Should I keep Grey Poupon on hand?

May 30, 2007 7:21 PM

What's it like being a limousine driver?

I am soon to be employed as a limousine driver. I'm curious as to what it's like--please pass on your experiences or the experiences of someone you know. What's the money like? What are the cool parts? What are the crappy parts? What should I watch out for?

posted by Darth Fedor to work & money (12 comments total)

Just the other day I heard a guy talking about driving limousines. Not for any one person, but a service for proms and so on.

Two interesting things he said:

The driver should be considered the source of repeat business. People will remember a likable and professional driver.

At the depot, there was a facility for the drivers with showers and beds in addition to the regular breakroom stuff, so after a late job they could just pass out if they wanted.

He mentioned making decent money.
posted by TheOnlyCoolTim at 8:19 PM on May 30, 2007

I remember asking my group's limo driver to buy us booze during a high school prom or home coming or something or other.

So yeah - buying high school kids booze when you drive them to dances, though I don't suggest it.
posted by ASM at 8:23 PM on May 30, 2007

upside: tips

downside: drunk people throwing up in the back.

(IANALimoDriver)
posted by Izzmeister at 8:29 PM on May 30, 2007

I have heard that it's lots of downtime, though I have never been nor really known any drivers.

I have however taken lots of limo rides in my life and I can tell you that most of the towncar drivers in nyc, la and chicago are surprisingly low-rent kind of guys. think cabbies. most didn't even wear jackets. at least the corporate-limosine market was a lot less intriguing than it seemed to me before I got to use them (aka in college).

I remember being given my first "limo card" (basically a number and a corporate access code) when I started working in NYC. I thought it was special but all it turned out to be was a cab that was sort of on-time and there when I asked it to and that had a bit more legroom than a regular yellow cab. I have taken plenty rides where the drivers still played loud music, didn't know where they were going (my favorite: "where's la guardia???") or yapped away on cell phones while I was trying to talk to a client seated next to me.

I am sure there are higher-rent limo services that are better than this and I would expect the money to be better there, too. but it does seem that a lot of larger companies have personal drivers for certain employees.
posted by krautland at 8:44 PM on May 30, 2007

Sometimes you have to change a tire in your tuxedo (if you have to wear a tux, which varies, I guess).
posted by croutonsupafreak at 9:23 AM on May 31, 2007

The Toronto Star had an article about limo drivers this past weekend and it's still online. It focuses on prom season, though.
posted by flipper at 9:40 AM on May 31, 2007

The Minneapolis City Pages had an intersting article about this a while back. It's an entertaining read.
posted by triggerfinger at 1:48 PM on May 31, 2007

My cousin hired a limo driver for her wedding and was very unhappy. The guy was very overweight (not a big deal) but he wore only a white shirt, not tucked in, and wrinkled black pants... he looked very sloppy. So I'd say, dress nicely.
posted by IndigoRain at 2:58 PM on May 31, 2007

I have a friend who is a private-hire chauffeur (like a taxi, only a really smart Mercedes) and he always dresses smartly, in a dark grey suit, plain tie, white shirt, black shoes.

He always has a book or two in his car, due to waiting time. He said newspapers look 'unclassy'. He also has talking books to listen to on his car stereo. He told me that clients hate to come out of their meeting and find the driver yakking on his mobile phone so he limits his phone time unless he knows he's got a really long wait.

Also, learn where all the public bathrooms are and, if necessary, keep an empty 2 litre plastic bottle in the car, just in case of emergency.

Also, cereal bars, mints, water, hand sanitiser, tissues.

Because he spends a lot of time sitting, he sometimes gets back/neck/shoulder pain and although he knows he should do stretching exercises, he doesn't. So do them!
posted by essexjan at 3:42 PM on May 31, 2007

My high school Biology teacher drove limo to and from Salt Lake International. It would have been 1994 or so.

He liked to talk about it, and we were curious high school kids, so here's what I got:

-The hours were flexible enough that he could teach full-time in a city ~30 miles from the airport.
-He did dress up, and he did have to clean the limo himself.
-He did not own the limo, he worked for a company that hired them out.
-He made enough money doing it that he found it worthwhile to keep doing it, in addition to teaching.
-He liked tips, and got good ones, but didn't get tipped 100% of the time.
-He was an easy going, likeable guy, and he could carry on a friendly conversation with just about anyone. I imagine this helped.
-He was in shape and kept his hair neat. He didn't have any facial hair. I don't know if this was required, but I'm guessing it helped.

Mr. H, if you're out there, thanks for the A!

On re-reading the question, I suddenly realize that I may not be answering anything. Sorry if that's the case.
posted by SlyBevel at 11:56 PM on May 31, 2007

Thanks guys!
posted by Darth Fedor at 1:15 PM on June 1, 2007

from what i've heard:

- prepare for boredom and long chunks of down-time
- know some good (and evil) choice places that people may want to go
posted by yeahyeahyeahwhoo at 1:29 PM on June 1, 2007