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The meeting’s feature presentation was its panel “Insurance Need-to-Know for 216,” featuring (L to R) Mike Marroccoli of The Capacity Group, John Arone of HUB International, and Richard Ackerman of P.A. Post Agency, and was moderated by LANJ First Vice President Jason Sharenow of Broadway Elite Chauffeured Services Worldwide
Atlantic City, N.J. — Members, prospective members, and industrywide supporters came out in droves to attend the November 9 breakfast meeting of the Limousine Association of New Jersey (LANJ) at Harrah’s Resort. Chauffeur Driven’s Industry & Brand Ambassador Philip Jagiela and Editor Madeleine Maccar were both in attendance for the meeting.
The association’s last general membership meeting of the year included The LANJ Report given by President Jeff Shanker of A-1 Limousine and a message from Randy O’Neill of meeting sponsor Lancer Insurance. It also saw the debut of LANJ Member Spotlights and an in-depth panel moderated by LANJ First Vice President Jason Sharenow of Broadway Elite Chauffeured Services Worldwide that featured insurance professionals Richard Ackerman of P.A. Post Agency, John Arone of HUB International, and Mike Marroccoli of The Capacity Group.
Shanker began by thanking members who have been especially active in “improving the image of the industry” by appealing to and visiting with elected officials. He specifically called out Immediate Past President Jim Moseley of Trip Tracker and Pete Corelli of Lakeview Custom Coach for their dedicated lobbying efforts but noted that support from within the association has helped LANJ make its case known. Recently, Evesham Township in southern New Jersey launched an anti-drunk driving campaign that called for a partnership with Uber; Shanker wrote an op-ed piece for the area’s two largest newspapers decrying the alliance and highlighting all the dangers of TNCs, which can be read at on.cpsj.com/1Huq1QZ.
L to R: Matt Neuwirth and Siobhan Gerold of Vehicle Tracking Solutions and Bob Schiavo of Albert’s Transportation The recent statewide elections have ensured that New Jersey Democrats have control in “more commanding numbers”—which is good news for LANJ, as the party has been historically more reception to the association’s labor concerns and calls for better regulation of TNCs.
LANJ’s membership currently stands at 135, and its many committees are working to increase that membership even further, as well as continue to get the association’s name out through marketing and ensure that its social media outlets convey positive news about the industry rather than casting TNCs in a comparatively harsher light. The association also plans to launch an education committee in 2016 to provide added value for members.
The new LANJ Member Spotlights gave new operator and vendor members the opportunity to introduce both themselves and their companies. Representatives from 17 North Limos in Mahwah, N.J., Jack Williams Tire Company in Avoca, Pa., and technology-based marketing company SUBA Networks in South Orange, N.J. each gave brief presentations about their businesses.
Virginia Limousine Association President Paul Walsh of Superior Executive Transportation and LANJ President Jeff Shanker of A-1 Limousine The insurance panel occupied the majority of the meeting, with Sharenow posing a variety of questions to the three-person panel and a few LANJ members asking their own questions, too. Answering queries about training programs, the differences between a hard and soft market, the value of adding onboard cameras, various policies that operators should start taking out to best adapt to changing times, where trends seem to be heading, DOT compliance as high-capacity vehicles become more popular, and the influence of TNCs on insurers led to not only thorough answers but also conversation exploring how different scenarios call for their own best practices, often drawing on previous real-life experiences.
At the end of the panel, Sharenow urged those with unanswered insurance questions to reach out to Ackerman, Arone, and Marroccoli: “These guys are rock stars,” he said. “Take advantage of that.”
The next LANJ member meeting is scheduled for Jan. 20.
Visit lanj.org for more information.
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NLA President Gary Buffo
New York — In a survey recently conducted online by Harris Poll and commissioned by the National Limousine Association (NLA) in October 2015 among more than 3,000 U.S. adults 18 and older, it was revealed that 80 percent of consumers believe that ride-hailing services, such as Lyft, Sidecar, Uber, and Whisk, are transportation providers, not technology companies as these services claim, in circumvention of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Fair Labor Standards Act.
According to the survey, 73 percent of consumers consider drivers of ride-hailing service to be employees of those services, when, in actuality, they are regarded as independent contractors who are not required to either adhere to or comply with the same standards and regulations applicable to taxis and limousines. Further, the poll revealed that only 18 percent of Americans would continue to use ride-hailing services if they did not adhere to applicable labor laws.
“In a society that increasingly values convenience over safety and responsibility, it is the obligation of the NLA to raise awareness about how ride-hailing services, for reasons of financial gain, are circumventing the fair labor laws and are not required to adhere to or comply with the same safety standards and regulations applicable to taxis and limousines. As the survey clearly illustrates, ride hailing services are misleading passengers, exploiting drivers, and putting the public at risk,” said NLA Co-founder Scott Solombrino of Dav El/BostonCoach.
NLA Co-founder Scott Solombrino
To this end, the NLA, a not-for-profit organization responsible for and dedicated to representing the interests of the private driver ground transportation industry, launched Ride Responsibly™ in February 2015. The program is an unprecedented effort to bridge an industry-wide gap between the rights of passengers and the responsibilities of service providers, promoting best practices in regard to driver and passenger safety and duty of care.
“While the NLA applauds the steps that a handful of cities and municipalities have recently taken to regulate ride-hailing services, there is much work to be done on a national level,” adds NLA President Gary Buffo of Pure Luxury Transportation. "As these results overwhelmingly enumerate, a more accountable system and universal corporate responsibility remain the ultimate goal. Therefore, it is imperative this debate be afforded the national platform it deserves.”
This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Poll on behalf of NLA from October 6-8, 2015. Contact NLA@evins.com for complete survey methodology.
Visit limo.org for more information.
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Lake Success, N.Y — Advantage Funding, one of the largest ground transportation finance firms in the U.S., has launched a robust and interactive new website. Equipped with payment calculators, an online application form, and automated customer account functionalities, the site provides an enhanced experience for customers, prospects, and anyone seeking information about financing commercial and vocational vehicles and equipment.
“Advantage Funding is pleased to offer state-of-the-art online services and information for users of mobile as well as traditional technology,” said AlDamiani, CEO. “It’s our goal to increase knowledge about our company and products while also providing new efficiencies for customers and prospects.”
The new website also includes a pull-down customer service menu that provides secure access to customer account information and options; a newsroom blog with short takes on subjects ranging from how to create a value proposition to what’s new in waste equipment, financing information for dealerships, lease and loan customers, and prospects; and success stories and testimonials from Advantage Funding customers.
Also included on the enhanced site are videos, which include a profile of Damiani as well as a feature on the company’s unique customer service. Another new feature is an “Equipment for Sale” link that customers can open to view used equipment currently for sale at the company’s Brookhaven, N.Y., facility. “This is one of the more dynamic and most popular areas our site,” commented Damiani.
Visit advantagefund.com for more information.
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