USA Career Guide- Taxi Drivers and Chauffeurs

Education & Training of Taxi Drivers and Chauffeurs

You do not need any formal education to get into this field but some taxi drivers and chauffeurs have High School Diploma.

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 municipalities require training by law.

Licenses

All taxi drivers and chauffeurs must have a regular automobile driver’s license. States set other requirements; many require drivers to get a taxi or chauffeur's license, commonly referred to as a “hack” license.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration requires that limousine drivers who transport at least 16 passengers at a time (including the driver) have a commercial driver’s license (CDL) with a passenger (P) endorsement. To get these, a driver has to pass knowledge and driving skills tests.

Pay of Taxi Drivers and Chauffeurs

The median annual wage of taxi drivers and chauffeurs was $22,440 in May 2010. The median wage is the point at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $16,480, and the top 10 percent earned more than $36,450. These wage data include money earned from tips.

Job Prospects of Taxi Drivers and Chauffeurs

Employment of taxi drivers and chauffeurs is projected to grow 20 percent from 2010 to 2020, faster than the average for all occupations.
Job growth is expected to be driven by an increase in demand for taxi drivers. Job prospects for taxi drivers and chauffeurs should be excellent. The occupation has low barriers to entry and a lot of turnover. Applicants with a clean driving record and flexible schedules should have the best chance of being hired. Most taxi drivers and chauffeurs work in metropolitan areas, and those areas that are experiencing fast economic growth should offer the most job opportunities.

Industrial Overview of Taxi Drivers and Chauffeurs

Taxi drivers and chauffeurs held 239,900 jobs in 2010. About 31 percent of taxi drivers and chauffeurs were self-employed. Self-employed drivers usually own their own car and contract with a company.

Other taxi drivers and chauffeurs are directly employed by a company that provides them with a car. They are commonly employed in the following industries:

Taxi and limousine service 18%
Other transit and ground passenger transportation 10%
Nursing and residential care facilities 5%
Individual, family, community, and vocational rehabilitation services 5%

Souce:Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition
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