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The meeting kicked off with a few words from the newly installed Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit Association (TLPA) President Mike Fogarty of Tristar Worldwide. He described the ongoing war against TNCs as “the battle of our lives,” promising that “we’re going to win some battles, we’re going to lose some battles, but we’re going to fight,” and encouraging all in attendance to take comfort in the increasingly negative media coverage about unregulated transportation services.
Barry Lefkowitz, industry lobbyist and former executive director of the Limousine Association of New Jersey (LANJ), continued the call for a unified front. “We’re competitors but everyone has to come together,” he said. “The battle isn’t just about limousines, the battle is not just about taxicabs. It’s a battle that affects everybody in commercial ground transportation.” He emphasized that the fight against TNCs is a fight for increased public safety.
Lefkowitz also addressed the seemingly bottomless pockets that TNCs have on their side, saying that the legally operating companies have something in their favor that money can’t buy. “They have all the money in the world but one thing that they don’t have is the grassroots support that we can create when everybody is working together,” he said. “There are phenomenal resources available to you. You’ve got all the resources that you need to be able to take the TNCs on.”
FLA President Rick Versace of A1A Airport & Limousine Service reported on how the statewide and regional Florida organizations have been seeking out every possible avenue to slow down the rising tide of illegal operators while the associations combine forces as well as financial resources. One of the fruits of these labors is a public-service commercial that the organizations will be airing on local public access stations to educate the public about the dangers of TNCs, which Versace encouraged other associations to use, too.
SFLA President Neil Goodman of Aventura Worldwide Transportation Service described his organization’s fight against TNCs, and how his association is considering rehiring a lobbyist to assist in its battle at Tallahassee. “What I’ve heard lately, as recently as a week ago, is that they’re thinking about legislating the insurance and the background checks, and leaving everything else to the local counties and the local cities,” Goodman reported.
Cliff Wright of Royal Transportation Group and GOLA president spoke about his association’s recent electronic billboard campaign to inform the public about the dangers of TNCs, as well as GOLA’s unanimous decision to join forces with the FLA and its ongoing fight at the state capital.
WFLA president Dave Shaw of Olympus Limo & Sedan Service discussed how his county of Hillsborough is unique in its operations, as it’s governed by the only Special Act in Florida’s 67 counties. “Every role change in our county has to go through Tallahassee, so if anyone’s going to be attacked first, it’s Hillsborough County, and that’s what they did last year,” Shaw said. He explained how the county’s new director of the Public Transportation Commission (PTC) is a “by-the-book guy” who enforces for-hire transportation rules and regulations to the letter, much to the benefit of legally operating livery companies. He said that the WFLA is continuing to work in tandem with the PTC to keep an eye on TNC activity and establishing requirements for insurance, drivers, and vehicles.
Visit floridalimousine.com for more information. See the FLA public advisory video here.
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MLOA President Maurice Brewster of Mosaic Global Transportation began the meeting by emphasizing the importance of networking. “There’s huge value in getting to know the guy who’s sitting to the left of you or the woman sitting to the right of you,” he said. “We are all CEOs, we are all decision-makers, we can make a decision on who we do business with. The beauty of these shows is to be able to network.”
Brewster also reaffirmed the MLOA’s 2015 goal of making membership within the association a substantive endeavor from a monetary and contract perspective. “That idea came from you: Last year, you were absolutely clear that you wanted help in getting contracts and in getting certified,” he told those in attendance.
To better meet those and members’ other needs, the MLOA had hired Dr. Yvonne LaMar as its executive director earlier in the year. LaMar discussed the possibilities for small businesses landing private-industry contracts and how she’s available to help guide members through the certification process, which can take up to 90 days but comes with “tremendous benefits.”
After a question-and-answer session with the MLOA board members came a panel with representatives from companies who, according to Brewster, have “given their time and their talents to help you help yourselves”: Bill Battisti from Battisti Customs, Jeff Brodsly from Chosen Payments, Michael Kaplan from Advantage Funding, and Arthur Messina from Create-A-Card. Those in attendance were invited to ask the panelists questions, most of which pertained to small businesses’ images, growth, legal obligations, and benefits.
Brewster closed out the meeting by announcing that the MLOA will begin looking for new board members and committee members, and that anyone interested in getting involved is encouraged to do so.
Visit mlooa.org for more information.
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LANJ President James Moseley of Trip Tracker and Vice President/Legislative Chair Jeff Shanker of A-1 Limousine discussed new association business. Shanker spoke of how 11 insurance-related bills, including LANJ’s Assembly Bill 3401, are awaiting a tentatively scheduled December 8 hearing. He also summarized the October 17 Insurance Council of New Jersey meeting that lobbyist Barry Lefkowitz spoke at in regard to TNCs on both a statewide and national scale, especially in terms of how well covered—if at all—New Jersey drivers are if they use personal vehicles for TNCs’ commercial purposes.
Randy O’Neill of Lancer Insurance Company and Michael Marroccoli of The Capacity Group were also on hand to discuss the insurance aspect of the industry. O’Neill provided an update on chauffeured transportation operators’ insurance and regulatory issues, while Marroccoli covered cyber liabilities via his presentation, “Small Business: A Hacker’s Perfect Target,” which explored the many ways that small businesses are vulnerable to cyber-attacks and physical theft alike that could compromise their confidential information.
The meeting’s keynote speaker was Christopher Rotondo of the Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, who broached the TNC issue by stressing to all in attendance that there is “nothing as powerful as a group working together.” He then spent the bulk of his speech addressing transportation safety concerns, especially within the for-hire industry: “Passenger transportation is one of the safest industries but when it goes bad, it goes bad in a big way.” He cited statistics that estimate 92 people die on the roads every day, 11 of which will be because of a bus or truck.
Rotondo went on to cite fatality numbers in transportation, saying that “When one plane crashes, all hell breaks loose; 92 people die on the roads every day and no one says anything until it’s personal.” He urged operators to follow safety regulations and guidelines, telling the packed room that it’s his job to “always preach safety” and offering his assistance to help everyone adhere to the rules that aim to keep everyone safe on the roads.
The next LANJ meeting is scheduled for January 21.
Visit lanj.org for more information.
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