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In an event organized by the United Motorcoach Association (UMA) and the American Bus Association (ABA), hundreds of motorcoach companies across the nation have already signed on to participate in the Motorcoaches Rolling for Awareness Campaign, to be held May 13 in Washington, D.C., in the hopes that Congress will extend specific economic relief to the motorcoach industry. The coaches will drive through our nation’s capital adorned with messages highlighting the critical impact that the industry makes on the local and national economy. The event is open to all ABA and UMA members.
“Our ask is simple,” UMA Chairman Jeff Polzien said in a press release. “The U.S motorcoach industry is requesting Congress put motorcoaches back on the road by making available $10 billion in grants for operational and payroll assistance and $5 billion in long-term zero percent interest rate loans to the industry, ensuring these monies are available immediately and easily accessible. Our businesses need a lifeline so we can be there when the country needs us next.”
The motorcoach industry is composed of more than 3,000 operators—mostly small, multi-generational, family-owned companies—with 100,000 employees, and like other hospitality industries, have borne the brunt of the crisis as local and global travel has come to a standstill. ABA and UMA have been highly active in engaging members to contact their representatives, and both associations have been feverishly working on behalf of their members during the pandemic. It’s been reported by both associations that around 95 percent of all motorcoach companies have paused operations, some permanently.
“The current economic remedies available to small businesses don’t address sectors like ours that will take much longer to recover from the current crisis. Airlines, Amtrak, and transits have received more than $75 billion to prop up these industries,” ABA President & CEO Peter Pantuso said. “Of the 3,000 bus and motorcoach companies in the United States, 90 percent are small, family-owned business who have had to close their businesses during the COVID-19 crisis. By having to shut their doors while no one is traveling, nearly 100,000 employees, which include drivers, cleaners, maintenance and repair, administrative and safety personnel, are now without incomes.”
According to a press release shared by the associations, the messaging of how the motorcoach industry makes an impact will include:
- Military transports across the nation for troops in all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces
- Evacuations of Americans from wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods
- Connecting people to jobs with commuters and employee shuttles
- Connecting rural America to urban centers and to other modes of transportation
- Providing school transportation as well as sports and educational trips
- Reducing congestion by taking 36 cars off the road for each coach
More information about the event and how to register can be found at busesmoveamerica.com.
[05.01.20]
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While the National Limousine Association (NLA) continues to vigorously advocate for the industry in Washington and keep members armed with valuable resources during this critical time, the NLA Board of Directors is looking ahead to business after COVID-19. In his President’s Letter to members this past Friday, NLA President Robert Alexander of RMA Worldwide announced the association’s new committee chairs for this year.
NLA President Robert Alexander
The committee chairs include:
Bylaws: Diane Forgy of Overland Chauffeured Services and Joe Ironi of Global Alliance Worldwide
Congress of Association Leaders: Jeff Greene of Greene Worldwide Transportation and Rick Versace of A1A Airport & Limousine Service
International: Joe Ironi of Global Alliance Worldwide and Michael Oldenburg of United Limousines AG
Legislative: Matt Assolin of Nikko’s Worldwide and Brett Barenholtz of Above All Transportation/Boston Car
Membership: Laura Canady of SC Express Chauffeured Transportation and Douglas Schwartz of Executive Ground Transportation
Nominating: Kevin Illingworth of Classique Worldwide Transportation and Joe Ironi of Global Alliance Worldwide
Political Action Committee: Matt Assolin of Nikko’s Worldwide and Gary Buffo of Pure Luxury Transportation
Public Relations: Jason Kaplan of The Driver Provider and Rick Versace of A1A Airport & Limousine Service
Scholarship: Brett Barenholtz of Above All Transportation/Boston Car and Don Mahnke of ABC Worldwide Transportation
CD/NLA Show Education: Tracy Raimer of Windy City Limousine & Bus and Jason Sharenow of Broadway Elite Worldwide
Show Management & Partnership Oversight: Jeff Greene of Greene Worldwide Transportation and Jason Kaplan of The Driver Provider
Small Operator: Javaid Chaudhry of NYG Limousine and Jason Sharenow of Broadway Elite Worldwide
Sponsorship: Ken Carter of Aadvanced Limousines and Don Mahnke of ABC Worldwide Transportation
Technology & Social Media: Ken Carter of Aadvanced Limousines and Jay Erlich of Europe Limousine Service
Women's Leadership Council: Tracy Raimer of Windy City Limousine & Bus and Nancy Vargas of DH2 Chauffeured Transportation
“The Board of Directors is proud to spearhead these valuable groups to further the NLA's mission and enhance the value of NLA membership. We are always looking for new and fresh faces to get involved so if you have been thinking about giving back to your NLA, this is an excellent opportunity,” he said in the letter.
