Hiring A Driver

[WorldwideALOHA]

We are looking to hire a driver for our business. What is the average wage for a Thai driver, little English, for an average of 2-4 trips per day in a general area? Phuket area?

Any help/experiences would be appreciated.

Aloha

[mrt273nva]

the price for a driver in Phuket may be different than other places in Thailand. You should post this one in the Phuket forum if you want the local price. You wouldn't want to over or under pay him according to your area because it might cause problems.

[WorldwideALOHA]

Thanks for the reply. Just trying to get a general consensus of the salary available to drivers in Thailand.

[WorldwideALOHA]

That and experiences on what to look for / look out for...

[mrt273nva]

There are 2 options. You could hire through an agency which might guarantee a little bit more competency but a bit more expensive, or you could hire from just outside your thai social group, which would be a little cheaper but it could cause problems if the guy is an idiot and doesn't know his way around and shows up late for appointments and such. You should have at least a month trial period with lower pay to see if he is alright. If he works out for you then you are fine.

I find that in Thailand sometimes it is much easier and cheaper in the long run to pay a few more baht for a competent employee.

[zorro1]

That and experiences on what to look for / look out for...

Fake Ferrari jacket and gloves

[WorldwideALOHA]

Thanks Zorro - I will disqualify all applicants not wearing fake Ferrari jackets and gloves...

Aloha

[ArtfulD]

I have seen people pay anything from 6500 up for their driver. I put the word out I was looking for a driver and paying 8000 Bhat and had a lot of offers from people looking for work. I was paying 8000 Bhat plus a lot of tips and extras to my driver last year but it seemed he wished for more as I saw his advert in the paper looking for anything between 12 to 15,000 after we had parted ways (what he didn't seem to realise that along with the tips I was giving as well as Food & Drink when he went out he was on about 12,000 as it was). His English was very good however and he had detailed knowledge of Pattaya and Bangkok. Also his driving skills were very good, one thing I did let him down was continually turning up late for work (sometimes two hours or more) and using my car to ferry his family about in.

Now I am a lot stricter, no tips, no forwarding of salary, salary cut for turning up late. I think the lines between employee and friend got blurred with my old driver. Which was a shame, I did like going out with him.

[JetsetBkk]

Go to the airport and ask a taxi driver how much for all day, no meter.

I paid 1500 baht for a taxi to Pattaya and back a few years ago - lasted all day, got the guy some food and drink too. Didn't pay him until we got back though.

[thaihome]

We pay our drivers (we employ about 30) 8-10k per month. Most can increase base by at least 50%+ each month with OT and various per diems depending on where they have to go.

TH

[WorldwideALOHA]

ArtfulD & thaihome - Mahalo for the information, two very good perspectives.

Aloha

[Naam]

7,500 Baht plus social insurance for my wife's driver, but sat/sun off and 4-5 working hours daily (except when we have guests or friends staying in town).