Currently, the average annual earnings for taxi drivers are $20,000 to $30,000. Self employed drivers and drivers who work in large cities earn more.
Many taxi drivers do not receive the benefits normally available to workers in other occupations. Occasionally, full time drivers are given paid vacations and medical coverage.
