26 Nov 2024 Wheelchair Driver of the Year Award Winner – Gurpreet Singh
Each year, the Operators Committee sponsors a Driver Awards program which recognises and rewards the top-performing drivers in three categories: Wheelchair Driver, Sedan Driver, and Outstanding Customer Service. The winners are decided based on statistics including reject and recall rates, and general customer feedback.
Gurpreet Singh won the Driver of the Year award this year and kindly took the time to answer some of our questions, in hopes of inspiring next year’s cohort of winners.
What motivated you to get into Taxi driving?
I have great pride in providing reliable transportation and excellent service to my passengers. Their satisfaction and positive feedback strive me towards improvement and excellence in my role.
If you could give one piece of advice to a new driver, what would it be?
To make the customer feel as comfortable as possible by driving smoothly. Try your best not to jerk the wheel, brakes, or gas, and ensure you are making smooth adjustments. Control inputs should be gentle in general.
What is your customer service philosophy?
My customer service philosophy is to treat every customer with respect and empathy, to listen actively and communicate clearly, and to provide effective and personalised solutions that exceed their expectations.
Tell us about one of your most memorable fares
My most memorable fare was with Michael, who is one of my favourite clients. The occasion was Michael’s Mother’s birthday, and he wanted to go to Gold Coast to celebrate her birthday but unfortunately, he forgot the exact address of where she was living…So, he became very sad, and at that time, I helped him find the right place. Michael gave me some hints and I managed to find out the exact location…. He was very happy to reach his mother and was screaming with joy. He thanked me from the core of his heart, and I also felt happy I could help Michael with an act of service.