From time to time you should take a ride in a luxury vehicle of your choice to the airport, to the hotel, to your next meeting, or to an event. You work very hard and should relax a bit allowing someone else to take over the reins.
When you want some alone time, you can always hire a private transportation chauffeur in a luxury sedan, but when you want to hang out with your friends you can hire a limousine service, van, or a bus.
Maybe you need a ride around the city, or you just want to get to your business meetings in time. Whatever the reason, you need a trustworthy and reliable chauffeur.
You’re probably wondering why we use the fancy word like chauffeur when there is a simpler word for it – a driver. But these two terms are not the same.
Stay tuned and find out all about the chauffeur and a driver and their differences. We will answer questions such as:
- What is the meaning of the term chauffeur?
- Why you should hire a chauffeur?
- What is the difference between a driver and a chauffeur?
- Characteristics of a driver
- Characteristics of a chauffeur
- The most common questions about chauffeurs
1. What is the meaning of the term chauffeur?
The meaning of chauffeur is not very simple. Chauffeurs or personal drivers are well-mannered and sophisticated people whose job is to provide nothing less than a safe ride to companies or individuals. They drive luxury sedans or other types of luxury limousines.
Being a chauffeur is a highly responsible job with a lot of duties. It can be quite challenging to fulfill all client’s requests, but since chauffeurs provide the best service, it doesn’t get hard keeping their clients satisfied.
2. Why you should hire a chauffeur?
When you find yourself in a foreign country, not knowing which streets are the least congested and which one to take, you hire someone to drive you to get from point A to point B.
The person driving you can be a driver or a chauffeur. You are mistaken if you think that these have the same meaning.
You cannot use the terms driver and chauffeur interchangeably.
Every chauffeur is a driver but not every driver is a chauffeur. A lot of people are of the opinion that the chauffeur is just a fancy name for a limo driver. But that is not the case.
If you look for a definition in dictionaries, you’ll learn that a chauffeur is an employee that drives a private car or a limo for the owner or an employee that drives a car or a limo of the paying passengers.
The best way to be flexible and continue your trip whenever you want is to hire a chauffeur. The term is associated with luxury vehicles, so you can expect only the best when you hire a chauffeur service, and you can be positive that you have chosen the professionalism of the expert.
3. What is the difference between a driver and a chauffeur?
First, it is important to state that a chauffeur and a driver aren’t the same things.
A driver has only one duty: to transport the passenger from point A to point B. Therefore, we can conclude that anyone can be a driver.
On the other side of the coin, a chauffeur has far more responsibilities than just providing transportation. Therefore, we can conclude that not everyone can be a chauffeur.
For instance, in taxi services, such as Uber and Lyft, anyone can become their driver. The candidate has to fulfill the following criteria:
- be at least 21 years old
- possess the ability to operate on a 4-door vehicle
- have a driver’s license and insurance
Chauffeur’s task isn’t that simple. He or she must have an attitude that shows sheer willingness to indulge every client’s request and additionally provide the best service for the client. Paying attention to details and hard work are inevitable parts of each chauffeur’s job.
4. Characteristics of a driver
Anyone can be a driver, with the exception of some people who have medical problems that prevent them from being able to handle a vehicle.
Therefore, a driver is a person who is capable of driving the vehicle and who can take you to your destination.
The driver won’t fetch your coffee or ice cream when you are heading to the airport or on a hot summer’s day but the chauffeur will.
A normal driver does not have professional training. They are just driving you to the place you want to go to. The service you get from a driver is not personalized, it is rudimentary without any special perks or any special treatment.
Characteristics of a chauffeur
The luxury transport industry focuses on the best quality of transport for their clients.
In order to achieve the required level of service which is delivered consistently not anyone can be behind the wheel.
Chauffeurs are trained professionals who are devoted to giving luxurious and exclusive transportation all over the world.
If you want to become a chauffeur you, of course, have to have a driving license. But that is not enough.
In order to work as a professional limousine driver, a person has to get a special chauffeur license. They are trained in customer service and always put the customer first.
A professional limousine driver will cater to your every need.
