Taxi Driver

Taxi drivers transport people for a fee from one destination to another. Most taxi drivers work in major cities or metropolitan areas. They must know their way around the city and its surrounding area, although many cabs today are equipped with navigational devices. Taxi drivers are paid in several ways, most often depending on a taximeter that calculates the distance and the fare. Taxi drivers generate business by responding to taxi company dispatches, recognizing the hand signals of someone hailing the cab from the curb and answering a phone call or a computer message.

How They Are Paid

 Fares are calculated many ways depending on the city. Some cabs have taximeters that base fares on distance and time. They are turned on when passengers tell the taxi driver their destination and enter the taxi and is turned off when the passenger arrives at his destination. Fares might be calculated by neighborhood zones. Another way fare might be calculated is a flat rate. Some taxi drivers charge extra fares at night and for carrying luggage and additional passengers. Taxi drivers might get tips depending on how well they served the passengers.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

 Taxi drivers perform vehicle inspections before they get on the road. Inspections include making sure brakes and tail lights are working properly and fuel levels are appropriate. Most drivers are employed by a transportation company, and they start their shift by reporting to the taxi garage for vehicle pickup. They make sure the inside and outside of the vehicle are clean and odor-free. Taxi drivers also fill out daily activity logs, which must be accurately updated with every client. The vehicle log must include passengers' names (if they called the cab company), destination and total fare.

How They Get Customers

Taxi drivers stop to would-be passenger's hand signals, respond to radio dispatches, phone calls and computer messages. They also respond to phone calls from the actual cab company. Passengers are also found at such places as hotels, airports, bus and train stations.

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Bus Operator

Public bus drivers

• Public bus drivers are also considered transit or intercity bus operators. They're hired by a city or local transportation group, usually on a regular schedule and often follow the same route each day. They begin their days at the bus garage or bus terminal. It's the public bus driver's responsibility to collect fares from passengers and to answer route and schedule questions.
  

Bus operator training

• Bus operator training varies with each employee. Some employers require a high school diploma or written test. Drivers often have complicated schedules and routes to follow and employers want to ensure you know what you're doing. Many employers offer on the road training and classroom instruction and a special driver's license is often required to operate a bus.
  

school bus driver

• A school bus driver's route is similar each day. Drivers stop to pick up students at the same location each morning and take them home in the afternoon. School bus drivers also take students to field trips and sporting events. School bus drivers must always be cautious. There are many distractions when driving, most notably loud and excited children. A school bus driver needs to know how to keep children under control and maintain order on the bus.

Motor Coach Bus Operators

• Typically, motor coach bus operators have a final destination. They may be taking a group on a vacation or a tour. They often make several stops during the beginning of the trip to pick up passengers from different towns. Motor coach bus drivers should love being around people. It's their job to make your experience fun and pleasant. They often interact with passengers and point out interesting facts about the trip and destination.

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