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Washington — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) recently announced a one-year extension of the compliance date for the final rule on the lease and interchange of passenger vehicles (L&I Rule). The agency said the petitions for reconsideration filed in the wake of the rule’s publication may have merit, and this extension will allow it sufficient opportunity to review all relevant information to make a determination on how to respond to the petitions. The new compliance date is scheduled for January 1, 2018.
Visit fmcsa.dot.gov for more information.
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TLPA President Dwight Kines, LANJ President Jason Sharenow, and CD Publisher Chris WeissPrinceton, N.J. — The Limousine Association of New Jersey (LANJ) returned to the NJHA Conference and Event Center on March 16 for a meeting that included owners and vendors from across the greater New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania area as well as special guest speakers. Among the 70 people in attendance were Chauffeur Driven’s Publisher Chris Weiss and Assistant Editor Rob Smentek.
Sponsored by Vehicle Tracking Solutions, this was the first meeting under the leadership of new LANJ President Jason Sharenow of Broadway Elite Chauffeured Services Worldwide, who assumed the role from Jeff Shanker. Sharenow expressed his thanks to the attendees and let them know that he is honored by his new role in the organization. Jon Epstein of Royal Coachman Worldwide will serve a joint role as treasurer and first vice president.
Howard Gogel of MyLimo, Scott Greenwald of AAA Worldwide Transportation, and CD Assistant Editor Rob SmentekAfter thanking the sponsors, Sharenow opened the meeting with news about the continuing battle with TNCs at the Newark airport. He reported that the chauffeured ground transportation has allies in the Newark and Elizabeth police departments; both are actively enforcing current limousine laws and regulations, with the city of Elizabeth taking a particularly strong stance. Unfortunately, the Port Authority has a much more lenient position and is not ticketing TNCs.
Next, LANJ members took the spotlight as Sharenow introduced the group’s two new board members, Howard Gogel of MyLimo and Scott Greenwald of AAA Worldwide Transportation. Both men have been LANJ members since 2006. The LANJ Member Spotlight then offered three members the opportunity to introduce themselves to the group. Jason Messinger of BBZ Limousine & Livery Service, Brett Barenholtz of Boston Car Service, and Jordan Sanders of Hollowsands Luxury Limousine each took a minute to speak about their business offerings. Next, Jim Luff from Chosen Payments was given the opportunity to speak about his company’s services to the industry, and the firm’s devotion to associations like LANJ.
Jason Sharenow with Michael Renehan of Concorde Worldwide, the winner of a pass to CD’s Executive Retreat in New OrleansAs part of the meeting’s educational component, Ralph Bitter, supervisor, diesel enforcement of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, presented a slideshow about the state’s idling regulations. Bitter encouraged operators to limit their idling in order to reduce harmful emissions. Next was the meeting’s keynote presentation by Hannah Haverdink of The LMC Group. Entitled “How to Properly Onboard a New Chauffeur,” the lecture delved deep into the HR process to help owners run a more efficient hiring process that meets state laws and regulations.
Dwight Kines, President of the Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit Association (TLPA). Kines made the trip from Baltimore to express his admiration of LANJ and to encourage the two associations to work together when meeting with government officials about the TNC situation. Kines also invited LANJ members to attend the TLPA’s Spring Conference & Expo, which will be held April 21-23 at the Grand Hyatt in New York City.
Sharenow concluded the meeting by reminding attendees about CD’s upcoming New Orleans Executive Retreat. A pass to the event was raffled off and won by Michael Renehan of Concorde Worldwide.
The next LANJ meeting to be held May 18 at the Wilshire Grand Hotel in West Orange. This nighttime fundraiser event will feature an auction and dinner.
Visit lanj.org for more information.
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L to R: CD’s Industry & Brand Ambassador Philip Jagiela, Aleja Seabron of The LMC Group, NELA Executive Director Rick Szilagyi, and Arthur Messina of Create-A-CardSaugus, Mass. — More than 100 members and supporters of the New England Livery Association (NELA) attended its March 15 meeting, including Chauffeur Driven Industry & Brand Ambassador Philip Jagiela. The evening event included a variety of speakers, updates about both the industry and local goings-on, as well as a array of prizes.
Laurie Cantwell of MV1 Insurance and Sarah Vanbeek of Chosen Payments both discussed their companies’ initiates to garner new NELA members. Aleja Seabron of The LMC Group and Brett Tyson of TDC Training Specialists both spoke about their involvement in NELA’s upcoming April 4 Driving Education series of seminars; Seabron will discuss social media and online marketing while Tyson will be the day’s keynote speaker.
NELA Executive Director Rick Szilagyi then spoke about the association’s efforts to battle TNCs, which includes almost 10 new bills introduced in Rhode Island in the week prior to the meeting and its retention of a “Dream Team” comprising lobbyists and lawyers who are assisting the association in its continued pursuit of a level playing field and regulations promoting public safety. Outside legal assistance does, however, require at least $20,000 per month to retain that help; Szilagyi thanked those who have provided the biggest monetary contributions and implored others to become financially invested in the battle.
Lew Aflalo (left) of Green Light Limousine, who won a pass to the Chauffeur Driven Show in Washington, D.C., and CD Industry & Brand Ambassador Philip Jagiela Szilagyi then introduced Jagiela, who spoke about how visiting with operators and associations throughout the country has allowed him a firsthand perspective on how the industry is handling TNCs on a national scale. Jagiela shared some insight he gained from legislators when participating in the Greater California Livery Association’s Day on the Hill last month: “We will never be able to bring TNCs to the limousine’s industry current standards; however, under consideration is finding a middle ground and make all commercial providers adhere to the same standards and regulations.” Jagiela also spoke about CD’s 2016 events, raffling off a pass to the Chauffeur Driven Show in Washington, D.C. that was won by Lew Aflalo of Green Light Limousine.
Mike Fogarty of Tristar Worldwide, who is also the immediate past president of Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit Association, then thanked Szilagyi and NELA for the association’s active approach to speaking for the industry’s New England operators. He also expressed his pleasure in seeing a cooperative relationship emerge between taxis and our industry as both continue to grapple with TNCs.
The speakers concluded with Michael Campbell of Grace Limousine, NLA’s Northeast Regional Director, who discussed the benefits of membership in the national association and spoke about its upcoming Day on the Hill, scheduled for April 26-27 in Washington, D.C.
NELA’s next event is Driving Education on April 4; its next meeting is June 14.
Visit nelivery.org for more information.
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