There is no doubt at all that taking a cab in Chicago is one of the most convenient ways to get around. Especially if you’re still unfamiliar with the city, cab drivers can easily take you to where you want to go in no time. Especially with the new Universal Taxi app, you can ask your cabbie to pick you up at a specific location at any time.
Once you’re in a cab, the level of service that you receive is then shifted towards the driver. No matter how easy the booking process is, having a cab driver that does not know how to give quality service will make everything else useless. These are the traits that each cabbie should have for you to say that their service is truly exceptional:
- Knows how to communicate well. There is nothing more frustrating than not being able to understand your cabbie. There may also be times when the cabbie fails to understand what you’re trying to say. This is why a good Chicago cabbie should be exceptional when it comes to communication. This includes knowing what kind of tone and approach to use for different kinds of people, as well as being able to refrain from using crude language.
- Knows how to draw the line. No, it’s not just about his ability to speak, or how deep your conversations with them would go. Some cab drivers may have the most insightful thoughts to share, but when you need silence, they should be able to give this to you as well. Some cabbies talk incessantly even if it’s obvious that you are not in the mood to talk. This is an irritating habit, especially if the trip takes a little longer than expected.
- Honest and polite. No matter how bad your day is, a friendly good morning from your cabbie can change things somehow. Things get even better if they prove to be honest as well. Cabs are prone to the risk of having valuables left behind, and only an honest cabbie will have the conscience to give it back. Basically, honesty and politeness in a single cab driver make a winning combination, allowing you to gain trust in the cabs around the city.
- Knowledgeable about routes and landmarks. Nothing can be more frustrating than having to explain to your cabbie where you want to go, especially if you’re new to the city. Cabbies should be able to take the best routes possible to avoid heavy traffic, and should also be able to direct you to different places that you may want to see.
- Knows what proper hygiene is. You have probably ridden a taxi that stinks at one point in your life, and it’s not exactly a pleasant experience. If a cabbie has no idea that his taxi stinks, or doesn’t really mind that it does, then we have a huge problem. A great cab driver should know that when he smells great, his cab should smell great as well, and vice versa. And smelling nice never really hurt anybody.
The next time you get on a Universal Taxi, be aware about how your cabbie behaves. Is he awesome at what he does? Or is there anything about him that put you off?