He or she will get you the coffee so you can enjoy it during the ride to the airport, or when it is hot outside, will, per request, get you ice cream and set the air conditioner to your liking, not their own.
Hiring a private chauffeur service will make your trip less stressful and more comfortable, tailored to your every single need.
After a certain amount of time, they undergo service quality control. This control ensures that the services that are provided to the customers are always professional at the same time enabling chauffeurs to improve personally and professionally.
Chauffeurs always look sharp when they are on duty.
An apparent difference between a driver and a chauffeur is their looks, namely manifested in their dress code. A chauffeur should look professional, therefore, he has to wear a uniform.
Dressed in a black suit, white button-down shirt, and black shoes the chauffeurs will greet you with an honest smile. Their vehicle is always properly maintained and clean containing everything you need or may need during the ride.
Their uniform is usually adorned with their company logo. They represent the limousine company they are working for and when you choose their professional chauffeur service, by extension, they represent you.
In comparison, imagine that when you arrive at a very important business meeting, a person driving you is wearing a tracksuit and sneakers.
You can expect an experienced chauffeur service from a limo driver
A driver is there to simply take you from point A to point B.
They do not make the extra effort for your comfort or preferences. In a way, to them, you are just a shipment that they need to deliver to the final destination.
How the shipment reaches it is not that important. The limo driver is not simply a person behind the wheel.
The chauffeur driving you is a professional who will not only make sure that you safely reach your destination but also do it in style taking your wishes into consideration.
If you want to see all the attractive sites in the city and enjoy them, there is no problem.
When you just want to get to your meeting, you will get there with the time to spare too.
If you want to try the best coffee in town, an experienced limousine driver will take you to the best café.
If you have the craving for fast food you can enjoy it too. It is always up to you.
The training is what sets the chauffeurs apart from the rest of the drivers.
Before they get behind the wheel of a limousine, professional limo drivers have to go through extensive training.
This training includes not only the rules of the road, but they also must know the traffic patterns, customer support, and much more.
The chauffeur takes extra care of safety. Aggressive driving is not an option. Your ride should be fast but at the same time safe and pleasant.
The training of a chauffeur never stops. They have to attend professional development courses which ensure that the quality of service they are providing is consistent and up to the luxury vehicle industry standards.
Chauffeurs are trustworthy and discrete.
Let’s say you have an important business phone call during your ride and don’t want your competition to know the details of your newest project. The contents of the phone call will never leave the vehicle.
If you are an important person and don’t want anyone to know where you are going, don’t worry, your chauffeur will not give out the information. Let’s say you forgot an expensive item or your phone in the limousine, don’t stress about it at all. You will get your belongings back.
Chauffeurs pay attention to every travel detail.
Consulting maps or navigation devices for the upcoming routes and the overall organization is a chauffeur’s task before the ride. In addition, he should check online traffic, the weather, and the radio.
In unpredictable situations, the chauffeur must be prepared to react fast and offer solutions for every scenario. He should suggest alternative routes, airports, restaurants, hotels, and new time adjustments. Plus, he has the task to make reservations in advance, buy tickets, and book flights.
All those details play an important role in creating premium chauffeur services.
5. The most common questions about chauffeurs
In this part of the article, we will answer the most commonly asked questions about chauffeurs. If you have any uncertainties, we hope that they will be resolved further on in the text.
We will answer these questions:
- What are the duties of a chauffeur?
- What do chauffeurs do while waiting?
- Why do chauffeurs wear gloves?
- What is a female chauffeur called?
- What a good chauffeur shouldn’t do?
What are the duties of a chauffeur?
Now that we know the meaning of chauffeur we would like to talk about his or her duties. To summarize, we can divide chauffeur’s duties into three main categories:
- Transportation
- Keeping the vehicle in good shape
- Client’s service
For any driver or chauffeur, the main task is to pick up and drop off passengers at their locations.
There are two types of chauffeur services: private and the one provided by a company. They can transport clients in different types of vehicles, including limos, town cars, or client’s cars.
Companies usually have a dispatcher that monitors each service and ride.
