Summary
Roles of the taxi driver
Respond to the request
The taxi driver can wait for a ride at a station, the so-called “taxi head”, or be hailed on the road. It can also be “booked” by telephone and thus take care of customers from home.
Especially in town
The taxi driver works mainly in town. We especially need him in the big cities.
In the countryside, only a few companies share the races.
Taxi driver working conditions
A difficult job
The taxi driver may be required to work every day, weekends and holidays included, as well as in the evening and sometimes even at night. He often works 10 hours a day, the authorized limit being 11 hours.
One profession, several statuses
The taxi driver can be a craftsman, employee or tenant:
- The artisan buys a parking permit at the town hall or a license from a taxi driver;
- The employee works for a taxi company;
- And the tenant is self-employed. He rents the car to specialized service providers.
Strict regulations
The profession of taxi driver is regulated at municipal, departmental and national levels.
The taxi driver can take a very long time (up to 9 or 10 years) before obtaining the parking permit from the prefecture and the town hall.
Another alternative: self-employed workers can buy the license, or plate, directly from former drivers, but at an exorbitant price: between 70,000 and 310,000 €.
How much does a taxi driver earn?
The remuneration of a taxi driver varies according to several factors:
- differences between town and country;
- between day and night;
- travel time…
But an employee can receive, in town, an average salary of €1,650 per month. The craftsman’s salary can reach up to €3,100 per month.
How to become a taxi driver ?
In order to become a taxi driver, it is imperative to have the certificate of professional competence. It is he who makes it possible to obtain a professional card. It is issued by the prefecture after passing the specific examination.
Training
Delivered in a training center, it includes a theoretical part and a practical part. It lasts between 300 and 400 hours. To take the exam, you must:
Qualifications needed to become a taxi driver
love to drive
The taxi driver spends his time behind the wheel, he must be an excellent driver. But he must also juggle the vagaries of traffic, the weather… To do this, he must know perfectly:
- its sector;
- the most frequent routes: airports, train stations, museums…;
- have a good sense of direction…
To smile
The advantages of a good taxi driver, depending on the situation:
- punctuality;
- courtesy ;
- psychology;
- or even humility.
The taxi driver must adapt to the expectations of his customers, while being extremely attentive to the road and their safety.
Not being stressed out
The taxi driver works a lot, and he is often confronted with stressful situations:
- competition;
- demanding customers;
- traffic jams…
He must keep calm and show patience and tact.
To note : Speaking at least one foreign language can be a real asset for the taxi driver.
Content updated on 05/30/2012