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TACT President Carly Haley of Grand Avenue Worldwide
Nashville, Tenn. — The Tennessee Association of Chauffeured Transportation (TACT), formerly known as the Tennessee Livery Association, recently announced that it is not only changing its name, but also overhauling all aspects of its mission and operations in order to best serve the legislative interests of its constituency: the state’s chauffeured transportation operators.
Dormant since 2012, TACT is reemerging with new goals, as well as new officers of the board:
President: Carl Haley of Grand Avenue Worldwide
Vice President: Matt Yorke of Signature Transportation Services
Secretary: Nathan Spears of Geny Insurance Agency
Treasurer: Victor Tsague of Advent Transportation
Members-at-Large: Johnny Sansom of Alpha Limousine, Edward Coleman of Emerald Luxury Transportation, and Jim Simms of Cool Springs Limousine
The organization is pledging to proactively engage the state’s legislators at a time when the number of car service options for Tennesseans are increasing and the laws governing them are inconsistent.
“As the transportation business continues to grow, it’s important the laws regulating all car services are consistent and fair for everyone in the business,” Haley said. “We are really looking forward to working on behalf of our newly energized organization, and with a strong group of new board members, to strengthen our statewide representation for the benefit of everyone in our industry.”
“We have worked hard over the years to represent the chauffeured transportation industry in the state of Tennessee, advance the goals of all operators and address their concerns,” Yorke added. “I am extremely excited at the rejuvenation of our association and the wonderful talent that has committed to further this mission, including all of our members.”
One of TACT’s major goals for 2015 is to ask state legislators to address discrepancies in regulations governing chauffeured transportation operators and taxis versus fast-growing TNCs. In addition, TACT will work to develop better relationships with the Metro Nashville Airport Authority, where a large percentage of TACT’s members do business.
For more information on TACT, contact Carl Haley at 615.714.5466.
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UMA Members at Capitol Hill
Washington, D.C. — Eighty United Motorcoach Association (UMA) members canvassed Capitol Hill March 17-18 to speak to their congressional elected officials about issues affecting the motorcoach industry at the association’s annual Capitol Hill Days.
In total, UMA operator members held 418 individual appointments at congressional offices—a sharp increase from last year’s 284 appointments.
UMA members shared information about their own businesses and rallied for backing of three critical needs during their meetings: opposition of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s proposal to raise the federal financial responsibility limits; support of Rep. Barletta's proposal (H.R. 1371, "Safer Trucks and Buses Act of 2015") to remove CSA scores from public view until the data used to calculate the score can be improved; and support to preserve the current charter service rule.
Meetings were professionally arranged specifically for the individual UMA members by Prime Policy Group, a Washington, D.C.-based global public policy and government affairs firm.
“Without a doubt, this was the best fly-in we've ever had," UMA President and CEO Victor Parra said. "Our members rose to the challenge and came out to help explain to congressional leaders, face-to-face, how these legislative and regulatory changes will affect their businesses and communities. We made some real progress here and now we need our members—all members, not just those who came to D.C. today—to keep reaching out to their elected leaders to ask for their support."
Visit tinyurl.com/coach-issues to learn more about the key issues discussed during Capitol Hill Days, and uma.org for more information about UMA.
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Chauffeur Driven’s Industry & Brand Ambassador Philip Jagiela (left) and LANJ Second Vice President David Seelinger of Empire CLS Princeton, N.J. — On March 31, the Limousine Association of New Jersey (LANJ) convened for a meeting that focused primarily on the encouraging headway the organization has made in its recent legislative efforts.
After Brian Engle of meeting sponsor Wolfington Body Company and Shane Tom of Turtle Top spoke about their products and services, LANJ President Jeff Shanker of A-1 Limousine announced that the association “has made significant progress” since the end of 2014.
“If we had accomplished about 30 percent of what we wanted to in December, we’re at about 70 percent now,” Shanker said of LANJ’s goals for TNC regulations. “We might get to 90 or 95 percent but we’ll keep pushing for 100 percent.”
The meeting followed closely on the heels of A-3765’s passage in the state Assembly Transportation Committee on March 19. While LANJ ultimately opposed the bill because it doesn’t address all areas of the association’s TNC safety concerns, members have been working with the likes of Assemblymen John Wisniewski and Joseph Lagana to make amendments to the bill before its upcoming Senate vote.
Shanker recognized and applauded the boots-on-the-ground efforts of several LANJ members, as well as lobbying firms The Kaufman Zita Group and Princeton Public Affairs Group, imploring all in attendance to continue supporting the industry by going to their districts’ legislators.
“We need you to go to your elected officials and let them know why we’re standing in front of them,” he said. “They know my face: Now they want to see yours.”
The traction LANJ has gained by addressing the safety concerns that unregulated transportation companies present has opened the door for discussions with elected officials about the need for a level playing field. The association has provided its members with two documents to assist them in their arguments: a side-by-side analysis of New Jersey’s limousine laws and the considerably less demanding requirements currently in place for TNCs, as well as a letter explaining why LANJ opposed A-3765.
(L to R): LANJ Director Barry Trabb of Complete Fleet & Limousine Sales, Chauffeur Driven Publisher Chris Weiss, LANJ Director Bob Schiavo of Albert’s Transportation, Brian O’Neill of Wolfington Body Company, and LANJ First Vice President Jason Sharenow LANJ’s PAC Chair Peter Corelli of Lakeview Custom Coach asked for members and supporters to help refill the association’s coffers, as fighting for regulation comes at a financial cost. “Whatever it takes, we need to do this,” he said. “We’ll keep fighting the fight but our funds are getting low.”
To increase member involvement, LANJ has created a few internal committees. The Membership Committee, co-chaired by Jon Epstein of Royal Coachman Worldwide and Barry Trabb of Complete Fleet & Limousine Sales, and the Social Media Committee, co-chaired by David Seelinger of Empire CLS and Jennifer Wong of DriveProfit, reported on both committees’ efforts to bolster membership numbers and association recognition. The Merchandising Committee’s recent formation was also announced, which will be spearheaded by Chris Stochholm of New Jersey Limo Finder as a way to both show support for LANJ and get its name out.
Chauffeur Driven Publisher Chris Weiss spoke toward the end of the meeting, announcing the recent addition of Industry & Brand Ambassador Philip Jagiela to the CD team and discussing the newest developments in both June’s Executive Retreat in Nashville and October’s Miami show. Jagiela, as well as Editor Madeleine Maccar, also attended the meeting.
LANJ’s next general meeting is scheduled for May 13 and will coincide with the association’s annual auction, which has raised about $132,000 for LANJ over the course of its 11 years.
Visit lanj.org for more information.
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