Taxi and limousine drivers and chauffeurs
Career Overview
Taxi and limousine drivers:
- Drive automobiles and limousines to transport passengers
- Work for taxi and other transportation service companies, or they may be self-employed
Chauffeurs:
- Drive automobiles and limousines to transport personnel and visitors of businesses, government or other organizations or members of private households
- Work for businesses, government and other organizations, or private individuals or families
People in these occupations:
- Must have strong driving skills and communication skills, and should enjoy meeting and working with various people
- Should have organization and time-management skills for co-ordinating passenger pick-ups
- Should have a thorough knowledge of the areas they drive in
- Should also have good judgment when deciding who to allow in the vehicle
- Must also have professional and social etiquette, as well as a professional appearance
Job Titles
Duties
Taxi and limousine drivers:
- Pick up passengers and drive them to destinations in taxicabs or limousines
- Help passengers with luggage and with boarding and exiting vehicles and assist passengers with special needs
- Collect flat-rate or taximeter fares
- Maintain travel logs and record cash and credit transactions
- Maintain contact with taxi dispatch unit
- Clean and make minor repairs to vehicle or take vehicle for servicing
- May provide pick up and delivery services on request
Chauffeurs:
- Pick up or meet employer as per request, appointment or schedule
- Drive employers to destinations in automobiles or limousines
- Run errands (business or personal) for the employer (e.g., pick up mail, business documents or parcels)
- Clean and do minor repairs to vehicle or take vehicle for servicing, as well as keep an accurate written time log
- Must maintain a high level of professionalism and social etiquette
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
6,505% Employed Full Time
25%Taxi and limousine drivers may work evenings, weekends and holidays when demand for their services is highest. Chauffeurs' hours are usually dictated by the client and may require being on-call much of the time. Taxi drivers work either day or night shifts for 12 hours at a time. The National Safety Code prohibits taxi drivers from working more than 60 hours per week. Taxi drivers generally have more flexible work schedules than both chauffeurs and limousine drivers.
Limousine drivers and chauffeurs are usually required to wear a dress suit, tuxedo or a company-provided uniform.
Workers in this occupation routinely lift heavy baggage and sit for extended periods of time, which can be uncomfortable and create a risk for back or neck injury. Taxi and limousine drivers may also have to deal with difficult passengers from time to time.
The workplace is potentially hazardous since taxi drivers work alone, hold large amounts of cash and may transport passengers to remote areas. Taxi drivers also do not carry any form of protection and individuals who work at night face increased safety risks. However, in the Greater Vancouver Regional District, cameras have been placed in taxi vehicles as part of a pilot project to decrease safety risks to taxi drivers. This program is expected to extend to other urban regions in the near future.
Career Pathways
Taxi drivers who work for companies usually start by working night shifts before moving into more flexible or full-time work. Many limousine drivers have previous experience as taxi drivers.
With experience, taxi and limousine drivers can move into managerial or other related jobs such as dispatchers, driving instructors or inspectors. Moving from taxi or limousine driver to chauffeur is also a possibility. Drivers may also move into the hospitality industry.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
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For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
Some secondary school education is usually required to work in these occupations. Other training and requirements may include:
- Being at least 19 years of age with a Class 4 British Columbia driver's licence, which is necessary for the chauffeur's permit needed to drive a commercial vehicle
- Passing a criminal check and a knowledge test of the area
- A minimum one year of safe driving experience
Many municipalities, especially those with high-volume traffic, have also made it mandatory for taxi and limousine drivers to complete a four-day TaxiHost Level 1 course before being given a permit. A Level 2 or TaxiPro course may also be required.
Drivers should have a good driving record and a good knowledge of the city they work in.
Education programs in B.C.
Top Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
6,505Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 95 | 1.5% |
| Kootenay | 55 | 0.8% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 5,025 | 77.2% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 75 | 1.2% |
| Northeast | 55 | 0.8% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 375 | 5.8% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 830 | 12.7% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
3,500Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 0 | -8.3% |
| Kootenay | 10 | -1.7% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 3,010 | 2.0% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 20 | 1.6% |
| Northeast | 20 | 0.3% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 20 | -2.5% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 440 | 1.8% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Transportation and Warehousing | 3,070 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 100 |
| Information, Culture and Recreation | 60 |
| Repair, Personal and Non-Profit Services | 60 |
| Retail Trade | 50 |
Insights from Industry
Job openings will come from new job creation and the need to replace retiring workers.
Demand for transportation services in growing urban areas may cause shortages of workers in these occupations.
Taxi industry sources report that the supply of workers in this industry is closely associated with the economic climate. When the economy is booming, employers have difficulty finding enough qualified drivers to meet the company needs. However, when the economy is in a recession, there are more individuals willing to work in this industry. This is perhaps due to the minimal qualifications required to work.
Resources
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B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructurewww2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/organizational-structure/ministries-organizations/ministries/transportation-and-infrastructure
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BC Taxi Associationwww.bctaxiassociation.com
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Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC)www.icbc.com
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Passenger Transportation Boardwww.ptboard.bc.ca