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New York — On December 4, the NYC TLC Board of Commissioners gathered to vote on two sets of proposed rules.
The first proposed financial transparency and protection rules which would mandate a minimum pay rate for app-based/High-Volume For-Hire Service (HVFHS) drivers—or just over $17 per hour after expenses. Second were the proposed rules on HVFHS base licensing regulations; however, until just a few days before the meeting date, another topic that was set to be voted on—the proposed congestion pricing rules—were omitted from the agenda.
The TLC Board of Commissioners declined to vote on the proposed congestion pricing rules for a few reasons. Commissioner Meera Joshi made a statement about why the Board declined to vote, as they are not entirely convinced that this is the most comprehensive policy to have put in place to address the congestion issue.
The reason being, according to the Commissioner, is because of the unjust imposition of such fee mandates on only the ground transportation industry in New York City, when there are various other industries not only heavily contributing to the city’s congestion issues—primarily in Manhattan's central business district—but also are in no way liable for any congestion pricing surcharges. The Commissioner added that there are so many current unknowns that the only sensible thing for the Agency to do is to postpone any vote.
BCAC also encourages any operator accepting work in New York City that time is running out to ask questions about the looming congestion pricing surcharges that will begin to be implemented January 1, 2019.
Tthere are still some specific situational, yet key, the industry still needs clarification on. BCAC members have been coming forward with various questions related to the congestion pricing surcharge, such as whether or not the surcharge is applied to empty FHVs entering the Manhattan congestion zone (below 96th Street).
The association’s goal is to collect as many specific questions as possible to bring to the appropriate individual in the Governor's Budget office for clarification. Members are encouraged to send an email to jfromberg@nybcac.org to let BCAC know what specific questions you have about the congestion pricing surcharge, when it is to be applied, or anything else.
Visit nybcac.org for more information.
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L to R: WFLA Vice President Ryan Hilberth, David DiDomenico of Showtime Transportation, WFLA President Jeremy Jenkins of His & Hers Limousines, and Shawn Brown of Showtime Transportation
St. Petersburg, Fla. — The West Florida Limousine Association (WFLA) recently teamed up with the 127-year-old Tampa Bay-area charity Children’s Home Network to purchase and accept bicycle donations for the region’s underprivileged youth. The initiative supports the Bikes for Children program, which is geared toward giving local kids of all ages their first bicycle; WFLA’s December 13 holiday party doubled as a Bikes for Children donation night.
Previously, WFLA’s toy drive has traditionally filled a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter or two with toys to give to children via local charities. This year, the group joined forces with local businesses that have also been assuming the role of Santa Claus for less-fortunate children—including Kelly’s Chic-A-Boom Room in Dunedin, Stroker’s in Palm Harbor, BobCAD-Cam, and Showtime Transportation—to make a bigger impact.
“We’ve been buying bikes for underprivileged kids as a small group, so when the WFLA proposed joining forces with us, I was all about more bike donations,” said Shawn Brown of Showtime Transportation, who has been a driving force for the cause as a contributor and bike donor for many years.
Prior to the event, the WFLA went on a shopping spree of its own to buy a few bikes for boys and girls of different ages. WFLA’s President Jeremy Jenkins of His & Hers Limousines and Vice President Ryan Hilberth of Rental Limo, Book.limo, and LMS filled a Sprinter with various bikes they purchased on the association’s behalf as donations that they hope inspire the same holiday cheer they experienced as children.
WFLA collected 90 bikes to donate to local children in need
“I remember getting a bike for Christmas as a kid, and it was one of the best feelings,” said Jenkins.
On December 13, Bikes for Children met at Kelly’s Chic-A-Boom Room in Dunedin, Fla., with many representatives from the Children’s Home Network in attendance as dozens of bicycles, toy donations, and attendees alike poured in all night long. In total, more than a hundred toys and 90 bikes were collected on behalf of the benefitting charity. Among them, Dave Shaw and Steve Gould of Olympus Limo showed up with a pink chrome trick bicycle as their donation, while Jerry Hval of Luxor Limousine donated a Batman bike that delighted attendees’ inner children.
The WFLA board considers the event a resounding success.
“Imagine all the positives from giving so many children a bike this holiday season,” said Hilberth. “It was amazing to see the overwhelming amount of support that Bikes for Children received not only within the WFLA but also outside of our industry, and I’m so excited to be a part of this.”
Anyone interested in further supporting either Bikes for Children or Children’s Home Network can find out more at either bikesforchildren.org or childrenshomenetwork.org, respectively.
Visit wfla.org for more information about the WFLA.
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MCI Vice President of Pre-Owned Coach Mike Apple
Des Plaines, Ill. — Motor Coach Industries (MCI) announced it has hired an industry front-runner to lead its pre-owned coach division. Michael Apple, previously Cummins vice president sales and Service for the central United States, has joined MCI as vice president of pre-owned coach. He is succeeding Mitch Guralnick, who retired on Nov 1 after a 19-year career at MCI.
A strategic business unit leader with extensive sales and marketing experience, Apple’s role at MCI will include leading a team of 10 MCI pre-owned sales professionals throughout the U.S. and Canada while ensuring the best pre-owned trade-in valuations in the industry and the right mix of available inventory.
Apple will be based at MCI at its Sales and Service Center in Des Plaines, and will report to Patrick Scully, MCI executive vice president of sales and marketing.
“We built the pre-owned business based on MCI’s closeness to our customers, and with Mike’s background, skillset and drive, we’re going to only build on our reputation as the industry leading OEM offering 24/7 roadside assistance, technical support, OE parts supply and an unrivaled North American system for maintenance and repair,” said Scully.
Apple said that he is honored to step into his new role. “Pre-owned sales allows operators large and small significant flexibility in building their fleets and marketshare, and MCI knows pre-owned. I look forward to building what is already the best team in the industry,” he said.
MCI’s pre-owned sales inventory is based at each of the MCI Sales and Service Centers throughout North America. Renovations are going on now at every location with upgraded parts and service offerings to mirror the newest, state-of-the art San Francisco Bay area location that opened in 2017 in Hayward, CA. All locations now offer new and pre-owned coach inventory in addition to an all-new OE parts supply system and expanding technician training opportunities.
“With Mike’s dedication to our future strategic plans, it’s a win-win for MCI and our customers,” said Scully.
Visit mcicoach.com for more information.
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