Andy Cars
The work of a private hire taxi driver is not just to take you from point A to point B, it is a lot more than that.
There are a variety of skills that every Andy Cars driver must have to get succeed in this profession. In this guide, we will look at some key skills that taxi drivers need to be successful in.
1. Excellent Communication and Interpersonal Skills
Good communication skills are an undeniable skill that every driver must-have, but you will be surprised to know that the number of private hire drivers who lack even the basics of good communication skills.
In the modern world, being able to communicate effectively is arguably the single most important skill to have. This is the kind of skill that goes in almost every profession. In the taxi profession also, the driver should understand what the passenger is asking and address any queries, either before booking a journey or during the trip.
Being excellent in communication skills doesn’t mean you need a degree in the English language. In fact, English doesn’t have to be your native language. Good communication is about demonstrating that you fully understand what the other person is saying and being able to respond in the right manner.
2. A warm and approachable manner
Nobody likes rudeness. Especially if you are with a customer you need to show a warm gesture because no passenger wants to get into a taxicab where the driver is angry and rude. Show your customer that you are approachable especially when you want them to contact you in the future for additional bookings.
An approachable manner and a warm gesture towards your customer will make them remember how you made them feel.
There may be times when you will have a long hard day and can be a little exhausting. Well, attitude is key and the last thing you want is to drive potential repeat customers away from your private hire taxi business.
3. Competent driving skills
Getting a license not just end. When you consider the fact that private hire drivers cover tens of thousands of miles each year on average, competent driving skills are invaluable. It is necessary to follow rules, road safety, and not taking any unnecessary risks.
Also, if you are a safe and competent driver, your private hire insurance policy will be cheaper as you’re less likely to be involved in an incident.
4. Good geographical knowledge
We all have a GPS navigation system today. We can locate any unfamiliar destination with a GPS system. But knowing any town/city geographically that you are operating in will always be practical. Knowing the shortest routes that have the least amount of traffic will benefit your career greatly for a number of reasons. Your customers will appreciate it as it will save time and it will allow you to make extra journeys each day to earn additional income. It will also save your fuel consumption.
5. Time Management Skills
Time management is another basic skill that everyone is capable of, but making the effort to be organized can be very rewarding.
Making yourself organized can be rewarding. It is the kind of skill that everyone is capable of. Private hire taxi drivers have specific days of the week that are far busier than others. With time management skills you can actually earn more money by working fewer hours, depending on the type of frequent passengers you provide your services to. This can be referred to as ‘working smarter’
After all, if you’re able to manage your time well and reduce a 12-hour day down to 9 hours and still make the same figure, this will give you more leisure time. Time management and organization take a considerable amount of discipline and is very much worth striving for.
6. Good numeracy skills
With good communication, the driver should be good in math also. a maths qualification from a top educational institution is not required, just a basic addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, you’ll do just fine.
There are a number of advantages of simple math. Although, most taxi-related calculations are now done through mobile applications as it is handy.
7. Good technical knowledge of vehicles
As a driver, you need to know some basics of mechanics, although, you do not need to be a professional mechanic knowing your way around your taxi can save you a lot of time and money. If you know the quick solution to any problem you can solve it by yourself and you won’t need to visit a garage, allowing you to continue working.