Vehicle comfort and cleanliness, service reliability, and driver’s professionalism and kindness are all factors that influence the quality of transport services, and Balkan Drivers place great importance on these. However, above all, the safety of passengers during travel is our top priority.
In this post, we will detail the measures we take to ensure your safety during your ride with us.
Driver Selection – The Most Crucial Factor
We believe that selecting the right drivers is the most crucial factor. While it alone is not enough, in combination with other measures we take, it is the best guarantee for a safe and secure ride.
Generally, the more experienced, professional, and overall better the driver, the higher their pay. Many passenger transport companies prioritize vehicles over drivers. However, the more expensive the cars and the higher the leasing rates, the smaller the budget for driver salaries. Otherwise, these companies couldn’t remain price-competitive. Therefore, it’s common practice for drivers in many companies to be people for whom driving is a second job or who are not professionals but merely have a driver’s license. Increasingly, in Balkan countries, you will also see drivers who have emigrated from poorer countries and do not have ingrained European driving culture or sufficient local road knowledge.
Balkan Drivers have different practices and priorities.
While our vehicles are important, we consider drivers to be incomparably more important. Therefore, we have stringent criteria for driver selection. We primarily hire drivers based on recommendations and rarely publish job ads. Given the favorable conditions we offer, it’s rare for a driver to decline the opportunity to join our team.
Here is the list of conditions every driver must meet to be part of the Balkan Drivers team:
- At least five years of professional driving experience, including two years of experience driving buses or trucks, with the remaining experience as a professional passenger driver (taxi or limo service).
- A category B driver’s license for at least ten years and a category C license for at least two years.
- A mandatory professional driver certificate, taxi, or limo service license.
- A spotless driving record, which we thoroughly check.
- No criminal record.
- Not younger than 32 years-old
- English language proficiency (minimum B2 conversation level).
- Excellent knowledge of local roads, attractions, and tourist information.
- Friendliness, politeness, and willingness to assist passengers.
- The highest level of personal hygiene and neatness.
- We ensure that they are satisfied with the working conditions in our company.
After meeting all these conditions, drivers undergo additional training to familiarize themselves with our standards and rules regarding both safe driving and providing excellent service to our clients.
Driver Supervision and Other Measures
Despite being very careful when selecting drivers, we also take other necessary measures to ensure passenger safety:
- Scheduling rides to prevent driver fatigue and exhaustion.
- Limiting drivers’ working hours to a maximum of 40 hours per week.
- Ensuring drivers do not frequently switch shifts.
- Allowing drivers on long trips to work a maximum of 12 hours per day, with the following day off.
- Providing accommodation for drivers on long journeys.
- Monitoring and tracking driving through GPS.
- Receiving alerts for speed violations, sudden braking, acceleration, speed changes, and other driving parameters thanks to GPS tracking.
- Collecting client feedback regarding the driver and the ride.
- Organizing meetings where drivers share their driving experiences and various traffic situations.
- Informing drivers about roadworks, traffic jams, and high-risk locations on the road.
Vehicles That Meet High Safety Standards
When acquiring vehicles, we must balance several factors such as vehicle spaciousness, comfort, trunk capacity, and economy. Of course, depending on the class, we also consider luxury and additional equipment. However, we always keep vehicle safety in mind:
- We choose vehicles that have performed well in independent crash tests.
- Vehicles must have the maximum number of airbags.
- Recently acquired vehicles must have front assist, which automatically brakes if an obstacle is detected and the driver does not react in time.
- We prefer vehicles with lane assist and adaptive cruise control.
- In winter conditions, we prioritize vehicles with all-wheel drive.
Vehicle Inspection
We check our vehicles not only for the highest level of cleanliness, both inside and out, but primarily for safety. We do this as follows:
- Mandatory regular technical inspections during vehicle insurance and registration.
- Drivers must report any irregularities regarding vehicle functionality, after which the vehicle is sent for an extraordinary inspection.
- During every routine vehicle service, such as oil and filter changes, the mechanic also receives an order to inspect all parts that affect vehicle safety.
- GPS tracking also serves as an auto-diagnostic tool, notifying us of errors and potential malfunctions.
- We procure tires from reputable manufacturers and regularly check their condition.
When you use our service, you will quickly notice how much Balkan Drivers cares about your satisfaction. From capable operators to friendly drivers, comfortable and clean vehicles, and various details, you will see that you have chosen an excellent chauffeur service. This post aims to highlight something not immediately visible during the service but equally important—your safety during the ride.
