The Job and What's Involved

Taxi drivers pick up passengers and drive them to their destination, charging a fare and taking payment. The taxi driving industry is closely regulated. There are strict rules about who can be a taxi driver, where and how they can operate, and how to get a licence to carry members of the public for money. Obtaining a licence can take some time.

Throughout the country, the trade is split between two categories of vehicle - licensed hackney carriages and licensed private hire vehicles (PHVs).

• Only hackney carriages are known as true ‘taxis’. These can pick up people on the street or wait at a taxi rank. They can drive around near shopping centres, bus or coach stations, and people can ‘hail a cab’ by waving at them from the pavement. Fares are set by the local authority and vehicles can only pick up people within the geographical boundaries of the authority.


• Private hire vehicles, sometimes known as ‘minicabs’, are not allowed to pick up people in the street; they have to be pre-booked by phone or in person at the minicab office. PHVs may collect people from home or work, take them to the station or the airport, pick people up after an evening out, or undertake a regular school run.

Most types of cab have a taximeter in the front that passengers can read as the journey progresses and the amount increases. In London, hackney carriages are all traditional black cabs; outside the capital, especially in small towns, they may be saloon cars.

PHVs usually gain their business from a central booking office that receives a commission for finding them fares. They are not allowed to have a roof light that says ‘taxi’ and can only display their telephone booking number.

The government has requested that, by 2012, all hackney carriages should be capable of taking in a wheelchair; newer black cabs are already equipped to do this. The regulation will not apply to minicabs but, in some parts of the country, authorities will be asking their minicab drivers to acquire black cabs.

Every local authority in Britain has its own licensing committee for taxis and minicabs, so there are 400 licensing authorities, each deciding their own local rules and regulations. Local authorities must decide, for example, what the split will be between taxis and PHVs, and what type of vehicle they must be.

The vast majority of taxi and minicab drivers buy their own vehicle and are self-employed. They need to:

• Pick up passengers, listen to where they want to go, then make sure they know the most economical route.


• Give reasonable assistance to passengers and, if necessary, get out of the vehicle to help with luggage or help older or disabled people.


• Set the taximeter at the start of the journey, or (with some PHVs) agree a fixed fee for the journey.


• Take the fare at the end, and issue change and a receipt if it is needed.

Drivers are responsible for keeping their vehicle in safe working order. Self-employed drivers also have to keep their own accounts and deal with tax returns.

Once a driver has gained their licence, they can work independently and may be able to choose the hours they work, including whether they work days, nights or during weekends. Some work part time in addition to another job or studying. Most work is available on Friday and Saturday nights.

Drivers sit at the wheel of their vehicle for most of the day (or night). During the summer months it can be hot if the taxi/PHV does not have air-conditioning.

Drivers have to pay for fuel, car insurance, regular maintenance and commissions.

Education and Training

There are no formal qualifications to become a driver, but every licensing authority has its own conditions. Some areas require applicants to pass a Driving Standards Agency vocational driving test.

For a hackney carriage licence, individuals must be at least 21 years old, having held a full driving licence for at least 12 months. They must be free of certain types of criminal conviction, such as fraud, theft, violence or any sexual offence. Prospective drivers may also have to pass a medical. In some areas, applicants might have to pass a formal test on their knowledge of routes in the area - in London this can take up to two years to learn.

Similarly, for private hire licences, individuals must have held a full driving licence for 12 months, pass a medical and undergo checks regarding criminal convictions.

People under 25 years of age may find it difficult to get insurance in this industry, as it covers the safety of the passengers as well as the vehicle.

Adult Entry

Adult entry is common. Adults can gain a licence at any age, although in some authorities medicals may be required on a yearly basis.

Personal Qualities

• be experienced and safe drivers with no serious criminal convictions.


• be aware of their local geography to make sure they take the shortest route.


• have good communication skills.


• be friendly and sociable.


• be calm enough to drive safely, even when the customer is in a hurry or traffic is congested.


• be able to deal calmly but assertively with the occasional angry, hostile or drunken passenger.


• be able to handle money and change.


• be aware of local licensing regulations, as well as the insurance requirements.


• be willing to take a special driving test if required by the local authority.

Prospects

If an individual starts by driving a vehicle owned by someone else, taking only part of the profits, they can progress to buying and driving their own cab. It is also possible to set up a company employing other drivers, either working as a driver or a booking agent.

Get Further Information

Licensed Private Hire Car Association (LPHCA), 213 Kenton Road, Harrow, Middlesex HA3 0HD
Tel: 07956 329 288  Website: www.lphca.co.uk

Licensed Taxi Drivers Association (LTDA), Taxi House, Woodfield Road, London W9 2BA
Tel: 0207 7286 1046  Website: www.ltda.co.uk

The London Taxi, The Public Carriage Office, 15 Penton Street, London N1 9PU
Tel: 020 7941 7809  Website: www.thelondontaxi.co.uk

The National Taxi Association, Infirmary Street, Newtown, Carlisle, Cumbria CA2 7AA
Tel: 01228 598740  Website: www.national-taxi-association.co.uk

Private Hire, Hackney Carriage and Chauffeur Industry Training Organisation, c/o 14 Widdrington Terrace, North Shields, Tyne and Wear NE29 0BZ  Tel: 0191 258 1955

 

Careers information and vocational qualifications change rapidly. The information in this career note was accurate at the time of going to print, but readers should check it with professional bodies or careers advisers before making decisions.