Can a limo driver/taxi driver earn a living in Chicago nowadays? (Washington: rent)

[bostonguy1960]

I've somehow made a modest living driving a cab in Boston for many years. It involves megahours (60-84+ hours weekly) to meet my budget, but much of that is downtime, waiting at cabstands and the airport pool. Lots of downtime and freedom during my 12-hour shift = browsing City-Data! And, I recommend it to many customers, one of whom actually heard of it!

I browse Craigslist Chicago often for chauffeur jobs and taxi jobs. Lots of taxi jobs appear in the suburbs claiming earnings of $500-$700 weekly after expenses...but I'm sure that's working 60-70 hours minimum. But independent contractor = no benefits.

Limo/chauffeur jobs also appear. Both taxi and limo drivers need a city of Chicago hard card (or something similar sounding?). No such req. in Boston.

I believe there may be a freeze or waiting list for taxi classes (is it at Harold Washington College?). In Boston, classes are rarely offered now due to so many applicants, mainly immigrants. Do drivers rent cabs weekly as well as per shift?

What are the major ethnicities driving cabs? In Boston, lots of Haitians, some Russians, Moroccans, and Somalians.

I understand that the taxi business has been battered in Chicago the past few years. It's ok in Boston...better than I expected at the start of the recession.

Some limo cos. in Boston offer benefits, but I've never noticed an ad in Chicago suggesting this.

Do some livery/limo drivers own their towncar, and do contract and overflow work?

Thanks for any insight, from drivers or passengers who have insight of the industries, from having talked to the drivers.
.......

(Yuck...watching a repeat of Joy Behar on CNN and your Jenny McCarthy is a guest...calling herself the "Polish Porn Star of Chicago." Kind of a vulgar girl overall, no? But rich, so that's what matters, it seems. Oh, Joy called her "adorable" at the end of the interview.

[hboone]

Limousiine services and Taxi service should never be compare toeghter there a difference in them as night and day. The limousine industry is a more professional and is more up scale service and in today market known as a luxury transportation service the industry is worldwide and have is its own assication with chapter's in every state. The limousine industry have there on trade shows twice a years and have 2 trade magazines. The client the limousine industry have range from C.E.O's to enterainers dipolmats to everyday people. Limousine and private cars are all high end vehicles fulll of luxury for there clients ,the chauffeurs can make a thousand dollars in one week time, and there are independant contactors working for them selves or contact with bigger companies.