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- Category: Industry News
Passenger safety has been a longtime tenet in the chauffeured transportation industry, but the COVID-19 pandemic has challenged business owners to take safety to a new level. As the world moves forward and adapts, operators in our industry are rushing to find solutions that can reassure nervous passengers while simultaneously keeping their teams and families safe without exposing them to dangerous chemicals.
PuraArmor—a company founded by industry veterans Shawn Glasgow of Peak Limousine, Eric Devlin of Premier Transportation, and Brian O’Neill, who has more than a decade of experience in bus sales and other industry products—seeks to solve that problem. After painstakingly researching and testing the various products available, the PuraArmor founders put together an all-in-one package that not only meets their own needs, but can streamline the process for fellow business owners in any industry.
Shawn Glasgow
“I, like every operator, was concerned about COVID. I was deep into my search for the right equipment to sanitize my vehicles for the long-term—it’s something I’ll implement forever to protect against the common cold, the flu, and COVID—when I found EMist and HydroLyte,” says Glasgow. “I know this is a system that can accommodate the cleaning needs of every black car or motorcoach service quickly, efficiently, and effectively.”
The package includes the EMist EPIX360 handheld electrostatic sprayer, which is cordless; requires only one person for application; can cover any size vehicle in just minutes; and is made in the U.S. PuraArmor pairs the sprayer with HydroLyte disinfectant, a non-toxic salt solution called hypochlorous acid that has been used safely in high-trafficked areas such as hospitals, firehouses, schools, and transit hubs for decades. The electrostatic process releases tiny droplets (75 microns) that bind to each other and coat surfaces like an armor to kill germs, fungi, and viruses in minutes. The unit is about the size of a cordless drill and weighs four pounds when the eight-ounce tank is full.
Brian O'Neill
“Six months ago, no one was worrying about disinfecting vehicles. Today, nobody wants to get into one,” says O’Neill. “It’s about giving customers peace of mind that the vehicle was germ-free prior to them getting in. This is a product that applies to the masses, including residential applications, because it’s safe to use around anyone.”
Additionally, stickers to indicate that the vehicle has been sanitized are available to further reassure clients that their safety is your top priority.
Protecting their metal was also important: O’Neill also says that the hospital-grade HydroLyte solution isn’t corrosive nor will it damage or stain fabrics or sensitive electronics. Also, because the product is non-toxic, it doesn’t require protective gear like UV wands or other sanitization methods.
Eric Devlin
“The key is that the sprayer distributes the solution into all the hard-to-reach and overlooked nooks and crannies,” says Devlin, who is also using the sprayer to disinfect his office and garage. “It kills viruses in a matter of minutes.” He adds that the EMist sprayer uniformly coats the surface and wastes less disinfectant, two problems that have plagued other sprayers.
“One eight-ounce bottle covers about 4,000 square feet, which is 200 percent more than any other product on the market,” says O’Neill. “For comparison, other sprayers have a 32-ounce tank that covers just about half of what EMist can cover, so more efficiency means the savings can be astronomical.”
The partners are currently building their website at puraarmor.com. Until then, visit PuraArmor’s Facebook page, send an email to connect@puraarmor.com, or call 704.893.8100.
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- Category: Industry News
The National Limousine Association (NLA), the leading nonprofit organization responsible for and dedicated to representing the interests of the private chauffeur transportation industry, recently worked with the Global Virus Network (GVN), an international coalition of medical virologists whose goal is to help the international medical community by improving the detection and management of viral diseases, to create a recommended hygienic protocol for drivers and operators amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. As the country begins to reopen and travelers look to safe modes of transportation, the NLA is dedicated to giving the general public the peace of mind that choosing ground transportation is the safest option.
The following recommended guidelines have been approved and validated by the GVN to maintain safe, healthy environments to protect NLA passengers and drivers:
- Vehicles go through a cleaning cycle with a hospital-grade disinfectant 30 minutes after completing each trip. All common areas and high-touch areas, such as armrests, door handles, lavatories, seatback screens, and seat belts, are wiped down and disinfected between trips by drivers and chauffeurs while wearing PPE and gloves.
- Where practicable, it is recommended to open the vehicle windows to minimize potential exposure.
- All drivers will be screened daily based on Centers of Disease Control (CDC) and Department of Health recommendations.
- All drivers shall use PPE as required by local, state, and CDC recommendations
- Glove wearing is promoted. Gloves are mandatory while handling luggage. Using hand sanitizer or washing hands after removing gloves is recommended.
- Safe passenger signs or placards reading “This vehicle is deep cleaned daily in accordance with the CDC recommendations” should be positioned in vehicles reflecting driver’s attention to safety.
- Hand sanitizer or wipes will be available to all drivers and guests.
- All passengers on board are required to wear face coverings.
- It is highly advisable that drivers add similar messaging to the “Terms and Conditions” portion of all email confirmations.
- Prearrival text messages should include a message reading, “XYZ Transportation cares deeply about the health of our passengers and our chauffeurs. For that reason, if anyone at the pickup location has been sick or quarantined due to COVID-19 or has been in recent close contact with someone showing COVID-19 symptoms, please contact us to reschedule your transportation to a more advantageous timeframe.
The NLA has also announced new chairs and members of two more committees for the 2020-2021 term.
These include:
Small Operator: Javaid Chaudhry of NYG Limousine (co-chair), Douglas Schwartz of Executive Ground Transportation (co-chair), Kirk Bagger of Captains Car Service, Bill Faeth of Limo University, Imran Haider of US Limo System, Kevin Mullane of Silver Oak Transportation, and Jason Taylor of Prestige Transportation.
Legislative: Matt Assolin of Nikko’s Worldwide (co-chair), Brett Barenholtz of Above All Transportation/Boston Car (co-chair), Diane Forgy of Overland Chauffeur Services, Joe Guinn of Limo & Bus Compliance, Jason Kaplan of The Driver Provider, Jason Ramsey of Prestige Worldwide, Josh Roman of Heaven on Wheels, Tim Rose of Dolphin Transportation, and Rosina Rubin of Attitude New York.
Visit limo.org for more information.
[06.09.20]
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- Category: Industry News
As companies look ahead to the future of business, the United Motorcoach Association (UMA) has created a major online training event to guide motorcoach owners and team members as they prepare to restart following an unprecedented shutdown. The Bus & Motorcoach Virtual Summit: Ready. Aim. RESTART—scheduled for June 17-19—will bring expert business consultants together with motorcoach operators to help each participant build their own roadmap forward. A unique aspect of this event will be expert-led follow-up sessions at four-, eight-, and 12-week intervals so participants can stay engaged and on track as they move through the stages of restarting their businesses.
“This event is going to empower and motivate operators in a way that is just what they need right now as they prepare for what’s next,” says UMA President and CEO Larry Killingsworth. “Our Summit is laser-focused on providing the tools and strategies every company will need moving forward.”
Bruce Heinrich of PAX Training
The sessions will take place in three-hour blocks beginning at 1 p.m. ET each day. The Virtual Summit will provide a combination of expert presentations, panel discussions, and breakout sessions. Participants will come away knowing the information and strategies they need to create their roadmap to the future.
Among the speakers are Bruce Heinrich and James Blain of PAX Training, who also spoke at the 2020 CD/NLA Show in Las Vegas this past February, as well as UMA Town Hall frequent contributor Jim McCann of Spader Business Management.
The Virtual Summit is $99 per individual for members ($169 for non-members). To encourage teams to participate, UMA members can register a team of up to five people from the same company for $199.
Visit uma.org/summit for more information and to register.
[06.08.20]