What does a Taxi Driver do?

Taxi Drivers provide safe, reliable transportation for people. They allow people to travel easily, offering pickup and dropoff services based on customer requests. When transporting out-of-town visitors, Taxi Drivers also serve as local experts and often provide recommendations about restaurants, tourist attractions, stores and services.

Taxi Drivers ensure customer satisfaction and encourage repeat business for their employers. The safety-related responsibilities of Taxi Cab Drivers also help to make the roads safer for other drivers and pedestrians.

Taxi Driver skills and qualifications

To succeed in a Taxi Driver position, a candidate needs certain skills. Some qualifications that you can establish in your Taxi Cab Driver job description include:

• Interpersonal skills to build rapport with passengers

• Basic understanding of how automobiles operate to identify signs that a vehicle needs to be serviced

• Observation skills to spot potential road hazards and issues with vehicles

• Familiarity with traffic safety rules, laws and best practices

• Ability to load and unload potentially heavy luggage and packages into and out of a cab

• Extensive knowledge of a city’s roads and points of interests

• Technical skills to operate GPS units for navigation and point-of-sale systems for processing payments

• Ability to operate a passenger vehicle safely

Taxi Driver experience requirements

Taxi Drivers usually receive on-the-job training, so no previous experience in the position may be necessary to succeed in the role. However, some employers prefer to name types of related experience as required or preferred qualifications in a job description for Taxi Driver positions.

Because interpersonal skills are essential to their work, Taxi Drivers often benefit from having work history related to customer service or dealing with the public. Previous work experience operating a motor vehicle, such as being a delivery driver, may also be beneficial.

Taxi Driver education and training requirements

There are generally no formal degrees, certificates or diplomas necessary for becoming a Taxi Driver, but most cities and towns require drivers to obtain a Taxi Driver license. In most cases, prospective Taxi Drivers must complete a training course and pass an exam to gain the necessary license.

However, requirements may vary based on your location. Contact your local department of transportation to find out what the licensing requirements are in your area before writing your Taxi Cab Driver job description.

Job description samples for similar positions

If this Taxi Driver job description isn’t the right match for your open position, one of these related job titles may be a better solution:

• Bus Driver

• CDL Driver

• Driver

• Shuttle Driver

Taxi Driver job description FAQs

What’s the difference between a Taxi Driver and a Rideshare Driver?

Taxi Drivers and Rideshare Drivers both offer door-to-door pickup and dropoff services for passengers, but they’re not the same role. A Taxi Driver usually works for a taxi cab or other ground transportation service and operates an employer-owned taxi cab vehicle. Rideshare Drivers are typically self-employed individuals who transport passengers in conventional cars, trucks, vans and SUVs that they own themselves.

What’s the difference between a Chauffeur and a Taxi Driver?

Although both transport passengers in vehicles, Chauffeurs and Taxi Drivers have different jobs. A Chauffeur usually operates a luxury vehicle, while Taxi Drivers drive taxis. Chauffeurs may work for one client or receive a daily schedule of pickups and dropoffs for multiple clients. Taxi Drivers may have established working hours, but they usually won’t receive a specific list of pickups in advance. Instead, they receive pickup requests from a dispatcher or directly from passengers that they encounter while parked or driving.

What is a Taxi Driver Lease?

Some taxi cab companies enter into lease agreements with Taxi Drivers. With this arrangement, the Taxi Driver pays a fee to use the vehicle daily and then keeps whatever fares and tips they make throughout the day.