Becoming a taxi driver can offer flexibility and good pay, but it requires consideration of the risks and challenges. Drivers need a clean record, and may need to pass a background check, drug test, and medical exam. They can work for an existing taxi company or become an independent contractor. Successful drivers know their city well and generate word of mouth.
Many job seekers decide to become a taxi driver because the hours can be somewhat flexible and the pay can be relatively good for a job that requires little or no formal education. There are many different levels of paid drivers, and a taxi driver is usually the cheapest, therefore requiring the least amount of experience and investment. As such, many people become taxi drivers if they move from another country or find themselves jobless with no relevant work experience for other available jobs.
Before deciding to be a taxi driver, you need to seriously consider what it means. Taxi drivers are, of course, behind the wheel of a car for most of the day and night. Perhaps they have to drive in very difficult weather conditions, with the worst traffic, and sometimes in rough neighborhoods. They often lead hurried and unsympathetic people to the realities of the road. People who enjoy driving, don’t mind being around people all the time, and who are able to allow verbal attacks to arise are best suited to become taxi drivers.
It should also be noted that, at least in the United States, being a taxi driver is considered one of the most dangerous jobs. As taxi drivers usually have cash on them, or are at least seen to have cash on hand, and often drive alone at night and allow people into their vehicle, they are often robbed and even attacked. In recent years, a number of security measures have been put in place, including GPS units in most taxis and panic buttons that alert all other taxis in the area against an attack so they can surround the taxi and protect it until the police arrive.
To become a taxi driver in most areas of the United States, you must have a clean driving record and be at least 25 years old. In most areas, the driver also needs to pass a background check, get fingerprinted, and perhaps obtain a driver’s license. In some areas, a driver may also need to pass a drug test and medical exam before being allowed to operate a taxi.
People who want to drive for an existing taxi company can simply apply for a job with that company. Most companies will provide basic training, including education on routes to the area, and help with obtaining a license if needed. One can make a decent living working for a taxi company and will be helped to find fares as well as paying the cost of the taxi. In some big cities like New York, competition for these jobs can be fierce and experience can be a prerequisite.
The alternative is to become an independent contractor, in areas that allow independent taxi drivers. In that case, most people hire a taxi from a larger company for a set weekly fee. Most self-employed drivers work shifts of at least twelve hours, with the first half paying approximately cab operating costs and the second half making a profit. Successful cab drivers know their city’s routes inside and out, follow where conventions are being held and when, and generate word of mouth by being the best at what they do.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
