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- Category: Industry News
You asked for it and we listened. In this column, we ask operators of all sizes and from all walks of the industry a question about their business and report their answers so you can assess how your own company compares to your peers. If you would like to participate, please email Rob Smentek at rob@chauffeurdriven.com for next issue’s question.
TOPIC: In light of the upswing in costs, have you raised your rates? If so, by how much (%)? How have clients reacted? If not, are you planning an increase in the near future?
Maya Adrine, Vice President/Business Development
Golden Limousine International in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Kirk Bagger, CEO
Captains Car Service in Parma, Ohio
Michael Barreto, President
Metropolis Passenger Logistics in Philadelphia, Pa.
Maurice Brewster, CEO
Mosaic Global Transportation in San Jose, Calif.
Fernando Carlison, Jr., Co-founder/CEO
Mundi Limousine in Deerfield Beach, Fla.
Carlos Cortez, President/CEO
Cortez Transportation Company in Topeka, Kan.
Richard de Krijger, General Manager
DMC Limousines in Amsterdam, Netherlands
Eric Devlin, President/Owner
Premier Transportation Services in Dallas, Texas
Katharina Monsberger, Managing Director
RSL Premium Chauffeured Services in Vienna, Austria
Michael Oldenburg, CEO/President
United Limousines in Offenbach, Germany
Gus Ortis, CEO
Executive Transportation in Minneapolis, Minn.
Sam Rubin, Owner
Four Seasons Concierge Transportation in Park City, Utah
Doug Schwartz, Founder
Executive Ground Transportation in West Babylon, N.Y.
Quentin Shackelford, Owner
AllClassLimo.com in Wichita, Kan.
Bart van Leijden, CEO/Founder
ETS Luxury Driving in Barendrecht, Netherlands
Joseph Votano, CEO
Abaser Limousine Service in Barcelona, Spain
We’ve loved hearing your answers to our benchmarking questions—but we always welcome suggestions for future topics, too!
Send an email to rob@chauffeurdriven.com you just might see your query answered in our next E-News.
[06.29.21]
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- Category: Industry News
SafeLimos, an independent third-party compliance check for passenger transportation providers, has announced that it has integrated with GNet by GRiDD Technologies. GNet, a popular platform in the industry that connects users on disparate technologies to prevent costly errors and data entry time, is currently integrated with nearly all major software providers for chauffeured transportation.
“GNet was a natural partner for us,” says SafeLimos Co-founder Chris Przybylski. “Both SafeLimos and GNet are founded on the principal of eliminating redundant work while maximizing efficiency. Now not only can you find a legal partner in each market, you can easily connect your reservation platforms.”
Przybylski added that SafeLimos users can search for partners on their own software, or integrated through GNet, and by accepting an affiliate partnership through SafeLimos, companies can be automatically connected through their GNet IDs, eliminating the need to connect directly in the GNet portal. Users on the GNet platform will see the SafeLimos icon next to qualified operators, making it easy to select only approved partners in each market.
“We are very excited about our integration with SafeLimos because it is filling a much-needed gap in our industry,” says GRiDD Technologies Founder and CEO Amir Zafar.
The companies will be hosting a live webinar to demonstrate the integration capabilities on July 1 at 2:00 p.m. ET. To register for the session (seats are limited), click here.
[06.22.21]
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- Category: Industry News
The Limousine, Bus, Taxi Operators of Upstate New York (LBTOUNY) met via Zoom on June 17 for a general membership meeting. Once again, the chief topic of discussion was the post-Schoharie legislative changes for limousine operators that went into effect in February 2021. The association hosted Marc Berger, acting director, Passenger Carrier Safety Bureau/Motor Carrier Investigations from the New York State Department of Transportation (DMV), who spoke about the new regulations and fielded questions from the group.
Since the Schoharie limousine tragedy in 2018, lawmakers in New York have come down hard on stretch limousine operations, just stopping short of banning the vehicles. It’s also spurred some additional federal proposals and legislative revisions that could affect the industry nationwide.
“Governor Cuomo was really driving hard at eliminating stretch limousines in the state. Even though there were laws already on the book to prevent this accident from happening, there was a lack of communication between DOT, DMV, and law enforcement,” says LBTOUNY President Kevin Barwell of Giorgio’s Limousine Service. “But, right now we’re working closely with DMV and DOT—and they really seem to be communicating now.”
Berger was on hand to help guide LBTOUNY members through the new regulatory landscape and address members’ questions and concerns. First, he discussed the new laws that have passed and what’s going on in the state. Notable changes to state laws include a CDL being mandatory for vehicles carrying more than eight passengers as well as new drug and alcohol testing for chauffeurs. Berger then cleared up some misinformation that had been circulating among operators.
“He was able to answer questions regarding limousines being phased out,” says Barwell. “The only ones being phased out are the ones that don’t have seat belts for passengers. If operators don’t put seat belts in any vehicles before 2021, they will need to be phased out by 2022.”
Barwell said that Berger remains very open to working with the association in the future, giving LBTOUNY a clear-cut line of communication to the NYSDOT.
“Our association is working its butt off to maintain those relationships with those departments [DMV/DOT] as well as our elected representatives. We’ve been to Albany numerous times to testify and work with them. We don’t want a black eye,” he adds.
Another topic discussed among LBTOUNY members on the call was illegal operations being created by TNC drivers in the state. According to Barwell, TNC drivers are creating websites and social media profiles that advertise services as car services. Of course, these “companies” do not have the appropriate insurance or plates.
“The DMV is trying to come down on them, but it’s such a big monster that’s happening all over the state. It all goes back to the state not creating stricter laws on TNCs and it’s opening a can of worms,” says Barwell.
Visit lbtony.com for more information.
[06.22.21]