Have a good trip! 7 exclusive insights into the profession of a driver
Insights by Esat Piri | 27.11.2025
When high-ranking personalities from the worlds of business, politics, sports, and show business take a seat in the back, it takes more than just excellent driving skills and a first-class car. What his customers particularly appreciate is service orientation, perfect manners, and the utmost discretion, says Esat Piri, who runs an exclusive limousine service in Munich.
Adele, Cristiano Ronaldo, Busta Rhymes: Esat Piri has already chauffeured them all from A to B in his fleet of limousines. Even the small portion of his client list that Piri is allowed to talk about publicly reads like a who’s who of sports and show business. With his team and currently four vehicles, Esat Piri also transports members of international royal families, entrepreneurs, and high-ranking politicians to their destinations. For example, the former Bavarian Prime Minister and ex-CSU chairman Edmund Stoiber has been one of Piri’s regular customers for many years. Esat Piri primarily travels with his passengers in the Munich area. However, many jobs also take him to neighbouring Austria and Switzerland – for example, to Kitzbühel, Salzburg, Basel, or Zurich. A special date in the chauffeur-service entrepreneur’s calendar is the Munich Security Conference. Every year, high-ranking decision-makers from all over the world travel to the Bavarian capital to discuss the most pressing issues in international security politics. These days also mean a state of emergency for Esat Piri and his team.
Before embarking on his unplanned journey into self-employment, the now entrepreneur worked for Lufthansa. He also worked as a chauffeur for an exclusive Munich hotel, among others. His regular customers steadily increased, and self-employment became an obvious step that he has never regretted to this day. But what is the secret of this profession? Esat Piri reveals what is important as a driver.
1. Perfectly organized for the day
To ensure smooth operations, the first stop in the morning is not the vehicle, but the computer and smartphone. At dawn, Esat Piri checks his email inbox and communicates with his team and customers. Have new trips been booked or existing appointments cancelled? Are there any special requests? Are all employees awake and ready for work? Is anyone stuck in traffic or is everything going according to plan?
2. Tailor-made service
In addition to extremely polite and respectful manners, comfort and service are a top priority. Champagne is on board, as are water and other beverages. The massage function of the seats is proactively offered. These are just some of the things that set the exclusive chauffeur service apart from Uber and similar providers. While on the road, Piri and his employees only speak when the customers wish them to. Otherwise, silence and privacy are guaranteed. “We always tilt our rear-view mirrors slightly upward so as not to disturb our passengers with unwanted eye contact,” reveals the chauffeur.
3. Discretion is paramount
The utmost discretion is also required in terms of content. Anything discussed in the back seat must not leave the vehicle. Even within the team, there is no exchange of information in this regard. “My drivers know that,” reports Piri. After all, details are discussed in his cars that could have a huge impact – on stock market prices, for example – if they became public knowledge.
4. Not just clean, but sparkling
Piri attaches great importance to a well-groomed appearance – both for the drivers and the fleet. “We all wear suits and ties. It’s a matter of respect towards our customers. I’m conservative in that regard,” says the entrepreneur. The vehicles must be perfectly clean inside and out. Dust is not tolerated.
5. Getting there safely
The safety of customers is the top priority for transportation service providers. This is ensured, among other things, by annual vehicle safety inspections of the fleet and driver safety training for employees. The cars are also continuously checked by the drivers themselves. “We check them before every trip,” reports Esat Piri. Especially when state guests, royalty, or high-ranking diplomats use Piri’s services, he also works closely with the police. In addition to the local law enforcement agencies, the federal or state criminal investigation departments and police officers from the guests’ home countries are usually involved in such cases. “We discuss whether we will drive in a closed convoy, how many police escort vehicles will be with us, and what the approximate route will be. In such protective drives, the police always determine the route, of course,” says the experienced chauffeur. In these cases, he has to hand over his vehicles to the police for inspection the day before. There, they are searched with dogs and sealed until the drive.
6. Keep calm
Despite all precautions, unforeseen incidents do occasionally occur. When they do, it is important to react quickly and remain calm. This was the case when a head of state wanted to visit a restaurant privately after successfully completing their official engagements. The person was recognized and harassed heavily. On the instructions of the police, they had to leave the restaurant immediately. “Unfortunately, as we were driving away, someone threw plates at the car,” says Piri, reporting on the unpleasant incident, which happened several years ago.
7. Stay flexible
It is not always possible to plan capacity utilisation perfectly. Some days – such as those around the Munich Security Conference – are very turbulent, while others are more quiet. “But of course, I have to make sure that my drivers never work more than ten hours and that they take their breaks accordingly. If necessary, I jump in myself,” says the entrepreneur. In return for more stressful periods, Esat Piri’s employees are allowed to make stops at home if there is time between trips. Flexibility is therefore a matter of give and take.
You can reach OPMG by phone at +49 89 414243 99-0 or by email at office@opmgstaff.com.
Their clientele includes global entrepreneurs and corporations, aristocrats, icons from sport and lifestyle, and world-class decision-makers. The team operates internationally and across borders, with Europe as its base – and soon with an office in Zurich, Switzerland. OPMG works exclusively on a success-based model – no upfront fees, no hidden costs. Placement is always free for candidates.
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