How easy is it to make a living from a taxi? Is it a profession with potential or a constant battle for a living? Many people think that taxi drivers have a cushy job, transporting passengers from one point to another, but the reality is very different. Behind the wheel, more often than not, taxi drivers face endless hours of work, physical and psychological strain, financial uncertainty and ever-increasing competition.
Especially in areas with strong seasonality, such as the islands, the difference between summer and winter is huge. "In summer we work many hours a day to make it through the winter," taxi drivers in Kefalonia tell us.
The The Kefalonian Globe spoke with several taxi drivers of Kefalonia, who described with a common perspective the difficulties and challenges of the profession on the island. "Things are very difficult in winter," says a driver from Argostoli. "There is 95% drop in business compared to summer. We earn about 20-25 euros a day, while fixed expenses are 35-40 euros."
The season on the island starts in May and lasts until the end of September, with the bulk of customers being visitors from other countries, and their arrival peaking in July and August. "The English are first, then Italians, Germans, Dutch and we have many from America." The most popular taxi routes, as the drivers who operate in Argostoli and the Skala area tell us, are airport - Skala, Argostoli - Lassi, Fiskardo, Assos, while from the area of Lixouri most customers head to the nearby beaches such as Myrtos, Xi beach, Petani beach, Agia Kyriaki beach and the airport. In fact, a large volume of work in Argostoli for taxis create a large volume of work in Argostoli and the cruise ships arriving with tourists often turning to professional guides to enjoy the beauties of the island.
However, the profession is no longer as lucrative as it used to be. "Apart from 2019 and 2022, which were two good years for tourism, the other seasons were not very busy with tourism," a local taxi driver tells us.
The everyday life of a taxi driver
Taxi drivers in Kefalonia adapt to the needs of the tourist season. "In winter I mainly move around Argostoli, while in summer the routes include the airport, Sami, Poros and the ports in general", said a driver based in Argostoli. The difference between the seasons is chaotic: "Many colleagues don't work in winter and have second jobs to cover their needs."
Traffic is one of the biggest problems during the summer period. "The main streets of Argostoli have been turned into pedestrian streets, lanes have been reduced, and with so many cars the situation becomes suffocating."
However, finding a taxi in the summer is not that difficult. "You may have to wait 10-15 minutes due to long distances, but taxis are sufficient for the needs of the island."
The roads and infrastructure problems
One of the biggest complaints from drivers is the state of the road network. "Most roads are full of potholes, there are no markings in many places, and especially at night driving can be dangerous," drivers from Argostoli say. In the area of Skala, the main coastal road has serious problems with potholes: "With the rain, the patches fall and you can hit the car", drivers explain. In Lixouri, however, things seem to be better. "The roads in Lixouri are good, they are being fixed", Gerasimos Katsivelis, president of the Lixouri Taxi Association "Agioi Anargyri", tells us.
At the same time, Mr.Katsivelis stresses that one of the issues that drivers are concerned about is fuel, which is higher than in mainland Greece due to the fact that it is an island. On this issue there is unanimity among all drivers, with some suggesting government intervention for more economical fuel for commercial vehicles.
Research and reality
The research of National Technical University of Athens entitled "Investigation and Evaluation of the Current Situation and Development Policies of the Taxi Market in Athens (2020)" on behalf of BEAT / FREE NOW, captures a difficult reality for industry professionals. Its results are revealing: 67% of taxi drivers in Athens work more than 12 hours a day, with 20% of their kilometres being empty, without passengers. In addition, 96.3% of drivers said they work six days a week, while 55.3% even work seven days a week to make ends meet. This exhausting working reality has a serious impact on both drivers' professional and personal lives, as the balance between work and rest is almost non-existent. At the same time, the lack of renewal of the taxi fleet due to financial difficulties exacerbates the problem, with more air pollution and increased noise in cities. These figures show that the profession needs immediate support from both the State and new technologies.
Despite the difficulties, being a taxi driver offers some advantages
Autonomy: Taxi drivers enjoy relative autonomy in their working hours and working patterns.
Social contact: The profession brings the driver into daily contact with a variety of different people, offering variety and opportunities for socialising.
Knowledge of the city: Driving on the roads every day, taxi drivers gain an excellent knowledge of their city, which can be useful in a variety of situations.
What does it take to become a good taxi driver in Kefalonia?
It's not enough to be a good driver to become a successful taxi driver - especially on an island like Kefalonia, where roads have their quirks, tourists often get lost and summer temperatures test everyone's patience.
Requirements include politeness, knowledge of foreign languages and patience. "You have to be clean, have a good car and at least know English," one driver tells us. "If you're polite, the foreigners leave a tip. The English and Americans usually leave a good tip."
Good knowledge of the roads and "hidden" routes
Kefalonia has narrow, mountainous passages and some routes that become "crowded" in the summer. A good taxi driver needs to know the alternative routes, but also where the best spot for a tourist to take a photo is!
Patience and composure
From drunk tourists to customers who change their minds in the middle of the journey or who don't know where they are staying, the taxi driver must be calm and polite.
Communication skills & courtesy
A good taxi driver is not only a driver, but also a guide, a psychologist and sometimes... a diplomat! He must be able to have an interesting conversation with the customer. And that's where it's usually decided whether or not he gets a tip, as the drivers tell us.
Adaptability & inventiveness
A cancelled flight can fill the island with desperate travellers. A good taxi driver knows how to adapt his work to unforeseen situations.
A taxi driver in Kefalonia is not just a driver, but a part of the travel experience of the visitor!
What does the future hold?
Despite the difficulties, most drivers believe that taxis in Kefalonia have a future. "The profession has a future in Lixouri. If you love the job, you will never be without a living," Mr Katsivelis stresses. However, the transition to new technologies, such as electrification, it seems difficult. "Electric taxis don't suit us yet because they don't get any mileage. In the summer with air conditioning you run out of battery quickly and it takes several minutes to charge. Or even if you don't run out, if the battery runs out and a customer comes who wants to make a long trip, what am I going to say 'sorry I won't have enough battery'," local drivers comment in a common way.
Being a taxi driver requires patience, stamina and professionalism. As they tell us themselves: "If you have the desire to work, you'll make it. You have to be patient in both summer and winter for different reasons.".
Epilogue
The taxi profession remains a tough struggle, especially in areas like Kefalonia, where seasonality determines incomes. Drivers have to adapt to new conditions, bear financial burdens and compete with other forms of transport. Nevertheless, the job remains attractive for those who love driving and being in touch with the world.
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