Taxi Driver Jobs in Canada
The taxi industry has always been a part of Canada’s transportation landscape, but it has never been as competitive as it is now. We’ll look at the state of the Canadian taxi (Taxi Driver Jobs in Canada) industry, how it got there, and how Uber and Lyft are changing the game.
The taxi industry in Canada dates back to the 1940s when a company called Taxi Primer first introduced taxicabs. They were horse-drawn carriages that followed set routes before being replaced by electric cars around 1900. In the 1970s and 1980s, many cities began allowing taxis to pick up passengers on the street rather than just at designated locations such as airports or train stations.
There are nearly 100 taxi companies in Canada today, including large ones like Beck Taxi Inc., smaller ones like Co-Op Taxi Ottawa Inc., and even one called Toronto Cab Co-op Ltd. There are also ride-sharing services, such as Lyft and Uber, that allow people to hail rides from their phone apps rather than waiting on street corners for cabs (and paying higher rates).
Requirements to Become a Taxi Driver in Canada
To become a taxi driver in Canada, you must have the following qualifications:
1. A valid driver’s license is required. This can be obtained by passing the G1 test administered by the Ministry of Transportation in your province.
2. You must pass a criminal background check conducted by the Ministry of Transportation in your province, which will determine whether you have any convictions for violent crimes or other serious offenses. These checks are required for all drivers in Canada who want to operate any type of motor vehicle on public roads, so this is not unique to taxi drivers.
3. Before applying for a taxi license, you must complete any necessary training programs or certification courses mandated by your province’s Ministry of Transportation.
Read Also: How to Get Canadian Immigration
Pros and Cons of being a Taxi Driver (Taxi Driver Jobs in Canada)
Taxi driving is a fantastic job, but it is not for everyone. Before you start driving around town, consider the following pros and cons.
Taxi drivers enjoy flexible scheduling, the ability to be their boss, and the potential to earn a good living. You can work whatever hours you want—whether to work them all at once or spread them out over time. You also avoid the stress of having to answer to anyone else about how things should be done—you simply do what works best for you!
However, there are some disadvantages to being a taxi driver. Dealing with difficult customers, for example, can be stressful and exhausting. You may also encounter traffic and parking issues if you live in an urban area without enough parking near popular destinations such as restaurants or shops. While there are numerous advantages to owning your vehicle (such as not having to pay monthly payments), there is also the disadvantage of having to pay for repairs when something goes wrong with it—and because taxis are expensive vehicles in general, this could mean some serious costs if something does break down!
Average Earnings of Taxi Drivers in Canada
Taxi drivers in Canada earn an average of A taxi driver’s annual salary in Canada is around $39,000. According to the most recent Statistics Canada data, the national average salary for taxi drivers is $39,000 annually. This figure includes both full-time and part-time employees.
According to the same source, the median income for all taxi drivers in 2017 was $1,100. That means half of all taxi drivers earned less than $1,100 that year, while the other half earned more.
As you might expect, this profession has significant regional differences in pay. In 2017, the average wage for a cab driver in Toronto was $56,000 per year, while in Regina (the smallest metropolitan area), it was closer to $34,000 per year.”
Read Also: 10 Jobs You Can Get in Canada
The Job Outlook for Taxi Drivers in Canada
The job outlook for taxi drivers in Canada is generally positive, with a 3.7% increase expected by 2024. This rate of growth is slightly lower than the national average of 4.2%, but it is still higher than the global average of 2.5%.
Several factors influence how much money you can earn as a taxi driver in Canada, including:
- Your city’s size and location (larger cities tend to offer more opportunities)
- Whether or not you own a taxicab (if you do, you can set your own hours and increase your earnings by working longer)
- Whether or not you are a sole proprietor (if so, this means you run your own business and have more control over your earnings).
How to Find Taxi Driver Jobs in Canada
Numerous resources are available if you’re looking for taxi driver jobs in Canada.
First and foremost, look through your local job boards. They’re a great place to start because they’re simple to use and have a diverse range of listings from various companies. Furthermore, if you Google “taxi driver jobs in Canada,” it will also return results from job boards!
If you believe the local job boards are insufficient and want more options, try searching online classifieds such as Craigslist or Kijiji. You’ll find listings here that you won’t find on other sites, and depending on where you live, you may have more options than others. If you’re unsure where to look locally, these sites can help you narrow down what’s available nearby so you don’t waste time applying for positions that aren’t open yet or don’t even exist!
Finally, inquire directly with local taxi companies in your area about available positions (or even just for information about what positions are available). This is especially useful if there isn’t much information about local opportunities available online or elsewhere—you might just get lucky and find something awesome before anyone else!
Q&A with a Taxi Driver
We’re excited to share the Q&A we had with a taxi driver in Canada!
We asked them about what they enjoy and find challenging about the work, as well as any advice they have for aspiring taxi drivers. Here’s what they had to say:
“I love that I get to meet so many people every day and that every day is different. You can’t beat the flexibility of this job, either—you can take off whenever you want, or work late if you need the extra cash. On the other hand, it can be really hard sometimes when you have a bad passenger who just wants to talk about politics all night and won’t shut up about how much they hate [politician name].”
“What advice would I give to someone wanting to become a taxi driver? Well, first of all, make sure you know where everything is on your city map before you start driving around!
Safety Concerns for Taxi Drivers
In Canada, taxi drivers face a variety of safety concerns, including dealing with drunk or aggressive passengers, the risk of robbery or assault, and even traffic accidents. Here are some pointers to keep you safe on the job:
- Be alert: If you’re tired, stop and rest before getting back behind the wheel.
- Always keep your doors locked. If someone tries to open your door while you’re driving, keep going until they give up or get out of your cab.
- Always pay attention to your mirrors as well as what’s going on outside your car windows. If at all possible, avoid driving at night; darkness makes it difficult to see potential hazards on the road ahead of you.
Future of the Taxi Industry in Canada
The taxi industry in Canada has undergone a lot of changes over the past few years. As ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft have grown in popularity, traditional cab companies have had to adapt to stay competitive.
One thing that may be changing is the way customers interact with their taxis. For example, some people are already using their smartphones to hail cabs and pay for rides on the spot. This can make it easier for drivers to get jobs and avoid waiting around for their next fare after dropping off their last passenger.
Another big change is in terms of regulation—the rules governing what taxis can or cannot do have been put under review by local governments across Canada, with some cities deciding not to renew licenses for older cars or requiring rideshare drivers to get special licenses.