Note that the essential skills profiles were not updated to reflect the transitions to the Skills for Success model and the 2021 version of the National Occupational Classification (NOC). For more up-to-date information on the skills required for different occupations, visit the Occupational and Skills Information System (OaSIS) website.

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Essential skills profile

This profile contains a list of example tasks that illustrate how each of the 9 essential skills is generally performed by most workers in this occupation. The levels of complexity estimated for each task are ranked between 1 (basic) and 5 (advanced).

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Taxicab Drivers (7513)

This profile was developed as part of an occupational standard. The NOC group to which it relates is "Taxi and Limousine Drivers and Chauffeurs." Taxi and limousine drivers drive automobiles and limousines to transport passengers. Chauffeurs drive automobiles and limousines to transport personnel and visitors of businesses, government or other organizations or members of private households. Taxi and limousine drivers are employed by taxi and other transportation service companies or may be self-employed. Chauffeurs are employed by businesses, government and other organizations or by private individuals or families.

Reading Help - Reading

Reading - Help

Reading refers to reading material in the form of sentences or paragraphs.

It generally involves reading notes, letters, memos, manuals, specifications, regulations, books, reports or journals.

Reading includes:

  • forms and labels if they contain at least one paragraph
  • print and non-print media (for example, text on computer screens and microfiche)
  • paragraph-length text in charts, tables and graphs
  • Read information bulletins and memos to keep up-to-date with company policies. (1)
  • Skim the newspaper to provide information to passengers. (2)
  • Refer to by-laws and regulations to understand the various requirements set by the municipality. (2)
  • Read insurance documents to better understand liability. (3)
  • Read company manuals about policies, procedures and operations. (3)
Document use Help - Document use

Document use - Help

Document Use involved a variety of information displays in which words, numbers, icons and other visual characteristics (eg. line, colour, shape) are given meaning by their spatial arrangement. For example, graphs, lists, tables, blueprints, schematics, drawings, signs and labels are documents used in the world of work.

Document Use includes:

  • print and non-print media (for example, computer screen or microfiche documents, equipment gauges, clocks and flags);
  • reading/interpreting and writing/completing/producing of documents, These two uses of documents often occur simultaneously as part of the same task, e.g., completing a form, checking off items on a list of tasks, plotting information on a graph, and entering information on an activity schedule.
  • Refer to mobile data terminal (MDT) screen which displays dispatch information. (1)
  • Read address labels when delivering packages for customers. (1)
  • Read street signs to locate addresses. (1)
  • Fill in "trip sheets" for each trip, indicating destination and number of passengers. (1)
  • Complete pre-trip inspection forms as a preventative maintenance record. (1)
  • Fill in customer receipts. (1)
  • Complete various entry forms such as receipts and credit card charge slips. (1)
  • Read credit cards, charge slips, travellers' cheques and vouchers when accepting payment. (2)
  • Read maps and street guides to find locations. (2)
Writing Help - Writing

Writing - Help

Writing includes:

  • writing texts and writing in documents (for example, filling in forms)
  • non-paper-based writing (for example, typing on a computer)
  • Write detailed entries on trip sheets. (1)
  • Write explanations for delays and extra costs. (2)
  • Write collision reports as required. (2)
  • Write statements to respond to complaints which have been made about their service. (3)
Numeracy Help - Numeracy

Numeracy - Help

Numeracy refers to the workers use of numbers and their capability to think in quantitative terms.

Money Math
  • Receive money from customers and make change. (1)
Scheduling, Budgeting & Accounting Math
  • Reconcile daily cash and turn in monies and records to owners. (2)
Measurement and Calculation Math
  • Express distances in both metric and imperial measures. (1)
Numerical Estimation
  • Estimate the cost of a trip, taking into account various uncertainties such as traffic, driving conditions and possible detours. (2)
Oral communication Help - Oral communication

Oral communication - Help

Oral Communication pertains primarily to the use of speech to give and exchange thoughts and information by workers in an occupational group.

