A Professional Taxi Driver is.....

A professional taxi driver is a well-groomed person with the patience of a
saint and is able to maintain composure in even the toughest and most
stressful of situations. He or she has the patience of Ghandi. While perhaps
enjoying the most relaxed dress code of any profession the professional
taxi driver always looks good even at the end of a 12 or 14 hour shift. 

A skilled person handler, the professional taxi driver is able to deal
with whatever state of mind the passenger has when they enter and is
able to make sure that when they leave the taxi they are almost always
smiling. A good driver will leave their customer feeling their ride
was the highlight of their day.

A professional cab driver has an in-depth knowledge of the area he or she
services. Not just the streets, but also its points of interest, its
nightlife, its history, etc. This does not mean that the driver is
expected to know every single street(though they often do) but rather
that they be knowledgeable about the area in general and able to 
assist passengers with their destination choice if necessary.

A professional taxi driver is genuinely concerned about serving his/her
passengers and tries to treat them all with respect and courtesy. A
good driver will try to learn their customer's name and make them
feel special. The customer will leave the taxi having enjoyed a
well delivered, personal experience and should learn and remember
the driver's name. Other times, the experience will be so fluid
that the car seems to drive itself and the driver is not even noticed.

A professional cab driver is a good listener who has a special sense of
what level of conversation the customer expects. He/she knows which
passengers want to talk and which ones just want to be left alone. He/she
never tries to force conversation upon an unwilling passenger.

A professional taxi driver leaves his/her problems at home and doesn't
unburden him/herself upon their passengers. A customer can unburden
themselves with the knowledge that the driver will always respect
their privacy and confidentially. It is much like the trust and 
openness usually reserved for priests and lawyers. 

A professional cab driver maintains a clean vehicle at all times,
even in bad weather. The windows are clean, the carpets spotless,
and the interior polished. The whitewalls are white and the tires
glistening. It always smells nice and fresh inside and a woman
in a white dress feels comfortable getting into the car. And of
course, the heat and air conditioning always work.
 
A professional taxi driver always maintains a safe and solid car.
The tires have tread, all lights work, the horn works, and the
engine and transmission are reliable. A good car is one that
the customer feels safe putting their grandmother in. A professional
driver always has a spare tire and other emergency equipment on
hand and knows enough about automobiles to handle any potential
road situation. The professional driver is one who feels responsible
for the safety of his passengers and does whatever is necessary
to make sure that they get to their destination safely.

And while a professional cab driver may drive a bit fast sometimes, it is
always in a safe and skilled manner. The professional taxi driver will
always take care to deliver their customers briskly and safely and
never, ever, absolutely never hits anything. Nor does the professional
driver allow any other vehicle to cause a collision.

A professional taxi driver will always try to choose the best route
between point A and point B. They will consider such factors as
traffic, distance, and time and deliver their customers in the
most economical and efficient manner possible. If a customer has
a preference for the route the professional cab driver will ALWAYS
take that route.

A professional taxi driver is a unpaid service provider for their
communities in many ways. They help stranded motorists, report
fires, report crimes and suspicious activities, serve as tourist
guides, give directions, and do many other nice things.

A professional taxi driver is one that truly loves to drive. Speed
and convenience is what we live for. The freedom of the road is
as vital as blood and oxygen to a healthy existence.