28 Aug Duties Of A Chauffeur/Personal Driver

A chauffeur is a professional driver tasked with getting clients to their destination by motor vehicle. Chauffeurs drive and maintain cars, limousines, or vans for private households, government agencies, business firms, and limousine companies. Chauffeurs who work for private households may drive family members to and from their daily activities, including school, work, and various business and social functions. They help their passengers get in and out of the car, carry packages and luggage, and run errands.

They are responsible for keeping their employers’ cars in good condition and therefore, chauffeurs spend some of their working hours washing, waxing, and polishing the cars. They make arrangements to have the cars serviced and repaired. They often make minor repairs and adjustments themselves. Many chauffeurs who work for private households also have other duties, such as cleaning walks and driveways and exercising pets.

In addition to driving duties, the chauffeur must open car doors for the occupants and assist them with their luggage. Chauffeurs often map out the most efficient routes when trips are scheduled in advance, avoiding construction and other predictable traffic problems. Chauffeurs might run routine checks on their vehicles before picking up passengers. This could include checking the interior cleanliness of vehicles, as well as adequate tire pressure and fuel and oil levels. They also might be required to perform small repairs, such as changing a tire.

In some instances, they’ll be expected to wait for their passengers to drive them to another location; in other instances, such as a company shuttle service, they simply drop them off. Large corporations often make use of full-time chauffeurs for their top CEOs and executives because it alleviates the need to drive so they can carry on with their work or simply relax whilst traveling.

Qualifications

There are no formal academic qualifications required to become a chauffeur. A driving license relevant to the country of work is required before the driver can drive on a public road.

Skills

• Good knowledge of the local roads can be a real benefit for short travel assignments
• Good anticipation, positional sense, and spatial awareness make for a safer all-around driver
• Attentiveness to a customer’s demands in terms of knowing when to offer advice and when to remain quiet
• Tidy appearance and a genteel manner
• Valid driver’s license
• Proven experience as a chauffeur or taxi driver
• Acquainted with GPS software and local traffic reports
• Ability to interact with clients in a warm, professional manner
• Excellent organizational and time management skills
• Ability to work during evenings, on weekends, and public holidays, as required

Because much of the time is spent driving between destinations, it’d be great if chauffeurs enjoy their own company in their own space for much of the day as a lot of time is spent driving to appointments and waiting for clients.

A chauffeur may or may not work in the full-time employment of the client while carrying out their driving duties.

Responsibilities

Logistics and Travel Details

Before any trip, the duties of the chauffeur include consulting maps or navigation devices for desired routes, checking radio or online traffic, and weather reports for departure and destination locations. Chauffeurs advise employers or passengers of potential or existing adverse conditions and suggest alternative routes or travel time adjustments. Online research for en-route and destination hotels, restaurants, airports, rest areas, tolls, points of interest, and details of all that apply are expected, and chauffeurs may even be tasked with making reservations, booking flights, or obtaining events or entrance tickets.

Vehicle Maintenance

Vehicle maintenance is handled by chauffeurs either directly or indirectly through third-party service companies. Whether keeping the vehicle clean or ensuring that it is mechanically sound, the employer’s vehicle must be spotless in appearance and ready to drive without issue at all times.

Personal driver duties include being responsible for checking engine fluids, inspecting interior and exterior electrical and mechanical components, maintaining tire pressure, and keeping fuel levels at adequate levels. When mechanical work, scheduled maintenance, professional washing, and detail work are needed, chauffeurs make service appointments, facilitate vehicle transport to and from the facility, and procure a suitable rental vehicle if needed.

Exude Professionalism

A chauffeur is mannerly and courteous in all driving and non-driving situations while on the job. Good grooming and personal hygiene with clean and proper dress, as instructed by the employer, are expected. Calm, rational behavior and attitude under stressful driving conditions are attributes of a professional, as are refraining from inappropriate or abusive language and gestures.

Personal chauffeurs follow instructions and requests without argument or complaint and do not comment, engage, or join in conversations with employers or passengers without permission. Use of alcohol, illegal drugs, or prescription medication that inhibits cognitive or mechanical ability — either on the job, while on call, or before a scheduled shift — is illegal. A sober, fully functional chauffeur is expected at all times.

Paperwork Duties

The employer is responsible for payment of vehicle and travel expenses and may provide the chauffeur with cash, a credit card, company account numbers, or expense reimbursement forms. The chauffeur acquires, retains, and submits all receipts to the employer and ensures that expenditures are authorized under the terms of employment services. Chauffeurs may also be responsible for keeping written travel logs containing mileage, locations, travel time, work hours, vehicle service entries, and receipts.

Safety and Legal Duties

Safe and legal driving practices are always expected with or without passengers. Chauffeurs are legally required to obtain and maintain an active chauffeur’s license as required by law in your region. Employers may have other requirements, such as completing vehicle safety classes, defensive driving courses, foul weather driving training, and other requirements or specific experience before hiring. It is the chauffeur’s duty and responsibility to adhere to all state and federal driving laws and rules the employer sets.

Other Chauffeur Responsibilities:

• Liaising with the company or client to determine when and where you will collect the individual
• Ensuring that the client’s door is open as he greets them in a professional, sincere manner
• Adjusting the air temperature, if required by the client
• Completing collections and deliveries on behalf of the client, if requested
• Abiding by road regulations at all times
• To find a suitable area to park on arrival at a busy urban area
• Pay tolls
• Pick up and throw away debris from passengers
• Wax and wash the exterior of the car
• Get the oil changed and fluids checked regularly
• Operate wheelchair lifts
• Perform errands for customers
• Clean walkways
• Wash and dry windows and keep them shining

How to Hire a Chauffeur

Depending on the household’s needs, a chauffeur may be hired part-time or full-time. Riveter Consulting Group has the roster of the most trusted chauffeurs in this industry, and as an elite staffing agency, we can help you find the perfect personal driver to match your needs. Get started by filling out our contact page, or call us at 1 855-444-2515 to tell us more about your needs and get advice about the next steps from one of our staffing experts.

Sources:

• Learn about the key requirements, duties, responsibilities, and skills that should be in a chauffeur job description
• Learn more about duties of personal chauffeur’s duties
• Learn more about Chauffeurs on my job search