Private chauffeurs need more than a clean driving record. These individuals have intimate knowledge of your daily schedule, comings and goings, and family’s routines. As a result, it’s crucial that you pre-vet any professional chauffeur that you hire to work for your family or business.
Public figures, including the top domestic employers, should be extra cognizant of who they hire. What do you need to know before you hire a private chauffeur to join your professional staff?
At Household Staffing, all candidates must pass a rigorous background check before we introduce them to employers. In this blog, we’ll expand on our comprehensive screening process. Plus, we’ll provide tips for how to pre-vet a chauffeur prior to hire.
Continue reading to ensure you make a safe choice while adding a private chauffeur to your domestic staff.
What Is a Chauffeur?
A private chauffeur is essentially a dedicated personal driver. These individuals are familiar with the local area and can provide a safe, efficient route to your destination. Chauffeurs are responsible for maintaining your vehicle or fleet, as well as general passenger care. They are punctual, prepared, and always ready to help carry luggage, bags, or other items.
Furthermore, your chauffeur understands that anything said in the car is confidential. You must be able to trust your chauffeur with private information. This can include everything from business conversations in the car to your schedule and routines. As a result, the overall character of your professional chauffeur is just as critical as their driving record.
How Much Does a Chauffeur Cost?
With all of the above in mind, it’s prudent to pay for an experienced, discrete, and professional chauffeur. A variety of factors go into calculating the annual salary for a private chauffeur.
When calculating a salary, ask yourself the following questions:
- Is your chauffeur a full-time or part-time staff member?
- Does your chauffeur have duties beyond driving and vehicle maintenance?
- Does your chauffeur live on your property or elsewhere?
- How much professional driving experience does your chauffeur have?
- Are you a high-earning professional who requires additional discretion from a chauffeur?
- Do you live in a city with a high cost of living, such as NYC?
- Will you be making many long or overnight trips by car?
According to data from PayScale, the median hourly rate for a professional chauffeur is $18.50 per hour. In more affluent markets, the rate is closer to $30 per hour for a 40-hour work week.
However, we find that the top domestic employers pay far above this rate. A higher rate of pay ensures the highest quality service and loyalty from their staff. Many are willing to pay six figures annually to maintain the services of a discrete and competent professional driver.
How Our Professional Chauffeur Service Pre-Vets Candidates
At Household Staffing, our goal is to provide peace of mind. This begins from the moment you connect with us about hiring a private chauffeur. Our vetting process ensures our candidates are all consummate professionals we’d hire to work with our own families. We offer our screening services to anyone looking to vet a new chauffeur or other domestic staff member.
Our comprehensive screening process for chauffeurs includes:
- A nationwide criminal records investigation
- A nationwide sex and violent offenders search
- National Social Security Trace Address Locator
- A certified 10-panel drug screening
- Extensive social media vetting
- A motor vehicle record report
On top of that, we require superlative references from every candidate in our pool of candidates. We do more than simply verify employment. We speak at length to past employers about a prospect’s skills, reliability, character, and emotional intelligence. By the end of the conversation, we understand a candidate’s strengths, areas for growth, and unique competencies.
When vetting chauffeurs, in particular, employers should also prioritize the following:
- Licensing and certifications for all vehicles they may operate as part of their duties
- A candidate’s familiarity with the local area
- Possession of defensive driving training and other advanced driving skills
- Current, valid First Aid and CPR certifications from reputable institutions
- Knowledge of vehicle handling and maintenance requirements
- Additional security clearances that would provide peace of mind
We often advise domestic employers to commit to a trial period with a new private chauffeur, if possible. In fact, a trial with the intent to hire is a part of every placement experience with Household Staffing. We’d love to help match you with a pre-vetted candidate from our pool of talented professional drivers. Begin the hiring process to meet your next private chauffeur within the week.
