The Catlins Area School
Taxi Driver/Chauffeur Kaitaraiwa Waka Pāhihi
Taxi drivers/chauffeurs drive vehicles to transport passengers from one place to another.
Taxi drivers need to obtain and display a current driver identification card issued by the New Zealand Transport Agency.
Taxi drivers/chauffeurs may do some or all of the following:
- drive a taxi, limousine or luxury vehicle
- collect passengers and safely drive them to where they want to go
- collect fares and give change
- look after passengers' luggage
- keep records of rides and fares
- maintain their vehicle and keep it clean and tidy.
Physical Requirements
Taxi drivers/chauffeurs need to have good hearing, reflexes and eyesight (with or without corrective lenses), so that they can drive safely in busy areas.
Useful Experience
Useful experience for taxi drivers/chauffeurs includes:
- customer service work
- any work involving driving.
Personal Qualities
Taxi drivers/chauffeurs need to be:
- punctual
- able to communicate in English
- honest, friendly and polite
- responsible
- alert and patient
- reasonably good at maths to calculate change.
Skills
Taxi drivers/chauffeurs need to have:
- excellent driving skills
- knowledge of the Road Code and relevant transport regulations
- good map reading skills, and knowledge of local places, street names and the fastest routes to take
- a First Aid Certificate
- an understanding of basic car maintenance, so they can care for their vehicle.
Taxi drivers who are owner-drivers need to have business skills.
Conditions
Taxi drivers/chauffeurs:
- may work regular hours or work shifts including nights and weekends. By law they can only work 13 hours and then must have at least a 10-hour break
- spend most of their time in their vehicle.
Subject Recommendations
There are no specific secondary education requirements to become a taxi driver/chauffeur. However, English and maths are useful.
Taxi Driver/Chauffeurs can earn around $23-$25 per hour.
Pay for taxi drivers/chauffeurs varies depending on where they work, the time of day they work, and how many hours they work.
Taxi drivers/chauffeurs usually earn between minimum wage and $25 an hour.
Source: New Zealand Taxi Federation, 2018.
Taxi drivers/chauffeurs may progress to buying their own vehicle and working as an owner-operator, or may start their own taxi business.
Years Of Training
To become a taxi driver/chauffeur you need to:
- hold a Class 1 (full) driver licence with a Passenger (P) endorsement, which includes police clearance
- be employed by either the holder of a passenger service licence (PSL) or hold your own PSL
- pass a medical exam every five years (or more often if you have a medical condition that may affect your driving).
Some chauffeurs may need to pass security checks.
- New Zealand Transport Agency website - information on passenger endorsements
- New Zealand Transport Agency website - information on driving a passenger service vehicle
The Vulnerable Children Act 2014 means that if you have certain serious convictions, you can’t be employed in a role where you are responsible for, or work alone with, children.
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