Confessions of a limo driver

“Recruiting limo drivers is a tough task, as not many can drive these cars safely. It’s a passion we share with our masters”

I have driven top brands like Rolls-Royce, Mercedes, BMW, Volkswagen, Pajero, Hummer, Nissan, Renault, Volvo, Toyota and Honda. I learnt to drive foreign-made cars while working at a garage that repaired them 15 years ago.

Recruiting limo drivers is a tough task as not many know how to drive these cars safely. It’s a passion we share with our masters. Our credentials have to be impeccable and we normally stick to one employer. A resume that shows job changes thrice in a two-year period is bad. Of course, our salaries are two or three times that of regular drivers.

Typically, our employers are star hotels or rich individuals. In hotels, we have to wear smart uniforms and caps even if we hate wearing them, smell good and look fresh. Knowing conversational English is a plus point. The rich look for integrity and honesty.

While we are polite with passengers or car owners, we have to be tough with other motorists. One can’t be seen driving a posh car with a soft attitude. In most cities, two-wheeler drivers are a menace. They often brush past wing mirrors or bumpers. At traffic signals, they pass lewd comments and make obscene gestures. Many look at drivers and pass uncharitable remarks.

Most of us pray and touch the steering wheel before starting the day. There are enough jealous people who will scratch the car with coins or long nails. Recently, in Bangalore, industrialist Vijay Mallya’s car and his son’s coupe were scratched by miscreants during an IPL fixture. Work on each door would have cost more than Rs 50,000. We also hope the car doesn’t get damaged by motorists. A colleague had to pay Rs 30,000 from his salary because he didn’t get the registration number of a car that side-swiped his limo.

(He has worked with a car rental firm and a hotel and is now the personal driver of a fleet owner)

As told to Anil Budur Lulla

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arindam