Another important chauffeur’s task is maintenance: keeping the vehicle safe and mechanically inspected. The vehicle must be in perfect shape and capable of driving at any time. That includes checking the engine, tires, fuel, and every electrical and mechanical component.
In cases when the vehicle should be washed or mechanically repaired, the chauffeur must make appointments, and take the vehicle to and from.
When a new vehicle is needed, the chauffeur must find a satisfying substitute.
Paperwork duties
The client can pay to chauffeur in several ways:
- cash
- a credit card
- company account numbers
- expense reimbursement forms
The chauffeur must ensure that all expenses are regulated under the terms of employment services. In addition, he should write travel logs that contain time, mileage, locations, and receipts.
To protect passengers’ safety, each company should have a chauffeur that has an active chauffeur license required by the law within a district.
Clients can seek evidence of the chauffeur’s professionalism before hiring. For example, they can request a corporate chauffeur, vehicle safety classes, completion of defensive driving course, foul weather driving training, etc.
Each respectful company offers only those services that follow all state and federal laws and rules required by the clients.
What do chauffeurs do while waiting?
When you rent a chauffeured service, it is impossible to be caught up in a scenario in which your chauffeur transports someone else during your booking hours. The vehicle is at your service, no matter if you are in it or not. The chauffeur is waiting for you – he/she doesn’t sleep or leave the area.
The chauffeur is familiar with the best and alternative routes, and shortcuts to and from your destination. Each luxury airport transportation is well informed about your flight schedules and any possible delays.
Related: Why many people hire limousine airport transport?
Most chauffeurs seek any sort of electronic fun on their tablets, laptops, or any other e-reader while waiting for you. Moreover, they know the most suitable waiting places so you never have to worry that they might be late when you expect them to pick you up.
Why do chauffeurs wear gloves?
You’ve probably been wondering why chauffeurs wear gloves.
Well, the answer is simple. With gloves, they have better control over the wheel, a firmer grip that is especially helpful when driving on the highway.
Also, gloves minimize the vibrations from the wheel that usually creates pressure on the hands when driving for a long time.
Wearing gloves prevents the damage of the leather and wood of steering wheels. With them, there is no chance that sweat or oil deteriorates the wheel surface. When cold, gloves keep the hands at a mild temperature, which provides a comfortable and relaxed drive.
Gloves mean style – with them and the suit, your personal chauffeur looks cool.
What is a female chauffeur called?
“Chauffeur” is a French word describing a male driver, with the equivalent “chauffeuse”, describing a female driver. Like it happens in many gendered professions, “chauffeur” has now earned the status of a gender-neutral term, while “chauffeuse” is now more recently used to describe a chair by a fireplace.
According to some statistics, most women feel safer when driven by female drivers.
What a good chauffeur shouldn’t do?
As we mentioned before, a chauffeur should have sophisticated manners expressed in eloquent language and a calm attitude. Therefore, chauffeurs shouldn’t engage in conversations if clients aren’t interested, let alone get into quarrels and arguments.
While on duty, chauffeurs shouldn’t consume alcohol or drugs. Doing the opposite is considered illegal. They must be sober and highly focused to transport clients at any moment.
No texting while driving, and no holding in the opposite lane except when passing. No one wants to be held up on the highway because the driver is in the opposite lane doing the speed limit. A responsible chauffeur will move over, and let faster traffic get by.
Conclusion
We hope that the meaning of chauffeur is clear to you after reading this article.
When you use experienced chauffeur service you can expect to arrive at the business meeting, wedding, or other special occasions, party, concert, and many more in style and luxury vehicle.
Chauffeur services have increased their popularity among successful executives and other individuals who don’t accept anything but comfort and extravagance while transporting.
Check out the difference between luxury and regular cars.
Professionalism, extraordinary customer service, discretion, and safe ride is what you get when hiring a chauffeur.
Unlike drivers, who are in many cases focused on monetary value and are only concerned about reaching the destination, a chauffeur worries about the quality of your trip.
Be certain that when your ride is over you will leave the vehicle refreshed, relaxed, and ready to tackle the rest of your day.
