Taxi Driver

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Service or PersuadingPractical or MechanicalSkill Level 1

A taxi driver drives cars licensed as taxis to transport passengers for a fare that is calculated on a taxi meter. Taxi drivers usually work shifts involving day, evening and weekend work. Taxi drivers have Future Growth Very Strong constant contact with the public. They must provide a service that meets the standards of government regulatory authorities and the taxi network for which they drive.

Taxi drivers transport passengers to their required destinations. Taxi drivers are either called to a business or home, or hailed on the street.

Taxi DriverTaxi drivers need to know the city they drive in very well, as their passenger may have never been where they are travelling before. Taxi Drivers drive special cars which have been licensed as a taxi to transport passengers for a fare that is calculated on a special meter. Taxi drivers often work shifts involving either day, evening, night or weekend work.

Taxi drivers transport passengers to and from various destinations. They receive information via radio, collect passengers from their destination and help them with their baggage. They may also confirm with the passenger about a preferred route, as well as checking maps for the most appropriate route. They transport passengers, help them to disembark from the vehicle, assist them again with their luggage, and collect fares. They may also process payments from credit cards or EFTPOS payments. Some taxi drivers may also collect and deliver parcels.


ANZSCO ID & Description: 731112: Drives a taxi to transport passengers to destinations on a fee-for-service basis, usually on a short-term, metered fare hiring arrangement. Registration or licensing is required.

Alternative names: Driver

Knowledge, skills and attributes

A taxi driver needs:

  • high level of driving skill
  • logic and problem-solving skills
  • to be able to deal with people from all walks of life
  • basic numeracy skills
  • good communication skills
  • to be a safe, reliable and responsible driver

Taxi Driver
(Source: Your Career)

 

Duties and Tasks

Taxi drivers may perform the following tasks:
  • pick up passengers at designated locations
  • pick up passengers when hailed
  • determine the most appropriate route for their passengers
  • transport passengers to their desired destinations
  • receive money for fares and give change
  • assist passengers with the handling of luggage
  • attend to repairs, maintenance and cleaning of vehicles

Working conditions

Taxi drivers drive everywhere, ferrying passengers to and from entertainment venues, airports, railway stations or shopping areas as well as businesses and private residential addresses. They usually work in shifts, which often includes late nights, early mornings, and working on weekends and public holidays. They may occasionally need to deal with aggressive or inebriated passengers.

As taxi drivers have close contact with the public they must provide a service that meets the standards of the taxi network for which they drive.

Adapted taxi

Tools and technologies

Taxi drivers need to be able to drive a car. Many taxi drivers drive automatic vehicles, but others use those with manual transmissions. They may also be required to read maps or road directories, or to operate GPS navigation equipment. They usually need to operate EFTPOS machines to process bank and credit card transactions.

Education and training/entrance requirements

You can work as a taxi driver without formal qualifications. However, you will need to qualify for and obtain a 'T' extension on your driver’s licence from the Department of Transport.

​To work as a taxi driver in the metropolitan areas, you must complete a taxi driver training course with an approved training provider and pass a registration test. Country taxi licenses are issued based on the demand for taxi services in regional towns.

Employment Opportunities

Taxi drivers work for taxi companies or for themselves. Most taxi owners drive their own taxis and have drivers who work the other available shifts. Taxi drivers usually pay the taxi owner a rental, which can be a flat rate or a percentage of the fares received. Taxi drivers must have an Australian Business Number (ABN) and be registered for GST.

As a taxi driver you can select your own hours or work part time to suit your lifestyle. However, the demand for taxi services varies at different times of the day and throughout the year.


Did You Know?

The world's first taxi was built in 1897 by Gottlieb Daimler . It was called the "Daimler Victoria" and even had a taxi meter!

On 16 June the same year the taxi was delivered to Stuttgart transportation entrepreneur Friedrich Greiner who used it to start the world's first motorised taxi company!

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