Current NLA members wishing to join a specific committee can apply here.
This week, Alexander will be a part of an esteemed panel of transportation regulators and association leaders during a webinar called What Are Transportation Regulators Doing To Respond to COVID-19? The two-hour webinar, hosted by International Association of Transportation Regulators (IATR) President Matt Daus of Windels Marx, will be held this Thursday, April 30 at 11 a.m. ET. Registration is available here.
The association will also be holding a No Operator Left Behind (NOLB) Virtual Summit on May 12 starting at noon ET on the NLA’s Facebook page. Alexander and Bill Faeth of Limo University will host the event, which will include several guest speakers who will cover a variety of topics to be announced. NOLB is an added-value benefit for NLA members who are smaller operators (19 vehicles or fewer) to offer support and education so that they can thrive.
Visit limo.org for more information.
[04.28.20]
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Mercedes-Benz vehicles ready at the Hospital Henri Mondor in Paris
Like the majority of the luxury ground transportation industry, Paris-based operator Cardel Global hasn’t been immune to the effects of the COVID-19 shutdown. However, despite the lack of corporate travel and airport runs, Cardel CEO Karim Maachi has put some of his fleet on the road in service for the medical staff working around the clock in Paris hospitals. Chauffeur Driven reached out to Maachi to get his insight into the current state of the industry in France, as well as his company’s initiative to assist the doctors and workers on the front line.
Chauffeur Driven: What is the current situation in France for the chauffeur-driven industry?
Karim Maachi: France is very affected by the crisis and has imposed stricter laws limiting when people go out or run errands. This implies that most of the personal and business transportation industry is at a stand-still, and it is obviously a very tough time for the whole industry in France, and Europe as well. As vice president of the European Passenger Transportation Association (EPTA), I am in regular communication with our members to evaluate how the situation is evolving and exchange best practices.
Cardel chauffeur sanitizing a sedan It is now clear that new regulations for safety and liability insurance are coming to the industry and forcing new measures on how our fleet of vehicles is equipped. For instance, all vehicles will soon have to be “COVID-proof,” that is, showing you are taking extra measures for your clients’ safety. These measures will be enforced not only by the government but also by the insurance companies.
CD: How is Cardel taking steps in this difficult environment?
KM: We are at the forefront of the new regulations and being proactive. For example, we have already equipped all our fleet with Plexiglas separators between the chauffeur and the customer. To my knowledge, we are the only ground transportation company in Paris to do that in preparation for these new liability regulations. Of course, we will also have all our chauffeurs cleaning the cars in between each client, and wearing masks and gloves to ensure safety for all.
Because we are ready three weeks before the end of the lockdown in France, we are already getting booked by existing and new clients. Our activity is peaking at 15 percent for now, and we anticipate going back to maximum 50 percent in September—and hopefully back to normal in 2021. We are actually already seeing a surge in our business development, in particular from U.S.-based operators who are looking for partners ready for the change in liability protection.
CD: We have seen some interesting initiatives of Cardel with local hospitals on your social media. Can you tell us a bit more about that?
KM: With my vehicles at a standstill, I wanted to use it in some capacity to support our local medical staff. They are at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19 and we wanted to show our gratitude. A lot of doctors and medical staff have been called to Paris to help their colleagues, and are staying in hotels. We are working with hospitals to offer shuttle service between hotels and their hospital as long as the lockdown is in place in Paris. I feel this is the least we can do as they are fighting for our lives.
Cardel chauffeurs at the Hospital Henri Mondor in Paris We have 10 chauffeurs (in five sedans and five vans) picking up approximately 100 medical personnel every day from 6:00 AM to 11:00 AM and 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM from hotels (where they’re actually sleeping) around the Hospital Henri Mondor, back and forth.
All vehicles are equipped with Plexiglas partitions, and masks, gloves, and gels are available for the medical staff. It has been a lot of work and coordination with the hospital to be able to finalize this huge operation that nobody did before—and Cardel is proud to be the only transportation company providing this service.
CD: What message do you have for your affiliates? Any recommendations/tips on how to survive this difficult environment?
KM: My main message is a word of encouragement: Get ready for a new norm, and be proactive. Anything you can do to get ready to this new norm should be done now. As far as my partners and affiliates are concerned, I want to assure them that Cardel Global is ready and prepared—more than ever—to resume and grow its business again with our affiliates.
It is a time to adapt, and support each other by sharing best practices, business news, and tips.
Visit cardel-global.com for more information.
[04.27.20]