  • Talk to cab company dispatchers about pickup locations and delivery requests. (1)
  • Talk to other drivers to pass along information about road conditions. (1) )
  • Talk to gas station attendants, convenience store personnel and car repair personnel. (1)
  • Converse with visitors about local attractions, night life and personal safety concerns. (1)
  • Greet and converse with customers to clarify route preferences, to manage crises, to control or diffuse hostile situations, to clarify delivery requests and to clarify destinations for children or physically-challenged passengers. (2)
  • Talk to police officers when they are involved in a collision, to report crimes or to assist in community services. (2)
Thinking Help - Thinking

Thinking - Help

Thinking differentiates between six different types of interconnected cognitive functions:

  • problem solving;
  • decision making;
  • critical thinking;
  • job task planning and organizing;
  • significant use of memory; and
  • finding information.
Problem Solving
  • May find that an address provided by dispatch does not exist. They will call dispatch to locate the customer. (1)
  • Must choose alternate routes when construction blocks roads normally taken. (1)
  • Sometimes have to cope with disputes over fares or routes taken. (2)
  • May have to deal with difficult clients. Such situations are unpredictable and dangerous and could escalate if handled incorrectly. (3)
Decision Making
  • Decide if they have enough fuel to last for a long trip. (1)
  • Decide when it is prudent to reduce speed due to bad road conditions. (1)
  • Determine which of several possible routes will be the most efficient for the customer. (2)
  • Decide when it is appropriate to reject possible customers, based on their behaviour and appearance. Their personal safety may depend on this decision. This is a critical factor. (3)
  • Decide on actions during robbery or violence. (3)
Critical Thinking

Critical Thinking information was not collected for this profile.

Job Task Planning and Organizing

Taxicab drivers' work activity is largely determined by their customers and working arrangements. However, they plan when they will work (taking into consideration when events are occurring), and where they will work (taking into consideration where the events, activities and busy locations are). This plan may be adjusted in response to where their fares take them at particular times of day. Their planning must also take into account the need to perform vehicle-maintenance tasks. (2)

Significant Use of Memory
  • Remember addresses received from dispatch and any additional instructions about how to find the location.
  • Remember specific vehicle noises which signal a vehicle malfunction.
  • Recall the faces and destinations of repeat customers and remember laws and regulations.
  • Recall the faces and addresses of hostile customers and no-pays.
  • Remember important numbers of addresses, for example, hospitals with emergency wards.
  • Remember location and routing of common destinations.
Finding Information
  • Obtain information that helps them plan their shift, such as airport schedules and information on major events. (2)
  • Find out how to reach a particular location by asking dispatch or consulting a map, guidebook, cross-reference or manual. (2)
Digital technology Help - Digital technology

Digital Technology - Help

Digital Technology indicates the variety and complexity of digital technology within the occupational group.

  • Use computer-controlled equipment. For example, sending and receiving information on a computerized dispatch system. (1)
Additional information Help - Additional information

Additional information - Help

Continuous Learning

It examines the requirement for workers in an occupational group to participate in an ongoing process of acquiring skills and knowledge.

Continuous Learning tests the hypothesis that more and more jobs require continuous upgrading and all workers must continue learning to keep or to grow with their jobs. If this is true, then the following will become Essential Skills:

  • knowing how to learn;
  • understanding one’s own learning style; and
  • knowing how to gain access to a variety of materials, resources and learning opportunities.

Working with Others

Working with Others examines the extent to which employees work with others to carry out their tasks. Do they have to work co-operatively with others? Do they have to have the self-discipline to meet work targets while working alone?

Other Essential Skills:

Working with Others

Taxicab drivers work independently, liaising with dispatchers on an on-going basis. Taxicab drivers participate occasionally in formal group discussions with co-workers and supervisors to discuss methods for improving services.

While survey interviewers and statistical clerks may be members of a project team, they perform most of their work independently.

Continuous Learning

Taxicab drivers continue to learn. Learning takes place informally through networking, and formally, through in-house training.

[Source:Literacy and Essential Skills - ESDC]
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