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President of the WLA, Mike HartmannKiel, Wis. — Nearly a dozen people called into Wisconsin Limousine Association’s monthly conference call on April 20, and CD’s Editor Madeleine Maccar was among them.
After President Mike Hartmann of Stardust Limousine and Secretary/Treasurer Karen Lotts of A Knight Rider Limousine dispensed with association business, the call was dominated by information pertaining to the passage of AB-424, which amended Act 135’s previous regulations for carriers operating in intrastate commerce.
Sgt. Mark Abrahamson of Wisconsin’s DOT said that the act’s passage in February of this year was meant to clarify the requirements of both audits and compliance documents. Abrahamson also assured WLA members that recent hikes in insurance costs have nothing to do with Act 135 itself, which has been on the books for more than 20 years prior to its recent amendment; Abrahamson emphasized that a $1.5M insurance on 14-passenger vehicles and $5M on vehicles for 15+ passengers “would put a lot of companies out of business,” saying that neither he nor the DOT wants to see that happen.
WLA has since posted a flowchart to its site in an attempt to clarify what is now required from a transportation provider, or what they may be exempt from, which can be found at wisconsinlimo.org/wla-news.
A handful of WLA members sought specific answers during the call, among them: buses that work specifically for hotels and bars rarely leave the state or work as for-hire vehicles, making them largely exempt from AB-424’s amendments; vehicles accommodating 9+ passengers must have visible DOT numbers; and when applying for PC Authority—for those transporting passengers across state lines—it is critical that careful attention is paid to ensuring that a company’s name, EIN federal identification number, DOT number, and name on the insurance policy all match. And, of course, while high-occupancy regulations generally don’t apply to TNCs, Abrahamson did say that “all transportation companies need to fall under the same regulations.”
Illinois Limousine Association (ILA) President Tracy Raimer of Your Private Limousine was also on the call, and both she and Hartmann said that it would be beneficial to the two neighboring associations if WLA members were able to attend ILA’s annual meeting May 11. Raimer also discussed the ILA’s efforts to bring TNCs to a level playing field and the association’s lawsuit against Chicago over disparate regulations governing the two facets of transportation, advising WLA members that the ILA has found success in rallying the power of social media to get their message heard by TNC passengers and elected officials alike.
The next WLA call is scheduled for May 18.
Visit wisconsinlimo.org for more information.
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WMLA’s President Paul Rodberg of Reliable Limousine and Executive Administrator Mary Presley Rockville, Md. — The Washington Metropolitan Limousine Association (WMLA) is currently experiencing a growth period, and CD Editor Madeleine Maccar was among the more than 50 people in attendance for its reorganizational meeting on April 19.
President Paul Rodberg of Reliable Limousine has retained his previous position while naming Mary Presley as WMLA’s Executive Administrator. Rodberg provided a brief overview of the association’s past and plans for its future, while Presley spoke about her more than 30 years of experience with buses and luxury motorcoaches, as well as her executive positions with five other transportation-related organizations, including the Maryland Limousine Association (MLA).
Both Presley and Rodberg stressed the urgency of member support in helping the association become a viable force for and asset to the region’s operators, and how working together will help them speak with a louder, more unified voice.
CD Editor Madeleine Maccar and Reggie Tymus of Capital City Limousine, who won a pass to the 2016 Chauffeur Driven Show
“Our goals for today are to find out what everyone wants from this association—we have all the players on hand for an organized board,” Presley said, as board nominations were both announced and accepted at the meeting. “We need your support as members: In terms of industry interest, we do already have the support of several manufacturers and the ABA (American Bus Association).”
Industry unity was a significant theme of the meeting, and Rodberg and Presley also opened up the floor to questions and suggestions about where the association is heading, which is a future largely hinged upon both current and prospective members’ visions. Conversations touched on a potential name change, regular newsletters to keep all members informed of association goings-on, educational offerings, and the possibility of creating a D.C. metro-area chapter unifying the region’s operators, vendors, and associations—which all agreed would require additional discussion.
L to R: Robert Alexander of RMA Worldwide Chauffeured Services, Tony Simon of Reston Limousine, Jeff Shanker of RMA Worldwide Chauffeured Services, Reggie Tymus of Capital City Limousine, and Art Miesemer, of RMA Worldwide Chauffeured Services at the RMA site visit that followed the meeting
As MLA President Joanna Fridinger of The Limo Lady was present for the meeting, the possibility of merging WMLA with Maryland’s state association was presented, though also ultimately tabled until MLA’s own reorganizational meeting scheduled for June 21, allowing its current members to also weigh in on the suggestion. Operators working in both associations’ regions compared and contrasted the different concerns specific to each, with the peculiarities of operating in a state versus the capital district serving as one of the most highlighted nuances.
Before the meeting came back around to lighter topics such as fundraiser ideas and possible social outings to foster an even stronger network among the area’s operators, Maccar spoke to attendees about how Chauffeur Driven aims to help operators with its content and associations with its meeting attendance and coverage. She also raffled off a pass to the 2016 Chauffeur Driven Show in Washington, D.C., from October 9-12, which was won by Reggie Tymus of Capital City Limousine.
After the meeting, Robert Alexander, Art Miesemer, and Jeff Shanker of RMA Worldwide Chauffeured Services invited attendees back to their newly renovated facilities for a site visit, offering office tours, vehicle showcases, and a chance to meet with the many people who work behind the scenes.
WMLA is currently planning its next meeting. Anyone interested in becoming a member, volunteering meeting space, or exploring sponsorship opportunities for future meetings and events is invited to email Presley at tourtrvl@comcast.net.
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Springfield, Mo. — Executive Coach Builders (ECB) is pleased to announce that they have received MasterUpfitter 2015-2016 status from Mercedes-Benz. According to ECB’s President, David Bakare, this certification provides clients with the peace of mind of knowing their vehicle is safe and complies with the high standards and guidelines of Mercedes-Benz.
“ECB is a 40-year-old company that has always been very diligent about safety compliance in the ground transportation industry,” said Bakare. “Achieving the MasterUpfitter status is just another way to reassure our clients that the vehicle they’re buying from us is a safety-approved vehicle.”
Bakare believes that joining the network of MasterUpfitter builders not only provides a professional advantage, but it is also logical decision.
“We just want to make sure our clients get the best vehicle out there, so it makes sense for us to be in the program.”
Founded in 1976, ECB is the world’s largest limousine manufacturer. Additionally, the company carries a complete line of ground transportation vehicles ranging from sedans to 50-seat passenger busses.
Visit ecblimo.com for more information.
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