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TNCs were also on the minds of many travel professionals as the corporate world navigates its new options for transportation. Panelists addressed a wide range of travel industry questions with a specific focus on technology.
Allen was able to detail Kings’ corporate travel management, and how it differed from TNCs: “You can reach us anytime, day or night, any day of the year. You’ll talk to someone on the phone who knows and understands what is happening and what needs to be done, whether it’s a simple change or a major issue. This is something TNCs cannot offer.”
Allen also addressed Kings recently upgraded reservation system, which has improved response times for reservations, confirmations, and changes. Bookers and passengers can be automatically updated via email or text message throughout the trip. Dispatchers can track the vehicles in real time to give accurate estimates on arrival and drop-off times. Allen also noted that all of Kings’ chauffeurs have GPS-enabled tablets, which allow for easy changes and updates as well as the ability to provide accurate ETAs.
When the topic of safety was broached, he discussed chauffeur vetting, including annual checks of their driving records, comprehensive background checks, annual and random drug and alcohol testing, and DOT physical, safety, and harassment training—all of which stand in stark contrast to TNCs.
Visit kingsworldwidetrans.com for more information.
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Despite the protests and presentations from traditional ground transportation operations, airport commissioners unanimously voted to allow the proposal, which, should the airport and city attorney approve it, will go into effect at the end of August.
GCLA President Kevin Illingworth of Classique Worldwide Transportation, GCLA 2nd Vice President Perry Barin of Music Express Worldwide, and NLA board member Ron Stein of Exclusive Sedan Service were among those who spoke on behalf of chauffeured ground transportation at the hearing.
“The public and regulatory interaction with TNCs continues to suffer from misperceptions that affect the safety of the public, the consumer’s rights of the passengers, the fair treatment of TNC drivers, and the fair application of laws for bona fide operators of passenger transportation,” Stein said in his presentation to the LAX board. “The NLA is opposed to treating TNCs as if they are outside of the traditional passenger transportation industry and thus exempt from having to comply with legal and insurance requirements that are designed to protect passengers and the public. I urge you to defer action today.”
Though they implored the board to consider voting down the proposal—as did roughly 50 of the 62 individuals who spoke out against TNCs at the hearing—Stein said that it seemed like the contingency walked into a losing battle.
“They had had a closed-door meeting before the hearing,” Stein said. “It was pretty obvious that it was a foregone conclusion: The first clue was when one board member got up and recused himself right at the beginning. You could see it in their body language.”
In addition to TNCs being granted pick-up privileges, they’ll also have to start paying the $4 pick-up and drop-off fees LAX requires. The proposal also mandates that geofencing will be utilized to determine when TNC vehicles enter and leave the airport property, which will prove that the likes of Uber and Lyft are reporting numbers that match what their apps report.
Stein says that this is “a little bit of a setback” but that GCLA will continue to fight for the state’s operators.
“We still have to fight,” he said. “We have to continue on. At some point in time, the PUC needs to step up and say, ‘Hey, LAX, what are you doing? You’re still part of the state.’”
The association’s next event will be the GCLA Expo and Trade Show on September 24.
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gcla.org for more information.
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As Houston will be electing and re-electing its city council in November, HALCA President Wes Hart of American Corporate Transportation kicked off the evening meeting by introducing four current council members and one hopeful, all of whom had an opportunity to speak later in the meeting.
Jagiela spoke about CD’s immersion in the industry as well as the upcoming Miami show in October. He also discussed how Chauffeur Driven’s presence at meetings across the country has given the staff an opportunity to witness firsthand the regionally unique and nationally unifying issues, regulations, and solutions—an exposure allowing for a widely reaching perspective that can be shared with operators nationwide.
Hart, who attended NLA’s Day on the Hill in June, then discussed his positive experience at the annual legislative days. He relayed how walking the Capitol halls yielded several promising meetings with elected officials, wherein the primary topics discussed were Code 179 (especially in regard to the 2015 limit reduction) and how the Department of Labor needs to protect TNC drivers under the auspices of employee rights rather than the current IO model. A particularly successful meeting with Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, who indicated her support of the industry’s concerns, prompted the suggestion that HALCA should draft a letter to further engage her in the issues.
David Dillon of Carey Houston explained his involvement with and role in the Chapter 46 ADA Task Force, which deals with the possible introduction of accessibility requirements to a percentage of each operators’ fleets. Dillon has been working with the group to explain the financial and insurance-related ramifications that each company could face, which would be especially crippling for the city’s many small operators. He has also been exploring alternative avenues to introduce an accessibility compromise. Additionally, Dillon provided updates on how Houston is aiming for a fourth-quarter proposal to city council regarding these issues, for which neither the taxi industry nor Uber—the only TNC currently operating in the city—have ventured any input.
The four city council candidates—incumbent councilmen Michael Kubosh, Mike Laster, and Robert Gallegos, as well as hopeful Lane Lewis—then addressed the audience. Each candidate introduced himself, offered support to the industry, and extended the invitation to hold meetings with any operator who has transportation concerns by emphasizing an election official’s obligation to be accessible to those they represent. Many HALCA members seized the opportunity to vocalize their issues not only with uneven playing field TNCs are creating but also the city’s demand that traditional operators divulge proprietary business information via revenue reports.
Visit houstonlimos.info for more information.
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