Marie MacMullin of Bedford enjoys driving customers in style. She decided a couple of years ago to add a luxury limousine service to her popular One Stop Bridal business. Besides good driving skills, working with people and patience are requirements for the job. (TIM KROCHAK / Staff)

DRIVING A LIMOUSINE is all about the big moment for Marie MacMullin of Bedford.

Before each special occasion the oversized luxury vehicle must be buffed to perfection inside and out and every detail of her chauffeur's uniform must be just right.

"Whether it's a wedding or a graduation prom, it is for the people a very special time and for such a formal occasion it's all about presentation and doing everything up with style," MacMullin said of her love of giving her customers a luxury ride.

She decided a couple of years ago a luxury limousine would be just the thing for her popular One Stop Bridal service, a business that evolved over 15 years from her original focus on wedding gowns into a full-service enterprise for people planning to wed.

Besides having a meticulous eye for detail and an extremely clean vehicle, people who want to drive a luxury limousine have to cope with piloting a vehicle some 10 metres long through busy urban thoroughfares.

"You're often dealing with groups and this means you have to know your way around the city and also how to deal with the special requests, anything from finding a washroom to making a stop at Tim Hortons," MacMullin said of her experiences behind the wheel.

Like many undertakings that involve dealing with the public, the business of chauffeuring people can require superior people skills and patience.

Rowdy passengers can be destructive and hard to handle, especially when they are fuelled by alcohol and the excitement of the moment.

Loving couples have also been known to, ahem, get caught up in the romance of the moment. This can delay scheduled arrival times.

"If the bride requests that the privacy wall go up, we have to put it up. And it has to stay up until the bride requests that it come down.

"It's none of the driver's business what's going on back there."

MacMullin figures she has accumulated enough entertaining stories from her experiences driving a limousine to fill a book.

She said she has also shared some painful emotional moments with brides or grooms who have unexpectedly found themselves alone and in tears shortly before a wedding was to begin after an abrupt cancellation.

"So, I have to offer this tip to people who get stranded at the church: remember, the limousine is paid for! Head out and have a good time!"

WHAT DO THEY DO?
Taxi and limousine drivers drive automobiles and limousines to transport passengers.

Chauffeurs drive automobiles and limousines to transport personnel and visitors involved with business, government or other organizations, and members of private households.

These drivers assist passengers with luggage, collect fares and clean and service their vehicles.

All drivers are required to keep records and report any delays or mechanical problems.

WHO WORKS IN THIS JOB?
You should enjoy driving and be able to function under minimal supervision. You must be alert, responsible and self-motivated. You must also get along well with people, as drivers often deal directly with customers. For some jobs, you should be willing to drive long distances and for extended periods of time.

Taxi and limo drivers are, on average, an older group and only seven per cent are under 35. Forty four per cent have at least a high school education. Eleven per cent are women. Almost half of these workers, 46 per cent, are self-employed. Thirteen per cent work on a part-time basis.

WHERE DO THEY WORK?
Annapolis Valley 9% Cape Breton 9% Halifax 65% North Shore 9% Southern N.S .8%

WHAT TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE IS REQUIRED?
To drive a taxi or limousine, or to work as a chauffeur, you must be at least 19 years old and have a Class 4 licence and a year of safe-driving experience. A municipal permit is usually required to operate a taxi or limousine. Requirements for these permits vary according to the municipality. Vehicles must meet municipal standards for taxis and limousines. A good knowledge of the local area is a must.

WHAT ARE JOB PROSPECTS?
This is a large occupational group, with a workforce of about 1,600.

Employment opportunities arise most frequently for taxi drivers who rent their vehicles from cab companies. The turnover rate is high. Those who own their own vehicles tend to remain in the job for longer periods of time. Halifax Regional Municipality continues to restrict taxi-owner licences for cars.

It is expected that there will be a growing demand for wheelchairaccessible vehicle services to service seniors and persons with disabilities. Rising gas prices could negatively affect this occupation.

Outlook: Fair

Employment in 2005: 1,590

Estimated average annual number of job openings for new workers: 67

Earnings in 2005: average $9.50 an hour with a maximum of $19

On The Job is a weekly feature looking at career opportunities in Nova Scotia.