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Members of the MLA board. Back row (L to R): President Gary Day of American Limousines, Vice President Michael Greene of A Platinum Plus Limousines, and Treasurer Anthony Shoats of Xquisite Transportation. Front row (L to R): Joanna Fridinger of The Limo Lady, Secretary & Membership Chair Kimberly Klein of Lasting Impressions Limousine Service, and Kim Little of First Choice Transportation. Baltimore — The Maryland Limousine Association (MLA) hosted a Lunch & Learn meeting June 19 at Jimmy’s Famous Seafood to kick off its reorganizational efforts. More than two dozen members, supporters, and state representatives were present, including CD’s Director of Events Carly Sokoloff and Editor Madeleine Maccar.
The association is undergoing revitalization efforts with many of its previous board members at the helm. The current board includes:
President: Gary Day of American Limousines
Vice President: Mike Greene of A Platinum Plus Limousines Inc.
Secretary & Membership Chair: Kimberly Klein of Lasting Impressions Limousine Service
Treasurer: Anthony Shoats of Xquisite Transportation
Board Members: Joanna Fridinger of The Limo Lady, Bryan Johnson of Martens Johnson Insurance Agency, and Kim Little of First Choice Transportation
Day encouraged those in attendance not only to be vocal about their priorities as members but also to reach out to lapsed members or new operators to strengthen the MLA’s numbers—and its voice.
CD Director of Events Carly Sokoloff (left) and Denise Patterson of DTS Chauffeured Services, who won a pass to the 2018 Chauffeur Driven Show “We’ll have even more credibility with even more members,” Day said. “We can open up doors with larger numbers. We’re working hard to make this the best association for you but we need your help and input.”
Director of Maryland Public Service Commission’s Transportation Division Christopher Koermer (left) and MLA President Gary Day of American Limousines Like operators all over the world, one of Maryland’s key pain points is lack of enforcement cracking down on law-shirking TNcs. Director of Maryland Public Service Commission’s Transportation Division Christopher Koermer spoke about personnel changes within his department and advised members about their new contacts for an array of concerns. He also provided updates about how background checks are conducted and changes in carriers’ insurance—and explained how TNC drivers are frequently chased off by street investigators, only to be seen returning to an area once they believe the coast is clear, much to his department’s frustration.
The MLA board also detailed how it’s been meeting with the Maryland Transportation Association in regard to how enforcement laws are written in terms of handling TNCs.
Before the meeting ended, Sokoloff and Maccar talked about the October 7-10 CD Show that will be calling Maryland’s National Harbor home for a few days. They raffled off a certificate to the show, which was won by Denise Patterson of DTS Chauffeured Services.
Visit mdlimoassoc.org for more information.
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Chicago, Ill. — The board of directors of the Illinois Limousine Association announced that the officers for the 2018-2019 term were elected at their June 22 meeting.
The 2018 officers are:
President: Tracy Raimer of Windy City Limousine and Bus
Vice President: Art Rento of Pontarelli Companies
Secretary: Paula DeBiasi of Chicago CoachWorks
Treasurer: Ron Hoye of Carey/Embarque Chicago
Visit illinoislimousineassociation.com for more information.
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The newly unveiled, next generation VanTerra shuttle bus
New Paris, Ind. — Turtle Top has announced that they have released the latest generation of their flagship VanTerra shuttle bus, and are taking orders for the redesigned vehicle. This new model is replacing the iconic vehicle that was first introduced to the ground transportation industry 20 years ago.
“What we did is take everything that was great and revolutionary about the existing VanTerra and added a twist to make it more production friendly, lighter, and more technologically advanced,” says Matt Sausaman, general manager at Turtle Top.
When the VanTerra debuted in 1998, it became one of the most influential vehicles in the industry in terms of its design and functionality. With its dual wheels and wider stance, the shuttle bus successfully bridged the gap between a 15-passenger van and a larger commercial bus. Turtle Top’s recent “hard reset,” which returned the company to its original owners, inspired them to revamp the VanTerra to keep it consistent with the rest of their redesigned product line.
Rear-view of the redesigned VanTerra
“Our team had a clear direction,” says Sausaman. “We checked off the things we liked about the style and functionality of the Van Terra and transitioned it to the style of our new family of products. We gave it a new cosmetic look consistent with more recent vehicles we’ve designed. That’s something that’s important to us—making sure our vehicles represent our brand.”
Features included in the updated VanTerra include a new front windshield that extends over the passengers’ heads, redesigned bi-fold doors, contemporary lighting and electrical options, multiple seating configurations, and an RTM fiberglass exterior.
“We took some of the weight out while striving to find more product commonality with the Odyssey,” says Sausaman. “The fiberglass is done using a process called RTM, which makes it lighter and more consistent.”
Turtle Top General Manager Matt Sausaman
He also points out that the VanTerra is a versatile vehicle appropriate for everyone from municipalities to luxury ground transportation companies. Seating is available in three configurations—front-facing, side-facing, and salon—and in a plethora of colors. The shuttle is also available both with luggage storage and without. Moreover, it’s available on three different chassis: Ford E350 SRW 138" WB, DRW 138", or 158" WB in either 6.2L or 6.8L engines.
“This bus will turn heads. The design team took a wish list and made it all fit in a vehicle that exemplifies Turtle Top and our commitment to our customers. However, the most popular thing from a distribution standpoint is that we’ve been able to do all this at a price point that’s very similar to the old vehicle,” adds Sausaman.
Visit turtletop.com for more information
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