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Job Definition
View MovieDrive automobiles, vans, or limousines to transport passengers. May occasionally carry cargo.
Job Zone

Job Zone One: Little or No Preparation Needed

These occupations may require a high school diploma or GED certificate. Some may require a formal training course to obtain a license.

Interests
Realistic - Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Enterprising - Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Social - Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
Knowledge
Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Transportation - Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Skills
Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Equipment Maintenance - Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Mathematics - Using mathematics to solve problems.
Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Operation and Control - Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Tasks
Determine fares based on trip distances and times, using taximeters and fee schedules, and announce fares to passengers.
Perform minor vehicle repairs such as cleaning spark plugs, or take vehicles to mechanics for servicing.
Turn the taximeter on when passengers enter the cab, and turn it off when they reach the final destination.
Report to taxicab services or garages to receive vehicle assignments.
Perform errands for customers or employers, such as delivering or picking up mail and packages.
Provide passengers with information about the local area and points of interest, or give advice on hotels and restaurants.
Pick up or meet employers according to requests, appointments, or schedules.
Operate vans with special equipment, such as wheelchair lifts to transport people with special needs.
Collect fares or vouchers from passengers and make change or issue receipts as necessary.
Test vehicle equipment such as lights, brakes, horns, or windshield wipers, to ensure proper operation.
Notify dispatchers or company mechanics of vehicle problems.
Drive taxicabs, limousines, company cars, or privately owned vehicles to transport passengers.
Follow regulations governing taxi operation and ensure that passengers follow safety regulations.
Pick up passengers at prearranged locations, at taxi stands, or by cruising streets in high traffic areas.
Perform routine vehicle maintenance such as regulating tire pressure and adding gasoline, oil, and water.
Wages

In 2008, the California average annual wage was $26,850.00.

Most people employed in this occupation were paid between $17,560.00 and $39,430.00.

Outlook

During 2006, there were approximately 25,500 people employed in this field in California. It is projected that there will be 30,900 employed in 2016. This occupation will have about 540 openings due to growth and about 330 replacement openings for approximately 870 total annual openings. This occupation .

Colleges and Training
There are currently no programs listed for this occupation.
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