Autojuhti

Autojuhti is a Finnish term that refers to a person who operates an automobile. In contemporary Finnish, the more common words for a car driver are kuljettaja or autonkuljettaja; autojuhti is rarely used outside historical texts, dialects, or certain compound forms. The exact sense of the word can vary by context, but it generally denotes someone who drives a car as part of work or daily life.

Duties and roles for an autojuhti depend on context. A private autojuhti may simply drive for personal reasons, while a professional autojuhti can act as a chauffeur, taxi driver, rideshare driver, or fleet driver. Responsibilities typically include planning routes, ensuring passenger safety, obeying traffic laws, maintaining the vehicle’s condition, and providing appropriate customer service.

Training and licensing for an autojuhti align with standard driving requirements in many jurisdictions. A valid driver’s license appropriate to the vehicle class is usually required. Professional driving roles often involve additional licensing, background checks, vehicle inspections, and sector-specific training, such as defensive driving, safety procedures, and customer service. Regulations and qualifications vary by country and region.

Etymology and usage notes: the term reflects a compound of auto (car) and juhti (driver or leader), and it appears mainly in older or regionally influenced Finnish. In modern standard Finnish, more precise terms are typically used, but autojuhti may still appear in historical contexts or as a colloquial label.

See also: kuljettaja, autonkuljettaja, chauffeur.